Skip to content
Heroes of the Storm
GuidesMetaBuildsTiersDraftNewsWeeklyHeroesTalentsBattlegrounds
A full hero guideTalents per levelHeroes S to D
All games

Kel'Thuzad · Ranged Assassin

Kel'Thuzad in ARAM

ARAMData-drivenMediumPatch 2.57.0.98304
6.1KUpdated

More Kel'Thuzad guides

This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.

Overview

ARAM puts everyone in a single lane with random heroes: there are no map objectives to split for, so the game is decided by team fights and by who manages health and mana better. In ARAM you'll be poking all the time: stay behind the group and use your damage every time it's ready.

Strengths

  • Strong gank potential around the map.
  • Crowd control: Frost Nova applies a root.
  • Clear job in the team: deal consistent damage from range and clear waves.

Weaknesses

  • No escape tools: vulnerable when divers reach it.
  • Mana-hungry: Blizzard flags its energy as important, so manage it early.

Build cheat sheet

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

Builds

ARAM talents

OffensiveARAM
Open build

When to use it

Constant fights in one lane: damage early to win the trades, survivability later to outlast the long team fights.

Map job

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

  • Solo laneHolds a lane alone and wins it.
  • Double soakMainSoaks experience in a lane, usually alongside a teammate, and clears waves fast.
  • RotateMoves between lanes to gank and help.
  • Mercenary campsTakes mercenary camps when it is safe.
  • With the teamStays with the team for fights and objectives.

Talents by level

  • The PlaguelandsIncrease Death and Decay's duration by 1 second. After gaining 30 Blight, increase the radius of Death and Decay's pool by 30%.Q
  • Blighted FrostFrost Nova deals 75% more damage to enemies in the center. After gaining 30 Blight, increase Frost Nova's Root duration by 0.5 seconds.W
  • Barbed ChainsIncrease Chains of Kel'Thuzad damage by 125%. After gaining 30 Blight, Chains of Kel'Thuzad reduces the Armor of pulled Heroes by 10 for 4 seconds.E
  • 1Upgrades Chains of Kel'Thuzad for more damage.
  • 4Adds an active ability for damage.
  • 7The most damage-focused option at level 7.
  • 10Heroic ability focused on damage.
  • 13Upgrades Chains of Kel'Thuzad for more utility.
  • 16Upgrades Death and Decay for more damage.
  • 20Upgrades Frost Blast for more utility.

Abilities

  • QDeath and Decay5s20 mpAfter 0.5 seconds, launch an orb that explodes upon hitting an enemy, dealing 150 (+2.5% per level) damage to enemies in the area. The explosion leaves behind a pool of decay that lasts 2 seconds, dealing 82 (+2.5% per level) damage every 0.5 seconds to enemies.
  • WFrost Nova8s50 mpCreate a nova that explodes after 1 second, dealing 180 (+2.5% per level) damage to enemies inside and Slowing them by 35% for 2.5 seconds. Enemies in the center are Rooted for 1 second.
  • EChains of Kel'Thuzad10s50 mpLaunch a chain, dealing 97 (+2.5% per level) damage to the first enemy Hero hit. For 3 seconds after hitting an enemy, Chains can be reactivated to launch to an additional enemy, pulling both enemies together and Stunning them for 0.5 seconds.
  • RFrost BlastHeroic50s45 mpLaunch a meteor of ice at an enemy Hero. Upon impact, the meteor deals 115 (+2.5% per level) damage to its target and 275 (+2.5% per level) damage to enemies in the area. All enemies hit by Frost Blast are Rooted for 2 seconds.Heroic — applies a root and hits an area. Use it on the target your team can kill.
  • RShadow FissureHeroic16s40 mpCreate a fissure anywhere on the Battleground that explodes after 1.5 seconds, dealing 320 (+2.5% per level) damage to enemy Heroes in its area. If an enemy Hero is hit, set its cooldown to 1.5 seconds.Heroic. Plan your fights around its cooldown.
  • Master of the Cold DarkTraitQuest: Gain 1 Blight every time a Hero is Rooted by Frost Nova or hit by Chains of Kel'Thuzad. Reward: After gaining 15 Blight, gain the Glacial Spike Ability. Reward: After gaining 30 Blight, gain 75% Spell Power. Blight: 0/30
  • 1Glacial Spike30sActivate to create a spike that detonates after 4 seconds, dealing 70 (+2.5% per level) damage to nearby enemies. The spike can be affected by Chains of Kel'Thuzad.

Strategy

1What changes

ARAM puts everyone in a single lane with random heroes: there are no map objectives to split for, so the game is decided by team fights and by who manages health and mana better.

2Build adjustments

Constant fights in one lane: damage early to win the trades, survivability later to outlast the long team fights.

3Fighting

Hit the closest target you can reach safely: your damage only counts while you're alive. In ARAM you'll be poking all the time: stay behind the group and use your damage every time it's ready.

Tips

  • In ARAM you'll be poking all the time: stay behind the group and use your damage every time it's ready.
  • Pick the heroic that wins team fights: Frost Blast or Shadow Fissure.
  • Don't chase alone: the enemy is always grouped.
  • Grab regeneration globes and use the healing fountain between fights.

Changelog

  1. Updated for patch 2.57.0.98304.
  2. Updated for patch 2.57.0.98297.
  3. Updated for patch 2.57.0.98285.
  4. Guide created for patch 2.55.17.98025.

Was this helpful?

Your vote helps other players find the best guides.