Xul Talents

Last updated on Apr 16, 2021 at 02:30 by Derenash 28 comments
General Information

Welcome to our Talents page for Xul. Here, we give you an overview of how strong each of Xul's talents is. Then, we present several viable builds, before analyzing each talent row separately, so that you can make informed decisions.

1.

Xul's Talent Build

Level Choices
1 Backlash Shackler ✘︎ Shade ?
4 Reaper's Toll ✘︎ Grim Scythe ? Jailors
7 Harvest Vitality ? Trag'Oul's Essence ? Wall Of Bones
10 Poison Nova ? Skeletal Mages
13 Echoes of Death Rapid Harvest ? Amplify Damage ?
16 Decrepify Weaken ? Bone Spear ?
20 Andariel's Visage ? Cold Hand of Death ✘︎ Mortal Wound Kalan's Edict ✘︎
2.

Xul's Talent Build Cheatsheet

Scythe Build

Recommended
Level 1 Backlash Icon Shade Icon ?
Level 4 Jailors Icon
Level 7 Wall Of Bones Icon Trag'Oul's Essence Icon ? Harvest Vitality Icon ?
Level 10 Skeletal Mages Icon Poison Nova Icon ?
Level 13 Echoes of Death Icon
Level 16 Decrepify Icon
Level 20 Mortal Wound Icon Andariel's Visage Icon ?

The Scythe Build offers plenty of AoE damage thanks to the additional Scythes offered by Echoes of Death Icon Echoes of Death at Level 13. Due to Mortal Wound Icon Mortal Wound at Level 20, this build becomes particularly powerful against double Healer composition who rely on a lot of healing. Unfortunately The Scythe Build is very dependent on Decrepify Icon Decrepify, which comes a bit too late and might not be a good choice if your team is looking for early-game fights.

Cursed Strikes Build

Situational
Level 1 Backlash Icon Shade Icon ?
Level 4 Grim Scythe Icon
Level 7 Harvest Vitality Icon
Level 10 Poison Nova Icon Skeletal Mages Icon ?
Level 13 Rapid Harvest Icon
Level 16 Weaken Icon
Level 20 Andariel's Visage Icon Mortal Wound Icon ?

Xul's Cursed Strikes Build gives Xul much survivability thanks to Harvest Vitality Icon Harvest Vitality's sustain, while Weaken Icon Weaken provides considerable resistance by reducing enemy damage dealt. Since this build requires you to be constantly hitting many enemies with Cursed Strikes Icon Cursed Strikes, it excels against melee-heavy compositions with little crowd control. This build is the most effective at capturing or clearing Mercenaries, considering Xul will have Cursed Strikes up nearly all the time, with very high Attack Speed.

Backlash Icon Backlash can be replaced with Shade Icon Shade when facing many Basic Attacks-reliant Heroes, like Raynor or Illidan. Both Poison Nova Icon Poison Nova and Skeletal Mages Icon Skeletal Mages are useful, though it is recommended to go with Poison Nova when facing many melee Heroes. Skeletal Mages will perform well when you need some kind of crowd control to reach the targets you are looking for.

Bone Prison Build

Situational
Level 1 Backlash Icon Shade Icon ?
Level 4 Jailors Icon Grim Scythe Icon ?
Level 7 Wall Of Bones Icon Harvest Vitality Icon ?
Level 10 Skeletal Mages Icon
Level 13 Amplify Damage Icon
Level 16 Bone Spear Icon
Level 20 Mortal Wound Icon

Xul's Bone Prison Build has much more burst than the other options. It is a great choice if the opposing team has lots of crowd control, ranged Heroes, or burst damage, since you will not be able to get much value out of Cursed Strikes Icon Cursed Strikes.

Backlash Icon Backlash can be replaced with Shade Icon Shade when facing many Basic Attack-reliant Heroes, like Raynor, Illidan, or Greymane.

If you are having trouble facing the opposing laner, we recommend changing both the Level 4 and 7 Talents into Grim Scythe Icon Grim Scythe and Harvest Vitality Icon Harvest Vitality respectively, since they will give you much more self-sustain while clearing waves, without crippling your burst capabilities.

3.

Level 1 Talents for Xul

Xul Backlash
Backlash (Level 1) Diablo Xul

When Bone Armor expires, nearby enemy Heroes take damage equal to 12% of their maximum Health.

Xul Shackler ✘︎
Shackler (Level 1) Diablo Xul

While Bone Armor is active, nearby enemies are Slowed by 35% for 1 second. Basic Attacks against Heroes that are Stunned, Rooted, or Slowed reduce the cooldown of Bone Armor by 2 seconds.

Xul Shade ?
Shade (Level 1) Diablo Xul

While Bone Armor is active, Xul evades all Basic Attacks, but increases the cooldown of Bone Armor by 10 seconds.

3.1.

Discussion

Backlash Icon Backlash is your standard choice, which requires you to stay close to nearby enemy Heroes in order to benefit from its effect. The damage will still be dealt even if the Shield is broken before running out. In most scenarios, it will have more value on melee Heroes who are easier to hit and tend to have higher maximum Health.

Shackler Icon Shackler in a Cursed Strikes Build might refund Bone Armor Icon Bone Armor's Cooldown several times in a fight. To do so, Xul has to be free to hit several attacks without any concerns in a fight. If this happens, you would probably win the combat with any other Talent, placing this Talent slightly behind the other two.

Shade Icon Shade comes with the drawback of increasing Bone Armor Icon Bone Armor's cooldown by 10 seconds. However, the Basic Attack evasion is capable of absorbing more damage done to Xul than the original Shield of Bone Armor, especially against hard-hitting Assassins like Thrall or Greymane. Shade is the best Talent against more than one Hero heavily focused on Basic Attacks.

4.

Level 4 Talents for Xul

Xul Reaper's Toll ✘︎
Reaper's Toll (Level 4) Diablo Xul

Reduce the cooldown of Spectral Scythe by 2 seconds and its Mana cost by 15.

Xul Grim Scythe ?
Grim Scythe (Level 4) Diablo Xul

Increase Xul's Basic Attack damage by 15%. Each enemy hit by Cursed Strikes reduces its cooldown by 1 second, up to 12 seconds.

Xul Jailors
Jailors (Level 4) Diablo Xul

Bone Prison spawns 2 Skeletal Warriors. These do not count towards Xul's Raise Skeleton maximum.

Quest: Spawn 80 Skeletal Warriors.

Reward: While fixating on an enemy, Skeletal Warriors gain 25% Movement and Attack Speed.

4.1.

Discussion

Since Spectral Scythe Icon Spectral Scythe's damage cannot compare to the extra damage provided by the 2 Skeletons spawnwed by Jailors Icon Jailors, Reaper's Toll Icon Reaper's Toll is not recommended on any build.

Grim Scythe Icon Grim Scythe lays a solid foundation for a Cursed Strikes Build. Its cooldown reduction is vital to increasing the value of follow up Talents like Harvest Vitality Icon Harvest Vitality at Level 7 and Rapid Harvest Icon Rapid Harvest at Level 13, as it allows you to use Cursed Strikes with all of its self-healing and Attack Speed buffs.

Jailors Icon Jailors's Quest reward can be completed quite easily if Xul rotates between multiple lanes in order to raise as many Skeletons as possible. It is a good Talent in a Bone Prison Build, since it will slightly increase your burst damage.

5.

Level 7 Talents for Xul

Xul Harvest Vitality ?
Harvest Vitality (Level 7) Diablo Xul

Cursed Strikes heals for 70% of the damage dealt to Heroes.

Xul Trag'Oul's Essence ?
Trag'Oul's Essence (Level 7) Diablo Xul

Every time a Skeletal Warrior attacks an enemy, restore 0.5% of Xul's maximum Health and 0.2% of his maximum Mana.

Xul Wall Of Bones
Wall Of Bones (Level 7) Diablo Xul

Increase the Shield amount of Bone Armor to 35% of Xul's maximum Health, and Xul gains 20 Spell Armor for its duration.

5.1.

Discussion

Harvest Vitality Icon Harvest Vitality is vital in a Cursed Strikes build. It also works very well in other builds and should be the choice if Xul is having troubles facing the enemy laner, since you can ignore him due to the 70% self-Heal.

Trag'Oul's Essence Icon Trag'Oul's Essence provides almost no self-sustain in fights. The Mana provided is way too low and not necessary, since you do not need to use any Ability other than Cursed Strikes to clear the wave after Level 9. However, The small self-sustain provided by it is very good in small skirmishes that happen between you and the opposing Offlaner, being a good option if you do not need the other Talents.

Wall Of Bones Icon Wall Of Bones is a really strong Talent against compositions with much burst damage in the form of Spell Damage. It should not be picked in a Cursed Strikes Build, since Harvest Vitality is necessary, but it is very impactful in the other builds, since it increases your survivability considerably.

6.

Level 10 Talents for Xul

Xul Poison Nova ?
Poison Nova (Level 10) Diablo Xul
  • Mana: 100
  • Cooldown: 90 seconds

After 0.5 seconds, release poisonous missiles that deal 630 (+4% per level) damage to all enemies hit over 10 seconds.

Xul Skeletal Mages
Skeletal Mages (Level 10) Diablo Xul
  • Mana: 80
  • Cooldown: 90 seconds

Summon 4 Frost Mages in a line that attack nearby enemies for 47 (+4% per level) damage a second and Slow them by 30% for 2 seconds. Last up to 15 seconds.

6.1.

Discussion

At this Level, you gain access to Heroic Abilities. If you want to read more about them, check the dedicated section in the Abilities and Strategy page.

Poison Nova Icon Poison Nova is a powerful area of effect damage over time Heroic Ability, which becomes particularly powerful if the enemy team lacks area of effect protection (healing, Shielding, or Armor). Furthermore, melee Heroes obviously have a harder time dodging the Poison Nova's projectiles, since Xul can reach them more easily than ranged Heroes. Consequently, it is crucial to analyse the enemy team composition before picking Poison Nova.

Skeletal Mages Icon Skeletal Mages fulfills a different role than Poison Nova Icon Poison Nova, since it is less about dealing damage and more about zoning. The wall of Skeletal Mages functions very similarly to Tassadar's Force Wall Icon Force Wall, it can either be used to prevent enemies from entering a specific area or it can be used to chase down retreating opponents.

7.

Level 13 Talents for Xul

Xul Echoes of Death
Echoes of Death (Level 13) Diablo Xul

Spectral Scythe spawns 2 additional scythes next to the first after 1.5 seconds, dealing 40% damage.

Xul Rapid Harvest ?
Rapid Harvest (Level 13) Diablo Xul

Gain 5% Attack Speed for 3 seconds each time Cursed Strikes hits an enemy, up to 75%.

Xul Amplify Damage ?
Amplify Damage (Level 13) Diablo Xul

Increase the Root duration of Bone Prison by 0.25 seconds. Enemies Rooted by Bone Prison lose 25 Armor for 2 seconds.

7.1.

Discussion

Echoes of Death Icon Echoes of Death offers increased waveclear and area of effect damage, which will greatly enhance Xul's combat performance during team fights. This Talent also has good synergy with other Spectral Scythe Icon Spectral Scythe-related Talents, aggregating to a Spectral Scythe Build.

Rapid Harvest Icon Rapid Harvest's Attack Speed bonus causes you to gain more value from the cooldown and healing provided by Grim Scythe Icon Grim Scythe and Harvest Vitality Icon Harvest Vitality. As such, we definitely recommend going for this Talent if you decided to commit to a Cursed Strikes Build.

Amplify Damage Icon Amplify Damage enables Xul and his teammates to focus and kill a single enemy Hero more efficiently by increasing all damage dealt by 25%. It is crucial in a Bone Prison Build, but can still be picked in all the other builds. Go for it if you have Heroes with high burst to kill the desired target while Rooted (such as Li-Ming).

8.

Level 16 Talents for Xul

Xul Decrepify
Decrepify (Level 16) Diablo Xul

Enemy Heroes that are damaged by Spectral Scythe or Skeletal Warriors are Slowed by 30% for 2.5 seconds.

Xul Weaken ?
Weaken (Level 16) Diablo Xul

Enemy Heroes who are damaged by Cursed Strikes or Skeletal Warriors deal 35% less damage for 3 seconds.

Xul Bone Spear ?
Bone Spear (Level 16) Diablo Xul
  • Cooldown: 12 seconds

Deal 230 (+4% per level) damage to enemies in a line.

8.1.

Discussion

Decrepify Icon Decrepify is a major improvement to a Spectral Scythe Build, since it will not only boost your engage and chase capabilities, but will also help at hitting the secondary Scythes from Echoes of Death Icon Echoes of Death. This Slow is reapplied by the summoned Skeletal Warriors from the scythe.

Weaken Icon Weaken will give a Cursed Strikes Build much more survivability, considering that damage reduction will consequently make your Shield and healing better, since it will sustain more attacks. With this Talent, remember to use Cursed Strikes Icon Cursed Strikes to protect your teammates as well. For example, it can be used on a Kael'thas while his Pyroblast Icon Pyroblast is coming towards your teammates in order to reduce the damage.

Bone Spear Icon Bone Spear comes with a very short cooldown, therefore, it will increase both Xul's burst and sustained damage. Bone Spear should be used when cleaning waves, since it will be up for fight and has no Mana cost. In fights, it is better to use it when a target is Rooted or Stunned, by either your Bone Prison or friendly crowd control.

9.

Level 20 Talents for Xul

Xul Andariel's Visage ?
Andariel's Visage (Level 20) Diablo Xul

Poison Nova heals for 50% of the damage dealt and its duration is increased by 50%.

Xul Cold Hand of Death ✘︎
Cold Hand of Death (Level 20) Diablo Xul

Increase the Slow of Frost Mages by 20%.

Every 5th Spectral Scythe that hits enemy Heroes spawns a Frost Mage instead of a Skeletal Warrior at their location.

Xul Mortal Wound
Mortal Wound (Level 20) Diablo Xul

Enemy Heroes hit by Spectral Scythe receive 75% less healing for 4 seconds.

Xul Kalan's Edict ✘︎
Kalan's Edict (Level 20) Diablo Xul

Each time Skeletal Warriors deal damage, reduce the cooldown of Bone Armor and Xul's Heroic Ability by 1.5%.

9.1.

Discussion

Andariel's Visage Icon Andariel's Visage adds a significant amount of self-heal and damage to Xul's kit. Poison Nova will heal from all targets hit, counting Structures, Minions, Heroes, Summons, or Monsters. Therefore it should be used trying to hit the most targets it can. The heal might make Xul almost immortal when paired with defensive Talents, such as Harvest Vitality Icon Harvest Vitality and Weaken Icon Weaken. This Talent is even better with a Cursed Strikes Build, considering it will allow you to be in the middle of the fight in order to deal damage.

Cold Hand of Death Icon Cold Hand of Death is a very underwhelming choice. Mostly the Slow increase in Frost Mages will not be necessary and the one created from Scythe is irrelevant in fights. Most of the time, this Talent will be overshadowed by Mortal Wound Icon Mortal Wound.

With Mortal Wound Icon Mortal Wound, Xul can turn many fights around by reducing the effectiveness of healing Abilities, like Ancestral Healing Icon Ancestral Healing or Ray of Heaven Icon Ray of Heaven, allowing his team to confirm the kill on a target. This Talent is excellent in a Spectral Scythe Build, considering it can reduce almost permanently the healing of every enemy Hero. Mortal Wound can be taken in any of the other Builds, since the Healing reduction will be impactful in every game against one or more Healers.

Kalan's Edict Icon Kalan's Edict significantly lowers the cooldown of Xul's Heroic Abilities whenever a Skeleton deals damage with a Basic Attack, which unfortunately is a pretty underwhelming investment as you will already have your Heroic Abilities ready in all the late game fights with or without this Talent. To refund the Heroic Ability's cooldown completely in a fight, Skeletal Warriors have to hit enemies at least 50 times, which is extremely hard to happen.

10.

Changelog

  • 16 Apr. 2021: Updated Talent recommendations.
  • 26 Mar. 2021: Updated Talent recommendations.
  • 17 Feb. 2021: Updated Trag'Oul's Essence's discussion.
  • 17 Jul. 2020: Talent section reviewed; no changes are necessary.
  • 18 Mar. 2020: Updated Xul's talents accordingly to his rework.
  • 20 Nov. 2019: Updated Xul's talents and removed the Skeleton Build, as we no longer consider it viable enough.
  • 16 Jul. 2017: Updated Xul's talent descriptions.
  • 14 Jul. 2017: Corpse Explosion changed from Not Recommended to Recommended.
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