Maiev · Melee Assassin
Maiev for Beginners
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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
Maiev is a melee Melee Assassin in Heroes of the Storm. In this guide you play it as Melee Assassin: your job is to catch isolated enemies and burst down the backline. Maiev is of average difficulty: learn the basics below and it rewards you quickly.
Strengths
- Crowd control: Containment Disc applies a silence.
- Mobility with Vault of the Wardens.
- Clear job in the team: catch isolated enemies and burst down the backline.
Weaknesses
- Melee range: ranged heroes can poke it freely.
- Has to dive in to deal damage, so it needs follow-up.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
Builds
Simple talents
When to use it
Avoids quest and active talents where it can: passive picks that work without extra buttons or conditions.
Map job
Battlegrounds change every match, so this is its job on any of them.
- Solo laneHolds a lane alone and wins it.
- Double soakSoaks experience in two lanes at once.
RotateMainRotates between lanes to create kills and pressure.- Mercenary campsTakes mercenary camps when it is safe.
- With the teamStays with the team for fights and objectives.
Talents by level
Bonds of JusticeQuest: Each tether applied to a secondary target of Umbral Bind permanently increases Umbral Bind's pull damage by 15. Reward: After applying 5 tethers to secondary targets, increase Umbral Bind's pull damage by 75. Reward: After applying 10 tethers to secondary targets, increase Umbral Bind's cleave damage by 30%.WQuest
Pursuit of VengeanceEach Hero tethered by Umbral Bind reduces the cooldown of Spirit of Vengeance by 2.5 seconds and each Hero hit by Spirit of Vengeance reduces the cooldown of Umbral Bind by 1 second.W
Naisha's MementoActivate to make primary Basic Attacks bounce between nearby enemies up to 2 times. Lasts 8 seconds. Recharge Naisha's Memento by hitting at least 2 Heroes with a single Fan of Knives.Active
- 1Upgrades Umbral Bind for more utility.
- 4Upgrades Spirit of Vengeance for more survivability.
- 7Upgrades Umbral Bind for more survivability.
- 10Heroic ability focused on utility.
- 13Upgrades Fan of Knives for more survivability.
- 16Upgrades Umbral Bind for more damage.
- 20Adds an active ability for damage.
Abilities
QFan of Knives4s30 mpDeal 152 (+4% per level) damage to enemies in a crescent area. Hitting at least 2 enemy Heroes with Fan of Knives reduces its cooldown to 0.5 seconds, and refunds its Mana cost.- WUmbral Bind14s55 mpMaiev's next Basic Attack cleaves and applies a tether to enemy Heroes hit for 2.5 seconds. If a tethered Hero moves too far from Maiev, they are pulled toward her, dealing 110 (+4% per level) damage and breaking the tether.
ESpirit of Vengeance13s50 mpSend a shadow of Maiev outward that will return to its cast location, dealing 150 (+4% per level) damage to enemies along both paths. If an enemy Hero is hit, reduce the cooldown by 4 seconds.
RContainment DiscHeroic40s50 mpThrow a glaive in the target direction. If an enemy Hero is hit, Containment Disc can be reactivated to remove their vision and Time Stop them for 4 seconds. Leaving Containment Silences the enemy Hero for 1.5 seconds. Containment Disc automatically activates 6 seconds after hitting a Hero.Heroic — applies a silence. Save it for priority targets or to interrupt a channel.
RWarden's CageHeroic100s80 mpSummon 8 Warden Avatars as a cage around Maiev. After 1.5 seconds, enemy Heroes that come in contact with an Avatar consume it and are knocked to the center of the cage. Warden Avatars last 5 seconds.Heroic — summons units. Plan your fights around its cooldown.
DVault of the WardensTrait13sLeap into the air, becoming Immune to all hostile effects for 0.75 seconds. After reaching Level 20, Vault of the Wardens gains an additional charge.
Strategy
1What Maiev does
Maiev is a melee Melee Assassin in Heroes of the Storm. The kit brings crowd control (silence) with Containment Disc and mobility with Vault of the Wardens. At level 10 you choose between the heroics Containment Disc and Warden's Cage.
2The basics
In this guide you play it as Melee Assassin: your job is to catch isolated enemies and burst down the backline.
- Timing: dive after the enemy's crowd control, not before.
- Target selection: the squishiest target is usually the right one.
3Common mistakes
Most new players lose games with the same few mistakes. Avoid these and you'll already be ahead:
- Diving before your team is ready.
- Chasing into the enemy team.
- Going in with your escape on cooldown.
4Your first games
Early, soak experience and look for isolated enemies around the map. Your damage is highest against heroes who can't escape. Use the simple build in this guide and don't worry about situational choices yet.
Tips
- Timing: dive after the enemy's crowd control, not before.
- Target selection: the squishiest target is usually the right one.
- Experience is shared by the whole team: being in lane to soak it matters as much as fighting.
- Learn what Containment Disc and Warden's Cage do before your first game: you'll choose one at level 10.
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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