Archmage Khadgar is one of the most persistently important characters in World of Warcraft, taking a major role in Legion, Burning Crusade, and Warlords of Draenor. An incredibly powerful mage, Khadgar rallied the world against the Legion’s third invasion, and rejoined the Horde and Alliance into one, singular force after the Purge of Dalaran. Apprentice to and slayer of the Guardian Medivh, Khadgar has watched over Azeroth for years, ensuring peace through his magical aptitude.
In HotS, Khadgar is a single target high damage ranged assassin who can chain his abilities together for a number of secondary effects. Using positioning with his Elementals, he can combine his abilities together to unleash havoc and unleash the right secondary effect for the job. He also gains powerful area damage around his Elementals.
Universe: Warcraft
Role: Ranged Assassin
Summon Mount
Z (Mount) – 4 sec Cooldown
Increases your movement speed by 30% while mounted.
Explanation: There is no need for a special mount.
Kirin Tor Elemental
Trait (4 sec Cooldown)
Khadgar summons a Kirin Tor Elemental at his current location which lasts for up to 12 seconds and has 480 (+4% per level) health. Khadgar’s abilities interact with the elemental and they become attuned to the last element that hit them, further empowering the future abilities that hit it. The Elemental cannot perform any actions other than move. Khadgar can only have one Elemental active at a time, and reactivating the ability causes it to move.
Explanation: Kirin Tor Elemental gives Khadgar a large amount of bonus power to his abilities, additional secondary abilities, and converts Khadgar’s abilities to area effects in a teamfight. However, the low health of his Elementals means enemies can kill them to cause Khadgar to lose his foothold at the location and disrupt his combo.
Prismatic Ray
Q (6 sec Cooldown)
Khadgar channels a beam in a target 7 unit direction for up to 4 seconds which impacts the first enemy it hits, dealing 35 (+4% per level) damage every .5 seconds, plus an additional 25% increased damage for every negative effect on them, up to 3 times. Khadgar cannot move while channeling, and can cancel it early by reactivating the ability.If the beam collides with an Elemental, they get charged with Arcane and create a 4 unit 90 degree cone past them, dealing damage to all enemies caught within. Khadgar can move while the beam is connected to the Elemental, always channeling the beam at the Elemental, but the Elemental is rooted.
(Ice) If the Elemental is Ice charged, the cone becomes fierce light, blinding enemies within.
(Fire) If the Elemental is Fire charged, the cone is charged with lightning, dealing a baseline 1% of any enemy’s maximum health as bonus damage every .5 seconds.
Explanation: Prismatic Ray’s main purpose is to finish a combo for some extra high sustained damage. It can also be used to siege down enemy forts or zone enemies off of an area.
Icicle Flay
W (8 sec Cooldown)
Khadgar calls up two thick icicles on either side of him and propels them in an inverted cone towards his cursor location within 7 units. The first enemy hit by the icicle is dealt 110 (+4% per level) damage. If an enemy is hit by both icicles at the convergence point, they are also slowed by 25% for 3 seconds.If the icicles converge on the Elemental, it becomes Ice charged and unleashes an explosion in a 5 unit radius around it, dealing 280 (+4% per level) damage and slowing enemies hit by 25% for 3 seconds.
(Arcane) If the Elemental is Arcane charged, an additional 10 radius area around the Elemental is revealed for 4 seconds.
(Fire) If the Elemental is Fire charged, a thick mist cover the 5 unit radius area for 3 seconds, acting as a bush for all allies within it.
Explanation: Icicle Flay is a similar ability to Magic Missile, but they cannot travel past the convergence area and are easier to land. Icicle Flay is Khadgar’s main poke ability, and can set up combos and engages.
Volcanic Volley
E (8 sec Cooldown)
Khadgar chooses a 5 unit linear direction and after .5 seconds, he hurls a volcanic bolt in that direction which impacts the first enemy hit, dealing 100 (+4% per level) damage and igniting them for an additional 5 (+4% per level) damage every .5 seconds for 4 seconds. Khadgar repeats this 1 second after initial cast in the same line. The direction does not change as Khadgar moves about and the bolts move quickly. The damage over time can stack.Each bolt that hits the Elemental charges it with Fire and splits into two, firing at the two nearest enemies. Each rock deals 75% impact damage but applies the damage over time as normal.
(Arcane) If the Elemental is Arcane charged, the bolts are charged with electricity, dealing an additional 4% of the enemy’s maximum health in damage.
(Ice) If the Elemental is Fire charged, a thick mist fogs the enemy’s vision, reducing their vision radius by 50% for 2 seconds.
Explanation: Volcanic Volley is Khadgar’s short range damage ability in skirmishes, and add a moderate amount of additional damage in his combo.
Prismatic Focus
Heroic #1 (Passive)
Khadgar’s ability cooldowns are reduced by 2 seconds and he can combine all three elements together in an elemental for additional effects.(Prismatic Ray) All enemies within have their Spell Armor reduced by 25 in addition to both normal effects.
(Icicle Flay) Enemies hit by the explosion are pulled to the center and silenced for .5 seconds in addition to both normal effects.
(Volcanic Volley) A rock is sent at up to 5 nearby enemies (prioritizing Heroes) instead of 2 in addition to both normal effects.
Explanation: I knew I had to add Prismatic magic into the design somewhere, and thought a unique passive heroic which gravely boosts his regular gameplay would work it’s way best into the kit. This also gives Khadgar more use out of his Elementals, able to carefully control two areas at once.
Coalesced Giant
Heroic #2 (100 sec Cooldown)
Khadgar channels power into a target location within 8 units over 1.25 seconds, creating the top half of a giant mana elemental at it. This mana giant has all the same properties as Khadgar’s Kirin Tor Elementals, has a hitbox and collision box of 2.5, and has 1400 (+4% per level) health. Khadgar can activate the ability again as many times as he wishes to cause the mana giant to slam in a 4 unit long, 1 unit wide area pointed from the mana giant’s location, dealing 100 (+4% per level) damage to all enemies hit and slowing them by 40% for 1 second. This has a 3 second cooldown (which starts on cooldown), and the mana giant lasts a total of 12 seconds.
Explanation: As opposed to Prismastic Focus, which is a passive heroic, Coalesced Giant gives Khadgar a teamfight changing heroic with a sense of grandeur. The continual power and zoning potential of Coalesced Giant allows Khadgar to set up his other ability combos so that he can dismantle the enemy team.
Tier 1 - Elementals
• Tome of Versatility: Khadgar’s abilities damage his Elementals, and deal 15% increased damage when impacting enemy Heroes directly (not the elemental effects). When his abilities kill a Kirin Tor Elemental, he restores 15% of his maximum mana and his longest ability cooldown is refreshed.
• Makeshift Focus: Khadgar’s abilities also charge enemy Heroes like they charge his Elementals, allowing his abilities to have additional effects when they combine on an enemy. Kirin Tor Elemental has a 6 second increased cooldown.
• Leyline Creations: Kirin Tor Elementals gain 15% increased movement speed, and when Khadgar hits them with his abilities, that ability’s cooldown is reduced by 20%.
Tier 2 - Damage
• Trial of Dissolution: If Prismatic Ray hits an enemy directly, for each negative effect bonus, the enemy is dealt 1% of its maximum health in bonus damage. The maximum negative effect bonuses Prismatic Ray can benefit from is increased from 3 to 4.
• Infused Rimestorm: If Icicle Flay explodes, it creates an area of damaging hail in the impact area for 3 seconds, dealing 18 (+4% per level) damage to all enemies in it every .5 seconds.
• Heated Moment: Volcanic Volley’s first bolt deals 50% reduced damage, and it’s damage over time effect is reduced by 25%. Volcanic Volley’s second bolt deals 100% increased damage, and consumes all damage from the damage over time to be dealt instantly.
Tier 3 - Alternate Roles
• Sporadic Iridescence: 30% of the damage Khadgar deals is granted to the nearest allied hero as shielding, stacking indefinitely, and lasting 3 seconds. Every second, the shield amount decays by 15% of its current amount.
• Guardian of the Guardian: Kirin Tor Elemental’s can now basic attack for 20 (+4% per level) damage every second, and mark enemies they basic attack with Guardian’s Watch for 4 seconds. If the enemy is damaged by Khadgar, it turns into Guardian’s Gaze, reducing their damage dealt by 20% for 4 seconds. In addition, for 2 seconds after being hit by one of Khadgar’s abilities, the Kirin Tor Elementals slow all enemy heroes near them by 20%.
• Netherwind Duelist: After 4 seconds of not being damaged, Khadgar gains Netherwind Armor. When damaged, Khadgar gains a 270 (+4% per level) health shield for 2 seconds, 15% increased movement speed, and the ability to channel Prismatic Ray on an enemy within stopping his movement.
Tier 4 - Heroics
• Prismatic Focus: Khadgar’s ability cooldowns are reduced by 2 seconds and he can combine all three elements together in an elemental for additional effects. >>(Prismatic Ray) All enemies within have their Spell Armor reduced by 25 in addition to both normal effects. >>(Icicle Flay) Enemies hit by the explosion are pulled to the center and silenced for .5 seconds in addition to both normal effects. >>(Volcanic Volley) A rock is sent at up to 5 nearby enemies (prioritizing Heroes) instead of 2 in addition to both normal effects.
• Coalesced Giant: Khadgar channels power into a target location within 8 units over 1.25 seconds, creating the top half of a giant mana elemental at it. This mana giant has all the same properties as Khadgar’s Kirin Tor Elementals, has a hitbox and collision box of 2.5, and has 1400 (+4% per level) health. Khadgar can activate the ability again as many times as he wishes to cause the mana giant to slam in a 4 unit long, 1 unit wide area pointed from the mana giant’s location, dealing 100 (+4% per level) damage to all enemies hit and slowing them by 40% for 1 second. This has a 3 second cooldown (which starts on cooldown), and the mana giant lasts a total of 12 seconds.
Tier 5 - Damage
• Incanter’s Momentum: Every time Khadgar casts a spell within 2.5 seconds, his next Prismatic Ray channels the full duration of damage in one less second (stacking up to 3 seconds less cast time with three spells, for 140 (+4% per level) damage every .5 seconds).
• Bullseye Ricochet: When Volcanic Volley splits upon hitting an Elemental, and hits at least 2 enemy Heroes, it’s cooldown is reduced by 40%.
• Eroding Flame: While an enemy is afflicted by Volcanic Volley’s damage over time effect, they can no longer gain positive armor, and their armor is reduced by 10, not stacking. This counts as two separate negative effects.
Tier 6 - Protection
• Tirisgarde Protectors: Kirin Tor Elementals gain 35% increased health, and take 10% of the damage Khadgar takes for him.
• Prismatic Cloak: For .75 seconds after casting any spell, Khadgar gains 35 Armor.
• Ice Form: (Active) Khadgar crystallizes his body, reducing the duration of all disabling effects on Khadgar by 50% for 4 seconds, and becoming immune to slows. 90 second cooldown.
Tier 7 - Storm Tier
• Echoes of Atiesh: Prismatic Focus can now be activated, causing Khadgar’s next basic ability key press to have its cooldown reset. This can only be used on abilities with an active cooldown. This has a 30 second cooldown.
• Hand of the Apprentice: While Khadgar is within 4 units of his Coalesced Giant, he can channel into the Giant to increase its duration by 1 second every .5 seconds spent channeling.
• Wonderous Wisdomball: (Active) Khadgar gives an allied Hero within 5 units a Wonderous Wisdomball, which lasts indefinitely, or until another Hero is given the Wisdomball. When the ally has the Widsomball, they gain 15% increased spell damage, and if they are stunned or feared, they gain Unstoppable for .75 seconds, with a 30 second cooldown. In addition, if they fall below 25% health, they gain a 300 (+4% per level) shield for 2 seconds, with its own 30 second cooldown. 90 second cooldown.
• Conjurer’s Calling: Kirin Tor Elemental now summons two Elementals, which can be controlled via two additional secondary abilities.