Table of Contents
Introduction
Zhask is a heavy crowd control, burst mage who focuses on destroying his enemy before they can get to him. With a kit that creates additional entities that apply additional attacks, Zhask can turn his pokes into successive instances of burst damage, threatening the opposing laner at any stage of the game.
While he may be a glass cannon, his kit provides enough slows and crowd control to make an easy escape if he is ever oppressed by an assassin’s or jungler’s gank.
Pros
- Reliable CC
- Impressive lane pressure
- Continuous burst damage
Cons
- Weak against burst damage
- Generally squishy character
Skills
Zhask’s passive “Decimation” allows him to deal real damage in a small area around him when he is slain. While his passive is great for “getting that last hit in,” it holds minimal purpose when combined with the rest of his kit besides dealing extra damage in team fights.
Skill 1: Nightmaric Spawn
His first skill, “Nightmaric Spawn” summons a stationary creature promptly dubbed a “Spawn.” While it is summoned, it will attack all nearby creatures for an amount relative to Zhask’s damage. If it repeatedly strikes a target, it will apply a small slow, which helps set up his other skills. Note: the spawn works well with clearing minions and jungle creeps alike as it works to tank and deal damage in place of Zhask.
Skill 2: Mind Eater
His second skill, “Mind Eater,” deals magic damage to enemies in a straight direction. Being his notorious source of damage, Zhask can utilize this ability to poke down the enemy laner and shred through oncoming minion waves.
If you are within range of your spawn, it will create a duplication of your attack, aiming for the same target as you. If both instances hit the mark, they will be immediately stunned. To note: this skill works well in conjunction with the spawn, further quickening your wave and jungle clear potential.
Skill 3: Hive Clones
His third skill, “Hive Clones” releases a series of small projectiles in a straight line. Upon making contact with a target, the projectiles explode, dealing magic damage and slowing the target. If no target is immediately hit, the projectiles linger on the ground, acting as small sentient landmines.
When a potential target walks by, the hive clones walk towards them and will explode on contact. To note: the hives can be hidden inside bushes, giving a nice surprise for returning laners and incoming jungle ganks.
Ultimate: Dominator’s Domain
Zhask’s ultimate “Dominator’s Domain” acts as a buff to his burst damage potential and ability to disengage/reengage conflicts. When cast, Zhask jumps to and gains control of your spawn’s body, greatly enhancing its size and power. In conjunction with shortening his 2nd skill’s cooldown, he releases three groups of hives upon casting his 3rd skill.
Being allowed to spam out more abilities in a shorter period, Zhask’s burst damage rises exponentially for a few seconds. To note: similarly to the features of his other abilities, Zhask’s 2nd skill still applies stuns after repeatedly attacks enemies and applies slows from basic attacks and the usage of his 3rd skill. He may repeatedly complete his classic burst combo’s, shredding through team fights and his laner alike because of his shortened cooldowns.
Build
Zhask primarily focuses on high amounts of magic damage and penetration and lightly tapping into attack speed to maximize his burst damage output. To do so, he has a rather generic build list being:
- Divine Glaive (core)
- Feather of Heaven (core)
- Genius Wand
- Holy Crystal
- Blood Wings
- Swift Boots
Emblem
In addition to his items, Zhask makes use of the Mage emblem line, specking primarily into movement speed, magic penetration, and the mystery shop: which specifically takes advantage of a ten percent discount on all in-game item purchases.
Battle Spells
On top of his item and emblems choices, Zhask benefits primarily from the use of select Battle Spells such as:
- Inspire: Allows Zhask to increase his attack speed for a few seconds, giving him an extra edge in bursting down his opponent. With slows that accompany his and his spawn’s basic attacks, increased attack speed confirms a potential kill on a laner or incoming jungle.
- Purify: Allows Zhask to be released from status and crowd control effects and grants a small speed boost. With Purify, Zhask will further avoid a jungler’s ganks or critical situations in team fights.
- Aegis: Gives Zhask a shield that absorbs damage in place of his squishy health bar. Aegis is extremely useful in surviving the ever-looming threat of an assassin’s burst, a sudden burst of damage in team fights, and potential damage from an enemy laner.
Weak Against
Zhask is weak against assassins like Natalia.
Gameplay Tips
Much like any mobile legends character, the order you will upgrade your skills is essential though luckily, it remains relatively simple with Zhask. As Zhask, you will focus on upgrading and choosing your numerical order skills as such: Ultimate Skill 1; Skill 2 Skill 3.
Early Game
Zhask is very oppressive early game, and as such, you can take advantage of this to gain a lead over your laner. Zhask’s primary strategy will be to quickly clear his first wave of minions, only to take a dip into the jungle. Using your spawn as a tank, you will soon kill any residing jungle creep and return to the lane with your 2nd skill earlier than expected.
While you have your 2nd skill before your opposing laner, you will shred their wave and attempt to poke them down, threatening a kill (and earning one if you can). If you lose your spawn, take a few steps back and wait for its cooldown to be up, only to repeat your aggressive assault.
Mid Game
As you approach the mid-game, you will need to focus more on your allies and enemy assassins. To avoid being crushed by 2-3 person ganks, concentrate on playing defensively and clearing waves, and joining your team in team fights.
Late Game
As you approach the late game, you primarily sit behind your team. Your general focus will be to poke out your enemies and burst down any who overextend themselves. Keep watch on potential assassins and burst based characters so that you can shut them down through your, or use your ultimate to get away from them.