Hilda is among the best Fighter-Tank heroes in the game. She specializes in HP Regen and dealing huge instant physical damage. Hilda's defensive strenght stems from her passive skill, Blessing of Wilderness which gives her insane Regen capabilities as well as a temporary shield. Coupled with Combat Ritual skill that allows her to easily chase down enemies or escape near death situations, Hilda became one of my personal favorites. Hilda's Tank build focuses on further enhancing Hilda's defensive and Regen capabilities.
Hilda possess one passive skill and three active skills. The following are the descriptions and analyses of each skills.
Hilda's Tale
On the barren Megalith Wastelands, all one can see are the giant rocks and the sparse bushes, but this desolate land is where Hilda and her people call home. the land's infertile soil required everyone in the clan to become a good hunter in order to acquire precious meat. Born with great strength, Hilda soon became the leader of the hunting party and led her people to harvest great amounts of food. However, an unknown power in their territory drove wild animals into frenzy and became more and more difficult to hunt. Eventually, crazy beasts started to attack the clan. As the patriarch's premonition of a crisis started to become reality, Hilda was forced to search new habitats. With the hopes and dreams of the tribe on her back, she headed to the Land of Dawn, and with her rich hunting experience, she became a mercenary of great reputation and expertise. Her only wish is to find a new home for her people and to fight for their future.
Skills
Hilda possess one passive skill and three active skills. The following are the descriptions and analyses of each skills.
- Passive - Blessing of Wilderness: When entering the brush, Hilda's HP regeneration speed increases and she gains a shield lasting 5 seconds, which absorbs an amount of damage equal to 10% of her max HP. This effect can only be triggered every 10 seconds. When Hilda's HP drops below 30%, she gains greatly enhanced HP regeneration. This effect can only be triggered every 120 seconds.
Analysis: This passive skill allows Hilda to last longer in fights, provided that she make use of the brushes in the map. One of the rules that you need to follow when playing as Hilda is to always stay in the bushes to gain shield and regenerate HP. Always bring the fights into the bushes as much as possible.
- Speed Up + AoE - Combat Ritual: Hilda Activates the great sword's runic power, increasing her movement speed by 30% for 3 seconds. The damage dealt by Hilda's next basic attack is increased by 200/230/260/290/320/350 + (+100% Total Physical ATK) points of Physical Damage and slows the target. Also deals 120/138/156/174/192/210 + (+60% Total Physical ATK) points of Physical Damage to enemies behind the target. At max level this skill has an 11.0/10.5/10.0/9.5/9.0/8.5 seconds cooldown. Requires no Mana to cast.
Analysis: This skill allows Hilda to easily chase fleeing enemies or escape from certain deaths with ease. Always make sure that this skill is ready before initiating fights.
- Damage - Art of hunting: Locks onto one enemy target for pursuit, skill can be released 3 times maximum, the seconds attack will deal damage to target's surroundings, the 3rd attack will knock back target and surrounding enemies temporarily, each time dealing 120/150/180/210/240/270 + (+90% Total Physical ATK) points of Physical Damage. Art of Hunting has an 11.0/10.5/10.0/9.5/9.0/8.5 seconds cooldown and does not require Mana to cast.
Analysis: This is your bread and butter offensive skill. Max this skill first to kill minions and jungle monsters faster.
- Crowd Control + Burst - Power of Wildness: Hilda jumps toward the target and slashes powerfully, dealing 700/800/900 + (+200% Extra Physical ATK) points of Physical Damage and temporarily stunning the target. Nearby enemies also take 60% of this damage as Physical Damage. Each kill or assist enhances Power of Wildness, increasing its Physical Damage by 40/60/80, stacking up to 10 times. Damage will be increased by 40/60/160 and ignore 40% of the target's Armor at max stacks. This skill has a 35.0/30.0/25.0 seconds cooldown and does not require Mana to cast.
Analysis: Hilda's ultimate offensive skill, this skill requires Hilda to participate in every team fights to get assists or kills in order to increase the Power of Wildness's damage. Never be too shy in using this skill, the sooner to use this the greater the chance that your team will win every team fights.
Emblem
Custom Tank Emblem with Firmness, Fortress and Tenacity talents is preferred for this build. However, if Custom Tank Emblem is not yet unlocked or is still low level, it is imperative that you use your highest level Emblem that can boost defense or physical damage.
Battle Spell
Weaken or Petrify is the suggested battle spell for this build. Petrify being the best pick and Weaken second only. The choice may depend on your play style. However, keep in mind that Petrify will give your better edge during team fights.
- Weaken: Reduces the target hero's movement speed by 70% and Physical and Magic Power by 50% for 3 seconds. Weaken has a 60 seconds Cooldown.
- Petrify: Deals 115 to 325 magic damage to surrounding enemies (increases with level) and petrifies targets for 0.7 seconds. Petrify has a 90 seconds Cooldown.
Gears
- Warrior Boots: Gives +22 Armor, +40 Movement SPD and Unique Passive: Valor. Valor increases the wearer's physical defense by 5 each time a basic attack is received, up to 25 points. Enchanted Talisman costs $690.
- Cursed Helmet: Gives +920 HP, +50 Magic RES and Unique Passive: Burning Soul. Burning Soul deals 1.5% of their Max HP to nearby enemies as magic damage each second. Burning Soul deals and extra 50% damage to minions. Burning Soul costs $1,830.
- Oracle: Gives +850 HP, +36 Magic RES, +35 HP Regen, +10% CD Reduction and Unique Passive: Scream. Scream makes the wearer recover 8% HP within 4 seconds after being attacked. Scream has an 8 seconds cooldown. Oracle costs $2,110.
- Wings of the Apocalypse Queen: Gives +15 Physical ATK, +1,000 HP, +10% CD Reduction and Unique Passive: Demonize. Demonize reduces damage taken by 50% when health is less than 40% and increases your Lifesteal by 30%. Demonize lasts 5 seconds and has 50 seconds cooldown. Wings of the Apocalypse Queen costs $2,250.
- Twilight Armor: Gives +1,200 HP, +400 Mana, +50 HP Regen and Unique Passive: Defiance. Defiance: After the hero takes over 900 points of Physical Damage, they will take 900 points of Physical Damage at most up to 5 seconds. Cooldown is 5 seconds. Twilight Armor costs $2,260.
- Rose Gold Meteor: Gives +60 Physical ATK, +30 Magic RES, + 5% Lifesteal and the Unique Passive: Lifeline. Lifeline makes the hero gain a shield that can absorb 510-1,350 damage (increases with level) when HP is below 30%. Lifeline has a 30 seconds cooldown. Rose Gold Meteor costs $2,270.
Analysis: The first two priority for Hilda is to craft the Warrior boots and Cursed Helmet. Crafting this two items will grant Hilda some Magic RES and armor that is decently enough during the early phase of the game. Crafting the Cursed Helmet will also allow Hilda to deal extra damage just by being near the enemies. The next items should be the Oracle and the Wings of the Apocalypse Queen. Both this item will grant huge HP and skills cooldown reduction. The Oracle will also boost Hilda's HP regeneration capabilities making her almost unkillable. With this items Hilda's anti-mage capability is good enough to fight two paper mages at once. The final items to craft are the Twilight Armor and Rose Gold Meteor.
Skill Rotation
Hilda is easy to use even for beginners, the skill rotation is pretty easy to master since the skills always auto locks to enemies. Start by hiding in bushes to gain shield, use Combat Ritual to gain additional Movement Speed and dash towards your target. After releasing Combat Ritual immediately use Power of Wildness then proceed to Art of Hunting. The reason for using your ultimate immediately is to gain a second chance of releasing it again at time goes by during team fights. Also since the Power of Wildness deals a great amount of Physical Damage, it is inevitable that the enemies will retreat and will have not have enough HP left to continue the fight.
Role
Your role is not only a tank who takes damage, Hilda posses enough power to take down mage, marksmen and other heroes with low defense even with this tank build. When in a clash, ignore the enemy tanks and dive straight into their damage dealers. Always utilize the surrounding bushes when moving around the map and initiating team fights. Hilda can also roam the map easily because of her increased Movement Speed. Always check the map to see where you are needed the most.
Gameplay Tips
If you are fully geared, spend the rest of you money to buy Rock Potion to increase your defensive capability. Hilda with Cursed Helmet is a pretty fast farmer in the early phase of the game, make sure to craft Cursed Helmet first. Know when to retreat, using Hilda makes you prone to being greedy and making bad decisions. Never be too eager to chase down fleeing enemy especially when an enemy hero is missing from the map. Patience is the key and a true hunter always hides in the bush.