The Four Horseman are very cool and interesting characters in the Warcraft universe. I have always been a fan of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and with them having the opportunity to be a really unique hero, I decided to throw my hat into the ring. I chose the originals because the new ones are either already Heroes or could be.
In HotS, Rivendare exemplifies older Warcraft Death Knights (from W2 and W3), being permanently mounted and embracing a Healer role, protecting his allies as he heals them with unholy energies. He has the ability to call upon the other three Horsemen as lengthy cooldowns that assist him, and then depart.
Universe: Warcraft
Role: Healer
Deathcharger
Z (Mount) – Passive
Increases the movement speed of Rivendare by 20%. Cannot be dismounted, and can basic attack and cast abilities while mounted.
Explanation: He is a Horseman. He should stay on his horse.
Horseman’s Favor
Trait (25 second CD)
Baron Rivendare prepares to call upon one of his three fellow horsemen by using his three basic ability keys, associated as: Sir Zeliek (Q), Thane Korth’azz (W) and Lady Blaumeux (E). When summoned, they remain on the battlefield for 6 seconds, following their own Ai’s and casting abilities. Each Horseman has 700 (+4% per level) health and if killed, they cannot be summoned for 90 seconds.
• Sir Zeliek will ride around near allied units. Every 2 seconds, he will stop for 1 second and cast a holy spell on the most damaged allied Hero within 8 units, shielding them by 350 (+4% per level) for 4 seconds. If there are no nearby allied Heroes, it will shield allied minions and mercenaries. If there is no nearby allies within 10 units of Baron Rivendare, and Baron Rivendare has not taken or dealt damage in 3 seconds, Sir Zeliek will ride down the nearest lane.
• Thane Korth’azz will ride around near enemy units, and will attack them at melee range, dealing 34 (+4% per level) damage every second. Every 2 seconds, he will stop and summon a ground-based AoE on the most clumped groups of enemies within 7 units, preferring enemy Heroes. After .75 seconds, a meteor falls on the area, dealing 280 (+4% per level) damage. If there are no enemies within 12 units, he will ride down the nearest lane.
• Lady Blaumeux will ride around near allies, and will attack enemy heroes at range, dealing 25 (+4% per level) damage every second. Every 2 seconds, she will conjure a 1.5 unit radius pool of darkness around the nearest enemy Hero within 5 units, slowing them by 20% while in the pool. Pools last 4 seconds, and can overlap. If no enemy Heroes are within 12 units, she will ride down the nearest lane.
Explanation: Baron Rivendare is the Lord of the Four Horsemen, so he will naturally be able to call upon their assistance in times of need. The Horsemen are powerful allies, and will impact the battlefield to great effect. With their long cooldown, it is important to know when to use them, and which one you want to use. Each has its own purpose, so choose well, and choose timely.
Coiled Darkness
Q (10 second CD)
Baron Rivendare sends forth coiled darkness in a target 7 unit direction which enwraps around the first enemy hit, dealing 32 (+4% per level) damage every .5 seconds for 2.5 seconds and causing them to be unable to damage any of Rivendare’s allied heroes besides the one closest to them. In addition, the enemy is slowed by 15% while affected.
Explanation: Coiled Darkness is an ability he used in his boss fight in Naxxramas, and with some sprucing up can translate well into a disabling ability for him in the Nexus. With it, he can pin and enemy down so allies can attack them without worry.
Unholy Aura
W (8 sec Cooldown)
Baron Rivendare releases a 4 unit radius aura of undeath around him that heals all nearby allies by 60 (+4% per level) every second for 5 seconds. All enemies in the Aura deal 20% reduced damage and take 40 (+4% per level) damage every second.
Explanation: This is a twist on Unholy Aura that is really just a way to give him some healing. He wants to be in the thick of the battle with his allies, healing them slowly while also reducing the damage enemies deal. Think of it as making allies “un-die.”
Anti-Magic Zone
E (12 sec Cooldown)
Baron Rivendare summons a 5 unit radius dead zone at his current location for 4 seconds. All allies in the zone gain 50 Spell Armor.
Explanation: Arthas has Anti-Magic Shell, but the ability to grant massive Spell Resistance to you allies in a small area is a field still unexplored. It works similarly to a basic ability version of Tyrael’s Sanctification, being on a short cooldown but being restricted in its effects.
Ride On!
Heroic #1 (30 sec CD)
(Passive) Baron Rivendare’s Deathcharger now moves at 25% increased speed baseline.
(Active) Baron Rivendare inspires an allied Hero (besides himself), causing them to mount instantly and be unable to be removed from their mount for 8 seconds. While mounted, allies can use abilities and basic attack without exiting their mount, and their movement cannot be stopped by CC. Allies with special mounts are not effected, and instead simply gain 30% increased movement speed for the duration.
Explanation: Ride On! Is an excellent speed-boosting mechanism for a single ally, making them able to escape danger, catch up to enemies, or simply reposition themselves. The heroic also makes you passively move faster. This heroic is for bigger maps or when your team needs some sudden mobility.
Mark of the Horsemen
Heroic #2 (90 sec CD)
Baron Rivendare targets an enemy and calls forth all other Horsemen at the same time, which each function normally. The Horsemen all focus on the target, and upon being summoned, they all apply a Mark, each dealing 25 [75 total] (+4% per level) damage every second for 8 seconds.
Explanation: Mark of the Horseman’s purpose is two-fold. Firstly, it works to deal very large damage to an enemy over time and hopefully push them out of the fight. Secondly, it calls forth all of the Horsemen, bringing a large amount of effects to the battlefield, such as slow fields, damaging AoE’s, and shielding for your allies. And I bet the enemy team didn’t bring 8 tanks this time.
Tier 1
• Rivendare’s Command: Upon summoning a Horseman, Baron Rivendare deals 25% increased damage and heals by 25% more for 6 seconds. Horseman’s Favor has a 10 second reduced cooldown.
• Zeliek’s Mercy: Sir Zeliek shields two allies at once. When another Horseman is summoned, Zeliek is also summoned for 2 seconds.
• Korth’azz’s Rage: Thane Korth’azz’s meteor attacks track on the center most enemy and deal 100% increased damage, but this damage is split amongst all enemies hit. When another Horseman is summoned, Korth’azz is also summoned for 2 seconds.
• Blaumeux’s Hatred: Lady Blaumeux’s void zones slowly pull enemies hit by Coiled Darkness to their center. When another Horseman is summoned, Blaumeux is also summoned for 2 seconds.
Tier 2
• Rivendare’s Deathcharger: Increases the movement speed of Baron Rivendare’s Deathcharger by an additional 5%. In addition, every 2.5 units Rivendare walks reduces his basic ability cooldowns by .5 seconds.
• Blessing of the Scourge: For every enemy Hero within Unholy Aura when the effects end, it’s remaining cooldown is reduced by 1 second, and Rivendare regenerates 15 mana.
• Necropolitical Ground: Increases the radius of Anti-Magic Zone by 30%. Enemies in the area when it ends are stunned for .5 seconds.
Tier 3
• Depressing Shadows: Coiled Darkness now also reduces all damage enemies deal by 30%.
• Skeletal Essence: While Unholy Aura is active, all allied Heroes in its aura are granted 15 Armor. Rivendare is instead granted 25 Armor.
• Desecrated Soil: Anti-Magic Zone deals damage every second to all enemies inside it.
Tier 4
• Ride On!: (Passive) Baron Rivendare’s Deathcharger now moves at 25% increased speed baseline. (Active) Baron Rivendare inspires an allied Hero (besides himself), causing them to mount instantly and be unable to be removed from their mount for 8 seconds. While mounted, allies can use abilities and basic attack without exiting their mount, and their movement cannot be stopped by CC. Allies with special mounts are not effected, and instead simply gain 30% increased movement speed for the duration.
• Mark of the Horsemen: Baron Rivendare targets an enemy and calls forth all other Horsemen at the same time, which each function normally. The Horsemen all focus on the target, and upon being summoned, they all apply a Mark, each dealing 25 [75 total] (+4% per level) damage every second for 8 seconds.
Tier 5
• Saronite Shroud: Anti-Magic Zone lasts 2 seconds less, but grants Spellward to all allies within. In addition, while within Anti-Magic Zone, Unholy Aura heals allies for 50% more.
• Weakness of Death: Enemies in the radius of Unholy Aura have the duration of negative effects on them increased by 50%.
• Pale Harbinger: Unholy Aura grant Baron Rivendare 20% increased movement speed and immunity to slows for its duration.
Tier 6
• Heart of Darkness: Coiled Darkness also infects all enemies within 4 units of the target hit as long as they remain close to them.
• Harbinger: If Coiled Darkness impacts an enemy Hero, Rivendare’s next basic attack causes him to charge at that enemy, dealing 20% increased damage and increasing the slow from 15% to 30% for the duration.
• Deathbringer: Unholy Aura can now be placed on an ally, granting them all effects that Baron Rivendare would normally receive.
Tier 7
• Death’s Charge: Ride On! Grants the ally Unstoppable for the first 2 seconds it is active, and Ride On! now has two charges that both return at the same time, but cannot effect the same ally more than once every 30 seconds.
• Raid Timer: When the Horsmen summoned by Mark of the Horsemen expire and the marked enemy is still nearby a Horseman, the damage over time is applied again.
• Siphon Magic: All damage mitigated by Anti-Magic Zone heals allies in the zone, divided evenly.
• Call of the Horsemen: Horseman’s Favor has a 10 second reduced Cooldown, but cannot be used to summon Horsemen already active.