Ragnaros Build Guide “DIE, INSECT!”

Last updated on Sep 21, 2023 at 06:31 by Elitesparkle 12 comments
General Information

Welcome to our guide for Ragnaros, a Bruiser 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.

Ragnaros's Overview

Ragnaros is a Bruiser whose main strengths are self-sustain and waveclear, however, he can dish out a solid amount of damage during team fights as well.

2.

Ragnaros's Strengths and Weaknesses

V Strengths
X Weaknesses
3.

Ragnaros's Talent Build Cheatsheet

Blast Wave Build

Recommended
Level 1 Engulfing Flame Icon
Level 4 Slow Burn Icon
Level 7 Blistering Attacks Icon
Level 10 Lava Wave Icon Sulfuras Smash Icon ?
Level 13 Tempered Flame Icon
Level 16 Blast Echo Icon
Level 20 Lava Surge Icon Heroic Difficulty Icon ? Submerge Icon ?

Ragnaros's Blast Wave Build can deal a high amount of burst damage and provides a fair amount of survivability and mobility during team fights.

The burst damage comes from Blistering Attacks Icon Blistering Attacks at Level 7 and Engulfing Flame Icon Engulfing Flame at Level 1, amplified by Blast Echo Icon Blast Echo at Level 16.

The additional survivability while fighting enemy Heroes comes from Tempered Flame Icon Tempered Flame at Level 13, in synergy with Engulfing Flame Icon Engulfing Flame at Level 1, and Blast Echo Icon Blast Echo at Level 16.

Hybrid Build

Advanced
Level 1 Sulfuras Hungers Icon
Level 4 Slow Burn Icon
Level 7 Blistering Attacks Icon
Level 10 Sulfuras Smash Icon
Level 13 Resilient Flame Icon Cauterize Wounds Icon ?
Level 16 Giant Scorcher Icon
Level 20 Heroic Difficulty Icon

Ragnaros's Hybrid Build can deal a high amount of burst damage and provides a great amount of self-sustain while laning.

The burst damage comes from Blistering Attacks Icon Blistering Attacks at Level 7, Giant Scorcher Icon Giant Scorcher at Level 16, and Sulfuras Smash Icon Sulfuras Smash.

The additional survivability, especially while laning, comes from Sulfuras Hungers Icon Sulfuras Hungers at Level 1 that, after completing its Quest, will allow you to get more healing while hitting a full wave of Minions using Empower Sulfuras Icon Empower Sulfuras.

Empower Sulfuras Build

Situational
Level 1 Sulfuras Hungers Icon
Level 4 Catching Fire Icon
Level 7 Hand of Ragnaros Icon
Level 10 Sulfuras Smash Icon Lava Wave Icon ?
Level 13 Resilient Flame Icon Cauterize Wounds Icon ?
Level 16 Giant Scorcher Icon
Level 20 Heroic Difficulty Icon Lava Surge Icon ? Submerge Icon ?

Ragnaros's Empower Sulfuras Build can deal a high amount of sustain damage against team with multiple melee Heroes and provides a great amount of self-sustain while laning.

The additional survivability, especially while laning but not only, comes from Sulfuras Hungers Icon Sulfuras Hungers at Level 1 that, after completing its Quest, will allow you to get more healing while hitting a full wave of Minions using Empower Sulfuras Icon Empower Sulfuras.

Living Meteor Build

Situational
Level 1 Shifting Meteor Icon
Level 4 Fire Ward Icon
Level 7 Molten Power Icon
Level 10 Sulfuras Smash Icon Lava Wave Icon ?
Level 13 Resilient Flame Icon Cauterize Wounds Icon ?
Level 16 Meteor Bomb Icon
Level 20 Heroic Difficulty Icon Lava Surge Icon ? Submerge Icon ?

Ragnaros's Living Meteor Build is a decent alternative to other Builds for when you cannot afford to step up in melee range as it allows you to safely poke enemy Heroes from the distance.

The majority of your damage will come from the combination of Shifting Meteor Icon Shifting Meteor at Level 1 after completing its Quest, Molten Power Icon Molten Power at Level 7, and Meteor Bomb Icon Meteor Bomb at Level 16.

ARAM Build

ARAM
Level 1 Engulfing Flame Icon
Level 4 Slow Burn Icon
Level 7 Blistering Attacks Icon
Level 10 Sulfuras Smash Icon
Level 13 Tempered Flame Icon
Level 16 Blast Echo Icon
Level 20 Heroic Difficulty Icon Submerge Icon ?

Ragnaros's ARAM Build can deal a high amount of burst damage and provides a fair amount of survivability and mobility during team fights.

The burst damage comes from Blistering Attacks Icon Blistering Attacks at Level 7 and Engulfing Flame Icon Engulfing Flame at Level 1, amplified by Blast Echo Icon Blast Echo at Level 16.

The additional survivability while fighting enemy Heroes comes from Tempered Flame Icon Tempered Flame at Level 13, in synergy with Engulfing Flame Icon Engulfing Flame at Level 1, and Blast Echo Icon Blast Echo at Level 16.

4.

Ragnaros's Synergies and Counters

V Ragnaros synergizes with

Ragnaros is at his best when coupled with Heroes that feature some form of reliable crowd control (such as E.T.C.).

X Ragnaros is countered by

Due to his lack of crowd control, Ragnaros will not be able to pressure Heroes whose Basic Abilities are weak to interrupts (such as Sonya).

Ragnaros is also particularly weak to kite because he does not have access to any tool that can help him playing around enemy displacement effects (such as Garrosh and Raynor) and Slows (such as Jaina).

5.

Ragnaros's Maps

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

Ragnaros excels on Maps where he can double soak with ease (such as Infernal Shrines), especially if he can get value from Molten Core Icon Molten Core to win the Objective or defend after losing it.

The worst Maps for Ragnaros are the ones where it is important to control a Capture Point, especially if it is impossible for him to double soak as an alternative strategy (such as Braxis Holdout), or where the Objective can be too far from Forts that Molten Core Icon Molten Core cannot be used during it (such as Towers of Doom).

6.

Ragnaros's Tips and Tricks

  • Empower Sulfuras Icon Empower Sulfuras resets your Basic Attack, so use it immediately after a Basic Attack to maximize your damage output.
  • Living Meteor Icon Living Meteor works best against Heroes that are running in a specific direction, such as during chases or escapes.
  • Blast Wave Icon Blast Wave can be used on allied Heroes to help them disengage when in danger or even engage when appropriate.
  • To hit enemy Heroes with its center, Sulfuras Smash Icon Sulfuras Smash should be used as a follow up to any crowd control effect.
  • Generally speaking, Lava Wave Icon Lava Wave should be used around x:22 or x:52 minutes to catch the Experience of enemy Minions that will spawn near the enemy Core as it gets there. You can find more details in our Lava Wave Timings guide.
  • After losing a Boss or an Objective, Molten Core Icon Molten Core should not be used to absorb damage directed towards your Structures because it would decrease its duration, but to deal damage to the enemies before they can even hit you.
7.

Ragnaros's Role in the Current Meta

Ragnaros is mostly played as an Offlaner because he has good self-sustain and solid waveclear thanks to Empower Sulfuras Icon Empower Sulfuras.

On some Maps, Molten Core Icon Molten Core can be used to defend Structures from Bosses and lost Objectives, as well as to poke enemy Heroes while they are contesting the Objective.

Last but not the least, Ragnaros is not that hard to take down when focused by the enemy team, so be careful with your positioning during team fights. Rather than engaging as first, wait for your Tank to create a good opportunity for you to deal damage without being exposed that much.

8.

Changelog

  • 21 Sep. 2023 (talents page): ARAM Build added.
  • 21 Sep. 2023 (this page): ARAM Build added.
  • 29 Aug. 2021 (talents page): Builds rearranged.
  • 29 Aug. 2021 (this page): Builds rearranged.
  • 06 Jul. 2021 (talents page): Description for Level 20 Talents improved.
  • 11 Apr. 2021 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 11 Apr. 2021 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 24 Mar. 2021 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 24 Mar. 2021 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 12 Mar. 2021 (talents page): Builds fixed.
  • 12 Mar. 2021 (this page): Builds fixed.
  • 03 Mar. 2021 (talents page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 03 Mar. 2021 (abilities page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 03 Mar. 2021 (this page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 20 Jan. 2021 (talents page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 20 Jan. 2021 (abilities page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 20 Jan. 2021 (this page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 24 Nov. 2020 (talents page): Talent Build partially revised to match new standards.
    • Talent Build and Talent Build Cheatsheet modified to reflect the current metagame.
    • New layout to improve readability.
  • 24 Nov. 2020 (abilities page): Ability and Strategy fully revised to match new standards.
    • Tips and Tricks modified to add important tips that were missing and to remove obvious ones that were not worth mentioning.
    • Ability Descriptions modified to better explain how to use Abilities effectively.
    • New layout to improve readability.
  • 24 Nov. 2020 (this page): Introduction fully revised to match new standards.
    • Overview rewritten to better describe the Hero.
    • Strengths and Weaknesses modified to give a better idea about the Hero when being played right.
    • Talent Build Cheatsheet updated to reflect the current metagame.
    • Synergies and Counters modified to mention notable Heroes that were missing and to remove misleading Heroes that were listed.
    • Maps modified to focus on the main aspects of the Hero when evaluating a Map.
    • Tips and Tricks modified to list important tips that was missing before and to delete more obvious ones.
    • New layout to improve readability.
  • 22 Sep. 2020 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 22 Sep. 2020 (abilities page): Minor fixes.
  • 22 Sep. 2020 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 30 Aug. 2020 (this page): Role in Current Meta section updated.
  • 19 Jul. 2020 (talents page): Talents reviewed and updated; Sulfuras Smash recommended.
  • 09 Dec. 2019 (this page): Added a note about current Anomaly.
  • 11 Oct. 2019 (talents page): Talent builds and recommendations reviewed and updated.
  • 11 Oct. 2019 (abilities page): Abilities section reviewed.
  • 11 Oct. 2019 (this page): Guide updated.
  • 14 Jan. 2018 (talents page): Updated Sulfuras, Blast, and Meteor builds.
  • 12 Aug. 2017 (talents page): Updated Talents and builds to reflect the August 8 patch and metagame changes.
  • 12 Aug. 2017 (this page): Updated builds to reflect the August 8 patch Talents and metagame changes.
  • 26 Jun. 2017 (talents page): Updated the amount of bonus damage from Sulfuras Hungers to 120.
  • 14 Dec. 2016 (this page): Guide added.
Show more
Show less