Zagara Build Guide “The Swarm hungers.”

Last updated on Sep 21, 2023 at 08:19 by Elitesparkle 28 comments
General Information

Welcome to our guide for Zagara, a Ranged Assassin in Heroes of the Storm. Within these pages, you will find everything required to understand how best to play this hero, in both different map styles and team compositions.

1.

Zagara's Overview

Zagara is a Ranged Assassin who relies on Zerg summons to wreak havoc on her opponents. Creep Tumor Icon Creep Tumor is a strong ability, providing not only buffs to several of her attributes, including attack range and movement speed, but also supplying precious vision throughout the Battleground. Zagara is capable of tearing down enemy defenses from afar and, when left alone for even a small duration, will turn the strongest enemy fortifications into nothing more than heaps of rubble.

2.

Zagara's Strengths and Weaknesses

V Strengths
  • +Excellent long range, sustain damage
  • +Great waveclear
  • +Strong sieging power
  • +Creep Tumor Icon Creep Tumor provides a massive amount of vision throughout the entire battlefield
  • +Able to solo Mercenary Camps with ease
X Weaknesses
3.

Zagara's Talent Build Cheatsheet

Infested Drop Build

Recommended
Level 1 Corpse Feeders Icon
Level 4 Envenomed Spines Icon Medusa Blades Icon ? Serrated Spines Icon ?
Level 7 Bile Drop Icon
Level 10 Devouring Maw Icon Nydus Network Icon ?
Level 13 Hydralisk Transfusion Icon Spell Shield Icon ?
Level 16 Corrosive Saliva Icon
Level 20 Pack Instinct Icon

Zagara's Infested Drop Build allows you to deal a solid amount of damage in team fights, especially in the late game against Heroes who have high maximum Health.

In particular, Corpse Feeders Icon Corpse Feeders at Level 1 and Bile Drop Icon Bile Drop at Level 7 boost the already good damage output of Corrosive Saliva Icon Corrosive Saliva at Level 16.

ARAM Build

ARAM
Level 1 Corpse Feeders Icon
Level 4 Serrated Spines Icon Envenomed Spines Icon ? Medusa Blades Icon ?
Level 7 Bile Drop Icon
Level 10 Devouring Maw Icon Nydus Network Icon ?
Level 13 Hydralisk Transfusion Icon Spell Shield Icon ?
Level 16 Corrosive Saliva Icon
Level 20 Pack Instinct Icon

Zagara's ARAM Build allows you to deal a solid amount of damage in team fights, especially in the late game against Heroes who have high maximum Health.

In particular, Corpse Feeders Icon Corpse Feeders at Level 1 and Bile Drop Icon Bile Drop at Level 7 boost the already good damage output of Corrosive Saliva Icon Corrosive Saliva at Level 16.

4.

Zagara's Synergies and Counters

V Zagara synergizes with

Due to her lack of mobility, Zagara is best when paired with one or two Tanks who can provide her a strong frontline. Those with reliable crowd-control can also set up devastating combos with Zagara's Devouring Maw Icon Devouring Maw.

X Zagara is countered by

Zagara is counterd in lane by high mobility Assassins like Illidan, who can outsustain her and stick to her even while on Creep. Furthermore, global range Heroes like Falstad or Dehaka can drastically limit her efficiency while split-pushing.

5.

Zagara's Maps

Zagara's stronger maps
Alterac Pass Braxis Holdout Cursed Hollow Garden of Terror Sky Temple Towers of Doom Warhead Junction
Zagara's average maps
Battlefield of Eternity Blackheart's Bay Dragon Shire Infernal Shrines Tomb of the Spider Queen Volskaya Foundry
Zagara's weaker maps
Hanamura Temple

Zagara is particularly good on larger Maps with multiple Objective locations (such as Sky Temple), when she can take advantage of distracted enemy Heroes to split-push uncontested, sometimes even with the help of Nydus Network Icon Nydus Network.

Maps that are smaller (such as Tomb of the Spider Queen) make it much more difficult for Zagara to split-push. In those situations, Zagara can still be a great lane bully in the early game and a powerful damage dealer in the late game, thanks to Talents.

6.

Zagara's Tips and Tricks

  • Baneling Barrage Icon Baneling Barrage should be used primarily for waveclear to conserve valuable mana.
  • When using Baneling Barrage Icon Baneling Barrage on Minion Waves, try using it from a 90 degree angle. Aim at the Wizard Minion to maximize splash damage.
  • Use Hunter Killer Icon Hunter Killer to zone enemies from team fights or lane.
  • Always use Infested Drop Icon Infested Drop when it is available to deal damage safely and provide vision. Infested Drop can also be used to tank Mercenary Camps and interrupt channeling of objectives (like Tributes on Cursed Hollow).
  • Do not try to force Devouring Maw Icon Devouring Maw and instead wait for enemies to come into range.
  • Place Nydus Worms provided by Nydus Network Icon Nydus Network in spots clear of heavy foot-traffic to prevent them from being immediately destroyed.
  • Always use all available Creep Tumor Icon Creep Tumors. Place them inside bushes and at other out-of-the-way locations to prevent the enemy from accidentally destroying them with AoE abilities.
7.

Zagara's Role in the Current Meta

Zagara is currently played as Offlaner to dominate the early game against most enemy Heroes unless ganked.

When fighting on a widespread area of Creep Tumor Icon Creep Tumor, Zagara is a powerful duelist and bully thanks to the Attack Range and Movement Speed provided combined with the relentless single-target damage of Hunter Killer Icon Hunter Killer. She is easily able to kite enemies in pursuit of her as well as chase those down who may have regretfully overstepped their boundary.

The vision that Creep Tumor Icon Creep Tumor provides is extremely powerful to play around enemy ganks, the best way to counter her when she goes in the enemy part of the battlefield to get value from her pushing power.

8.

Changelog

  • 21 Sep. 2023 (talents page): ARAM Build added.
  • 21 Sep. 2023 (this page): ARAM Build added.
  • 20 Sep. 2023 (talents page): Level 4 Talents Description improved.
  • 12 Mar. 2022 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 12 Mar. 2022 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 28 Sep. 2021 (talents page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 28 Sep. 2021 (abilities page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 28 Sep. 2021 (this page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 30 Aug. 2021 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 30 Aug. 2021 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 20 Aug. 2021 (talents page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 20 Aug. 2021 (this page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 24 Jul. 2021 (talents page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 24 Jul. 2021 (abilities page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 24 Jul. 2021 (this page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 25 Feb. 2021 (talents page): New layout.
  • 26 Oct. 2020 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 26 Oct. 2020 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 05 Jun. 2020 (talents page): Descriptions changed according to the latest Balance Update.
  • 05 Jun. 2020 (abilities page): Descriptions changed according to the latest Balance Update.
  • 14 Apr. 2020 (talents page): Talent Build partially revised to match new standards.
    • Talent Build and Talent Build Cheatsheet modified to reflect the current metagame.
    • Talent Descriptions modified to better describe when to pick them.
  • 14 Apr. 2020 (this page): Introduction partially revised to match new standards.
    • Talent Build Cheatsheet updated to reflect the current metagame.
    • Role in the Current Meta modified to remove the unnecessary part about the now fixed Experience Globes.
  • 19 Dec. 2019 (talents page): Revised Zagara's guide. No talent changes needed to be applied despite the most recent Balance Update.
  • 16 Dec. 2019 (this page): Added the current Anomaly (Experience Globes) to the guide.
  • 25 Nov. 2019 (talents page): We are currently evaluating Zagara's talent changes and will apply further updates on her guide in the very near future. Added Jagged Barbs as Recommended for the time being.
  • 02 Oct. 2019 (talents page): Revised and updated the entire build guide including talents and builds.
  • 02 Oct. 2019 (abilities page): Revised and updated the entire build guide including talents and builds.
  • 02 Oct. 2019 (this page): Revised and updated the entire build guide including talents and builds.
  • 13 Dec. 2017 (abilities page): All mention of a Structure's Ammo has been removed.
  • 11 Nov. 2016 (this page): Moved guide to new format.
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