Dr.Turaku's Support Crystal Maiden [6.84]

Introduction

Born in a temperate realm, raised with her fiery older sister Lina, Rylai the Crystal Maiden soon found that her innate elemental affinity to ice created trouble for all those around her. Wellsprings and mountain rivers froze in moments if she stopped to rest nearby; ripening crops were bitten by frost, and fruiting orchards turned to mazes of ice and came crashing down, spoiled. When their exasperated parents packed Lina off to the equator, Rylai found herself banished to the cold northern realm of Icewrack, where she was taken in by an Ice Wizard who had carved himself a hermitage at the crown of the Blueheart Glacier. After long study, the wizard pronounced her ready for solitary practice and left her to take his place, descending into the glacier to hibernate for a thousand years. Her mastery of the Frozen Arts has only deepened since that time, and now her skills are unmatched.

---

Hello there! Thanks for stopping by and reading my guide instead of clicking the one with the highest rating. ^.^

This is my first guide/build on DotaFire, and I'm very excited to see how this will turn out and how much I can improve my builds.

Today, I will be doing a guide on my best and favorite support hero, Crystal Maiden.


Crystal Maiden is an awesome support hero who has a 3 second disable, 5 second slow, a global mana regen passive, and a very high damage ultimate.

She is generally played as a roaming/ganking/babysitter support with tranquils and can farm the jungle with her Frostbite if she needs some quick gold. (Last 10 seconds on creeps!)

Pros / Cons

Pros

- Great for setting up early game kills
- Strong magical damage and cc
- Crystal Nova is an awesome AoE nuke that slows
- Frostbite is a great 3 second disable
- Frostbite can get you quick money in jungle
- Frostbite stops channeling spells
- Heroes who go invis while under Frostbite will still be revealed
- Arcane Aura is a global mana regen passive
- Freezing Field ultimate does crazy damage and slows

Cons

- Has the slowest movespeed in the game of 280 (fixed with tranquils/phase boots)
- Attack damage and attack animation is horrible (Doesn't matter too much later in the game)
- Freezing Field ultimate costs a lot of mana (fixed as game goes on)
- Freezing Field ultimate is hard to use without dying in 2 seconds (fixed with good positioning)
- Squishy (fixed with good positioning and certain items)
- Has no real stun; Storm Spirit, Weaver can still get away
- Falls off as game goes on

Even though she has quite a bit of cons, her pros are really good and most of her cons can be negated.

Skills

Crystal Nova

A burst of damaging frost slows enemy movement and attack rate in the targeted area.



Damage Type: Magical
Range: 700
Radius: 400
Duration: 4.5
Damage: 100 / 150 / 200 / 250
Movement Speed Slow: 20%/30%/40%/50%
Attack Speed Slow: 20/30/40/50

Mana Cost: 100 / 120 / 140 / 160
Cooldown Time: 15

This amazing AoE skill will slow move speed and attack speed which can turn the tide of a battle. Since this is your nuke, I recommend maxing this first.

---

Frostbite

Encases an enemy unit in ice, prohibiting movement and attack, while dealing damage per second.


Damage Type: Magical
Range: 500
Duration: 1.5 / 2 / 2.5 / 3
Damage Per Second: 100

Mana Cost: 115 / 125 / 140 / 150
Cooldown Time: 9/8/7/6

An awesome disable. I usually get this first because disables are good early on. Remember, this will stop channeling spells including teleportation. You can also use this to farm jungle creeps(does 1000 damage total that isn't a mud golem).

---

Arcane Aura

Gives additional mana regeneration to all friendly units on the map.

This bonus is doubled on Crystal Maiden.


Radius: Global
Mana Regeneration: 1 / 1.5 / 2 / 2.5

+1 mana regen is really good early game and this is what makes Crystal Maiden so awesome to have on your team. It doesn't scale particularly great though, max it out last.

---

Freezing Field

CHANNELED - Surrounds Crystal Maiden with random icy explosions that slow enemies and deal massive damage.



Slow Radius: 835
Radius of Explosions : 300
Duration: 10
Damage: 105 / 170 / 250 *(170 / 250 / 310)
Movement Speed Slow: 30%, *50%
Attack Speed Slow: 30%, *50%
*SCEPTER UPGRADE

Mana Cost: 200 / 400 / 600
Cooldown Time: 150 / 120 / 90

Crystal Maiden's Ultimate. It does a LOT of damage. Unfortunately, it is a channeling spell that doesn't disable and damages in random spots around you. You have to position yourself right if you want to use this to full effect. Sometimes, you may not be able to use it at all, so decide if you want to level this or not. This spell is also great if you have to 1v1 another hero. Don't underestimate this spell.

Items

Starting Items

Courier
Team should always have a courier.

Tangos
Basic early game regen.

Clarity
If you plan to be aggressive in lane, this can be a nice pick up since Crystal Maiden's skills can drain her mana pool very quickly early game.

Iron Branches
The mystical and extraordinary iron branch.
Each one gives you:

+19 HP
+13 Mana
AND 1 MORE DAMAGE!!!

Observer Wards
Place wards 20 seconds before game starts in rune/gank spots

If someone gets courier or wards, buy smoke, sentries, more clarities, or more branches.

---

Early Game

Flying Courier
GET THIS FIRST AND AS SOON AS THE GAME HITS 3:00!

Hit the haste button when it's delivering stuff.

Tranquil Boots
Amazing item for CM as she needs that extra movespeed and because of her Arcane Aura passive, she does not need arcane boots. This item is like a mini Heart of Tarrasque, and you should get it as soon as possible.

Get your Ring of Protection when you are buying wards, and get the other items from the sideshop. You don't need tangos anymore after this item, sell them unless you plan to do tree juking or against natures prophet.

Magic Stick
You can start saving up charges in the laning phase of the game if you need to. Build this into a wand later.

Always have a TP Scroll handy!

---

Mid Game

Magic Wand
Amazing item that can save your life or enable you to get a kill.

Force Staff
This will be your survival tool since Crystal Maiden is so damn slow. Not only will it give you more survival, but it can also give your allies a boost to kill or a boost to live. You can even use this on enemies and get an easy kill.

Always have a TP scroll handy! And remember to place those wards!

---

Situational Items

Dust of Appearance
Effective for heroes who use invisibility as an escape.

Smoke of Deceit
Very helpful for ganks and avoid getting caught out by wards when roaming.

Sentry Wards
Effective for heroes who use invisibility as a gank tool.

Ghost Scepter
If that annoying autoattacker keeps focusing you, get this.

Mekansm
If no one else gets this, and you already have force staff, go for it.

Urn of Shadows
Sometimes, you are very money starved and cannot afford mekanism. Get this instead only if no one else on your team has it.

Drums of Endurance
Great stats for its cost, get it if you have extra room in your inventory.

Boots of Travel
Later in the game you night need it if you want to help your team, it gives nice movespeed too.

---

Luxury Items

Pipe of Insight
This item is very expensive for a support, if the game goes on really long and they have a lot of magic nukers, this will definitely help.

Orchid Malevolence
Since this is easier to build than scythe of vyse, I recommend this.

Eul's Scepter of Divinity
Great item, provides movespeed and good mana regen for its cost. Also a good counter against a bad Faceless Void.

Black King Bar
Can help with your ultimate, this is rarely gotten on CM, but can be devastating once you use your ultimate with this.

Blink Dagger
Alternative to Force Staff, a bit more reliable offensively, though, you have to save up quite a bit of money for this.

Aghanim's Scepter
Strong item to get after bkb, the extra slow will make you really annoying to fight against.

Your Role in the Game

Early Game

Get your starting items and go to one of the rune spots to contest for the bounty rune. You want to skill Frostbite first in pubs in case you want to focus down one hero for an early game kill. Otherwise, if you see enemies grouped up, Crystal Nova is usually better.

Put your Observer Ward up at the rune area at around 10 seconds before the game starts. Deny, pull, and try to earn kills for your carry to the best of your ability. If you want to harass with Crystal Nova, make sure the AoE doesn't hit the creeps or you will push the lane. If the enemy hero aggros the creeps by trying to harass your carry, use Frostbite so that he takes more damage from your creeps. If possible try to kill them when you do this.

For getting Crystal Maiden's items, you want to have the passive gold you gain every 0.6 seconds to get you your items or jungle creeps instead of taking your carry's last hits. You want to buy a Flying Courier as soon as the clock hits 3:00 so your team gets their items faster. Get Tranquil Boots by buying the Ring of Protection along with your Observer Ward, all your other items for tranquils are in the sideshop. Get smoke, sentry wards, Magic Stick, or Dust of Appearance if needed.

If you feel the need, smoke up and gank mid. Providing early ganks will make the enemy scared and make the game easier for your team in the long run.

Mid Game

During this time, you should leave your carry and help the team out. Use Frostbite on heroes that are slippery, hard to kill, or dish out a lot of damage on your team. Use Crystal Nova to gain an advantage in teamfights. To properly use Freezing Field in a teamfight you must be at the right place at the right time, or it will render useless.

Farm jungle creeps with Frostbite if you can to get your wards, Magic Wand (if needed), and most importantly, the Force Staff.

Late Game

Around this time, your skills are still helpful, but not as much as they were early/mid game as more heroes will have Black King Bar and more hp. Start saving money up for buyback, situational items, and or luxury items.

Keep stacking ancients and provide room for your carry to farm so you can have an easier game.

Keep helping your team to the best of your ability without feeding.

Allies / Foes

Carries

Juggernaut
Probably the most likely hero that came up first in your mind. Juggernaut has a close range , high-damage Blade Fury that works great with lockdowns and slows. Your Arcane Aura helps his tiny mana pool and allows him to pretty much spam healing wards.


Ursa
Another high damaging hero that works great with lockdowns and slows. A full Overpower, Frostbite, and Crystal Nova means a dead hero.



Gyrocopter
Your Frostbite can make landing Homing Missile much easier. Homing Missile + Frostbite + Rocket Barrage = lots of damage.

---

Offlaners

Bristleback
Your slows stack and he really loves your Arcane Aura. Crystal Maiden is the perfect hero to be with as Bristleback.



Clinkz
Because of his Strafe and Searing Arrows ability, this guy works very well with Crystal Maiden as a slowed and non moving target will be obliterated by Clinkz. Your Arcane Aura also helps him stay invisible forever.

---

Trilanes

Venomancer
Your slows stack so well its almost a stun when both of them hit. Crystal Nova along with Venomous Gale is super deadly. Your lane also has some insane harassing power.



Ancient Apparition
Thanks to your disable and slow, he can get some easy Cold Feet stuns. These 2 heroes are not to be underestimated when they are on the same lane.

---

Teamfight

Enigma
Black Hole + Freezing Field = Great wombo combo. This will dish out a lot of damage safely.




Magnus
Same with above. A good Reverse Polarity + Freezing Field will destroy teamfights.




Tidehunter
Again, Freezing Field + [insert aoe disable here] works great. But with Tidehunter, it's a bit harder. His Ravage sacrifices disable time for damage and bigger aoe. Your Freezing Field can definitely do a bunch of damage, just not as much as if Enigma or Magnus was there.

---

Foes

Zeus
This guy can literally 2 shot you down. He does around 600 damage with both of his nukes. A very annoying guy.

TIP: Zeus is a pretty weak hero without the nukes. Stay in a good position where your carries can protect you and easily kill him. Try to buy stat items to survive his nukes.

Nyx Assassin
This annoying hero will nuke you down fast. His invis, Vendetta, makes it scary to be alone and his Spiked Carapace + base hp regen make him quite hard to kill or harass.

TIP: Nyx Assassin uses invis to gank, track him down with detection and he's free food! Also try not to gank or ward alone unless he is dead.

Queen of Pain
She'll just Blink to your face and kill you instantly with her nukes. A very annoying hero to play against with CM.

TIP: Stay near your team, once she blinks in, she'll most likely die before she can do anything to you. Even if you do die, she's usually going to be worth more than you anyway.


Timbersaw
A dangerous hero to fight even with 2 people. His Chakram hurts like hell, but that's just only 1 of his 3 nukes he can use on you. You can't even harass this guy because of his E, Reactive Armor


Pudge
Being slow makes you a super easy prey for Pudge Once you get caught by meathook + Rot and Dismember combo, it's over.

TIP: Pudge isn't exactly the best mid, like Zeus you can easily gank him and make him fall behind really badly. Positioning and wards are also key to stopping Pudge.

Epilouge

Hey guys, thank you very much for reading my build, please rate my build and comment below! :)

I hope you all can play Support Crystal Maiden, as she is one of the best support heroes in my opinion. Best of luck! -Dr.Turaku

Changelog

v0.01 - Build Created - 1/18/2014
v0.10 - Official Build Release - 1/21/2014
v1.00 - Added icons and changed some wording - 1/26/2014
v1.01 - Added Allies / Foes - 3/12/2014

Idk how to do changelogs :(

TO DO LIST

Listen to comments
Make build easier to read
Add tips
Get a decent guide rating