Help Support Our Growing Community

DOTAFire is a community that lives to help every Dota 2 player take their game to the next level by having open access to all our tools and resources. Please consider supporting us by whitelisting us in your ad blocker!

Want to support DOTAFire with an ad-free experience? You can support us ad-free for less than $1 a month!

Go Ad-Free
Smitefire logo

Join the leading DOTA 2 community.
Create and share Hero Guides and Builds.

Create an MFN Account






Or

5 Votes

Crystal Maiden, the perfect 5

October 30, 2015 by MisterBigtoy
Comments: 10    |    Views: 20061    |   


Quick Comment

You need to log in before commenting.

[-] Collapse All Comments

Sort Comments By
1
[-]
MisterBigtoy | January 28, 2015 8:59am
Wisdomseyes1 wrote:


On a note for the guide: I strongly believe prioritizing the root and slow are more effective for a hero like crystal maiden, and keeping the [Arcane aura] at one point to get the massive mana per second buff allowing the skills to be more spammable. 2 mana per second in addition to what you get is a lot, and 1 for your team is more than most heroes need.

Also, while [Freezing Field] in a strong teamfight oriented team can be beneficial with the right positioning, getting multiple points increases its mana cost DRASTICALLY. AT level 11 it would take up almost all of maidens mana. Even if you do max out [Arcane aura], though it scales badly, you would still have to wonder around before you got your mana back and could do anything but stack.


Thanks for the thoughtful response.

When to level Arcane Aura is a tricky proposition because you are absolutely correct: like all flat +mana, it DOES tail off towards the end game. But two points early is almost as good as Arcane Boots for your whole team (1.5 mana/sec vs. 1.82 mana/sec). If you have a mana hungry team, that can make a world of difference in the laning phase. Usually I find that more useful for the team than the additional 1/2 second of slow that additional points in Crystal Nova grant.

The delay in Freezing Field has been brought up a few times. I've been meaning to experiment with it (my dota time has decreased lately) but I wonder if there is a fundamental playstyle difference. Generally when I 5 as CM, I'm just not casting spells that much. That said, the mana cost jumping 200/400/600 is not to be taken lightly and when you're packing as few items as a 5 does, it shouldn't be taken reflexively at 6/11/16 like I have here.

As for the debate on how to tri-lane, does anyone have a guide they like that I can link to instead of my insufficient experience trying to give an outline? I'm thinking I should just delete it rather than give incomplete information like I do now.

Tiny aside: use double brackets to get the links working in your comments.
Code:
[[arcane aura]]
Arcane Aura
1
[-]
Wisdomseyes1 (8) | January 27, 2015 1:49am
famasofwar wrote:

Second point. Your team tends to need the aura and you level up slowly in a trilane so waiting till level 3 is too late.


If you are suggesting that the optimal build for a lane whose sole purpose is to kill is to forgo a stun/slow move for a mana over time increase, I am afraid you and I will not agree on a few things.

Level 3 is perfectly acceptable. Getting multiple points in the skill is iffy, but has been done in high level play a few times on occasion so there is valid reason to do so... but is mostly lackluster.

On a note for the guide: I strongly believe prioritizing the root and slow are more effective for a hero like crystal maiden, and keeping the [Arcane aura] at one point to get the massive mana per second buff allowing the skills to be more spammable. 2 mana per second in addition to what you get is a lot, and 1 for your team is more than most heroes need.

Also, while [Freezing Field] in a strong teamfight oriented team can be beneficial with the right positioning, getting multiple points increases its mana cost DRASTICALLY. AT level 11 it would take up almost all of maidens mana. Even if you do max out [Arcane aura], though it scales badly, you would still have to wonder around before you got your mana back and could do anything but stack.
1
[-]
wangyuphing (9) | January 21, 2015 1:06am
**** I sang when I read the title
1
[-]
famasofwar (4) | January 20, 2015 1:03pm
Second point. Your team tends to need the aura and you level up slowly in a trilane so waiting till level 3 is too late.
1
[-]
TheGooGaming (29) | January 20, 2015 7:59am
This is such a short guide, well compressed anyway.

Good as a consult point for players new to supports or for Crystal Maiden anyway. I like it, +1
1
[-]
MisterBigtoy | January 16, 2015 12:22pm
Thanks for the responses

Unscathed wrote:

Trilane no aura?
There is, by no means, to not take a value point of it.

famasofwar wrote:

Why would you not get your aura in an aggressive trilane?...


I probably shouldn't have even put in a tri-lane mini section because I've only personally done it a few times and I chugged clarity potions when I did. So I'm woefully unqualified to propose anything and I'll edit to reflect your suggestions, thank you. I assume it's usually the third point?


gingerino wrote:

Some statements that you made regarding Crystal Maiden's ultimate seem a little off the mark, unfortunately. Due to Crystal Maiden's low base Int and rather mediocre Int growth most players will wait to level up Freezing Field until levels 8-10, only ever taking her ultimate at level 6 situationally.


This is a really good point. I've tinkered with a later Freezing Field a few times and it seems very high variance to me. Often, especially if laning phase is running longer, there's more upside to the delay. However, a few times I've found myself *without* freezing field at a key moment and I really hated myself.

gingerino wrote:

Finally, regarding your items section. While the information that you have provided is sufficient, it lacks true depth and could use a little extra work. (Btw if you are rich enough to afford an Agh's, you should be spending your money on something that will help to increase your survivability in team fights as opposed to increasing your damage output such as Ghost Scepter or Black King Bar)


Excellent suggestion, thank you!
1
[-]
gingerino (3) | January 15, 2015 9:18pm
I wouldn't go as far as to call Crystal Maiden the perfect five, but she is a fun hero to play that brings a lot to the table nonetheless.

Some statements that you made regarding Crystal Maiden's ultimate seem a little off the mark, unfortunately. Due to Crystal Maiden's low base Int and rather mediocre Int growth most players will wait to level up Freezing Field until levels 8-10, only ever taking her ultimate at level 6 situationally. Some Crystal Maiden players will go as far to take only a single point in her ultimate for the entirety of the game. While this isn't the only way to play Crystal Maiden, it is oftentimes the most sensible way to do so and as such I recommend that you at least consider creating a standard ability build for your hero.

Finally, regarding your items section. While the information that you have provided is sufficient, it lacks true depth and could use a little extra work. (Btw if you are rich enough to afford an Agh's, you should be spending your money on something that will help to increase your survivability in team fights as opposed to increasing your damage output such as Ghost Scepter or Black King Bar)
1
[-]
famasofwar (4) | January 15, 2015 5:13pm
Why would you not get your aura in an aggressive trilane? You need mana to be aggressive and you dont need a huge amount of points in your Q since your W is a much better investment and your mana pool won't be able to take constant harassing without large mana regen.
1
[-]
mastadoom (7) | January 15, 2015 4:15pm
I play a lot of CM, but don't get my ult at 6, except for very rare occasions. most of the time i get a point in it from 8-10 because the mana cost of so heavy for your small mana pool, i find myself never having enough mana for it. what is the reasoning you get it at 6?
1
[-]
Unscathed (47) | January 15, 2015 3:18pm
Trilane no aura?

There is, by no means, to not take a value point of it.
Loading Comments...
Load More Comments
Similar Guides
Featured Heroes

Quick Comment (10) View Comments

You need to log in before commenting.

DOTAFire is the place to find the perfect build guide to take your game to the next level. Learn how to play a new hero, or fine tune your favorite DotA hero’s build and strategy.

Copyright © 2019 DOTAFire | All Rights Reserved