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Table of Contents
General Information
On this page, we present the viable talent choices for playing Varian in a competitive environment in Heroes of the Storm. For each talent, we explain what they do and why they should or should not be taken.
The other pages of our Varian guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.
About the Author
KendricSwissh is a Master League Warrior and Support player in Hero League. He has been playing Heroes of the Storm since the early stages of the Alpha version and has mastered a large number of Heroes. He is also creating Heroes of the Storm related content on YouTube, most notably his series called Epic Plays of the Week, which focuses on video clips submitted by his viewers. He is also a streamer on Twitch where he will gladly answer all of your questions about the game.
1. Talent Build
| Level | Choices |
|---|---|
| 1 |
✔
✔
✔
|
| 4 |
✔
✔
|
| 7 |
✔
✔
?
|
| 10 |
✔
✔
✔
|
| 13 |
?
?
?
|
| 16 |
?
✔
?
|
| 20 |
✘
✔
?
✔
✔
|
2. Common Talent Paths
Protection Build (talent calculator link)
Unlike his other two Heroic Abilites, 
Taunt causes Varian to become a
stalwart Tank who is capable of peeling for his
backline, while at the same time posing a serious threat to enemy Assassins and Specialists.
While his early game talents all revolve around his 
Parry ability, his later
talents at Level 13, 16, and 20 are interchangeable. Depending on the situation you find yourself in, both
Banner of Dalaran and 
Banner of Ironforge can be viable
choices. Since Varian is such a highly adaptive Hero to play, we thoroughly recommend reading our in-depth talents
section.
Arms Build (talent calculator link)
The Arms Build turns Varian into a highly explosive melee Assassin, who excels at
marking enemy priority targets using 
Colossus Smash and unleashing
a large amount of damage within split seconds to take them down as swiftly as possible. Similar
to Tyrande's 
Hunter's Mark, Colossus Smash
applies Vulnerable to Varian's chosen target, which causes nearby allies to also deal increased damage on the target.
As such, it is crucial to let your team know which target you are about to attack. Thus, we strongly recommend using
ingame ping commands before leaping onto the enemy in order to guarantee immediate follow-up damage.
Keep in mind that Colossus Smash can (and should!) also be used against
non-Heroic enemies, such as Mercenaries and Bosses in order to take them down much quicker. Due to
the Heroic Ability's low cooldown, we definitely recommend doing so in order to save precious seconds, especially
if you suspect the enemy team to be close by.
Fury Build (talent calculator link)
Varian's Fury Build turns him into a deadly melee Assassin, providing him
with an outstanding amount of self-sustain thanks to 
Second Wind
at Level 7. Combined with the attack speed buff from his 
Twin Blades of Fury
Heroic Ability, Second Wind allows Varian to clear Mercenary and even Boss Camps all
by himself without taking too much damage.
All in all, Varian compares in many ways to Sonya when going for the Fury Build. Constant movement is crucial in order to become harder to lock down by the enemy team. Despite the fact that Varian is one of the strongest duelists in the game, especially after picking Twin Blades of Fury at Level 10, it is important to know when to engage and when to retreat. Do not dive into the enemy team's backline without your Tank in your vicinity and avoid chasing blindly into the enemy territory at all costs!
3. Level 1 Talents
✔
Varian
Quest: Every time Lion's Fang hits a Hero, increase its damage by 4, up to 120.
Reward: After hitting 30 Heroes, the slow is increased to 50% and its duration is increased to 2 seconds.
✔
Varian
When Parry blocks a Hero's Basic Attack, Heroic Strike's cooldown is refreshed and the next one does 20% more damage.
✔
Varian
Quest: Hit 50 Heroes with Basic Attacks.
Quest: Participate in 5 Hero Takedowns.
Quest: Gather 20 Regeneration Globes.
Reward: Completing a Quest grants 10 Base Attack Damage. Completing all 3 Quests grants an additional 45 Base Attack Damage.
3.1. Discussion
Lion's Maw feels a bit underwhelming during the early phases of the game. However, as
its Quest completion bonus kicks in, it possesses great synergy with Varian's Arms Build, especially after Colossus Smash
has been picked at Level 10. The bonus damage from Lion's Maw and its potential to hit multiple enemies at the same time, makes
it a perfect match for Master at Arms at Level 20.
Overpower should be Varian's go-to Level 1 talent in most cases, especially if you plan on building him as a Tank. Overpower also gets decent
value if you decide to play the Arms Build featuring Colossus Smash at Level 10, since Varian's kill potential
benefits greatly from the immediate cooldown reset on 
Heroic Strike after successfully parrying an enemy Hero's Basic Attack.
High King's Quest usually takes too long to reward you with its benefits compared to
Lion's Maw and Overpower, in particular. However, on maps
that provide enough opportunities to pick up Regeneration Globes, High King's Quest can be a decent choice on either of the two Assassin Builds.
4. Level 4 Talents
✔
Varian
Parry now grants Protected, preventing all incoming damage for the duration.
✔
Varian
Reduces Charge cooldown by 8 seconds and Mana cost by 50%.
4.1. Discussion
Shield Wall becomes a powerful pick-up at Level 4. While the Invulnerability effect allows
Varian to attack more recklessly, the loss of mobility and lockdown potential that comes by ignoring 
Warbringer
is still noticeable. However, the strong synergy with other Parry-related talents, namely Overpower
and Live by the Sword, more than makes up for it.
Warbringer provides Varian with a better Movement Speed Slow to hunt his targets down more efficiently.
Furthermore, lowering Charge's cooldown by 8 seconds is a huge asset to both his
chasing and peeling capabilities. We recommend picking
it if you intend to pick Taunt at Level 10, however, only against team compositions that lack burst damage
and rely heavily on Basic Attack Assassins such as Illidan,
Raynor, or Valla.
5. Level 7 Talents
✔
Varian
Increase the duration of Parry by 40%. If at least 4 Hero Basic Attacks are blocked with a single Parry, its cooldown is reduced by 2 seconds.
✔
Varian
Basic Attacks heal Varian for 1% of his maximum Health. While below 50% Health, they also heal him for 50% of the damage dealt.
?
Varian
Every 60 seconds, Varian's next Basic Attack will heal him for 400 (+4% per level) Health. When a nearby enemy Minion or Monster dies, the cooldown is reduced by 15 seconds.
5.1. Discussion
Live by the Sword is a solid talent, which works best if paired together with Overpower
at Level 1 and Shield Wall at Level 4. We usually recommend this talent if you plan on picking Taunt or
Colossus Smash at Level 10.
Second Wind marks Varian's first power spike if you decide to go for Twin Blades of Fury.
Its increased Attack Speed makes this talent truly shine. The synergy between the two enables you to capture any Mercenary and Boss Camp at or after Level 10.
Since it scales with his maximum health value, Second Wind becomes a decent talent choice with Taunt as well.
Victory Rush is too unreliable a talent, since it only works if you have enemy Minions nearby. However, especially on larger maps
this is not always guaranteed. On smaller maps, such as Battlefield of Eternity or Tomb of the Spider Queen, we find that Victory Rush can be a good situational choice
due to the abundance of Minions that surround Varian while pushing with the Objective.
6. Level 10 Talents
✔
Varian
- Mana: 20
- Cooldown: 16 seconds
Silence a target Hero and force them to attack Varian for 1.25 seconds.
Passive: Maximum Health increased by 30%.
Passive: Gain 15 Armor.
✔
Varian
- Mana: 40
- Cooldown: 20 seconds
Smash a target enemy, dealing 160 (+4% per level) damage and lowering their Armor by 25 for 3 seconds, causing them to take 25% increased damage.
Passive: Base Attack Damage increased by 100%.
Passive: Maximum Health reduced by 10%.
✔
Varian
Basic Attacks reduce Heroic Strike's cooldown by 9 seconds, and increase Varian's Movement Speed by 30% for 2 seconds.
Passive: Attack Speed increased by 100%.
Passive: Base Attack Damage reduced by 20%.
6.1. Discussion
Taunt is Varian's most defensive Heroic Ability and provides and additional source of crowd control to
his kit while also bolstering his health pool by a large margin. It is crucial to realize that by taking Taunt, you essencially sacrifice damage output
and kill potential in favor of peeling potential for your allies. We highly recommend picking Taunt if you do not have
any other Warriors in your team who could fill the role of a Tank.
Colossus Smash turns Varian into a hard-engaging melee Assassin. Its Vulnerability
debuff can pave the way for quick take-downs, especially if your team features burst-heavy ranged Assassins who can follow up on Varian's charge.
In order to unleash Colossus Smash's full potential, it should always be used first, followed up by Lion's Fang
and Charge to maximise your damage output against the vulnerable target.
Twin Blades of Fury increases Varian's Attack Speed and Movement Speed tremendously, causing him to become
a deadly Bruiser, who can wreak havoc within the enemy lines. If paired with Second Wind at
Level 7, Varian can duel almost any other Hero in a one-versus-one situation, so feel confident when you meet foes in the open. Also, make sure to
capture Mercenary Camps and Bosses by yourself every now and then to provide your team with additional lane pressure.
7. Level 13 Talents
?
Varian
Charge deals bonus damage to Heroes equal to 4% of their maximum Health.
?
Varian
Heroes hit by Heroic Strike receive 40% reduced healing for 4 seconds.
?
Varian
- Cooldown: 30 seconds
Activate to throw a sword at a target Hero that deals 50 (+4% per level) damage, and up to 1400 (+4% per level) bonus damage to their Shields.
Passive: Basic Attacks against Heroes deal up to 200% bonus damage to Shields.
7.1. Discussion
Juggernaut has great synergy with Warbringer at Level 4, especially if the enemy
team consists of several high health Heroes.
Mortal Strike is a very effective talent if you decided to go for the Fury Build featuring Twin Blades of Fury
at Level 10. Due to the increased Attack Speed, Heroic Strike will trigger a lot more frequently, which
in return will maintain Mortal Strike's healing debuff constantly on your primary target.
Shattering Throw is a very powerful counter to Heroes like Tassadar or
Johanna, who possess powerful shielding abilities. If the enemy team does not use any shields
at all, Shattering Throw completely shuts down Chen's 
Fortifying Brew.
8. Level 16 Talents
?
Varian
- Cooldown: 45 seconds
Activate to place a Banner that grants 25% increased Movement Speed to nearby allied Heroes. Lasts 12 seconds.
✔
Varian
- Cooldown: 45 seconds
Activate to place a Banner that grants 20 Armor to nearby allied Heroes, reducing damage taken by 20%. Lasts 12 seconds.
?
Varian
- Cooldown: 45 seconds
Activate to place a Banner that grants 20% increased Spell Power to nearby allied Heroes. Lasts 12 seconds.
8.1. Discussion
Banner of Ironforge is a fantastic talent for Varian, since it provides himself and nearby allied Heroes
with a significant defensive buff. This becomes particularly useful during longer skirmishes and team fights around Map Objectives.
Keep in mind that you can also use Banner of Ironforge to mitigate some of the damage that Mercenary Camps or Bosses deal to you
and your teammates.
Banner of Stormwind can be a worthy substitute to Banner of Ironforge
if your team needs additional mobility to either engage the enemy team or retreat away from them. If timed well, Banner of Stormwind
can definitely become a life saver for threatened allies.
Banner of Dalaran remains a very situational, yet rewarding choice. We would only recommend picking this talent
if two requirements are met. Firstly, Varian himself goes for the Arms or Protection Build. Secondly, your team needs to feature at
least one Mage, such as Li-Ming or Jaina,
to increase Banner of Dalaran's overall value.
9. Level 20 Talents
✘
Varian
Being hit by a Hero Basic Attack reduces the cooldown of Taunt by 1 seconds.
✔
Varian
Colossus Smash affects all enemies near the target, and its cooldown is reduced by 10 seconds.
?
Varian
Twin Blades of Fury increases Varian's Attack Speed by an additional 15%, and Basic Attacks increase his Movement Speed by an additional 10%.
✔
Varian
Banner now also increases health regeneration and all healing received for nearby allied Heroes by 50%, and the cooldown is reduced by 20 seconds.
✔
Varian
- Cooldown: 25 seconds
Activate to demoralize nearby enemy Heroes, reducing damage they deal by 25% for 5 seconds.
9.1. Discussion
Master at Arms provides a significant late game damage spike to Varian, allowing him to apply the Vulnerable debuff to
multiple enemy Heroes at the same time. While this effect alone would probably already be enough to justify taking Master at Arms, the additional cooldown reduction
on Colossus Smash renders this talent extremely powerful.
Glory to the Alliance's noteworthy cooldown reduction on any Banner talent from Level 13 is a solid reason to pick this talent, as it basically
allows you to have a guaranteed Banner during every major team fight. The additional
increased healing and health regeneration helps your allies to out-sustain the enemy team during longer skirmishes and team fights. We strongly recommend picking
Glory to the Alliance if you went for Second Wind at Level 7 and Twin Blades of Fury at Level 10, since
it boosts Varian's self-healing tremendously.
Demoralizing Shout is an excellent counter against team compositions who focus a lot on damage. Being able to cripple several melee
and ranged Assassin allows Varian to protect not only himself but also nearby allies in his vicinity. Consequently, this talent becomes our go-to choice at Level 20 when playing
the Protection Build.
Frenzy's effect is strong, yet it is not really needed, since we find Twin Blades of Fury's original buffs
to be sufficient. Consequently, we recommend sacrificing additional damage in favor of utility or self-sustain by picking either Demoralizing Shout or
Glory to the Alliance.
Vigilance offers too little to compete against any of the other Level 20 talents.
10. ChangeLog
+ show all entries - show only 10 entries- 11 Jul. 2017: Changed High King's Quest from Situational to Recommended.
- 03 Jul. 2017: Updated Varian's Level 1 talents.
- 16 May 2017: Updated Warbringer's description.
- 11 Mar. 2017: Updated Varian's talent section to fit the current meta.
- 28 Feb. 2017: Updated Warbringer in accordance with the latest Balance Update.
- 18 Feb. 2017: Re-arranged Varian's Level 13 and 16 talent tiers in accordance with the Lucio Update.
- 04 Feb. 2017: Updated Level 7 talent discussions and assessments.
- 20 Dec. 2016: Updated text for some talent discussions, but assessments remain the same.
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