Raijin Thunderkeg: Unleash the Power of Storm Spirit in Dota 2
The Storm Spirit, also known as Raijin Thunderkeg, is an agile and elusive Intelligence hero in Dota 2. He is the lively elder brother of Ember Spirit and Earth Spirit, with fantastic ganking and carrying potential. While he can deal significant damage throughout the game and swiftly move around the battlefield, mastering him can be challenging due to his fragility and high mana requirements. So, how can you best play as Storm Spirit?
If you’re a new player, it’s important to exercise caution and restraint when playing Storm Spirit. While more experienced players like Evil Geniuses’ Syed “Suma1L” Hassan have shown us the bold and reckless side of Storm Spirit, beginners should focus on learning the hero’s mechanics and understanding the right moments to engage in team fights. Overeager and inexperienced players are likely to expose Storm Spirit’s vulnerabilities and turn him into an easy target.
However, for skilled players, Storm Spirit can become an unstoppable force. His ability Ball Lightning renders him invulnerable during its animation, allowing him to dodge enemy attacks and continue decimating the enemy team. Players who have mastered Storm Spirit can easily pick off key targets and create opportunities for their teammates to follow up with their own spells.
Mastering Storm Spirit’s Skills
To make the most of Storm Spirit’s abilities, it’s important to understand the optimal skill build. While his Static Remnant ability is no longer as mana-efficient as it used to be, it’s still essential to level it up early on for last-hitting creeps. The Overload ability should be maxed first, as it provides bonus damage and can be used for harassment.
It’s recommended to leave Electric Vortex at level one until after reaching level seven, as its low duration makes it less effective early on. However, once Overload and Static Remnant are maxed, Electric Vortex becomes a useful stun that grants an Overload buff, increasing damage output while disabling the target.
Investing in Ball Lightning should be a priority, as its mana cost remains the same regardless of skill level and its jump speed increases significantly with each level.
Our recommended skill build is as follows:
- Static Remnant
- Overload
- Overload
- Static Remnant
- Overload
- Ball Lightning
- Overload
- Electric Vortex
- Static Remnant
- Level 10 talent: +1.75 Mana Regen
- Static Remnant
- Ball Lightning
- Electric Vortex
- Electric Vortex
- Level 15: +80 Static Remnant Damage
- Ball Lightning
- Level 20: +30 Attack Speed
- Level 25: 500 Distance Auto Remnant in Ball Lightning
When choosing the level 25 talent, Auto Remnant is generally the better option as it provides free damage over a large area during team fights. However, the Overload Pierces Immunity talent can be effective against lineups with heroes who rely on magic immunity.
Optimal Item Builds for Storm Spirit
When it comes to item builds, Storm Spirit offers flexibility with two main options. Regardless of the chosen build, it is crucial to prioritize purchasing Kaya, as it significantly improves Storm Spirit’s mana efficiency for a relatively low cost.
The first build focuses on Orchid Malevolence, which provides a powerful targeted silence to maximize ganking potential. Orchid also reduces Ball Lightning’s upfront mana cost in the mid game. It can later be upgraded to a Bloodthorn, which helps against heroes with high evasion.
However, this build leaves Storm Spirit with a low health pool, making a Black King Bar necessary to counter area of effect stuns and disables.
The other build involves rushing a Bloodstone after getting the initial stat-boosting trinkets and upgrading Boots. Bloodstone enhances Storm Spirit’s health, mana, and regeneration, offering an active ability to escape unfavorable situations.
After obtaining the core items, the choice of additional items becomes situational. Scythe of Vyse and Aghanim’s Scepter significantly improve control in team fights, while Shiva’s Guard boosts armor and has an active ability to kite enemies. Linken’s Sphere provides protection against targeted spells, which can be invaluable in certain situations.
Unleash the Storm Spirit
Playing as Storm Spirit requires careful mana management and awareness of potential stuns and disables that can disrupt his momentum. New players should focus on mastering these aspects of the hero to avoid becoming a vulnerable target.
Although Storm Spirit is not recommended for beginners, his unique playstyle and rewarding abilities make him an enjoyable hero for those who love dominating the game and carrying their team to victory. Respect the Storm Spirit’s power, learn to control him effectively, and he will undoubtedly reward you handsomely.
Storm Spirit, Dota 2, Raijin Thunderkeg, Intelligence hero, ganking potential, carrying potential, skill build, optimal item builds, Ball Lightning, Kaya, Orchid Malevolence, Bloodstone, Black King Bar, Scythe of Vyse, Aghanim’s Scepter, Shiva’s Guard, Linken’s Sphere, mana management
