Overview
I'm S38 Global 4 Ling, and here's my build and emblems. Additionally, I tried to mention all key things that I learned about the hero.
Strengths
- Mobility privilege: 1st skill allows you to rotate fast and run away from danger. - Targeting squishy heroes: Ling has easy access to backline in team fights. - Objectives control: good at pushing turrets and stealing objectives like turtles and Lord. - Invincibility: 3rd skill (ultimate) makes Ling basically immune to anything. If timed correctly, you can even dodge Franco or Saber ults. - Late game potential: while there are better scaling junglers in the game, Ling is still strong if you aim for late game.
Weaknesses
- Difficulty: Ling is one of the hardest heroes to master. - Weak early game: very very bad against early invades in jungle. - No burst damage: you can rarely get a solo kill without gold advantage, because Ling has no burst damage in his skill set. - Blue buff dependency: without a blue buff Ling is very limited. - Team reliant: you rely entirely on your team when it comes to initiating a team fight or zoning enemies. - Broken Walls map: it's a rare occasion when a map variation negatively impacts hero's performance.
Global 4 Ling main build
Last item is always optional, you're free to switch Malefic Roar to Immortality, Rose Gold Meteor or even Great Dragon Spear.
Against high physical defence
You should use this build against tanky or high lifesteal enemies.
Experimental
Corrosion Scythe can be used for faster push, it also adds some DPS and outplay potential (surprise value). The problem is it takes an important slot in late game, so you end up selling this item for Malefic Roar or Rose Gold Meteor at the end of the day.
Sky Piercer
Usually this slot is ignored due to its unreliability and inefficiency in Late game. You'll notice that all the builds I've listed include Berserker's Fury as the first item, and that's no coincidence. There are items that are important, appropriate or situational, and then there's Berserker's Fury, which is an absolute must-have. So there's no point in delaying it.
Killing Spree.
Quantum Charge.
War Cry
For me, the choice is between Killing Spree and Quantum Charge, these two are the most suitable for Ling. Although the most hyped one is War Cry, it doesn't really help you with early game, for example you have 100 damage, adding +8% from War Cry passive it'll be 108 that is insignificant, so War Cry is helpful only for mid-to-late.
Battle Spell
Blue retribution is usually the best option. Red retribution can be used in certain cases.
Basic macro tips
1. Farm first: Ling is insanely item-dependent, so it's very important to get first two damage items as fast as possible. 2. Don't ult immediately: save it for the right moment, remember the ultimate has like 45 sec cooldown. 3. Use in-game communication: sometimes your team doesn't understand what you want to do and whether or not you have the opportunity to join a fight. Use short commands and share your ult CD for better clarity. 4. In team fights DON'T RUSH, let your teammates absorb major CC skills first, be like a snake 🐍
Niche (advanced) tricks
✪ "Wall boost": while in ultimate, releasing your 2nd skill slightly into the wall will make your whole combo faster. ✪ Bushes spots: there are many places on the map where you can be on the wall and in the bush at the same time. ✪ Wave management: pay attention to minion waves after 5 minutes of the match (especially on EXP lane); clearing them gives Ling an underrated boost in gold. ✪ Lane cut: if you left alone to defend your base without an inhibitor turret, your last chance would be cutting Mid lane minions before they come close to your base. Enemy won't be able to destroy the base without minions.
Best With Khufra
⚡(Roam) Khufra has perfect initiative ability and CC.
Watch Out For Natalia
🔴 Immune to Basic attacks. Theoretically impossible to outplay 1v1.