The light snowfall in-game was hinting a new hero Now it's clear: Mei from Overwatch is coming to the Heroes of the Storm Hero Pool. Snow in the summer?
How would you say in Game of Thrones? Mei is coming. Because the literally cool heroine from Overwatch will be the latest addition to Heroes of the Storm. Somehow you could have expected it. For days it has been snowing in-game of the Blizzard MOBA again and again. Sure, something has to come with snow - and Mei is a perfect match, as an icy heroine. A few hours ago it became official, Blizzard announced it with a spotlight video:
Mei's Abilities
As the newest tank in Heroes of the Storm, Mai's abilities are similar to her playing style in Overwatch. Her attack Blizzard serves as her W-Ability in HotS, while the Ice Wall (R2) can be used as one of her powerful hero abilities - a wall of ice that freezes and/or keeps heroes away. All in all, she's a very good tank, which can freeze itself with D and thus protect itself from damage, slow down enemies, and even move them - with her other Ulti R1, Avalanche, she rolls over enemies with a huge snowball, which sweeps away all heroes hit. The climate scientist is a must pick for all Fridays for Future supporters. Here is her complete kit from the Heroes of the Storm PTR patch:
Trait [D]
- Cryo-Freeze
- Mei encases herself in ice, gaining a rapidly decaying Shield that absorbs up to 1104 damage. While active, this Shield grants Unstoppable and restores up to 35% maximum Health.
- Cooldown: 40 seconds.
Basic Abilities
- Snow Blind [Q]
- Throw a snowball that hits all enemies in an area. Enemies hit take 70 damage, are Slowed by 35%, and are Blinded for 1.5 seconds.
- Cost: 35 Mana.
- Cooldown: 10 seconds.
- Blizzard [W]
- Command Snowball to create a blizzard at the target location for 2 seconds. Enemies within the blizzard take 13 damage every .25 seconds and are Slowed by 7%, stacking up to 35%. When the blizzard ends, enemies within its area take an additional 75 damage and are stunned for 1.25 seconds.
- Cost: 70 Mana.
- Cooldown: 14 seconds.
- Icing [E]
- Slide quickly in the targeted direction. When this effect ends, enemies near Mei are knocked back, take 52 damage, and are Slowed by 80%, rapidly decaying over 1.5 seconds.
- Cost: 70 Mana.
- Cooldown: 14 seconds.
Heroic Abilities
- Avalanche [R1]
- After .5 seconds, roll a massive snowball that consumes enemy Heroes in its path. At the end of its path, the snowball crumbles, releasing the consumed Heroes, dealing 220 damage and stunning them for .5 per Hero consumed.
- Cost: 70 Mana.
- Cooldown: 65 seconds.
- Ice Wall [R2]
- After a .75 second delay, create an impassible wall that traps enemy Heroes hit for 2.5 seconds. When the wall expires, trapped Heroes are slowed by 75% decaying over 3 seconds.
- Cost: 60 Mana.
- Cooldown: 90 seconds.
Talents
- Level 1
- Heavy Pack [Q]
- Increases the duration of Snow Blind’s Slow by 100%. Each time Blizzard damages an enemy Hero, reduce the cooldown of Snow Blind by .125 seconds.
- Ice Storm [W]
- Every 3rd hit of Blizzard against enemy Heroes deals an additional 45 damage. Blizzard’s final stun damage is increased by 125% against all enemies.
- Heat Transfer [Passive]
- Basic Attacks against Rooted, Stunned, or Slowed Heroes deal 33% more damage. Each time Mei Stuns or Slows an enemy Hero she heals for 18 Health.
- Heavy Pack [Q]
- Level 4
- Slushball [Q]
- Snow Blind deals 50% increased damage and Structures hit are disabled for 3 seconds.
- Cold Front [E]
- If Mei enters her own Blizzard while Icing is active, the cooldown of Icing is reduced by 7 seconds and she gains 50 Mana.
- Crystallize [Trait]
- Reduce the cooldown of Cryo-Freeze by 15 seconds. Mei gains 50 Spell Armor while Cryo-Freeze is active and for 2 seconds after.
- Slushball [Q]
- Level 7
- Induce Hibernation [W]
- Enemy Heroes inside of Blizzard’s area have their damage dealt reduced by 40%. When Blizzard ends, enemy Heroes within its area gain this effect for an additional 4 seconds.
- Skating Away [E]
- When Icing ends, grant Mei and nearby allies 20% Movement Speed and 50 Physical Armor for 3 seconds.
- Backup Battery [Active]
- Activate to remove all Roots and Slows and regenerate 20% of maximum Health over 2 seconds. The cooldown of this ability is reduced by 10 seconds each time Mei picks up a Regeneration Globe.
- Induce Hibernation [W]
- Level 13
- Flurry [W]
- While in her own Blizzard, Mei gains 50% increased attack speed and Blizzard’s cooldown refreshes 75% faster. If Mei is in her own Blizzard when it ends, gain these bonuses for 3 additional seconds.
- Cooling Servos [Trait]
- Basic Attacks Slow their target by 20% for 1.5 seconds. While Cryo-Freeze is active, Mei’s Basic Ability cooldowns recover 200% faster.
- Polar Vortex [Passive]
- Using an ability causes Mei to deal 24 damage a second to nearby enemies for 4 seconds. Enemy Heroes damaged by this effect also have their movement and attack speed Slowed by 20%.
- Flurry [W]
- Level 16
- Fresh Powder [Q]
- Snow Blind gains an additional charge and its range is increased by 33%.
- Black Ice [E]
- Icing’s Slow effect no longer decays over its duration. Icing deals 300% more damage to enemies very close to Mei.
- Acclimation [Passive]
- Each time Mei Slows or Stuns an enemy Hero, the damage she deals and healing she receives is increased by 1%, stacking up to 20 times. While at maximum stacks, Mei also gains 10 armor. Lasts 8 seconds.
- Fresh Powder [Q]
- Level 20
- Cascade [R1]
- Reduce the cooldown of Avalanche by 25 seconds. While traveling, Avalanche constantly launches a volley of untalented Snow Blind snowballs ahead of itself.
- Shatter [R2]
- When Ice Wall expires, trapped enemy Heroes hit take 210 damage and have their Armor reduced by 25 for 5 seconds.
- The Big One [Q]
- Every 15 seconds, your next Snow Blind has 66% increased area and 200% increased damage.
- Flash Freeze [Trait]
- Upon taking fatal damage, Mei instantly gains Cryo-Freeze. This effect has a 180 second cooldown.
- Cascade [R1]
Overwatch Mei Nexus New Skin - Pajama, Panda, Gnoll pic.twitter.com/bQXVRCWsfm
— Naeri X naeri (@OverwatchNaeri) June 15, 2020
More good news: Mei is coming with the fancy skins above and she is ready to storm the Hero Pool of Heroes of the Storm.
All other PTR Patch Notes are available directly on Blizzard's official website. Mei is one of the more interesting hero additions in the Heroes of the Storm roster, but much like any other new hero she might require some tweaks.
Find more news about Heroes of the Storm and everything from the world of esports and gaming here, on EarlyGame. Don't miss this week's Sunday Sermon which is all about gaming, more love, and less hate.
