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WizLiz
WizLiz
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Dota is always situational so let's compare the two items and ask ourselves some questions before picking :

For the mekansm

Benefits:

  • AOE Burst heal + AOE health regen aura
  • Cheap components (easy to build)
  • Buckler has great utility for a low manacost

Drawbacks :

  • High mana cost
  • Loses its usefullness as the game progress (when your teamate gain more HP)

Before getting it ask yourself :

  • Will anyone else get a Mek ? If no and you are the only potential Mek carrier then you should probably go for it however...
  • ...does your hero have the manapool to use mekansm ? Since the recent Mekansm nerf the item is quite mana intensive. Many strength hero won't be able to use it aswell as another spell so getting it at all cost without being able to use it is pointless.
  • Am I mid ? You can get it if you forsee early figths/push.
  • Am I safelane ? If you plan on leaving the safelane early then you can get it. If you don't then don't built it since the main benefit of the Mekansm is the AOE heal (so using it with your team is better). Unless Mek is core on your hero (or built really often), if you need survivability you can get bracers (into drums later), or a vanguard.

For the Vanguard / Crimson Guard

Advantage (Crimsong Guard) :

  • Lots of tankiness (HP, Damage block, health regen)
  • Built from vanguard (usefull for natural Vanguard carrier)
  • Free mana AOE armor boost + damage block

Drawbacks (Crimson Guard) :

  • Less damage block for ranged Heroes
  • Vanuard is cost efficient on very few hero
  • Does nothing against magic damage
  • Loses its usefullness in the lategame

Before getting it ask yourself :

  • Does the enemy team has huge auto-attack damage for the early and mid game ? If their damages is mostly magical nuke then upgrading your Vanguard into a Crimson Guard might not worth it. If they do have lots of physical damage then the Crimson Guard bcome really cost efficient for the mid-game. In anycase the item falls in utility later in the game.
  • Is my hero naturally tanky ? (Bristleback, Centaur etc.) If yes then getting an early vanguard can be a huge advantage for your team. You can now tank and get focused in early fights and still survive while your team can dish the damage. It also let you tank/dive tower more easily.
  • Is my hero ranged ? Vanguard usefullness greatly decrease with a ranged character. That's why you see Mekansm on Razor/Viper instead of the old "classic" Vanguard.

In a nutshell

The timing at which you get the Mekansm usually match the timing at which you get the Vanguard (gold cost are similar). At that point your main concern should be which items is the most effective in my situation. Most of the time a Mekansm will be better but if your hero mana pool doesnt allow you to use it every fights then getting a Vanguard for the same cost will allow you to man up and tank more damage. Upgrading this Vanguard into a later Crimson Guard is not always a good idea : it depends on what kind of damage you will face so think about twice before spending 1625 gold on an item that wouldn't reveal usefull.

Dota is always situational so let's compare the two items and ask ourselves some questions before picking :

For the mekansm

Benefits:

  • AOE Burst heal + AOE health regen aura
  • Cheap components (easy to build)
  • Buckler has great utility for a low manacost

Drawbacks :

  • High mana cost
  • Loses its usefullness as the game progress (when your teamate gain more HP)

Before getting it ask yourself :

  • Will anyone else get a Mek ? If no and you are the only potential Mek carrier then you should probably go for it however...
  • ...does your hero have the manapool to use mekansm ? Since the recent Mekansm nerf the item is quite mana intensive. Many strength hero won't be able to use it aswell as another spell so getting it at all cost without being able to use it is pointless.
  • Am I mid ? You can get it if you forsee early figths/push.
  • Am I safelane ? If you plan on leaving the safelane early then you can get it. If you don't then don't built it since the main benefit of the Mekansm is the AOE heal (so using it with your team is better).

For the Vanguard / Crimson Guard

Advantage (Crimsong Guard) :

  • Lots of tankiness (HP, Damage block, health regen)
  • Built from vanguard (usefull for natural Vanguard carrier)
  • Free mana AOE armor boost + damage block

Drawbacks (Crimson Guard) :

  • Less damage block for ranged Heroes
  • Vanuard is cost efficient on very few hero
  • Does nothing against magic damage
  • Loses its usefullness in the lategame

Before getting it ask yourself :

  • Does the enemy team has huge auto-attack damage for the early and mid game ? If their damages is mostly magical nuke then upgrading your Vanguard into a Crimson Guard might not worth it. If they do have lots of physical damage then the Crimson Guard bcome really cost efficient for the mid-game. In anycase the item falls in utility later in the game.
  • Is my hero naturally tanky ? (Bristleback, Centaur etc.) If yes then getting an early vanguard can be a huge advantage for your team. You can now tank and get focused in early fights and still survive while your team can dish the damage. It also let you tank/dive tower more easily.
  • Is my hero ranged ? Vanguard usefullness greatly decrease with a ranged character. That's why you see Mekansm on Razor/Viper instead of the old "classic" Vanguard.

In a nutshell

The timing at which you get the Mekansm usually match the timing at which you get the Vanguard (gold cost are similar). At that point your main concern should be which items is the most effective in my situation. Most of the time a Mekansm will be better but if your hero mana pool doesnt allow you to use it every fights then getting a Vanguard for the same cost will allow you to man up and tank more damage. Upgrading this Vanguard into a later Crimson Guard is not always a good idea : it depends on what kind of damage you will face so think about twice before spending 1625 gold on an item that wouldn't reveal usefull.

Dota is always situational so let's compare the two items and ask ourselves some questions before picking :

For the mekansm

Benefits:

  • AOE Burst heal + AOE health regen aura
  • Cheap components (easy to build)
  • Buckler has great utility for a low manacost

Drawbacks :

  • High mana cost
  • Loses its usefullness as the game progress (when your teamate gain more HP)

Before getting it ask yourself :

  • Will anyone else get a Mek ? If no and you are the only potential Mek carrier then you should probably go for it however...
  • ...does your hero have the manapool to use mekansm ? Since the recent Mekansm nerf the item is quite mana intensive. Many strength hero won't be able to use it aswell as another spell so getting it at all cost without being able to use it is pointless.
  • Am I mid ? You can get it if you forsee early figths/push.
  • Am I safelane ? If you plan on leaving the safelane early then you can get it. If you don't then don't built it since the main benefit of the Mekansm is the AOE heal (so using it with your team is better). Unless Mek is core on your hero (or built really often), if you need survivability you can get bracers (into drums later), or a vanguard.

For the Vanguard / Crimson Guard

Advantage (Crimsong Guard) :

  • Lots of tankiness (HP, Damage block, health regen)
  • Built from vanguard (usefull for natural Vanguard carrier)
  • Free mana AOE armor boost + damage block

Drawbacks (Crimson Guard) :

  • Less damage block for ranged Heroes
  • Vanuard is cost efficient on very few hero
  • Does nothing against magic damage
  • Loses its usefullness in the lategame

Before getting it ask yourself :

  • Does the enemy team has huge auto-attack damage for the early and mid game ? If their damages is mostly magical nuke then upgrading your Vanguard into a Crimson Guard might not worth it. If they do have lots of physical damage then the Crimson Guard bcome really cost efficient for the mid-game. In anycase the item falls in utility later in the game.
  • Is my hero naturally tanky ? (Bristleback, Centaur etc.) If yes then getting an early vanguard can be a huge advantage for your team. You can now tank and get focused in early fights and still survive while your team can dish the damage. It also let you tank/dive tower more easily.
  • Is my hero ranged ? Vanguard usefullness greatly decrease with a ranged character. That's why you see Mekansm on Razor/Viper instead of the old "classic" Vanguard.

In a nutshell

The timing at which you get the Mekansm usually match the timing at which you get the Vanguard (gold cost are similar). At that point your main concern should be which items is the most effective in my situation. Most of the time a Mekansm will be better but if your hero mana pool doesnt allow you to use it every fights then getting a Vanguard for the same cost will allow you to man up and tank more damage. Upgrading this Vanguard into a later Crimson Guard is not always a good idea : it depends on what kind of damage you will face so think about twice before spending 1625 gold on an item that wouldn't reveal usefull.

Source Link
WizLiz
WizLiz
  • 16.2k
  • 8
  • 61
  • 89

Dota is always situational so let's compare the two items and ask ourselves some questions before picking :

For the mekansm

Benefits:

  • AOE Burst heal + AOE health regen aura
  • Cheap components (easy to build)
  • Buckler has great utility for a low manacost

Drawbacks :

  • High mana cost
  • Loses its usefullness as the game progress (when your teamate gain more HP)

Before getting it ask yourself :

  • Will anyone else get a Mek ? If no and you are the only potential Mek carrier then you should probably go for it however...
  • ...does your hero have the manapool to use mekansm ? Since the recent Mekansm nerf the item is quite mana intensive. Many strength hero won't be able to use it aswell as another spell so getting it at all cost without being able to use it is pointless.
  • Am I mid ? You can get it if you forsee early figths/push.
  • Am I safelane ? If you plan on leaving the safelane early then you can get it. If you don't then don't built it since the main benefit of the Mekansm is the AOE heal (so using it with your team is better).

For the Vanguard / Crimson Guard

Advantage (Crimsong Guard) :

  • Lots of tankiness (HP, Damage block, health regen)
  • Built from vanguard (usefull for natural Vanguard carrier)
  • Free mana AOE armor boost + damage block

Drawbacks (Crimson Guard) :

  • Less damage block for ranged Heroes
  • Vanuard is cost efficient on very few hero
  • Does nothing against magic damage
  • Loses its usefullness in the lategame

Before getting it ask yourself :

  • Does the enemy team has huge auto-attack damage for the early and mid game ? If their damages is mostly magical nuke then upgrading your Vanguard into a Crimson Guard might not worth it. If they do have lots of physical damage then the Crimson Guard bcome really cost efficient for the mid-game. In anycase the item falls in utility later in the game.
  • Is my hero naturally tanky ? (Bristleback, Centaur etc.) If yes then getting an early vanguard can be a huge advantage for your team. You can now tank and get focused in early fights and still survive while your team can dish the damage. It also let you tank/dive tower more easily.
  • Is my hero ranged ? Vanguard usefullness greatly decrease with a ranged character. That's why you see Mekansm on Razor/Viper instead of the old "classic" Vanguard.

In a nutshell

The timing at which you get the Mekansm usually match the timing at which you get the Vanguard (gold cost are similar). At that point your main concern should be which items is the most effective in my situation. Most of the time a Mekansm will be better but if your hero mana pool doesnt allow you to use it every fights then getting a Vanguard for the same cost will allow you to man up and tank more damage. Upgrading this Vanguard into a later Crimson Guard is not always a good idea : it depends on what kind of damage you will face so think about twice before spending 1625 gold on an item that wouldn't reveal usefull.