Table of Contents
Introduction: Chasing the Savage with Natan
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.
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.