How To: Dragonus, The Skywrath Mage

INTRODUCTION

GUIDE KEY

COLOUR CODE:

YELLOW - Good, go for it.
ORANGE - Situational, a maybe.
RED - Bad, generally a stay away.
GREY - Is titled accordingly.
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LEVEL [LVL] CODE:

PURP - Q, your first ability.
LIME - W, your second ability.
BLUE - E, your third ability.
PINK - R, your ultimate.
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The below content is appropriately color coded to the above key. All of the following information, with the exception of the actual [ RUNES ] or the [ PLEASE READ ], initially correspond with their description accordingly. If something is not understood fully regarding the color code, please comment with your question / issue.

ROLE and POSITION

ROLE:

Skywrath Mage: NUKER

Dragonus is an offensive spellcaster who's spell damage output is incredibly large due to the great damage and low cooldowns of his spells. His kit accentuates him to be an exceptionally effective NUKER, an adequate in-lane SUPPORT, and in some cases a GANKER. The Skywrath is an adept in the terms of damage, and very inflexible in build and playstyle, with that being said he is a niche hero, and he fills his role to it's potential.

POSITION:

Assuming you bought your starting equipment as suggested and are wondering what to do now, you might want to consider your lane or jungle position; for the purpose of this guide you will head to the MID lane or TRI lane. Dragonus is most compatible in the MID lane to have that early access to the runes, and experience. You may take a TRI lane according to picks.

BOTTLE and RUNES

Bottle: A bottle should be PICKED UP you plan on taking it solo to the MID lane; in which you should try to have full control of runes as you should with any solo mid hero with a bottle. Try to have a caster with a summon to scout runes out for you.

Illusion: You do not benefit much from this rune, this should only be PICKED UP in special cases.

Double Damage: This should be picked up EARLY and MID game, and avoided LATE game.

Invisibility: Generally not needed, but for a sure gank you may PICK UP.

Regeneration: SITUATIONAL, for the most part you will pick this up if no one needs it anymore than you do.

Haste: Use your better judgment, this will be PICKED UP to catch up to the pack or escape.

EARLY GAME

MIDLANE ORIENTATED:

Lvl 1: Save your W, only using in defense or a secured kill.

Lvl 2: Save your Q and W, only using in defense or a secured kill.

Lvl 3: Play accordingly and hold out on using much mana.

Lvl 4: Play accordingly and hold out on using much mana.

Lvl 5: If you haven't already, try to secure a kill using Q, W, E.

Lvl 6: You should now either continue your lane, or commence ganking. Save your R for ganks.

TRILANE ORIENTATED:

Lvl 1: Save your W, only using in defense or a secured kill.

Lvl 2: Harass accordingly, pull and stack creeps if needed. Ward.

Lvl 3: Harass accordingly, pull and stack creeps if needed. Ward.

Lvl 4: Try to coordinate with your carry to secure a kill, using your E, then W, then Q.

Lvl 5: Continue to harass your lane. Use your Q as a nuke.

Lvl 6: You should now either continue your lane, or start roaming. Save your R for brawls.

TEAM FIGHTING

Coming soon...

FRIENDS and FOES

Here's where you decide your wings, where its flight or fall.

Dragonus has synergy with a variety of heroes. Essentially any massive AoE TEAMFIGHTER or MANA fountains set the Skywrath Mage up to do some hurting either fueling his power or setting him up to release his ultimate. On the other hand, you make NUKERS exceptional, amplifying their damage.

ALLIES:
+ Disruptor - Stormcaller
+ Enigma - Darchrow
+ Elder Titan - Worldsmith
+ Twin Head Dragon - Jakiro
+ Admiral - Kunkka
+ Magnoceros - Magnus
+ Tidehunter - Leviathan
+ Treant Protector - Rooftrellen
+ Warlock - Demnok Lannik
+ Crystal Maiden - Rylai
+ Keeper of the Light - Ezalor
+ Outworld Devourer - Harbinger
+ Bane - Atropos
+ Bone Fletcher - Clinkz
+ Doom Bringer - Lucifer
+ Tormented Soul - Leshrac
+ Slayer - Lina
+ Demon Witch - Lion
+ Moon Rider - Luna
+ Geomancer - Meepo
+ Nyx Assassin - Anub'arak
+ Queen of Pain - Akasha
+ Lord of Olympus - Zeus

Without his wings Skywrath Mage is nothing. To clip 'em all you need are heroes that can SILENCE, as a caster you rely on spells. Heroes that are equally detrimental to voiding Dragonus consists of sapping his power source, in this sense any MANA DRAIN heroes can easily hinder you.

FOES:
x Bloodseeker - Styrgwyr
x Death Prophet - Krobelus
x Disruptor - Stormcaller
x Doom Bringer - Lucifer
x Drow Ranger - Traxex
x Night Stalker - Balanar
x Fairie Dragon - Puck
x Stealth Assassin - Riki
x Silencer - Nortrom
x Anti-Mage - Magina
x Invoker - Carl
x Keeper of the Light - Ezalor
x Nyx Assassin - Anub'arak

PLEASE READ

These guides are somewhat time consuming to produce, and most of them do lack some at the moment, but for the most part I believe they provide enough information to play properly with the given hero. Even though the guide is still UNFINISHED, I still need feedback on how to better it. The item build and such is always up for change, and your opinion is wanted as long as it's not something that smashes the entire guide because you don't like a little detail. Please keep in mind: if you have the time to read this guide and vote on it then you should have a sufficient amount of time to comment what pleased or displeased you.

TLDR:
Please take the time to provide feedback.
What can I change? What areas need improvement? Is the guide visually unappealing?