Mal'Ganis Talents, Level by Level · Heroes of the Storm Guide

Overview

In Heroes of the Storm there are no items: Mal'Ganis 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 Dark Conversion or Carrion Swarm, and level 20, when the heroic gets its upgrade.

Strengths

Heals itself, which keeps it in lane longer.
Strong gank potential around the map.
Crowd control: Fel Claws applies a stun.

Weaknesses

Low damage by itself: it needs its team to finish kills.
Low damage on its own.

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 soakSoaks experience in two lanes at once.
RotateMoves between lanes to gank and help.
Mercenary campsTakes mercenary camps when it is safe.
With the teamMainStays with the team: it wins fights, not lanes.

Talents by level

Will of TichondriusQuest: Hit Heroes with Fel Claws to permanently increase Fel Claw's damage by 0.25. Quest: Hit 4 Heroes in the first 2 slashes to cause the final slash to increase damage by 1. Reward: Upon gaining 20 bonus damage, the final Stun is increased by 0.25 seconds and the final slash steals 4% of enemy Hero Health.
Winged GuardEach time Necrotic Embrace hits an enemy Hero, gain 75 Physical Armor against the next enemy Hero Basic Attack. If Winged Guard has no charges, Mal'Ganis will gain 1 charge after 5 seconds.W
Time to FeedMal'Ganis heals for 70 (+4% per level) when damaging a nearby enemy Hero. This can occur once every 6 seconds against each enemy Hero, but is also refreshed when they are Slept by Night Rush.Passive

1Fits more than one plan at level 1: damage and survivability.
4Fits more than one plan at level 4: damage and utility.
7Fits more than one plan at level 7: damage and survivability.
10Fits more than one plan at level 10: damage and survivability.
13Fits more than one plan at level 13: survivability and utility.
16Fits more than one plan at level 16: survivability and damage.
20Fits more than one plan at level 20: damage and utility.

Abilities

QFel Claws8s45 mpViolently slash in the chosen direction, dealing 66 (+4% per level) damage to enemies. Reactivate to slash up to 2 more times. The third slash Stuns enemies for 0.75 seconds.
WNecrotic Embrace8s35 mpDesecrate the air, dealing 110 (+4% per level) damage to nearby enemies and gaining 25 Armor for 3 seconds.
ENight Rush14s70 mpAfter 0.75 seconds, gain 50% Movement Speed for 2 seconds. While active, Mal'Ganis can move through enemy Heroes and put them to Sleep for 2.5 seconds.
RDark ConversionHeroic60s60 mpChannel on an enemy Hero for 0.75 seconds, then swap Health percentages with the target over 3 seconds.
RCarrion SwarmHeroic100s70 mpAfter 1 second, disperse into an Invulnerable swarm of bats for 3 seconds, dealing 120 (+4% per level) damage per second to enemies. Vampiric Touch heals for 75% of Carrion Swarm's damage to Heroes.
Vampiric TouchTraitMal'Ganis heals for 45% of damage dealt to enemy Heroes and 10% of damage dealt to non-Heroes.

Strategy

1Level 1

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

Will of Tichondrius — Quest talent: it only pays off if you complete it early, so commit to it. Picked in the balanced, damage and utility builds.
Time to Feed — Upgrades Night Rush for more survivability. Picked in the survival build.
Winged Guard — Upgrades Necrotic Embrace for more survivability.

2Level 4

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

Echo of Doom — Upgrades Necrotic Embrace for more damage. Picked in the balanced, damage and utility builds.
Vampiric Aura — The most damage-focused option at level 4. Picked in the survival build.
Might of Sargeras — Upgrades Necrotic Embrace for more survivability.

3Level 7

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

Black Claws — Upgrades Fel Claws for more damage. Picked in the balanced, damage and survival builds.
Fueled by Torment — Upgrades Necrotic Embrace for more utility. Picked in the utility build.
Spreading Plague — Upgrades Night Rush for more damage.

4Level 10

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

Carrion Swarm — Heroic ability focused on damage. Picked in the balanced, damage, survival and utility builds.
Dark Conversion — Heroic ability focused on survivability.

5Level 13

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

Deep Sleep — Upgrades Night Rush for more utility.
The Night Beckons — Upgrades Night Rush for more damage. Picked in the damage build.
Blood Rush — The most survivability-focused option at level 13. Picked in the balanced, survival and utility builds.

6Level 16

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

Plague Bats — Upgrades Necrotic Embrace for more damage.
Frenzied Assault — The most survivability-focused option at level 16. Picked in the balanced, damage and survival builds.
Blind as a Bat — Upgrades Fel Claws for more utility. Picked in the utility build.

7Level 20

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

Seeker Swarm — Upgrades Carrion Swarm for more damage.
Wrath of Nathreza — Upgrades Vampiric Touch for more damage.
Vanquish the Weak — Upgrades Fel Claws for more damage. Picked in the balanced, damage and survival builds.
Alone in the Dark — Upgrades Night Rush for more utility. Picked in the utility build.

Tips

Choose the level 10 heroic after seeing the enemy team: Dark Conversion or Carrion Swarm.
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.