What's up, fellow gamers and speedrunners! If you've been lurking in the Land of Dawn recently, you've probably noticed a familiar name popping up everywhere: Julian. After a period of being overshadowed, this hero is back with a vengeance, and not just on the casual ladder, but also in the high-stakes competitive scene. We're here at GamingSpeedrun.com to break down exactly why Buff Julian is back on the META, and more importantly, how you can leverage his newfound power to climb those ranks and maybe even snag a few personal bests.
Julian's Rework: What's New?
Riot Games (oops, wrong game! We mean Moonton!) has been busy tweaking the hero pool, and Julian has been a major beneficiary of recent adjustments. While some might call it a "buff," it's more of a strategic repositioning and enhancement of his core mechanics. The developers have focused on amplifying his survivability and damage output, especially during his ultimate.
* **Enhanced Lifesteal/Sustain**: Julian now boasts improved sustain, allowing him to stay in fights longer and recover from enemy harass more effectively.
* **Damage Amplification**: His skill damage, particularly the burst from his enhanced abilities and ultimate, has seen a significant uptick.
* **Cooldown Adjustments**: Subtle but crucial tweaks to cooldowns mean he can access his powerful abilities more frequently.
Why Julian is Dominating the Current META
The current Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) META favors heroes who can both dish out significant damage and sustain through prolonged team fights. Julian perfectly fits this mold. His ability to dive into the enemy backline, disrupt formations, and then exit with substantial health thanks to his sustain makes him a nightmare for squishy carries.
In my experience as a dedicated speedrun player, identifying these META shifts is crucial. A hero that can quickly eliminate targets or survive burst damage is invaluable. Julian, with his current kit, excels at both. He's not just a flashy pick; he's a strategic one that forces opponents to adapt their drafting and playstyle.
Mastering Julian: Core Strategies and Tips
Playing Julian effectively is all about understanding his flow and when to commit. He's not a front-line tank, nor is he a pure assassin. He operates in a powerful hybrid space, requiring precise timing.
1. **Early Game Pressure**: While Julian shines in the mid to late game, don't neglect his early game. Use his abilities to secure farm and pressure lanes. A good jungler Julian can gank effectively, especially when the enemy overextends.
2. **Ultimate Usage is Key**: Julian's ultimate, "Paradise Force," is his bread and butter.
* **Engage Tool**: Use it to initiate fights or chase down fleeing enemies.
* **Damage Burst**: Ensure you're hitting multiple targets with the enhanced state for maximum impact.
* **Sustain Activation**: The lifesteal provided by the ultimate is vital for survival.
"The true power of Julian lies in chaining his abilities correctly. Master the sequence, and you'll become an unstoppable force."
3. **Positioning**: As a fighter, your positioning is critical. You want to be close enough to deal damage but not so far forward that you get instantly bursted down without your team. Look for flanks or opportunities to dive onto priority targets.
Essential Item Builds for Julian
Building the right items can make or break your Julian gameplay. The goal is to balance damage, cooldown reduction, and survivability.
* **Core Items**:
* **Tough Boots/Warrior Boots**: Essential for early game survivability and mobility.
* **Bloodlust Axe**: Provides crucial Physical Attack, CD Reduction, and Spell Vamp, amplifying Julian's sustain.
* **Hunter Strike**: Offers Physical Attack, CD Reduction, and Movement Speed, allowing for better engagement and kiting.
* **Oracle/Athena's Shield**: Vital for countering magic damage and amplifying his innate lifesteal/shielding.
* **Situational Items**:
* **Malefic Roar**: If the enemy team is stacking physical defense.
* **Immortality**: For late-game insurance, giving you a second chance in crucial team fights.
* **Brute Force Breastplate**: If you need more physical defense and a bit more mobility.
Emblems and Spells That Synergize
The right talents and battle spells can further enhance Julian's capabilities.
* **Emblem Set**:
* **Fighter Emblem**: Maximize Physical Attack, CD Reduction, and Movement Speed. Take talents like `Festival of Blood` for extra spell vamp or `Tenacity` for when low on HP. `Quantum Charge` can also provide valuable burst damage and sustain.
* **Battle Spells**:
* **Retribution**: If playing as a jungler, this is non-negotiable for securing buffs and objectives.
* **Execute**: For securing kills on low-HP targets, especially useful in EXP or Gold lane.
* **Flicker**: Always a solid choice for repositioning, escaping, or initiating.
"I've experimented with numerous emblem and spell combinations. For climbing the ranks, the standard Fighter Emblem with spell vamp and Flicker is my go-to."
Key Matchups and How to Play Them
Understanding how Julian fares against other common META heroes is key to successful gameplay.
* **Against High Burst Assassins (e.g., Lancelot, Fanny)**: Focus on timing your ultimate and skills to negate their burst. Items like Oracle or Athena's Shield are critical here. Try to bait out their key abilities before committing.
* **Against Tanks (e.g., Khufra, Tigreal)**: Julian can often duel tanks if he can continuously apply his damage and sustain. Focus on hitting their backline if they overextend, or farm safely if they provide too much CC.
* **Against Marksmen (e.g., Claude, Wanwan)**: Julian excels at diving marksmen. Wait for their support to be occupied or use Flicker/dash creatively to get onto them. Once you reach them, they are usually doomed.
Advanced Techniques and Combos
To truly master Julian, you need to go beyond the basics. Here are some advanced tips and combo executions.
* **Ultimate Weaving**: The core of Julian's advanced play is skillfully weaving his abilities with his ultimate. A common sequence is:
1. Use Skill 1.
2. Activate Ultimate (`Paradise Force`).
3. Immediately use Skill 2 (enhanced).
4. Follow up with basic attacks and Skill 1 (enhanced) if available.
* **Objective Control**: Julian's sustained damage and sustain make him excellent for taking objectives like Turtle or Lord, especially when paired with a good jungler. His ability to pressure enemies off the objective is invaluable for securing world record attempts in team coordination.
* **Split Pushing**: While he's great in team fights, Julian can also apply significant pressure on side lanes, forcing enemies to respond and creating advantages elsewhere on the map.
"I've seen some insane Julian plays that involve using his mobility to flank and execute combos before the enemy even knows what hit them. It’s pure poetry in motion!"
Frequently Asked Questions
* Is Julian still viable in the current Mobile Legends META?
Yes, Julian is very strong in the current META thanks to his buffs, increased sustain, and damage output, making him a top-tier fighter.
* What is the best lane for Julian?
Julian can be played effectively in the Jungle or the EXP Lane, depending on your team composition and the enemy's draft.
* What is Julian's main weakness?
His primary weakness is susceptible to heavy crowd control (CC) and burst damage before he can activate his ultimate or sustain. He also requires good timing and positioning.
* Which heroes counter Julian?
Heroes with strong lockdown CC (like Khufra's bounce or Franco's hook) and high burst damage that can kill him before he sustains can counter Julian effectively.
The resurgence of Julian in the MLBB META is a testament to smart design and strategic adjustments. He’s a hero that rewards skillful play and offers a high ceiling for players willing to learn his intricacies. Whether you're aiming for that next rank promotion, looking to dominate your matches, or even exploring new speedrun opportunities with a stable hero, Julian is an excellent choice right now.
What are your favorite Julian builds or strategies? Have you had any epic comeback moments with him recently? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and join our Discord channel to discuss all things MLBB and speedrunning! Let's keep pushing the limits together!
