Tanky Taka Top
This Taka build can be used in many situations and is very versatile. He can be used in a roam role or as a jungle carry. In the jungle carry role you are going to want to make sure that your lane carry is a late game hero, and even possibly a hyper carry because tanky Taka doesn’t output too much damage in the late game.
This Taka build allows you to bully in the early to mid game, and forces you into a secondary support role as the game moves into the later portion. However if played correctly, you can still be a nuisance, and force the enemies to target you rather than your carry or carries.
Early Game Top
To start off the game I usually buy an oak heart and two potions. I know this sounds ridiculous but if you end up in a fight after the first rotation the oak heart can be helpful. Also after 1 rotation of jungle clearing you can usually have 550 gold to buy a storm guard banner. This item helps greatly with clear speed and any early game skirmishes that develop.
During the next few rotations focus on getting an hourglass or chronograph and T1 boots. You should hit your first T3 item, storm crown by the 5 minute mark. This will greatly decrease your jungle clearing time, aloowing for much faster farming. At this time you should have your T1 boots as well. Around this time you should be level 5 or so, I suggest ability skipping at level 5. Don’t put a point into your Kaku, wait until you hit level 6 and put one into X-Retsu and another into your Kaiten. With no CP to speak of lvl 2 Kaku doesn’t change much from lvl 1, and it will help in fights to have a lvl 4 Kaiten. Once you reach level 6 I would go looking for a fight or invade. With the items you’ve built and the skills the way you are you hit a small boost at lvl 6, but it will fall back to normal by lvl 7, so find one quick.
Next items I would prioritize would be another hourglass (or chronograph if you have enough) and a crystal bit. Work towards the chronograph first, the added cool down will be more beneficial. Before you finish your aftershock, I would save up and get a T2 defensive item. If the enemy is CP go with T2 fountain or if they are WP go with a dragon heart. I tend to make my choice on WP or CP depending on who the enemy back line hero is. Chances are you are going to have to dive onto them, so might aswell try to build up some defense that will help. If facing a saw, I would go T2 armour, but you can make that choice if it arises.
Mid Game Top
Now it’s time to finish up that aftershock asap. The added cool down is a bonus, but the extra damage it provides is helpful. At this point enemy heroes have enough health that the storm crown alone isn’t enough damage. Next is T2 boots, only 700 gold so shouldn’t take too long.
So now you have a couple of options, you can choose to finish up your T2 defence item, or finish your T3 boots, or you can start your second T2 defence item. I recommend to now focus on defensive items, spend your money on finishing your fountain, and starting your crucible or the other way around. By kraken spawn you are going to want to have both completed.
Late Game Top
Once both fountain and crucible are finished, focus on getting T3 boots. I suggest journey boots. I like journey boots because you can constantly sprint around the map. This can help with engaging, chasing fleeing enemies, and getting out of sticky situations. However, war treads are typical for support heroes, but another ally can pick them up to make up for this.
So now there’s only one item sport left. This is where you can make the choice of what you need most. I would recommend another defensive item to really become tanky, atlas pauldron is a good choice if the enemy has a WP carry with fast attack speed. If the enemy is mobile maybe go into shiver steel, which also gives you a ton of extra health. You could pick up any item from the utility of defense trees.
If you feel like your tanky enough, there’s always the option to get some attack speed. Tornado trigger, bone saw or breaking point to add extra damage from your storm crown.
I always recommend going with a crystal infusion just to help with initial damage from abilities and to boost your Kaku. The extra damage helps you to do some damage from your abilities as well as auto attack damage from aftershock and storm crown. However, a weapon infusion could also be helpful to boost your auto attack damage and attack speed. The choice is yours at the end of the day, whichever you feel works better for you.
Playing Tanky Taka Top
Playing Tanky Taka is different from most taka builds. You actually want to stand and fight. Your auto attacks will chunk through squishy heroes, and you have enough health to stand and fight. Use your abilities wisely, if you use one make sure to hit an auto attack to get your aftershock in. Try to save Kaiten to dodge abilities if possible. X-Retsu won’t do a lot of damage, but it is a great cap closer. Use it to catch fleeing enemies or to jump onto a back line carry.
I think this build works best when you jump onto the back line ranged carry. Use your items and lots of health to take them on 1v1. Keep an eye on your teammates and use your fountain and crucible if needed. So now the enemy has a choice, they can back off your carry to attack you or continue onto attack your carry. If they leave you alone, take out the carry and go to help your team. If they come to attack you, soak up as much damage as possible allowing your carry to deal free damage. You might end up being the sacrifice but both situations are ideal, and if done correctly can help you to win most team fights.
This build also allows for you to take objectives quickly. Taking a turret by yourself with no minions is possible. The Storm crown will melt the objective and you have enough health to take some damage in the process. With an infusion you can most likely solo the kraken. It won’t be quick but you can do it if needed. Keep this in mind while playing. If your teammates want to start kraken, go push a turret. Or vise versa.
Why Not CP Taka? Top
I read this somewhere and take no credit for it.
So CP Taka has a typical engage style. X-Retsu in, possibly an auto attack, Kaiten, and auto attack and then hop in the box and try to run away. That’s a standard fight for CP Taka. The issue is there is no positive outcome for this fight.
1) Taka dies, and the target lives-now in a 3v2
2) Taka dies, and the target dies- now in a 2v2
3) Taka lives, and target lives, you’re in the box so it’s a 3v2
4) Taka lives, and target dies, you’re in the box so it’s a 3v2
There isn’t a situation any of these engagements where your team comes out ahead. Every outcome is either even or down a hero. Yea you can run away in your box and re-engage but one of your heroes could be dead by then. Or you may be spotted in your box and killed. Or your allies have disengaged and are running… the possibilities are endless.
Allies Top
There are many heroes that can pair well with this build. The best suggestion I have is to try out some different combos and see what works best for you. I will give a couple suggestions to get you started.
A good option is to use this build in a roam position with two mobile ranged carries. Examples could be sam, kestrel, skye or possibly celeste(even though she isn’t the most mobile, her abilities make up for that with a reliable stun). This comp works because as taka dives to the back line hero your ranged carries can kite the incoming enemies, and if the enemies fall back onto you they can deal damage while staying out of range to be attacked. This comp works best when the enemy has a melee carry who needs to get to your carries.
Another option is to roam with a hero like krul or black feather. While you dive in the enemy has to choose to focus one of you. If they choose you, your ally just builds up stacks, if they choose your ally you try to deal as much damage as possible with storm crown and aftershock.
As a jungle carry a good combo would be to have a ranged roamer like adagio or lyra. This works in the same way as the first option. However, most roams will help this build in their own way. Certain abilities pair well with taka, most depending on your taka play style. I leave that up to you to find that out.
Credit Top
I watched someone playing in Evil 8, I can’t remember who, Gabevizzle maybe?, and saw them play this build. I didn’t come up with it or anything, just been playing it with some success and thought I’d share it. Feel free to let me know what you think, or let me know how it works in game for you.
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