Li-Ming · Ranged Assassin
Li-Ming Guide
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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
Li-Ming is a ranged Ranged Assassin in Heroes of the Storm. In this guide you play it as Ranged Assassin: your job is to deal consistent damage from range and clear waves. The kit brings mobility with Teleport. At level 10 you choose between the heroics Wave Of Force and Disintegrate.
Strengths
- Strong gank potential around the map.
- Puts pressure on structures.
- Mobility with Teleport.
Weaknesses
- Mana-hungry: Blizzard flags its energy as important, so manage it early.
- Fragile when divers reach it.
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.
- Survival talentsDefensiveSituationalAt each level, the talent with the most healing, shields or armor. Choose it against dive or heavy burst.
- Utility talentsUtilitySituationalAt each level, the talent with the most control, cooldown reduction or vision. Choose it when your team needs setup more than damage.
Builds
Balanced talents
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 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
Force ArmorWhen Magic Missiles damages an enemy Hero, gain 50 Spell Armor, reducing the damage taken by the next Ability by 50%. Gain 1 charge per cast and store up to 4 charges. Passive: Li-Ming's Mana regeneration is increased by 100% while below 35% Mana.Q
Aether WalkerTeleport costs no Mana. If Li-Ming hasn't taken damage in the last 3 seconds, Teleport's cooldown is decreased by 2 seconds. Casting Teleport causes Li-Ming's next cast of Magic Missiles to deal 10% bonus damage.E
Power HungryRegeneration Globes restore 100% more Mana and grant 10% Spell Power for 20 seconds.Passive
- 1Fits more than one plan at level 1: damage and utility.
- 4The most damage-focused option at level 4.
- 7Upgrades Teleport for more damage.
- 10Heroic ability focused on damage.
- 13The most damage-focused option at level 13.
- 16Upgrades Arcane Orb for more damage.
- 20The most damage-focused option at level 20.
Survival talents
When to use it
At each level, the talent with the most healing, shields or armor. Choose it against dive or heavy burst.
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
- Force ArmorWhen Magic Missiles damages an enemy Hero, gain 50 Spell Armor, reducing the damage taken by the next Ability by 50%. Gain 1 charge per cast and store up to 4 charges. Passive: Li-Ming's Mana regeneration is increased by 100% while below 35% Mana.Q
- Aether WalkerTeleport costs no Mana. If Li-Ming hasn't taken damage in the last 3 seconds, Teleport's cooldown is decreased by 2 seconds. Casting Teleport causes Li-Ming's next cast of Magic Missiles to deal 10% bonus damage.E
- Power HungryRegeneration Globes restore 100% more Mana and grant 10% Spell Power for 20 seconds.Passive
- 1Upgrades Magic Missiles for more survivability.
- 4The most survivability-focused option at level 4.
- 7Upgrades Teleport for more damage.
- 10Heroic ability focused on damage.
- 13The most survivability-focused option at level 13.
- 16Upgrades Teleport for more survivability.
- 20Upgrades Disintegrate.
Utility talents
When to use it
At each level, the talent with the most control, cooldown reduction or vision. Choose it when your team needs setup more than damage.
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
- Force ArmorWhen Magic Missiles damages an enemy Hero, gain 50 Spell Armor, reducing the damage taken by the next Ability by 50%. Gain 1 charge per cast and store up to 4 charges. Passive: Li-Ming's Mana regeneration is increased by 100% while below 35% Mana.Q
- Aether WalkerTeleport costs no Mana. If Li-Ming hasn't taken damage in the last 3 seconds, Teleport's cooldown is decreased by 2 seconds. Casting Teleport causes Li-Ming's next cast of Magic Missiles to deal 10% bonus damage.E
- Power HungryRegeneration Globes restore 100% more Mana and grant 10% Spell Power for 20 seconds.Passive
- 1Upgrades Magic Missiles for more utility.
- 4Upgrades Arcane Orb for more utility.
- 7Upgrades Arcane Orb for more utility.
- 10Heroic ability focused on utility.
- 13Upgrades Teleport for more utility.
- 16Upgrades Magic Missiles for more utility.
- 20Upgrades Wave of Force for more utility.
Abilities
- QMagic Missiles3s20 mpFire three missiles toward an area, each dealing 147 (+3.5% per level) damage to the first enemy hit. These missiles do 50% damage to Structures.
WArcane Orb8s40 mpFire an Orb that powers up as it travels, dealing 135 (+3% per level) damage to the first enemy hit. Damage is increased the further it travels, up to 270 (+3% per level) more damage.- ETeleport5s30 mpTeleport a short distance instantly.Basic ability — moves you. Keep it to escape unless the kill is certain.
RDisintegrateHeroic20s80 mpChannel a powerful beam, dealing 480 (+5% per level) damage over 2.6 seconds to enemies while they are in it. The direction of the beam changes with your mouse cursor position.Heroic. Plan your fights around its cooldown.
RWave of ForceHeroic30s80 mpKnock away all enemies from an area and deal 160 (+5% per level) damage.Heroic — hits an area. Plan your fights around its cooldown.
Critical MassTraitGetting a Takedown will refresh the cooldown on all of Li-Ming's Abilities.
Strategy
1Early game
Early, soak experience, clear waves quickly and poke the enemy from a safe distance. Don't trade health you can't get back. Trade at the edge of your range, and walk away as soon as the enemy starts to close the gap.
- Early talents: Aether Walker and Charged Blast.
2Mid game
At level 10, Disintegrate or Wave of Force becomes your fight-winning tool. Stay behind your frontline and deal damage without being reached.
- Heroics: Wave Of Force and Disintegrate.
3Late game
Late, you're a priority target: keep your distance, respect the enemy's heroics and never walk ahead of your tank.
- Level 20: Tal Rasha's Elements.
4Team fights
Hit the closest target you can reach safely and keep Teleport for the enemy dive.
Tips
- Keep Teleport for when the enemy dives you, not to chase.
- Choose between Disintegrate and Wave of Force depending on the enemy team.
- Arrive at map objectives and mercenary camps before they start: the team that is there first chooses the fight.
- Keep Teleport for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
Blizzard classifies Zeratul as a Melee Assassin, and they have to close the gap before they can do anything to Li-Ming, who fights at range.
Blizzard classifies Alarak as a Melee Assassin, and they have to close the gap before they can do anything to Li-Ming, who fights at range.
Blizzard classifies Illidan as a Melee Assassin, and they have to close the gap before they can do anything to Li-Ming, who fights at range.
Weak against
Black Hole (stun) lets Tassadar pin Li-Ming down before Teleport gets them out.
Black Arrows (stun) lets Sylvanas pin Li-Ming down before Teleport gets them out.
Valkyrie (stun) lets Cassia pin Li-Ming down before Teleport gets them out.
Changelog
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98304.
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98297.
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98285.
- Guide created for patch 2.55.17.98025.
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