Mixing it up this week by combining the Team Composition with Drafting 101. This will probably be the future format of the series. I think it will make a lot more sense combining these two elements to give a full perspective on a team composition.
Gale Force played this composition against Vox Nihili in game two of their series at the HGC North American Qualifiers. Here is a link to the full game if you want to watch it.
Innate Hero Synergy
This composition isn’t loaded with innate hero synergy.The goal of this composition is to be ahead in experience. It was mainly created to be a solid four-man unit while the Lost Vikings create an experience lead. The Vikings and Sylvanas create a great combination for achieving that goal. The reason I called this Vikings and Push is because the Vikings hold down the forts while the four-man unit puts pressure on structures with Sylvanas' passive. It also has the added bonus of a great jungler in Illidan.
Picking According to the Battleground
The important things to have on Cursed Hollow are poke to interrupt tribute channels and sustain to survive long tribute fights.
This team doesn’t have the greatest poke. The poke they do have is only:
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Malfurion spamming Moonfire
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Sylvanas with Shadow Dagger and Haunting Wave
- Muradin and his Stormbolt
For what this team lacks in poke, it makes up for it in sustain. The sustain they have is:
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Muradin with Second Wind passive healing
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Malfurion is one of the best sustained healers with Regrowth and Tranquility
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Illidan’s Betrayer’s Thirst passive
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Sylvanas if she chooses to take Life Drain at level 13
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The Lost Vikings with their Viking Hoard Passive
Overall this composition is well-suited for this map because long, drawn out tribute fights can create opportunities to generate an experience lead from the Vikings' soak and Sylvanas' push.
Playing the Composition
Early Game
In the early game, as mentioned above, this composition is best played as a 1-5-1 (two Vikings being the 1s) or a 1-4-1 team when Illidan is taking mercenaries. Try to shove down structures with Sylvanas as much as possible. You may have to give up a few early tributes.
Mid Game
Hopefully, your team gets level 10 first. The game plan is basically the same at this point. Delay tributes as long as possible and try to build your experience advantage. If you get a curse, push for all it is worth because they might be difficult to get.
Late Game
Generally, in the late game it is best to avoid full 5v5 fights. Look for pick opportunities with the four-man unit and try to create numbers advantages for your team.
Win Conditions
This is where it gets a bit tricky. Your win conditions with this composition are:
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Create an experience advantage that leads to a snowball victory
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Look for picks that can lead to advantageous fights
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Get a curse and win early with Sylvanas
This composition has a high skill floor and requires good coordination. It is important to know when you can take fights and win you can’t. Also, if you don’t have an experienced Lost Vikings player, don’t even attempt to play a composition like this.
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