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!
Hey fellow gamers and speedrun enthusiasts! Welcome back to GamingSpeedrun.com, your ultimate hub for all things fast, optimized, and downright impressive in the gaming world. Today, we're diving deep into the electrifying gameplay of Natan, a hero that's been making waves, especially when it comes to pulling off those jaw-dropping "Savage" moments. Whether you're aiming for a personal best, a new world record, or just want to understand how to dominate with Natan, you've come to the right place. We're not just talking about flashy skins; we're talking about the strats, the execution, and the sheer skill that separates a good player from a legend.
So, you've seen those insane Natan gameplay clips, right? The ones where a single player wipes out the entire enemy team, securing a "Savage" with a skin that looks absolutely killer. It's easy to think it’s all about luck or just having the best cosmetics. But for us speedrunners, and for any serious player looking to shave off precious seconds, it's about optimization, precise execution, and exploiting every possible advantage. This guide is designed to break down how you can achieve those epic Savage plays consistently, turning Natan into your go-to hero for both competitive dominance and speedrun glory. Forget the bling for a second; let’s talk about the engine under the hood.
In my personal runs, I’ve found that focusing purely on Natan’s damage output early on is crucial for setting up those early-game snowball effects that lead to faster clears.
Understanding Natan's Kit: The Speedrunner's Perspective
Natan isn't just another marksman; his kit is built around sustained damage, mobility, and a unique resource system that, when managed correctly, can be incredibly potent for speed.
Passive: Quantum Charge - Every basic attack and skill hit builds up charges. At max charges, Natan’s basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and launch a spectralโจมตี (Attack). This is HUGE for clearing waves and objectives faster. Maximizing charge uptime is key.
Skill 1: Super Beam - Fires a concentrated beam that deals continuous damage to enemies in its path. Crucially, it also restores Natan's HP based on the damage dealt. In a speedrun, this isn't just for sustain; it’s about maximizing damage output in a straight line, hitting multiple targets if possible.
Skill 2: Ion Dust - Deals magic damage and slows enemies in an area. This is your primary crowd control and setup tool. It allows you to stick to targets, reposition safely, or set up for Skill 1.
Ultimate: Entropy Field - Natan dashes in a target direction, gaining a shield and firing spectralโจมตี at nearby enemies. This is your primary engage/disengage tool and your burst damage finisher. Timing this correctly for maximum spectralโจมตี hits is vital for securing kills and achieving those Savage moments.
Speedrunning Natan: Core Principles
When aiming for a speedrun with Natan, every second counts. We're not just playing the game; we're dissecting it.
Objective Focus: Always prioritize objectives – towers, jungle camps, and the Lord. Kills are secondary unless they directly contribute to taking an objective faster.
Route Optimization: Map out the most efficient path through the jungle or lanes. Know exactly which camps to clear, which lanes to push, and when to rotate.
Resource Management: Keep an eye on your mana and cooldowns. Natan’s kit rewards constant aggression, so efficient use of his skills is paramount.
Minimizing Downtime: Avoid unnecessary travel. Plan your movements to always be heading towards the next objective or threat.
Key Strategies and Skips
This is where the magic happens. Exploiting game mechanics to save time is the name of the game.
Early Game Dominance
The early game is critical. A fast Natan can snowball incredibly hard. Focus on:
Efficient jungle clearing to hit level 4 ASAP.
Securing buffs (Red/Blue) for cooldown reduction and damage boosts.
Targeting the enemy's outer turrets early if opportunities arise.
Wave Management for Objectives
Understanding how to manipulate minion waves can save crucial seconds.
Creep Skipping: In certain situations, you might be able to bypass neutral creeps or even enemy minions if they don't pose a threat and you can reach an objective faster.
Tower Focusing: Learn the optimal attack patterns to take down turrets as quickly as possible. Natan’s sustained damage, especially with charged attacks, can melt turrets.
Advanced Techniques and Glitches
While Natan is fairly straightforward, advanced players leverage subtle techniques.
Skill 1 Canceling
While not a direct cancel, you can sometimes reposition during the cast of Super Beam to maximize its duration on a key target or objective. This requires precise movement inputs.
Ultimate Mobility
Mastering the direction and timing of Natan's ultimate, Entropy Field, can allow for quick escapes over walls or rapid repositioning in team fights. For speedruns, using it to traverse the map faster between objectives is a common technique.
Potential Glitches/Exploits (Use with Caution!)
The speedrunning community is always searching for new ways to break the game. Keep an eye on resources like speedrun.com for discovered glitches that might allow for sequence breaks or skips. These are often patched quickly, so staying updated is key.
I remember a run where a slight terrain exploit near the mid-lane inhibitor tower saved me almost 5 seconds. These tiny optimizations add up.
Optimizing Natan's Build
Your item build needs to support both speed and survivability. For speedruns, we prioritize damage and cooldowns.
Core Items: Usually start with jungle item for faster clear speed, followed by items that boost attack speed and magic power.
Sustain Items: Include items that offer lifesteal or spell vamp, especially Natan's Skill 1, to minimize time spent recalling or waiting for HP regeneration.
Situational Items: Depending on the enemy composition and objectives, you might need items for armor penetration or defensive stats. However, in a speedrun, offensive builds are generally favored.
Example Run Breakdown
Let's visualize a hypothetical speedrun path:
Start: Begin at the Red Buff. Clear it efficiently using Skill 1 and basic attacks, building charges.
Level 2: Immediately move to the nearby Krugs or Wolves camp.
Level 3: Take the Blue Buff, prioritizing Skill 2 for wave clear and CC.
Level 4: Hit level 4 and look for an opportunity to gank a side lane or secure the first turret. Use your Ultimate offensively here.
Mid Game: Focus on objectives. Rotate to secure the Turtle, push lanes, and prepare for Lord pushes.
Late Game: Execute Lord with a well-timed Natan ultimate and push for the win. The goal is to end before the 10-minute mark if possible.
The Importance of RNG
Even in the most optimized speedruns, there's an element of luck.
Jungle Spawn Timers: Predictable, but sometimes slight variations occur.
Enemy Movement: Enemy hero and minion pathing can influence gank opportunities and objective secures.
Critical Hits/Procs: For builds that rely on certain item or skill procs, RNG plays a role. Natan's passive is less RNG-dependent, which is a plus for speedrunning.
Managing and adapting to unfavorable RNG is a hallmark of a great speedrunner.
Sometimes, the enemy jungler pathing just works out perfectly for you, giving you free reign. Other times, you have to play around their movements.
Community and Resources
The best way to improve is to learn from others.
GamingSpeedrun.com Forums: Connect with other players discussing strategies.
Natan Mains Subreddits/Discord Servers: Find dedicated communities for hero-specific tips.
Twitch and YouTube: Watch top Natan players and speedrunners live. You can learn invaluable tricks just by observing their gameplay and commentary. Check out channels focused on speedrun content.
Speedrun.com Leaderboards: Analyze the top runs, watch their VODs, and see the exact routes and strats used.
Preguntas Frecuentes
Q1: Is Natan a viable hero for speedrunning?
Absolutely! Natan's strong sustained damage, objective-taking potential, and ability to clear waves quickly make him a solid choice for speedrunning, especially in games with objective-based win conditions.
Q2: How important is Natan's "Savage" play for a speedrun?
While a Savage is impressive, it's usually a byproduct of efficient objective taking rather than the primary goal. In a speedrun, prioritizing towers and buffs over chasing individual kills is key. However, a well-timed Savage can clear the board, allowing for a faster objective push.
Q3: What's the biggest challenge when speedrunning Natan?
The main challenge is managing his cooldowns and ensuring maximum uptime on his passive charges. Efficient movement and decision-making are crucial to avoid wasting time waiting for skills.
Q4: Can I use Natan's Ultimate for map traversal in speedruns?
Yes, Natan's Ultimate, Entropy Field, can be used for quick dashes across the map, over walls, or to reposition rapidly. Mastering its use for mobility can save significant time.
Q5: Are there any specific glitches Natan runners use?
Glitches are often discovered and patched quickly. It's best to consult dedicated speedrunning communities and leaderboards like speedrun.com for the most up-to-date information on Natan-specific exploits or sequence breaks.
Join the Race!
Mastering Natan for speedruns is a journey, not a destination. It requires practice, dedication, and a willingness to constantly refine your strategy. Whether you're aiming for that elusive world record or just want to impress your friends with incredible plays, the principles outlined here should set you on the right path. Don't just play the game; optimize it.
What are your favorite Natan strats? Have you discovered any game-breaking techniques? Share your thoughts and findings in the comments below! Let's push the limits together and see just how fast we can conquer the battlefield with Natan. For more in-depth guides and community discussions, join our Discord server!
