Deep in the Archive of Ultimyr, shelved between scholarly treatises on dragon cladistics and books of untranslatable spells, there is an ancient tome of entomological curiosities. Compiled by scholars, the book describes the telepathic talents of the zealot scarab, a strange species of social insect with abilities unique to all the seven planes. Unlike most grubs of his colony, Nyx Assassin did not arise from metamorphosis with the plodding thoughts and blunted appendages common to the worker caste of his kind. For his was a special transformation, guided by the grace of Nyx. He was the chosen one, selected from the many and anointed with an extract of the queen goddess herself. Not all survive the dark blessing of the queen's chamber, but he emerged with a penetrating mind, and dagger-like claws--his razor sharp mandibles raking the air while his thoughts projected directly into the minds of those around him. Of all zealot scarabs, he alone was selected for the highest calling. After his metamorphosis, he was reborn, by grace of Nyx, with abilities which shaped him for one thing and one thing only: to kill in the name of his goddess.
Abilities[]
| Ability Name | Ability Description | Details |
| Impale
|
Rock spikes burst from the earth along a straight path. Enemy units are hurled into the air, then are stunned and take damage when they fall. All zealot scarabs possess intimate knowledge of underground pathways, using them to their advantage. |
Range: 700 ( 1050)Radius: 125 |
| Mana Burn
|
Destroys the target hero's mana equal to a multiplier of its Intelligence, and deals damage equal to the mana burned. The tome in Ultimyr describes one scarab with the ability to eat away at the minds of lesser beings. |
Range: 600 ( 900) Intelligence Multiplier: 3.5/4/4.5/5 |
| Spiked Carapace
|
When activated, Spiked Carapace reflects and negates damage dealt to Nyx Assassin (max once from each source), as well as stunning the source of the damage. While their carapaces are relatively thin, they're guarded by a retractable field of razor-sharp spikes. |
Reflect Duration: 2.25 Stun Duration: 0.6/1.2/1.8/2.4 |
| Vendetta
|
Allows Nyx Assassin to become invisible and gain a speed bonus. If Nyx Assassin attacks to break the invisibility, massive bonus damage is dealt with the attack. Upgraded by Aghanim's Scepter: Grants Nyx Assassin the Burrow ability. The scarab kills for the glory of his queen. |
Duration: 20/35/50 Movement Speed: 16%/18%/20% |
| Burrow
|
Nyx Assassin buries himself beneath the battlefield over 1 second. Once burrowed, Spiked Carapace instantly stuns nearby enemies when cast, the range of Mana Burn and Impale increase by 50%, and Impale's cooldown is decreased. While burrowed, Nyx Assassin is stationary, unable to attack and invisible. His health and mana regeneration are increased, and he gains 40% damage reduction. Some castes of Zealot scarab are known to create small burrows to lie in wait, ready to ambush their prey. |
Health/Mana Regen: 1.5% of Max Damage Taken: 60% |
| Unburrow
|
Emerge from the burrow. Some castes of Zealot scarab are known to create small burrows to lie in wait, ready to ambush their prey. |
Strategy[]
The Nerubian Assassin starts off by wearing his opponents down early on, Burning their Mana for damage, keeping them fairly useless and vulnerable. With a Vendetta against living things, he can become invisible, travel faster, and deal great damage to the next thing he hits. Following up with his powerful line stunning impale and then Mana Burn is a combo most will instantly fall victim to--hard to see it coming and difficult to escape. His Scarabs can spy the lay of the land to alert him to danger or his next victim.