Balmond

Balmond boasts remarkable resilience and ease of play, making him a reliable choice for various team compositions. However, his damage output, while consistent, is not burst-oriented, and he can struggle against certain types of crowd control.

• Strengths:
  • Exceptional Durability: With a high durability score, Balmond can withstand significant incoming damage, allowing him to initiate fights and remain a persistent threat on the frontline. His natural tankiness enables him to absorb abilities and focus fire that would decimate squishier heroes.
  • High Sustain: Balmond's passive, Bloodthirst, provides consistent health regeneration from killing minions, creeps, and heroes. This allows him to stay on the map longer, farm efficiently, and recover quickly after skirmishes without needing to recall frequently.
  • User-Friendly: Balmond has a very low difficulty rating, making him incredibly accessible for new players or those looking for a hero with a straightforward kit. His mechanics are easy to grasp, allowing players to focus more on macro-level gameplay and positioning.
  • Strong Objective Control: His ultimate, Lethal Counter, is an excellent tool for securing crucial objectives like the Turtle and Lord, thanks to its True Damage component based on lost HP.
• Weaknesses:
  • Moderate Physical Damage: While Balmond deals consistent physical damage, his physical offense score indicates he lacks the explosive burst damage of typical assassins or marksmen. He relies on sustained engagement to whittle down enemies rather than instant eliminations.
  • Vulnerable to Crowd Control: Despite his high durability, Balmond can be easily kited or locked down by heroes with strong crowd control abilities. If he cannot get close to his targets or is interrupted during his main damage ability, his effectiveness diminishes significantly.
  • Low Magical Offense: Balmond's magical offense is negligible, meaning he gains no benefit from magical attack items and deals almost exclusively physical and true damage. This makes his damage profile predictable for enemies building physical defense.

Understanding Balmond's skills is key to maximizing his potential on the battlefield. Each ability plays a crucial role in his sustained combat style, from healing to area damage and powerful execution.

• Passive: Bloodthirst

  Balmond recovers Max HP after killing a Minion or Creep, and a larger portion of Max HP after killing a hero. This passive is fundamental to Balmond's incredible sustain. You should always be mindful of this ability, especially in the early game. When engaging in skirmishes or lane trades, try to position yourself near enemy minions or jungle creeps. Eliminating these units mid-fight can provide a critical burst of healing, allowing you to outlast opponents or survive otherwise fatal encounters. It's your primary tool for staying healthy without needing to recall.

• Skill 1: Soul Lock

  Balmond charges in the target direction, dealing Physical Damage to enemies along the way. The first enemy hero hit is knocked back slightly and slowed. This skill has a damage scaling of 150 + 60% Total Physical Attack (Physical). The significant Total Physical Attack scaling means that as you build physical damage items, the damage from Soul Lock increases substantially. This ability serves two main purposes: initiation and escape. Use it to quickly close the gap on squishy enemy heroes like mages or marksmen, knocking them back and slowing them to set up your follow-up attacks. Alternatively, it's an excellent tool to disengage from unfavorable fights or escape ganks, providing a quick dash away from danger.

• Skill 2: Cyclone Sweep

  Balmond gains Movement Speed and spins with his axe for a duration, dealing Physical Damage multiple times to nearby enemies. Each subsequent hit on the same enemy deals increased damage, up to a maximum. The Physical Attack bonus portion of the damage can Crit. This skill has a damage scaling of 25 + 25% Total Physical Attack (Physical) per hit. While the base damage and scaling per hit might seem low, the key is that it hits multiple times, making it Balmond's primary source of sustained damage in team fights. The bonus Physical Attack portion being able to critically strike means that any critical chance you might acquire (though not typical for his build) would significantly boost this skill's effectiveness. When activated, simply walk around or follow enemy movements to maximize the number of hits. Be aware that initially, you cannot use other skills during its channel, but you can reactivate it to cancel early and use other abilities.

• Ultimate: Lethal Counter

  Balmond unleashes a huge strike in the target direction, dealing True Damage equal to a base amount plus a percentage of the target's lost HP. This skill only deals limited damage to non-hero units. This ultimate has a damage scaling of 150 + 70% Total Physical Attack (True). The True Damage component, especially the part based on lost HP, makes Lethal Counter a powerful execute ability. It's crucial not to use this skill on enemies with full HP, as its true potential is unlocked when targets are low. Aim to use it when enemy heroes are below roughly 1/4 of their health for maximum impact. Furthermore, this skill is incredibly effective for securing objectives: use it to steal the Turtle or Lord when their HP is below 1/3, as its high damage can often out-smite opponents.

Balmond's recommended build focuses on enhancing his durability, sustain, and sustained physical damage output, allowing him to thrive in extended team fights and on the frontline.

• Cursed Helmet: This item provides Max HP and Magic Defense, along with a unique passive, Burning Soul, which deals Magic Damage equal to 0.6% of Balmond's Max HP per second to nearby enemies. This damage is significantly increased against creeps and minions. This item is excellent for Balmond as it boosts his overall tankiness and provides passive area-of-effect damage, helping him clear minion waves and jungle camps faster while also contributing to damage in team fights.
• Warrior Boots: These boots grant Physical Defense and Movement Speed. Their unique passive, Valor, provides additional Physical Defense for a short duration when taking Physical Damage, stacking up to a certain amount. As a frontline fighter, Balmond will frequently take physical damage, making these boots ideal for enhancing his early-game survivability against physical damage dealers and helping him sustain through lane aggression.
• War Axe: This item provides Physical Attack, HP, and Cooldown Reduction. Its unique passive, Fighting Spirit, grants stacking Physical Attack and Spell Vamp per second when dealing damage, and at full stacks, it deals bonus True Damage. This item is core for Balmond as it significantly boosts his physical damage, provides crucial Spell Vamp for sustain during his Cyclone Sweep, and the True Damage helps him cut through tankier opponents, making his sustained damage more effective.
• Bloodlust Axe: This item primarily provides Physical Attack and Cooldown Reduction. It is renowned for its Spell Vamp property. This Spell Vamp is absolutely essential for Balmond, allowing him to heal a significant amount of health from the damage dealt by his abilities, especially the continuous damage from Cyclone Sweep. This item greatly enhances his survivability in prolonged engagements.
• Queen's Wings: This item offers a substantial amount of HP, Physical Attack, and Cooldown Reduction. Its unique passive, Demonize, provides significant Damage Reduction and extra Spell Vamp when Balmond's HP drops below a certain threshold. This is a critical defensive item for Balmond. It activates when he is most vulnerable, granting him a burst of resilience and healing potential, allowing him to turn the tide of a fight by surviving lethal damage and healing back up.
• Brute Force Breastplate: This item provides HP and Physical Defense. Its unique passive, Brute Force, grants stacking Physical Attack, Magic Power, and Movement Speed for a short duration after dealing damage. At full stacks, it also provides Control Duration Reduction. This item is perfect for Balmond as it offers a balanced mix of offensive and defensive stats. The movement speed helps him stick to targets during his Cyclone Sweep, and the control duration reduction is invaluable for mitigating the effects of enemy crowd control, ensuring he can remain effective in the thick of battle.

Balmond's gameplay revolves around consistent presence, sustained damage, and smart objective control. His straightforward kit allows you to focus on macro-level decisions and effective positioning.

• Early Game Dominance and Sustain: In the early game, focus on farming efficiently in your lane or jungle. Leverage Balmond's passive, Bloodthirst, by eliminating minions and jungle creeps to maintain high HP. This allows you to stay on the map longer, gain experience, and build your core items without frequent recalls. Don't be afraid to take trades in lane, knowing you can heal back up quickly.
• Strategic Engagements with Soul Lock: Use Soul Lock as your primary initiation tool. Look for opportunities to charge into squishy enemy backline heroes like marksmen or mages, knocking them back and slowing them. This creates an opening for your team to follow up or allows you to isolate a target for your sustained damage. Remember, it can also be a vital escape tool if you find yourself in an unfavorable position.
• Maximize Damage with Cyclone Sweep: Cyclone Sweep is your bread and butter for sustained damage. Once engaged, activate this skill and position yourself to hit as many enemies as possible, especially your primary target. The movement speed bonus helps you stick to fleeing enemies. Remember that subsequent hits deal increased damage, so staying on a target maximizes your output. Be mindful that you cannot use other skills during its initial channel, so time your engagements well.
• Execute with Lethal Counter: Your ultimate, Lethal Counter, is an execution tool. Resist the urge to use it on full-health enemies. Instead, save it for when enemy heroes are significantly low on HP (ideally below 1/4). This maximizes its True Damage potential and secures kills. It's also incredibly powerful for securing objectives; time it perfectly to steal the Turtle or Lord from under the enemy's nose when their HP is below 1/3.
• Frontline Presence and Tankiness: As a durable hero with high sustain, Balmond is an excellent frontline initiator. Don't hesitate to be the first one into a team fight, drawing enemy attention and soaking damage for your team. Your build, featuring items like Queen's Wings and Brute Force Breastplate, further enhances your ability to survive and thrive in the thick of battle.

Understanding how Balmond interacts with specific heroes can give you a significant edge in battle. Here's a look at some notable matchups:

• Against Nana: Nana can be a challenging opponent for Balmond. Her Molina Smooch ability can transform Balmond into a small animal, rendering him unable to use his skills or attack. This can severely disrupt his ability to engage, deal sustained damage with Cyclone Sweep, or escape with Soul Lock, making him vulnerable to her team's follow-up. Her ability to hold Balmond from running away is a significant threat.
• Against Gord: Balmond has a favorable matchup against Gord. Balmond's Soul Lock (Skill 1) can be highly effective in disrupting Gord's abilities. Gord often relies on channeling his skills like Mystic Projectile and Mystic Gush to deal damage. By using Soul Lock to charge and knock him back, Balmond can easily interrupt Gord's cast animations, preventing him from unleashing his full damage potential.
• Against Chou: Chou can be a difficult adversary for Balmond. Chou's abilities, particularly his Jeet Kune Do (Skill 1) and The Way of the Dragon (Ultimate), possess strong crowd control effects. These skills can interrupt Balmond's Cyclone Sweep (Skill 2), which is his main source of sustained damage. By stopping Balmond's spin, Chou can prevent him from dealing continuous damage and leave him exposed.

Imagine you're pushing a lane, and an enemy marksman is overextending, trying to clear your minion wave. This is your chance to strike. First, use Soul Lock to dash directly at the marksman. This will knock them back slightly and apply a significant slow, preventing their immediate escape. As soon as you connect, activate Cyclone Sweep. Now, you're spinning your axe, dealing continuous damage while also gaining a burst of movement speed. Use this speed to stick to the marksman, constantly hitting them with your spinning axe. If they flash away or use a movement ability but are still low on health, immediately cast your ultimate, Lethal Counter. This powerful True Damage execute, amplified by their lost HP, will likely secure the kill, leaving your team with an advantage.

To truly master Balmond and dominate the Mobile Legends battlefield, keep these key decisions in mind:

1. Prioritize Objective Control: Always be ready to use your Lethal Counter to secure crucial objectives like the Turtle and Lord. Time your ultimate for when their HP is low to ensure your team gains the advantage.
2. Engage Strategically: Initiate team fights or ganks with Soul Lock, targeting vulnerable enemy backline heroes. Follow up immediately with Cyclone Sweep to maximize your sustained damage output.
3. Sustain Through Combat: Leverage Balmond's passive, Bloodthirst, and the Spell Vamp provided by items like War Axe and Bloodlust Axe. This allows you to stay in extended engagements and heal significantly from your area-of-effect damage.
4. Execute Low-Health Targets: Reserve your Lethal Counter for enemies with significantly reduced HP. This maximizes its True Damage potential, ensuring you secure kills and prevent enemies from escaping.