Welcome to the Nexus: Getting started in Heroes of the Storm
Divebomb your enemies from above as Deathwing, duke it out side by side with heroes and villains like Kerrigan, Kael’thas, Diablo, or D.Va, and unleash anarchy in a battle of multiversal madness.
If the above sounds like the mayhem you’ve been missing from your gaming experience, hit that download button—the Nexus awaits you in Heroes of the Storm.
Heroes is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, more commonly known as a ‘MOBA.’ Whether you’re familiar with the genre or a newcomer, you’ll find that Heroes puts its own unforgettable spins on MOBA gaming. It’s a unique hybrid of familiar and fresh, fusing fun new twists with recognizable and easy-to-learn gameplay. Play as legendary Heroes from your favorite games, customize their abilities on the fly, and battle it out on objective-based Battlegrounds. Read on to learn more about starting your Heroes journey.
Test out different talents
Instead of the one-size-fits-all item shop featured in most MOBAs, each hero has a custom talent tree tailored to their abilities. Every few levels, starting at level one, you’ll receive a set of talent choices that allow you to customize your hero according to your preferred playstyle and react to both your enemies and the Battleground you’re playing on.
Once you hit level 10, you’ll be able to select from two powerful Heroic talents. These are potent and potentially game-changing abilities that often have long cooldowns when used. Picking the best one from the offered selection can be the difference between a win and a loss.
Brawl it out on Battlegrounds
The core structure of most MOBA games is the same: 5v5 player versus player combat that takes place on a static three-lane map. Heroes of the Storm, however, brings a unique twist to the genre standard: Battlegrounds. Queue up and traverse a multitude of maps that offer diverse objectives and themes. Whether it’s pushing Overwatch-style payloads while fending off enemy assaults, duking it out alongside draconic allies, or building a Zerg army in the StarCraft-themed Braxis Holdout, each Battleground brings something new and wild to the Nexus.
Make the most of modes
The Nexus takes many forms. Clash in a slew of different objective-driven modes that cater to all types of players. Maybe you’re looking to kick back with a casual match, or perhaps you’re on a glory-seeking quest to test yourself in ranked play; regardless of your reason, there’s a game mode that’s right for you.
Quick Play
Pick your hero, queue up, and charge into battle against other players on a random Battleground.
Unranked
Do you enjoy the Ranked Play experience but dislike the ladder-climbing pressure that accompanies it? Hop into Unranked to preserve the Draft and Ban format without having to worry about your rank.
Versus A.I.
Train against A.I.-controlled opponents to hone your skills on your hero of choice.
Custom
Choose a Battleground, invite your friends, and play Heroes of the Storm your way with a fully-customized match.
ARAM
Unleash your chaotic potential in this All Random, All Mid mode. Choose from three heroes and brawl on a single-lane Battleground.
Ranked Play - Storm League
Join the Nexus’s greatest contest and prove your worth by conquering enemies and ascending the ranked ladder.
Choose a role
Before you step onto the Battleground, you’ll need to choose a hero. At the beginning of each match, you’ll be prompted to take your pick of familiar faces from the Blizzard pantheon. Choose the role that best fits your playstyle, harness customizable talents and abilities to bolster friends and eliminate enemies, and endeavor to become a master of your favorite hero—or, if you’re bold enough, attempt to master them all.
Tank
If you’re the type of player that enjoys utilizing formidable strength to protect your team, consider taking some Tank heroes to the Nexus. Tanks often lead the vanguard in fights, absorbing attacks that would wipe out their more fragile team members and harnessing stuns, slows, and other crowd-control abilities to prevent enemies from retreating.
Tank Heroes: Mei, Mal’Ganis, Blaze, Garrosh, Cho, Johanna, Anub’arak, Arthas, Diablo, Muradin, Tyrael, E.T.C., Stitches
Bruiser
Bruiser heroes are masters of surviving rough fights and dishing out damage, making them great choices for players who like a good balance of tenacity and power in their picks.
Bruiser Heroes: Hogger, Deathwing, Imperius, Yrel, Malthael, D.Va, Ragnaros, Varian, Dehaka, Xul, Artanis, Rexxar, Leoric, Thrall, Chen, Sonya, Gazlowe
Support
Buffs, boosts, and other benefits are the staples of Support heroes. While their niche might be a small one, the boons provided by Support heroes, like teleportation or increased experience gain, can be immense for their teams.
Support Heroes: Zarya, Medivh, The Lost Vikings, Abathur
Healer
For those fond of being benevolent aides to their allies or holding their teammates’ lives in their hands, the Healer role offers many diverse options. Healers focus primarily on restoring health and providing potent mitigation; the utility they bring often makes them indispensable members of any team.
Healer Heroes: Anduin, Whitemane, Deckard, Alexstrasza, Ana, Stukov, Lúcio, Auriel, Lt. Morales, Kharazim, Rehgar, Brightwing, Li Li, Malfurion, Tyrande, Uther
Melee Assassin
These heroes specialize in dispatching enemies with swift and precise power. If you enjoy dealing high-octane, in-your-face damage and aren’t afraid to place yourself in precarious positions to eliminate whatever enemies stand in your way, consider checking out the Melee Assassin lineup.
Melee Assassin Heroes: Qhira, Maiev, Valeera, Samuro, Alarak, The Butcher, Murky, Illidan, Kerrigan, Zeratul
Ranged Assassin
Ranged Assassins are lower-health heroes that are skilled at picking off their foes from a safe distance. Despite their fragility, they dish out potent damage and excel at wearing down their enemies from afar.
Ranged Assassin Heroes: Orphea, Mephisto, Fenix, Hanzo, Junkrat, Kel’Thuzad, Genji, Cassia, Probius, Zul’jin, Gul’dan, Chromie, Tracer, Li-Ming, Greymane, Lunara, Gall, Kael’thas, Sylvanas, Jaina, Azmodan, Zagara, Tychus, Nazeebo, Nova, Raynor, Sgt. Hammer, Valla, Falstad, Tassadar
Five tips for beginners
You chose a mode. You picked a hero. Now, you’ve found yourself transported to your first Battleground. At this point, you might be idling around your team’s base and asking yourself, ‘what next?’ If you’re feeling directionless, here are some quick tips to (hopefully!) point you down a path to victory.
- Lane up and level up—Make sure at least one player is in each of the three lanes early on. Once you’ve established who is going where, you can start farming experience to gain access to powerful abilities as the match progresses. Experience comes in many forms: slay enemy heroes and minions, capture mercenary camps and bosses, and claim objectives.
- Build reactively—Consider things like the enemy team composition, the Battleground you’re fighting on, and your own team’s roster as you level up and choose your talents. Picking abilities that synergize well with your teammates will give you an edge during teamfights.
- Remember your mount—Pressing the ‘Z’ key allows your hero to mount up. Mounts provide a 30% boost to your movement speed, allowing you to traverse the map and get to objectives quickly.
- Objectives are the key to victory—Throughout the match, objectives will periodically activate, providing your team with chances to collect boons, curse the competition, and more. Familiarize yourself with each Battleground’s unique objectives and strategize with your team to accomplish them.
- Fight together, win together—While it’s undeniably fun to 1v1 enemies and establish a killstreak, Heroes of the Storm is, ultimately, a team game. When it’s time for a teamfight, make sure to group up with your allies and utilize your abilities to aid them. Effective communication and team cooperation lead to better matches, bigger wins, and more fun.
Your adventure begins now
Now you’re ready to jump into the Nexus! Relentless action and non-stop fun await you in the realm between realms; queue up and join your fellow players to experience it firsthand.
If you’re looking for help with treading the tumultuous waters of solo queue, try reaching out to the Heroes community to find some friends to play with. Find more details on connecting with teammates and other community members here.