Overview
Thamuz is a decent B-tier fighter with strong regeneration and solid tank potential when built correctly. He's not a meta hero, and I wouldn't recommend maining him. There are simply stronger fighters out there like Yu Zhong, Lapu-Lapu, and others. That said, he's a great pick for beginners because his kit is straightforward. But even with his simplicity, there are some important nuances you need to understand to play him effectively
Strengths
He performs well at all stages of the game and has fantastic sustain and scaling health. With the right build and battle spell, he can deal significant damage while tanking and constantly healing himself. He's also great at slowing enemies, making it nearly impossible for them to escape if they've used their dash. In the exp lane, he holds his own in 1v1 matchups after level 4, only really struggling against Yu Zhong and Lapu-Lapu. His presence alone can zone out enemies. The enhanced basic attack after his first skill gives him a bit of extra range to close gaps. There's also a neat trick: if you use your second skill before the scythe from your first skill returns, your first skill instantly resets. His mobility is decent too, with a speed boost from his first skill and a dash on his second. He's excellent against tanky lineups. In team fights, he thrives as a frontliner, using his ultimate to shred tanks and fighters while soaking up damage, effectively acting as both a damage dealer and an off-tank
Weaknesses
He's an auto-attack reliant hero. He's weak before level 4. He's completely dependent on his ultimate. If he falls behind in farm, he's easy to kill. Enemies can easily kite him on his ultimate. His biggest weaknesses in team fights are burst damage and crowd control. You need to have good timing with his ultimate, or you'll get blown up before you can even use it. At the Mythic Glory and Mythic Immortal levels, he struggles against experienced players who know exactly how to counter him
Thamuz Typical Build
Tough Boots: These help reduce the duration of crowd control effects, which is essential for staying in the fight Corrosion Scythe: This item is a must-have. Since Thamuz is an auto-attacker, the slow from Corrosion Scythe makes him incredibly sticky, and enemies without a dash or Flicker simply can't get away War Axe: This item amps up the healing he gets from dealing damage, which is especially powerful when his ultimate is active Dominance Ice: Anti-heal is non-negotiable for any fighter. Dominance Ice makes him even more effective against tanks and fighters by reducing their sustain Oracle: This amplifies his already strong regeneration, making him feel nearly unkillable while his ultimate is running Queen's Wings: The passive on this item helps him survive longer in fights and also reduces the cooldown of his skills
Additional item
Swapping boots for Guardian Helmet late game gives him a massive health pool, turning him into a true menace who can comfortably take on two or three enemies at once while his ultimate is up
Thamuz Typical Build
As a fighter, Thamuz works best with the Fighter emblem set Swift: A good chunk of his damage comes from attack speed cause he autoattacker Festival of Blood: Thamuz's whole playstyle revolves around sustain, so any extra regeneration is a huge help Temporal Reign: The typical combo is to engage with your second skill, slow with your first, and then pop your ultimate. Temporal Reign helps get your first and second skills back up faster after ulting, which is perfect for him
Battle Spell
Vengeance is the go-to for team fights and most 1v1 situations. It's absolutely critical when you're up against heroes with high burst damage
Typical Thamuz gameplay
Use your first skill off cooldown. It pulls enemies and minions toward you, gives you a speed boost, and sets up your enhanced ranged basic attack for some safe poke or to close distance. Your second skill is your dash for mobility, chasing, or for resetting your first skill (remember the trick: use it before the scythe returns) Before level 4, play safe against strong laners. Against weaker opponents like Argus, you can be more aggressive, zoning them and going for a kill if the opportunity arises If the enemy turret has the shield and line is empty (you killed laner/laner on another line), always hit it to get the extra gold. You need to buy your Corrosion Scythe as soon as possible Once you hit level 4, rotate to the Turtle if your jungler is there and help secure it. In lane, you should be able to hold your own against almost anyone as long as you're not behind Once you have Corrosion Scythe, you're ready to fight and join team fights confidently. Remember: He's excellent against tanky lineups. In team fights, he thrives as a frontliner, using his ultimate to shred tanks and fighters while soaking up damage. The slow from the item combined with your auto-attacks makes you a kiting nightmare and a damage threat. If the enemy doesn't have a dash, they're probably dead. In the very late game, once you have your full build, you can sell your boots for Guardian Helmet
Best With Angela
Angela gives Thamuz bonus health and movement speed, which makes him practically unkillable and faster. He becomes a nightmare that enemies can't escape. That said, Thamuz isn't a hero you desperately need to pair with Angela. He's a good option if the Angela ultimate is available and the jungler doesn't need this. But if your Roamer can pick a tank instead, they usually should pick it
Watch Out For Cici
Early game, before level 4, Cici absolutely destroys Thamuz. Focus on last-hitting minions to hit level 4 as fast as possible without taking too much poke or dying. Once you hit level 4, the matchup evens out a bit. After you get Corrosion Scythe, you can fight her comfortably Strategy: Hit her with your first skill and engage. If you're out of range, you can use your dash, but it's better to save it if you don't need it. Pop your ultimate as soon as the fight starts and keep auto-attacking until she uses her dash to escape. Then, use your second skill to chase her down. As long as she's not massively ahead, Cici loses this matchup once you have your items