At the core of it all?

I essentially agree with people that core items tend to be something that whilst still situational, are the thing you almost always pick up on a hero.

But I'd add an addendum - They are picks ups that add so more value to a hero relative to the actual gold investment than any other item in most games.

Things like Blink Dagger/ Force Staff on Lion, Earthshaker and Rubik (I know people say, positioning can make up for mobility, but honestly I'd say mobility can only make good positioning better as well as make pad positioning better), Blink Dagger on Centaur Warrunner / Magnus/ Puck.

I'd even argue Eul's Sceptre of Divinity is becoming a core item for at least teams, if not specific heroes. At the very least, it is a core item on Elder Titan, Jakiro and probably Puck. They are all item pick-ups that add so much potential to what a hero can do, (In the case of Jakiro and Elder Titan they are essentially different heroes post Eul's) more so that most other things.

In fact... I'd kind of argue that there are no core damage items, because damage items usually don't change things as much as other given core pick-ups. Not a single damage item at least. Might just me being mad, but hey.

Yay!
<3

Blink Dagger ftw <}3

Well WK needs blink AND armlet. Not blink and midas like some may think :)

Maelstrom>armlet IMO.
The buildup is much more forgiving since you will be acually able to farm.
Also nobody will be able to manfight you if you get your hands on mjollnir+basher.

He is also one of the best midas heroes, if you get an early lvl 16 you will snowball so hard since you shouldnt die (much), and as a result wont lose gold or farm time.

Thing is, Armlet gives much more DPS right now. Like you see some Crystal Maiden is in your half of the map for some reason, with Armlet you have a fair shot at killing her with a lucky crit(damn son they really HURT with Armlet), with Maelstrom... sorry, Ostarion, your Crystal Maiden is in another castle.

True, its better of a solokilling build, and in some pubs it will be the better build.
I just found the early mjollnir to be really effective and reliable (atleast on games where WK is an ok pick). Slower paced games often happen, and then that build makes sure you dont fall behind immediately.

Seems like meh to me, I would rather spend my 5k for basher+hyperstone, and just go kill heroes/creeps until I'm 16.

You assume you are able to kill heroes often.

Try the build, the buildup if really good, for this reason it was also the build in thd orofessional scene after they stopped with the ******ed radiance.

Buildup is really important in more organised slower paced games.

I mean, if armlet is bad on WK it really means that armlet is a garbage item, come on guys he's like the best hero in the game for this item : built-in lifesteal, can't farm well so needs to build cost-efficient, needs armor, etc.

65 damage, 25 attack speed, 475 HP and 5 armor, now for the reduced price of 2400 gold (from 2600).

Compare with Midas that gives 30 attack speed for 2050 gold, you're so weak that with a blink the only thing you can do is blink to midas a creep xD

Sure WK can get kited if he gets only armlet without blink but don't forget that towers can't kite you. Sometimes you just need to be stronger, if they flee before the King you just take their buildings. When that tanky WK starts hitting your towers you can't do ****, at best you kill him and get slowed :)