Storm Watch: Tassadar

by Hotstreak - 7 years ago

Hello everyone and welcome to this weeks Storm Watch where we will be going over the famous Starcraft character Tassadar. This hero is all about aggressively supporting your team and making sure nobody dies. I am pretty sure that you can’t be any more of a support than Tassadar, lets take a look.

Back Story

“Aldaris, I submit myself to the Conclave’s judgment. But know this, given the same choices again, I would surely have made them. I have sacrificed all that our world might live. I have sullied my honor, I have discarded my rank and standing, and I have even broken our own most ancient traditions. But never think that I would, for one moment, regret my actions. For I am Templar, and above all else, I have sworn to protect our homeworld ’till the end.”

Once branded a heretic by the ruling body of the Protoss known as the Conclave, Tassadar is now considered one of the greatest heroes in the history of this enigmatic race of psionic warriors. From an early age, Tassadar was wholely devoted to the Khala, the Protoss religion that required all Protoss to remain psionically linked in the name of conformity and harmony. However, he also questioned the Conclave’s rigidity and dogmatic obsession with tradition. Despite his reservations about the Protoss leadership, his innate intelligence and strength allowed him to rise quickly through the ranks and eventually earned him the rank of Executor of the Protoss fleet.

It was Tassadar who made first contact with both the ravenous Zerg and the relatively young Terrans. Once the Conclave examined the Zerg and realized the threat they posed, they ordered Tassadar to wipe out any signs of their infestation, including worlds inhabited by the Terrans. Tassadar, however, felt it was the Protoss’ responsibility to protect the Terrans and refused to carry out his orders unless there was absolutely no hope of saving the planet in question. Eventually Tassadar was ordered to return home and face the Conclave for his insubordination, but he refused in favor of continuing his fight against the Zerg as best as he could without sacrificing Terran worlds. His fight would eventually bring him into contact with several allies, including a Terran named James Raynor as well as a group of Protoss known as the Dark Templar, an individualistic sect that had been exiled in ages past for refusing to join the Khala. Though initially hesitant to interact with the Dark Templars, Tassadar came to appreciate the powers of the Dark Templar that were lost to those who embraced the Khala. Eventually learning to use those powers for himself and combine them with his understanding of the Khala, Tassadar became inarguably the most powerful Protoss in existence.

Despite his new abilities, the Conclave abhorred his interactions with the Dark Templar and branded him a heretic to be killed on sight. Ever dedicated to protecting his home regardless of his own fate, Tassadar returned to the Protoss homeworld of Aiur to defend it from the Zerg. After defeating the Conclave forces that were more intent with stopping him than the Zerg, Tassadar rallied what was left his allies and made in one last stand against the Zerg Overmind. Despite their best efforts, nothing could significantly harm the Overmind, and thus Tassadar sacrificed himself by crashing his carrier into the massive creature while channeling both the Khala-based powers that he had grown up with as well as those of the Dark Templar. The resulting explosion succeeded in killing the Overmind, and while the Zerg remained on Aiur their loss of an all-powerful leader gave the Protoss the room they needed to survive.

Back story provided by JGGiant (Twitter)

Talent and Abilities

Heroic Talent: Activate to increase vision range and see into fog of war for a period of time. Hotkey: D

This is an interesting passive and the first one we’ve seen that works as a toggle able ability. This is also going to be an amazing ability for ganks and for map awareness. When common meta game practice starts to form, people will be able to make “calls” to see where and when to use this ability that will help stop ganks and find people for your team to initiate on.

Protective Shield (Q)



Description: Tassadar protects an ally giving them a shield, protecting them from damage.

This is a pretty standard support shield that protects allies from damage. From the looks of it, it doesn’t just protect from physical or magical damage but it protects from all damage. This will be a useful skill for keeping squishy heroes alive or making your team tank even more tanky.

Invisibility (W)

Description: Tassadar makes an ally invisible and invulnerable for two seconds.

This is a pretty cool ability and a unique one at that. You will be able to make an ally invisible and invulnerable. I can see this working well for ganks as you can set up your ally to go invisible and take the enemy by surprise. This will also work very well for helping someone on your team to escape from danger. But it doesn’t look like you can use this on yourself. Can really see this being used quite well and often in high level play.

Energy Field (E)

Description: Tassadar creates a dome at target location. Any enemies inside the dome are damaged and slowed.

This will be an amazing team fight ability as you will be slowing and damaging everyone inside of the bubble, causing your team to have the edge. I can also see this working as a good chasing ability if well placed. Depending on the range of this skill, you might have to cut off running enemies to place this during a chase.

Heroic Abilities

Barrier (R)

Description: Tassadar summons a wall at target location which blocks movement.

I find this skill to work in a couple of different situations. One being a situation where you use this to wall off enemy heroes who are trying to get away, or a situation where your team is about to get ambushed by enemy heroes and you wall them off. This is a very supportive skill and in my opinion a very situational one.

Archon (R)

Description: Tassadar becomes an Archon, increasing his attack damage and armor.

This is an interesting heroic ability because we haven’t really seen an indication that Tassadar would be good at damaging other heroes. This skill could turn Tassadar into an extremely aggressive and tanky support character who slows the other team with their (E), this may also empower the damage of your (E) to make it even more effective. I will most likely be using this skill because I like the play style of aggressive supports.

Conclusion

Tassadar is a very useful support that will do nothing but benefit your team. With a wide range of support abilities he will be very good at keeping your team alive and making sure no one gets away. His Archon ability will support an aggressive play style and goes with Blizzards customization Philosophy for Heroes of the Storm. Tune in next week when we will be going over the betrayer Illidan Stormrage.

Storm Watch featured image made by Heino Brand (Twitter)