Ghurzuk's guide to Enigma, the game controller

First of everything, I would like to thank this website to allow me to post my first guide to my favorite hero.

Second: This is my first guide, so it can result incomplete or maybe a low quality one, compared to the others, which are wonderful!

Contents:
1 foreword
2 why play enigma?
3 hero's info
4 strategy
5 items
6 videos

1 foreword

Engma has always been ignored, as ppl look at him say always "omg look that hero! Only a nap would play such nerfed character!". My answer is: you don't know anything about enigma dear sir. Ok is true enigma lack of escape mechanism, lack of speed and plenty stuff, but is the int hero who got a good str and good str gain. With some practice, he can become an unstoppable force to deal with. Many long term games brought me as n1 terror in clash fight, to only thanks to my ultimate, but also thanks to the control who got enigma. With a guinsoo or an eul scepter u are capable to stop 3 heroes at the same time, helping your teammates in every class. Enigma is, of course, team dependent. Is impossible to kill an hero in 1v1 with this character, unless there is an abyssal difference in skill/equip/level.

2 why play enigma?

Enigma is a strong support character. Givehim a mekansm, a guinsoo or eul scepter, a forcestaff and you will see the three meaning of "pain" for the other team: you can save your teammates from death, heal them enough to survive, stun opponents or hex them. This allow your focussed dos to not play defensively and so they can easily score a kill. A good enigma got few kills and tons of assist: let fletcher, bounty hunter or bloodseeker score a kill, they need more than you.

3 hero's info

HTML Code:

http://media.playdota.com/hero/98/icon.JPG

http://media.playdota.com/hero/98/character.gif

Strength http://media.playdota.com/site/strength.jpg 17 + 2.1

http://media.playdota.com/site/agility.jpg 14+1

http://media.playdota.com/site/intelligence-c.jpg 20 + 3.4

As you can see, enigma got very low ago gain, which prevent him to mass armor and AS. The three strength of this hero is hi str gain, very nice indeed for int hero. Yes, enigma can tank a little while to draw attention from you good carries. In every clash 90% of the time you will be the focus, so that's why getting some str is a good thing.

Hero's skills
Malefice

http://media.playdota.com/hero/98/skill-0.jpg

LevelMana CostCooldownCasting rangeArea of EffectDurationAllowed TargetsEffects
1110 15600 N/A2 seconds Enemy units 30 damage and 1s stun every 2 seconds
213015600 N/A4 seconds Enemy units 40 damage and 1s stun every 2 seconds
315015600 N/A4 seconds Enemy units 65 damage and 1s stun every 2 seconds
416015600 N/A6 seconds Enemy units 80 damage and 1s stun every 2 seconds

Demonic conversion

http://media.playdota.com/hero/98/skill-1.JPG

LevelMana CostCooldownCasting rangeArea of EffectDurationAllowed TargetsEffects
1170 35700 N/A35 seconds Non-hero unit Spawns 3 Lesser Eidolons
2170 35700 N/A35 seconds Non-hero unit Spawns 3 Eidolons
3170 35700 N/A35 seconds Non-hero unit Spawns 3 Greater Eidolons
4170 35700 N/A35 seconds Non-hero unit Spawns 3 Dire Eidolons

Midnight pulse

http://media.playdota.com/hero/98/skill-2.JPG

LevelMana CostCooldownCasting rangeArea of EffectDurationAllowed TargetsEffects
195 25500 400 8 seconds Enemy units3% max life lost per second
211025500 400 8 seconds Enemy units4% max life lost per second
3125 25500 400 8 seconds Enemy units5% max life lost per second
414025500 400 8 seconds Enemy units6% max life lost per second

Black Hole

http://media.playdota.com/hero/98/skill-3.JPG

LevelMana CostCooldownCasting rangeArea of EffectDurationAllowed TargetsEffects
1200 200250 375* / 500** /150***4 seconds Enemy units 30 damage at range, 60 damage close up
2300 190250 375* / 500** /150***4 seconds Enemy units 50 damage at range, 100 damage close up
3400 180250 375* / 500** /150***4 seconds Enemy units 70 damage at range, 140 damage close up

Strategy

Enigma can be played, by my point of view, in 2 ways: defensive support or offensive support.
Defensive support means that you take care of your team first and this means in every clash/gank, disable enemy so your teammate can stay alive while he owns other ppl.

Offensive means that you just try to disturb enemy as much as possible to allow your team to play safe. Seems the same thing but there is a big difference: item setup and skill usage.

The skills must be used smartly, for example do never malefic focus, unless he tp or run away, because your dos friends will be already on him. Try to malefic/cyclone/hex other dpsers who can help the focus target to escape the bank. Use black hole smartly, not only as initiator, but also as escape mechanism for your teammates. With a dagger on your inventory, you can virtually stop every gank. Later on in the game, of course, as all int heroes you lose your little burst potential, but is here where enigma shine. During the whole game you can farm with eidolons and line with your hero (more moneys at once) and during latgame you can control 2 lines if you got enough moneys to buy travel boots. How? simple. Convert and enemy creep, let your eidolons push in the line, tp on other line and repeat process. You are not like furion off, but still your eidolons are making more dog than treants. In clash fight you can be a good initiator, but don't initiate if is a suicide. Useless dagger+black hole if other team got one person hidden, maybe nostrum or traxex and you ulti. If the other is a stunner, then forget about it. Your tank should start, better if you got axe in your team, as his call gather all ppl. If you partner with magnus is even better: reverse magnitude+black hole give your team a 90% chance to win the clash. Also Leviatan can help you a lot. Eidolons become handy at level 4 in a clash, as they do a decent dmg in 4 together and so they can help burst a person down. Use them wisely.

5 Items

Defensive enigma

Starting items: http://media.playdota.com/items/24/icon.jpg http://media.playdota.com/items/22/icon.jpg x2
http://media.playdota.com/items/15/icon.jpg
http://media.playdota.com/items/26/icon.jpg

Tangoes are a survival choice, theorically as ranged hero u don't get hit too much, but anyway they become handy. You can trade to your lane mate if he needs or sell back in the future.

Clarity potion: do i really have to tell ya why u carry it?

Sobi mask: it can become a eul scepter later on and at start of the game is good having 50% enhanced mana regen.

Observer wards: usually in pugs are not useful while in in-house they are invaluable. Place one top or bottom rune and the other one in jungle: this prevent you to be ranked or react per time if needed. Better safe than sorry!!!

http://media.playdota.com/items/99/icon.jpg with eul u can hex/cyclone and stun enemy...

http://media.playdota.com/items/88/icon.JPG (not recommended) this is for pub only: good gain of life and mana, as well as slow attack let you kite better. ONLY FOR PUB!!!
http://media.playdota.com/items/110/icon.jpg instead of blade mail if u farmed enough or game takes an unexpected way.

rejected
Whatever is not in this list. Quite simple no?

6 videos

I found many videos of enigma, in youtube, which show the correct play style you should have with this hero, i will post some of em. hope you enjoy!!

SPECIAL THANKS TO

This website, who allowed me to create my first guide, taking item and stats links for explanation and Great community. I hope you enjoyed that, Feel free to PM me if you need more clarification or you have any doubt.!!!

Darchrow the Enigma
Author: Ghurzuk
Map Vers.: 6.73c

Guide to n1 supporter

Basic knowledge

Date Posted: 01/21/12
Last Comment:09/04/2012
Total Votes: 0
Current Rating: 0.00
Views: 594