Stukov Build Guide “Our victory is assured!”

Poppin' Pustules Build (talent calculator link)

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The Poppin' Pustules Build allows you to deal tremendous amounts of damage to enemy Heroes who are close together. This makes it very effective against enemy teams who have many melee Heroes, or who group closely during team fights for other reasons. Your typical Ability chain should be to cast Healing Pathogen on an ally, and then try to land Weighted Pustule on as many enemies as possible. Once the pustules are applied, wait for enemies to stack together, detonating them when you see the highest damage potential. Casting Healing Pathogen first gives it time to spread to allies before Bio-Kill Switch is activated. The Long Pitch allows you to apply pustules from greater range, which opens up opportunities to apply them to many Heroes with each cast. One Good Spread... works in tandem with Pox Populi to provide great healing output. Reactive Ballistospores gives you a way to reset Bio-Kill Switch; further increasing your healing and damage output.

Lurking Arm Build (talent calculator link)

Level 1

Level 4

Level 7

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Level 20

The Lurking Arm Build focuses on Talents that improve Lurking Arm. One Good Spread... works very well with Pox Populi to provide exceptional healing output. Growing Infestation, Within My Reach, and Lingering Spines synergize very well. These Talents greatly increase Lurking Arm capabilities.

Spine Launcher Build (talent calculator link)

Level 1

Level 4

Level 7

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Level 20

The Spine Launcher Build plays much differently than the other builds, because Stukov's Basic Attack becomes ranged and applies a Slow. This build is very punishing to enemies who have poor positioning, as it can apply Slows constantly. Virulent Reaction allows Stukov to Root enemy Heroes in Lurker Arm's Silence area of effect. Bio-Explosion Switch further enhances the suppression from Virulent Reaction by applying an additional Weighted Pustule. Targeted Excision will set the cooldown of Bio-Kill Switch to 5 seconds, allowing you to stack Vigorous Reuptake much faster.

Weighted Pustule Build (talent calculator link)

Level 1

Level 4

Level 7

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Level 20

The Weighted Pustule Build focuses on Talents that enhance Weighted Pustule. This build is provides good sustained control, which can be useful if your team composition benefits from Slows. Fetid Touch and The Long Pitch allow you to freely apply pustules to enemy Heroes from great range. One Good Spread... works in tandem Pox Populi to provide great healing output. Reactive Ballistospores gives you a way to reset Bio-Kill Switch, further increasing your healing and damage output.

Synergies and Counters

Stukov synergizes with

Stukov is strong with Heroes who teamfight near their allies, as opposed to those that will dive out of range of Healing Pathogen. He is also strong with Heroes who have access to some form of Executioner, because he is capable of liberally applying slows.

Stukov is countered by

Stukov is countered by high mobility Heroes who can circumvent his zone control. Lacking any form of Cleanse, Heroes with access to multiple crowd control Abilities are also effective against him.

Maps

Stukov's stronger maps

Stukov's average maps

Stukov's weaker maps

Stukov is great on maps that feature many choke points, and on maps with two lanes. Lurking Arm provides a lot of zone control in tight areas, while Healing Pathogen excells at healing large groups of allies. Stukov does not perform poorly on many maps.

TL;DR Tips

• Use Bio-Kill Switch primarily to heal allies affected by Healing Pathogen.
• Cast Healing Pathogen onto Heroes who will spread it to as many allies as possible.
• Weighted Pustule is useful for harassment and light disengage. It can also secure kills on fleeing enemies.
• Channel Lurking Arm onto choke points, or use it to cancel channeled enemy Heroics.
• Massive Shove can be used to push enemies far away from team fights, or simply to Stun them against nearby terrain.