Un1t3D_ & DarkMedina proudly present:

-=-=- Beneath The Shifting Sands - Crixalis - The Sand King -=-=-

Changelog:

[21/08/09] - Guide Started.

Table Of Contents :

• -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
• Foreword & Introduction [#FwI]
• Hero Description & Stats [#HdS]
• Hero Skills & Builds [#HsB]
• Items - Builds & Recommendations [#IbR]
• Strategies & Tips [#SaT]
• Replays & Other Media [#RoM]
• Credits & Thanks [#CaT]
• -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

To use this ToC, Simply CtrL + F, then type in the section code into the bar to find the section.

Section 1: Foreword & Introduction [#FwI]

Authors' Foreword:

Un1t3D_: This is a collaborated guide by both me and DarkMedina. As you might have realised, this looks quite like my Storm Spirit guide. This is because I have used the same kind style I used for the SS guide, and I will continue to use this style in the future.

Before I start, I will state that I personally have no competitive experience, which means this guide might not be suited for competitive play.

Also, English is not my native language, so please bare with me, I would be glad if you point out any spelling/grammar mistakes I made.

DarkMedina: This is a collaborated guide by both me and Un1t3D_. The style was chosen by him, I quite agree that it's very cool.
I play mostly on competitive scenery: Brazilian leagues and clan war. You might know be for my replays and for my Lion guide. I'll try to fit this guide to competitive play also.
We hope that you appreciate this guide and that it becomes useful for you when you play this amazing hero: Crixalis, the Sand King.

Introduction:



This guide was designed to fit the competitive matches metagame, where Sand King is played to his maximum potential.

Section 2 : Hero Description and Stats [#HdS]

Backstory:



Hero Page on PlayDotA: Sand King - DotA Hero Details

Pros & Cons

Pros:
[+]Huge Aoe Damage
[+]2 Escape skills
[+]Item Independent
[+]Easy to farm with

Cons:
[-]Mana Dependant
[-]Low base armor/Hp
[-]Low strength gain for STR hero
[-]2 Spells are channeling, requires BKB/Blink to use properly.

Hero Stats:

Crixalis, the Sand King

Strength Gain: 18 + 2.3/Per Level
Agility Gain: 19 + 2.1/Per Level
Intelligence Gain: 16 + 1.8/Per Level


Section 3: Hero Skills & Builds [#HsB]

His skills are as follows:

BurrowStrike

Level 1: 100 Damage, 400 Casting Range.
Level 2: 160 Damage, 500 Casting Range.
Level 3: 220 Damage, 600 Casting Range.
Level 4: 280 Damage, 700 Casting Range.

• Damage type: magical.
• Hit units will fly for 0.52 seconds before the real stun is applied.
• Aoe is always 175.
• Manacost is always 140.
• Cooldown is always 11 seconds.

Sand Storm

Level 1: 20 DPS, 300 AOE, 60 mana, 40 sec CD, 20 sec duration, 0.6 sec extra invis.
Level 2: 40 DPS, 350 AOE, 50 mana, 35 sec CD, 40 sec duration, 0.9 sec extra invis.
Level 3: 60 DPS, 400 AOE, 40 mana, 30 sec CD, 60 sec duration, 1.2 sec extra invis.
Level 4: 80 DPS, 550 AOE, 30 mana, 25 sec CD, 80 sec duration, 1.5 sec extra invis.

• Damage type: magical.
• If the Sand King is magic immune at the moment of casting Sand Storm, it will not become invisible.
• Sand Storm is considered a channeling spell.

Caustic Finale

Level 1: 90 Damage
Level 2: 130 Damage
Level 3: 170 Damage
Level 4: 220 Damage

• Duration is always 0.25 seconds.
• AoE is always 400 units.
• Damage type: magical.
• Exploding units leave no corpse.
• Caustic Finale places a buff on the attacked unit that lasts 0.25 seconds. If a unit dies with the buff on it, it will still explode, regardless if Sand King delivered the killing blow or not.
• Does not work on denies(the buff is not placed on allied units)
• Caustic Finale is an Orb Effect.

Epicenter

Level 1: Emits 6 (7*) pulses. Each pulse deals 110 damage and slows by 30%. CD of 140 (120*) seconds. 175 Manacost.

Level 2: Emits 8 (9*) pulses. Each pulse deals 110 damage and slows by 30%. CD of 120 (100*) seconds. 250 Manacost.

Level 3: Emits 10 (11*) pulses. CD of 100 (80*) seconds. 325 Manacost.

• Each pulse deals 110 damage and slows by 30%.
• Damage type: magical
• Sand King channels for 2 seconds before activating this skill. Stopping the channeling will waste the cooldown and mana required for the skill.
• The pulses are centered on the Sand King's current location, not where he first casted the spell.
• The AoE of the pulses is 300 / 350 / 400 / 450 / 500 / 550 / 600 / 675 / 700 / 725 / (800*)
• Can be improved by Aghanim's Scepter (* shows the improved values).