Stitches Build for Dominating the Nexus

Overview

Stitches, the terrifying undead monstrosity, is a formidable tank capable of disrupting enemy teams with his crowd control abilities and hardy survivability. This guide will delve into the optimal build, talents, and strategies to unleash the full potential of Stitches in Heroes of the Storm.

Core Abilities

• Meat Hook (Q): Stitches' signature ability, a skill shot that hooks an enemy, pulling them towards him. This ability excels at initiating fights and setting up ganks.
• Slam (W): Stitches smashes the ground, stunning nearby enemies and dealing significant damage. Slam synergizes well with Meat Hook, as it allows Stitches to capitalize on the stun duration to deal additional damage.
• Putrid Bile (E): Stitches spews a corrosive substance in a targeted area, slowing enemies and dealing damage over time. Putrid Bile is useful for zoning enemies, peeling for teammates, and setting up kills.
• Tenderizer (Trait): Stitches deals increased damage to targets marked by a nearby enemy. This trait encourages teamwork, as allies can apply marks to enhance Stitches' damage output.

Best Talents

Level 1:
- Bone Shield: Grants Stitches a shield after using an ability, increasing his survivability.

Level 4:
- Hunger for More: Increases the damage of Meat Hook, allowing Stitches to burst down targets more effectively.

Level 7:
- Explosive Gas: Putrid Bile becomes a delayed-impact skill shot, providing crowd control and zoning potential.

Level 10:
- Devouring Maw: Stitches swallows an enemy Hero, dealing damage and healing himself for a percentage of the target's health. This ultimate ability can turn the tide of team fights by removing a key enemy from the fray.

Level 13:
- Mosh Pit: Stitches unleashes a devastating area-of-effect ability, knocking back enemies and dealing damage. Mosh Pit is an exceptional team fight ultimate that can disrupt enemy formations and secure kills.

Level 16:
- Chomp: Stitches bites an enemy, dealing damage and healing himself. Chomp is a versatile talent that provides additional survivability and damage, enhancing Stitches' ability to sustain in team fights.

Level 20:
- Pestilence: Stitches inflicts a disease on enemies within his area-of-effect, dealing damage over time and reducing their healing received. Pestilence synergizes well with Mosh Pit, as it amplifies the damage and weakens enemies.

Strategies and Tactics

• Initiate with Meat Hook: Stitches excels at initiating fights with Meat Hook. Aim for high-value enemy targets or those out of position to secure an advantage.
• Follow Up with Slam: After landing Meat Hook, immediately follow up with Slam for additional damage and a stun. This combo can effectively burst down squishy enemy Heroes.
• Peel for Teammates: Utilize Putrid Bile and Mosh Pit to zone and peel for teammates. Slow enemies or displace them to prevent ganks or protect your carries.
• Capitalize on Tenderizer: Encourage allies to apply marks to enemies to enhance Stitches' damage output. Coordinate ganks with damage-dealers to maximize the impact of Tenderizer.
• Use Devouring Maw Strategically: Devouring Maw can be a game-changer. Use it to remove a key enemy Hero from a team fight or to secure a kill on a fleeing opponent.

Tips and Tricks

• Practice Meat Hook: Master the skill shot of Meat Hook to improve accuracy and impact. Aim for heroes out of position or for those who are vulnerable to crowd control.
• Combine Abilities: Synergize your abilities to maximize their impact. Use Putrid Bile to slow enemies before using Slam or Devouring Maw.
• Manage Positioning: Stay at the frontlines to absorb damage and protect your teammates. Be mindful of your positioning to avoid being focused or outmaneuvered.
• Cooperate with Allies: Coordinate with melee Assassins and other Tanks to create kill combos. Communicate your intentions and focus fire on high-priority targets.
• Use Creep Waves: Position yourself near minion waves to utilize Tenderizer and gain additional damage. Creep waves provide extra marks for Stitches to exploit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overextending: Avoid overextending in team fights. Stay within range of your allies and focus on protecting your team rather than chasing kills.
• Missing Meat Hooks: Practice your Meat Hook skill shot to avoid missing valuable initiations. Take your time and aim carefully to secure kills or disrupt enemy formations.
• Neglecting Positioning: Pay attention to your positioning on the battlefield. Avoid getting isolated or caught out of position, where you can be easily focused by the enemy team.
• Relying Solely on Devouring Maw: While Devouring Maw is a powerful ultimate, it has a long cooldown. Don't rely solely on it for crowd control. Use your other abilities effectively to disrupt the enemy team and secure kills.
• Ignoring Tenderizer: Tenderizer is a valuable trait that enhances Stitches' damage output. Encourage allies to apply marks on enemies to maximize your damage and carry potential.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best map for Stitches?
   - Stitches excels on maps with narrow choke points and objectives that require prolonged engagements. Maps like Cursed Hollow, Alterac Pass, and Hanamura Temple are ideal for Stitches.

2. How do I counter Stitches?
   - Heroes with mobility, interrupts, and crowd control can effectively counter Stitches. Characters like Tyrael, Johanna, and Fenix can mitigate his initiations and peel him away from vulnerable allies.

   

3. What is Stitches' greatest strength?
   - Stitches' greatest strength lies in his crowd control abilities and hardy survivability. He can disrupt enemy formations, peel for teammates, and absorb a significant amount of damage, making him a vital asset in team fights.

4. What are Stitches' weaknesses?
   - Stitches lacks mobility and can be vulnerable to crowd control himself. Heroes with displacement abilities or burst damage can exploit his weaknesses and take him out of the fight.

5. Can Stitches solo tank?
   - Yes, Stitches can solo tank effectively due to his innate durability and crowd control. However, he lacks the mobility and peel capabilities of some other Tanks.

6. What are some alternative talent builds for Stitches?
   - Depending on the map and team composition, alternative talent builds can be viable. Focused Attack and Putrid Ground at Level 1, for example, can enhance Stitches' damage and zoning capabilities.

7. How do I maximize Stitches' impact in team fights?
   - Prioritize initiating with Meat Hook on high-value targets. Follow up with Slam for additional damage and stun. Use Putrid Bile to slow and zone enemies, preventing them from peeling or escaping.

8. What are the best heroes to pair with Stitches?
   - Stitches pairs well with melee Assassins and other Tanks. Heroes like Illidan, Thrall, and Varian can capitalize on Stitches' crowd control to secure kills. Johanna and Diablo are also excellent choices for peeling and protecting the team.