Why Burst is Better Top
I see some alpha players use a more melee type look on her CP side (Alternating Current, Frostburn [What the hell is up with Frostburn Alpha?] Etc). But I have played alpha a lot, and her burst side, with a little bit of tanky, leads to an ultimate combo with high damage, powerful ultimates, and being unkillable during reboots. In this guide I will explain, how to use alpha's stacks, how to land perfect ultimates, and general basics of her kit
Im also new to guides, so Im not aware how to utilize the coding of it, so sorry about my guide not looking fancy. I am confidant that it has great information though, so thanks for reading!
Explaining my Build Top
So I do build alpha quite differently from others. And this is for obvious reasons (I honestly dont see why other alpha's see this as well).
First of all,
Why so much defense, and why so early?:
Well its actually simple, early game is when alpha struggles, we all know this. But with this extra defense it makes it so you are unkillable during your reboot. Especially middle game! If you focus at least one T2 defense item right after you buy aftershock, and before you buy broken myth, your reboot sequence will give you a very high chance of survival. Ive found that if I go defense, even if 3 members of the enemy team attack me during reboot, they still cant kill me (Obviously some heroes excel at killing stuff quickly, and these heroes will without a doubt destroy you).
Why is Aftershock so important with Alpha, and why so early?:
Everybody plays Alpha with Aftershock, and heres why. Earlier in the match, the majority of your damage is going to come from your B ability, which counts as a basic attack. So you will deal the damage of that ability, and then get the instant basic attack as well with it. Aftershock is perfect for this.
I like building Alpha with Alternate current, why isnt that in this build?:
Alternate Current is a farming item for alpha, it speeds up jungle clear by a lot, but its not all that helpful against enemy heroes. And with this build, its all focused around killing quickly and then shutting them out of their jungle, not out farming them without team fights.
How Alpha works Top
Alpha is a warrior that when played with cp burst, has more of an assassin type feel to her. She excels at closing gaps quickly, as well as taking out multiple opponents at the same time through both her A and B ability. So here are a few basic tips when playing her:
Learn to use your A and B together!
To simply explain it, every time she uses her B ability, she gains a positive stack as well as a negative stack. Each time she uses the ability before the stack runs out she gains another stack, maximum of 3. Basic attacks will also refresh the stack (but NOT add another stack). The positive stack gives her extra damage on her B as well as heals her every basic attack. The negative stack damages her every time she uses core charge, and hurts her more based of the stack amount.
The A ability fits in this way, whenever you land the A ability, it consumes all the negative stacks in order to deal more damage. So make sure you utilize this, and never use your A unless you have at least 1 negative stack (you have used your B ability 1 time). Be sure to watch the stack refresh as well, cause you dont want to lose those. Again basic attacks refresh them!
Alpha TIPS and TRICKS Top
These tips and tricks might require a basic knowledge of a her kit.
If your still a new to her, I recommend reading the rest of the guide before reading this part!
TIPS FOR HER STACKS
Since her stacks effect how much damage she does, you should consider entering fights and skirmishes with your stacks up, so try using your B ability to hit Jungle/Lane minions just to be more powerful more quickly. And to stop these stacks from falling off, make sure you basic attack minions just so they dont fall off.
TIPS FOR HER ULTIMATE
One very important tip is that while you activate your ultimate (The short period before she blows up) you can still use both your A and B abilities. So make sure you use them to get yourself in a great position to land your ultimate.
Another tip is to practice activating your ultimate right before you die. Its important you get the most out of every single life.
One last thing you can do early game is use your ultimate to get back under turret, if you know your going to die, dont be afraid to use your ultimate just so you can guarantee you have a safe reboot such as a turret, or behind your team. (Only use this if you are about to die!
DO NOT WASTE THE ULTIMATES BURST DAMAGE)
TRICK FOR HER JUNGLE CLEARING
This might apply to all heroes, but since ambient gold was just released, you can attack your "back heal minion" while your roam leashes and tanks the "back gold minions" (I honestly dont know if these jungle camps have official names, so bare with me).
TIPS FOR GANKING
With alpha, ganking is one of her best features. Even before you buy Aftershock, she still has a very powerful gank. Watch until the enemy laner has passed the halfway of the lane, or "over-extended", then use your B ability for a quick damage burst. If your lucky, and have applied the "Stack Tips" up a little, you might have all 3 stacks and be able to burst the enemy harder with your A ability.
MORE TIPS AND TRICKS COMING SOON (BASICALLY AS I REMEMBER THEM)
Full Breakdown of Alpha Throughout a Match Top
EARLY GAME:
Once you get out of the start, you should not invade. Wait until at least one or two jungle clears to do any fighting. If forced into an early fight, simple target the easier to kill hero and try to get a kill. If you for some reason see the enemies shop minions untouched, dont think twice, steal the farm!
After one or two jungle clears, ganking an over-extended laner will be easy. Just simple follow the "TIPS FOR GANKING WITH ALPHA" up above.
GET AFTERSHOCK ASAP!!! Once you buy this item, you will be able to start winning fights in the jungle, and easily destroy enemy heroes.
AFTER AFTERSHOCK:
Then you build into either a T2 defense item, then buy broken myth, or you buy a broken myth with some extra defense. Once you buy Broken Myth though, you wont need to spend money on damage items until at least one T3 damage item, and T2 boots.
Again this about the time when you should be able to get several kills. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF KILLS AND ACES. Make sure if you kill both an enemy Jungler and Roam, you steal their jungle, prioritizing the back camps. It is very important that you destroy the enemy jungle in gold because more often than not, the jungler is going be the bigger threat middle and late game.
You also might want to consider solo farming without your roam, just so you get plenty of exp to boost you into late game quickly
ONCE YOU HIT LEVEL 12:
You should be a powerhouse by this point, tearing it up in teamfights, and stealing every piece of farm you can find. Its important to prioritize turrets at this point, and helping your laner out by killing their laner. STICK WITH YOUR ROAM! Alpha can deal plenty of damage, but a friendly roam is vital to winning skirmishes and team fights.
ONCE KRAKEN APPEARS:
As Alpha I normally hit level 12 before kraken appears, but if the game is going slow then this might happen before the previous step. But once this happens, at any good opportunity (Killing 2 or all of the enemy team) TAKE KRAKEN. Just be careful for an enemy respawning and trying to steal it.
LATE GAME:
Alpha is very powerful here, stick with your team, try to engage in open areas, where alpha performs better, and target the squishy damage dealer. DONT FOCUS THE ROAM, OR A TANKY JUNGLE WITH LITTLE DAMAGE!
Focus turret pushing, and getting aces. Land all your ultimates that you can, and follow all the tips and tricks up above!
Thanks for Reading! Top
I know it probably wasnt the most exciting guide, and a lot of long time Alpha players probably knew most of the stuff described in this guide. But if you did enjoy, or agree what I said, please give this a THUMBS UP and comment if you have an helpful criticism, or just have something to point out.
Peace out dawgs! If you need to add me for any reason my IGN is:
MarshMallowHamer
So thanks again and I have more guides coming soon!
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