Abathur Talents, Level by Level · Heroes of the Storm Guide

Overview

In Heroes of the Storm there are no items: Abathur picks one talent at levels 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16 and 20. This guide goes through every tier. Your big moments are level 10, when you pick Evolve Monstrosity or Ultimate Evolution, and level 20, when the heroic gets its upgrade.

Strengths

Strong gank potential around the map.
Sustain from Evolve Monstrosity.
Good wave clear, according to Blizzard's own hero tags.

Weaknesses

Melee range: ranged heroes can poke it freely.
Low priority on gold and experience.

Build cheat sheet

Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.

Balanced talentsBalancedRecommendedAt each level, the talent that serves more than one plan. A safe default when you don't know the enemy team yet. Built by reading the talent texts; Blizzard publishes no pick rates.
Damage talentsOffensiveAdvancedAt each level, the talent most focused on damage. Choose it when your team has enough frontline and needs you to kill.
Survival talentsDefensiveSituationalAt each level, the talent with the most healing, shields or armor. Choose it against dive or heavy burst.

Builds

Balanced talents

BalancedRecommended

Open build

When to use it

At each level, the talent that serves more than one plan. A safe default when you don't know the enemy team yet. Built by reading the talent texts; Blizzard publishes no pick rates.

Map job

Battlegrounds change every match, so this is its job on any of them.

Solo laneHolds a lane alone and wins it.
Double soakPriority 2Soaks experience in a lane, usually alongside a teammate, and clears waves fast.
RotatePriority 3Rotates between lanes to create kills and pressure.
Mercenary campsTakes mercenary camps when it is safe.
With the teamMainStays with the team: it wins fights, not lanes.

Talents by level

Pressurized GlandsIncreases the range of Symbiote's Spike Burst by 25% and decreases the cooldown by 1 second.W
Envenomed NestToxic Nests deal 75% more damage over 3 seconds and reduce the Armor of enemy Heroes hit by 15 for 4 seconds.W
Reinforced CarapaceIncrease the Shield amount of Carapace by 40%.E
Locust BroodActivate to spawn 3 Locusts at a nearby location.

1Fits more than one plan at level 1: damage and survivability.
4Fits more than one plan at level 4: damage and utility.
7Adds an active ability for survivability.
10Fits more than one plan at level 10: damage and utility.
13Fits more than one plan at level 13: utility and survivability.
16The most damage-focused option at level 16.
20The most damage-focused option at level 20.

Abilities

QSymbiote4sSpawn and attach a Symbiote to a target ally or Structure. While active, Abathur controls the Symbiote, gaining access to new Abilities. The Symbiote is able to gain XP from nearby enemy deaths.
WToxic Nest10sSpawn a mine that becomes active after a short time. Deals 153 (+4% per level) damage and reveals the enemy for 4 seconds. Lasts 90 seconds. Stores up to 3 charges.
REvolve MonstrosityHeroic90sTurn an allied Minion or Locust into a Monstrosity. When enemy Minions near the Monstrosity die, it gains 2% Health and 2% Basic Attack damage, stacking up to 40 times. The Monstrosity can be healed by Carapace and has the ability to Burrow to a visible location every 80 seconds. Using Symbiote on the Monstrosity allows Abathur to control it, in addition to Symbiote's normal benefits. This Abil
RUltimate EvolutionHeroic70sClone target allied Hero and control it for 20 seconds. Abathur has perfected the clone, granting it 20% Spell Power, 20% bonus Attack Damage, and 10% bonus Movement Speed. Cannot use their Heroic Ability.
Locust StrainTrait15sSpawns a Locust to attack down the nearest lane every 15 seconds. Locusts last for 16 seconds, have 350 (+4% per level) health and deal 46 (+4% per level) damage with each Basic Attack, dealing 25% bonus damage to enemy Structures.
ZDeep Tunnel30sQuickly tunnel to a visible location

Strategy

1Level 1

The options at level 1 and which build picks each one:

Pressurized Glands — Upgrades Symbiote for more utility. Picked in the utility build.
Envenomed Nest — Upgrades Toxic Nest for more damage. Picked in the balanced, damage and survival builds.
Reinforced Carapace — The most survivability-focused option at level 1.
Locust Brood — Adds an active ability.

2Level 4

The options at level 4 and which build picks each one:

Needlespine — Upgrades Symbiote for more damage.
Prolific Dispersal — Upgrades Toxic Nest for more utility.
Slapathur — The most damage-focused option at level 4. Picked in the balanced, damage and utility builds.
Adrenal Overload — Upgrades Symbiote for more damage. Picked in the survival build.

3Level 7

The options at level 7 and which build picks each one:

Vile Nest — Upgrades Toxic Nest for more utility. Picked in the utility build.
Networked Carapace — Upgrades Symbiote for more survivability.
Calldown: MULE — Adds an active ability for survivability. Picked in the balanced, damage and survival builds.

4Level 10

Your heroic: the most important choice of the game. Pick it after seeing the enemy team.

Ultimate Evolution — Heroic ability focused on damage. Picked in the balanced, damage and utility builds.
Evolve Monstrosity — Heroic ability focused on survivability. Picked in the survival build.

5Level 13

The options at level 13 and which build picks each one:

Soma Transference — Upgrades Symbiote for more survivability. Picked in the survival build.
Spatial Efficiency — Upgrades Symbiote for more utility.
Bombard Strain — The most utility-focused option at level 13. Picked in the balanced, damage and utility builds.

6Level 16

The options at level 16 and which build picks each one:

Envenomed Spikes — Upgrades Symbiote for more utility. Picked in the utility build.
Adrenaline Boost — Upgrades Symbiote for more utility.
Volatile Mutation — Upgrades Ultimate Evolution for more damage. Picked in the survival build.
Survival Instincts — The most damage-focused option at level 16. Picked in the balanced and damage builds.

7Level 20

Level 20 upgrades your heroic or adds a late-game tool. It decides the final fights.

Evolutionary Link — Upgrades Ultimate Evolution for more survivability.
Evolution Complete — The most damage-focused option at level 20. Picked in the balanced, damage and utility builds.
Hivemind — Upgrades Symbiote for more damage. Picked in the survival build.
Locust Nest — Adds an active ability.

Tips

Choose the level 10 heroic after seeing the enemy team: Evolve Monstrosity or Ultimate Evolution.
Quest talents pay off only if you complete them early; skip them if you're not sure.
A talent that upgrades an ability you rarely use is worth less than it looks.
Talents unlock for the whole team at the same level: watch the enemy's level 10 too.