Ragnaros · Bruiser
Ragnaros Talents, Level by Level
TalentsData-drivenMediumPatch 2.57.0.98304
7.9KUpdated
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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
In Heroes of the Storm there are no items: Ragnaros 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 Sulfuras Smash or Lava Wave, and level 20, when the heroic gets its upgrade.
Strengths
- Has escape tools, according to Blizzard's own hero tags.
- Crowd control: Empower Sulfuras applies a stun.
- Sustain from Empower Sulfuras.
Weaknesses
- Low damage by itself: it needs its team to finish kills.
- 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.
- 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
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 laneMainHolds a lane alone so the rest of the team can rotate.- Double soakPriority 2Soaks 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
Sulfuras HungersQuest: Every time Empower Sulfuras kills a Minion, its damage is increased by 1, up to 25. Reward: After killing 25 Minions, increase its damage by an additional 100.QQuest
Shifting MeteorEach time an enemy is hit by the same Living Meteor, they take 6% increased damage from it. Quest: Hit 75 Heroes with Living Meteor. Reward: After hitting 75 Heroes with Living Meteor, its duration is increased to 2.25 seconds, and it can be reactivated to change its direction once per use.WQuest
Engulfing FlameIncrease Blast Wave's damage by 50% and its radius by 15%.E
- 1Upgrades Blast Wave for more damage.
- 4Fits more than one plan at level 4: survivability and damage.
- 7Fits more than one plan at level 7: damage and utility.
- 10Heroic ability focused on damage.
- 13Fits more than one plan at level 13: damage and survivability.
- 16Upgrades Living Meteor for more damage.
- 20Upgrades Molten Core for more utility.
Damage talents
OffensiveAdvanced
When to use it
At each level, the talent most focused on damage. Choose it when your team has enough frontline and needs you to kill.
Map job
Battlegrounds change every match, so this is its job on any of them.
- Solo laneMainHolds a lane alone so the rest of the team can rotate.
- Double soakPriority 2Soaks 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
- Sulfuras HungersQuest: Every time Empower Sulfuras kills a Minion, its damage is increased by 1, up to 25. Reward: After killing 25 Minions, increase its damage by an additional 100.QQuest
- Shifting MeteorEach time an enemy is hit by the same Living Meteor, they take 6% increased damage from it. Quest: Hit 75 Heroes with Living Meteor. Reward: After hitting 75 Heroes with Living Meteor, its duration is increased to 2.25 seconds, and it can be reactivated to change its direction once per use.WQuest
- Engulfing FlameIncrease Blast Wave's damage by 50% and its radius by 15%.E
- 1Quest talent: it only pays off if you complete it early, so commit to it.
- 4Quest talent: it only pays off if you complete it early, so commit to it.
- 7The most damage-focused option at level 7.
- 10Heroic ability focused on damage.
- 13Upgrades Empower Sulfuras for more damage.
- 16Upgrades Living Meteor for more damage.
- 20Upgrades Molten Core for more utility.
Survival talents
DefensiveSituational
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 laneMainHolds a lane alone so the rest of the team can rotate.
- Double soakPriority 2Soaks 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
- Sulfuras HungersQuest: Every time Empower Sulfuras kills a Minion, its damage is increased by 1, up to 25. Reward: After killing 25 Minions, increase its damage by an additional 100.QQuest
- Shifting MeteorEach time an enemy is hit by the same Living Meteor, they take 6% increased damage from it. Quest: Hit 75 Heroes with Living Meteor. Reward: After hitting 75 Heroes with Living Meteor, its duration is increased to 2.25 seconds, and it can be reactivated to change its direction once per use.WQuest
- Engulfing FlameIncrease Blast Wave's damage by 50% and its radius by 15%.E
- 1Upgrades Blast Wave for more damage.
- 4Quest talent: it only pays off if you complete it early, so commit to it.
- 7The most damage-focused option at level 7.
- 10Heroic ability focused on damage.
- 13Upgrades Empower Sulfuras for more survivability.
- 16Upgrades Empower Sulfuras for more survivability.
- 20The most survivability-focused option at level 20.
Abilities
- QEmpower Sulfuras4s25 mpRagnaros's next Basic Attack is instant, dealing 191 (+4% per level) Ability damage in an area, and heals for 20% of the damage dealt. Healing doubled versus Heroes. Molten Core: Molten Swing Stun and damage nearby enemies.
- WLiving Meteor12s60 mpVector Targeting Summon a meteor at the target point that deals 68 (+4% per level) damage, then rolls in the target direction dealing 272 (+4% per level) damage per second for 1.75 seconds. Molten Core: Meteor Shower Drop a line of meteor impacts.
- EBlast Wave9s50 mpIgnite Ragnaros or an ally, granting 25% Movement Speed for 1.5 seconds before exploding dealing 104 (+4% per level) damage to nearby enemies. Molten Core: Explosive Rune Cause a delayed explosion in a large area.
RSulfuras SmashHeroic60s70 mpHurl Sulfuras at the target area, landing after 0.75 seconds, dealing 250 (+4% per level) damage. Enemies in the center take 594 (+4% per level) damage instead and are Stunned for 0.5 seconds.
RLava WaveHeroic120s80 mpRelease a wave of lava from Ragnaros's Core that travels down the targeted lane, dealing 240 (+4% per level) damage per second to non-Structure enemies in its path and instantly killing enemy Minions. Damage increased by 100% versus Heroes.
DMolten CoreTrait120sChannel on an allied or destroyed Fort or Keep to replace it with Ragnaros's ultimate form, temporarily gaining new Abilities, having 3996 (+4% per level) Health that burns away over 18 seconds. Ragnaros returns to his normal form upon losing all Health in Molten Core.
Strategy
1Level 1
The options at level 1 and which build picks each one:
- Engulfing Flame — Upgrades Blast Wave for more damage. Picked in the balanced, survival and utility builds.
- Sulfuras Hungers — Quest talent: it only pays off if you complete it early, so commit to it. Picked in the damage build.
- Shifting Meteor — Upgrades Living Meteor for more damage.
2Level 4
The options at level 4 and which build picks each one:
- Slow Burn — Upgrades Blast Wave for more utility. Picked in the utility build.
- Fire Ward — Upgrades Living Meteor for more damage.
- Catching Fire — Quest talent: it only pays off if you complete it early, so commit to it. Picked in the balanced, damage and survival builds.
3Level 7
The options at level 7 and which build picks each one:
- Hand of Ragnaros — Upgrades Empower Sulfuras for more utility. Picked in the utility build.
- Molten Power — Upgrades Living Meteor for more utility.
- Blistering Attacks — The most damage-focused option at level 7. 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.
- Sulfuras Smash — Heroic ability focused on damage. Picked in the utility build.
- Lava Wave — Heroic ability focused on damage. Picked in the balanced, damage and survival builds.
5Level 13
The options at level 13 and which build picks each one:
- Cauterize Wounds — Upgrades Empower Sulfuras for more damage. Picked in the balanced, damage and survival builds.
- Tempered Flame — Upgrades Blast Wave for more damage.
- Resilient Flame — The most utility-focused option at level 13. Picked in the utility build.
6Level 16
The options at level 16 and which build picks each one:
- Meteor Bomb — Upgrades Living Meteor for more damage. Picked in the balanced and damage builds.
- Giant Scorcher — Upgrades Empower Sulfuras for more damage. Picked in the survival build.
- Blast Echo — Upgrades Blast Wave for more damage. Picked in the utility build.
7Level 20
Level 20 upgrades your heroic or adds a late-game tool. It decides the final fights.
- Flames of Sulfuron — Upgrades Sulfuras Smash for more utility. Picked in the utility build.
- Lava Surge — Upgrades Lava Wave.
- Heroic Difficulty — Upgrades Molten Core for more utility. Picked in the balanced and damage builds.
- Submerge — The most survivability-focused option at level 20. Picked in the survival build.
Tips
- Choose the level 10 heroic after seeing the enemy team: Sulfuras Smash or Lava Wave.
- 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.
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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