With Swords and Fire...

Written by iMDeBadDragoon

Alt-Tab Guide

Table of Content

Foreword
Basic Information
Stats
Skills
Skill Build
Item Build
Gameplay
Good Allies
Bad Enemies
Replays
Conclusion

Foreword

Ever since the older version, the Dragon Knight has been one of the heroes that almost didn't change in terms of builds and gameplay, just a slight of change in item build at most. This, unfortunately, has made his playstyle incredibly predictable. Therefore, I would like to introduce several different playstyles for this hero. Finally, I would like to remind that this build is intended for pub level play and might not work on higher level play.

Basic Information

Stats

19 + 2.8

19 + 2.2

15 + 1.7

Pros:

Exceptional AGI gain for a STR hero
High armor and regen
Spammable skills
Long single target stun
No cast animation

Cons:

Horrible starting STR
Mana issues
Can't solo with ease
Slow in human form

Skills

Breathe Fire - Active, Target Point

	Mana	Cooldown	Range	AoE	Duration	Effects
1	100	12	500	150 (Start), 250 (End), 500 (Distance)	N/A	75 damage
2	110	12	500	150 (Start), 250 (End), 500 (Distance)	N/A	150 damage
3	120	12	500	150 (Start), 250 (End), 500 (Distance)	N/A	225 damage
4	130	12	500	150 (Start), 250 (End), 500 (Distance)	N/A	300 damage

This is your main damage spell, used mainly for quick pushing or farming. Like Jakiro's Dual Breath, this skill can also be used to last hit heroes, though this would require some positioning as you don't have crazy range like ES's Fissure or PotM's Elune Arrow.

Dragon Tail - Active, Target Unit

	Mana	Cooldown	Range	AoE	Duration	Effects
1	100	9	150	N/A	2.5	25 damage and stun
2	100	9	150	N/A	2.75	50 damage and stun
3	100	9	150	N/A	3	75 damage and stun
4	100	9	150	N/A	3.25	100 damage and stun

This is your spammable melee-range stun skill. It has a very long duration considering that it has the cooldown of only 9 secs. The downside is that it has to be cast at melee range, making you very vulnerable to be targeted. his skill is best used as a gank initiator w/ invis rune/Lothars/Dagger or chained with other stuns.

Dragon Blood - Passive

	Mana	Cooldown	Range	AoE	Duration	Effects
1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Regen 1 HP/sec and add 2 armor
2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Regen 2 HP/sec and add 4 armor
3	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Regen 3 HP/sec and add 6 armor
4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Regen 4 HP/sec and add 8 armor

Ahh, the great Dragon Blood. This skill is what caused DK to be played as a tank when he isn't. This skill provides all the survivability you'll need early game except for protection from disables. It gives a good number of armor and regen, so I recommend getting it very early if you're not buying Ring of Health.

Elder Dragon Form - Active, Targeting Instant

	Mana	Cooldown	Range	AoE	Duration	Effects
1	50	115	N/A	N/A	60	+25 MS, become ranged (500 units), Corrosive Breath orb (20 DPS, works on structures, lasts 5 secs)
2	50	115	N/A	N/A	60	+25 MS, become ranged (500 units), Splash (100% in 75 AoE, 75% in 150 AoE, 50% in 250 AoE)
3	50	115	N/A	N/A	60	+25 MS, become ranged (500 units), Splash (100% in 75 AoE, 75% in 150 AoE, 50% in 250 AoE), Freezing Breath buff placer (slow 30% MS and 20% AS, lasts 3 secs)

The Dragon form is the skill that makes DK dangerous, as each level of Dragon gives it's own advantage. The 1st level provides a DoT orb that works on structures and does damage on par with Veno's Poison Sting. This skill can net you 2-3 towers in before level 11. The level 2 Dragon has Splash, which IMHO is useless. It is good for pushing, but it is not very useful in clashes and in tower sieges. It is also good for farming and uses less mana than Breathe Fire, but it might cause you to go melee in clashes, something you really want to avoid.

Skill Build

TowerKiller-to-Clasher build
1. Dragon Tail
2. Breathe Fire/Dragon Blood
3. Dragon Blood/Breathe Fire
4. Breathe Fire/Dragon Blood
5. Dragon Blood/Breathe Fire
6. Elder Dragon Form
7-8. Breathe Fire
9-14. Dragon Blood/Stats
15. Don't take any skill
16. Elder Dragon Form x2
17-22. Stats
23-25. Dragon Tail

This build is built upon dealing constant DPS, on tower early on and on heroes later. The focus of this build is to take down as many towers as possible before hitting level 16, and then start raping clashes with your uber Frost Breath. 1 level of Dragon Tail is taken as 2.5 sec stun with 9 sec CD is good enough, Breathe Fire is maxed on level 8, which allows you to farm fairly quickly. 2 levels of Dragon Blood early to provide some armor and regen when sieging towers, though you still shouldn't try tanking before getting some extra HP. Dragon Blood may be maxed to give more armor and a slight regen addition, but it isn't very useful when level later in the game. Do not take level 2 Dragon Form at level 15, as you'd be better off with level 1 Dragon Form. Dragon Tail may be maxed any time after maxing Dragon Blood, but only if you need a longer disable. Blow as many towers as possible before level 16!

Pusher build
1. Dragon Blood
2-3. Breathe Fire
4. Dragon Blood
5. Breathe Fire
6. Elder Dragon Form
7. Breathe Fire
8-9. Dragon Blood
10. Dragon Tail
11. Elder Dragon Form
12-14. Dragon Tail
15. Stats
16. Elder Dragon Form
17-25. Stats

This build is focused on spamming your Breathe Fire

Item Build

Gameplay

Good Allies

Bad Enemies

Replays

Conclusion