Shiva - Ability Guide

Welcome to the Ability Guide for Shiva.

The intention of the guide is to provide the reader with a clear but detailed explanation of each individual ability. This includes details and numbers not included within the in-game ability descriptions.

By reading through these "revised" descriptions and their explanations, I hope that you will gain a better understanding of how the god's kit functions as a whole in order to utilize them more effectively in your games.

This guide strives to be as objective as possible to maintain accuracy. Therefore, I will not be covering ways of playing the god in game specific modes or which items to build.

Samsara

Your abilities will only have the effect of the state you are in at the time that the ability is cast, even if the ability cycles you into the next state.

To change states, you actually need to build up a chain of 20 "stacks".

The first two Basic Attacks of your Basic Attack chain provide 1 stack, with the third and final hit providing 2 stacks. Hitting an enemy god with any part of Emblazoned Sweep, Damaru's Tempo, or Pillar of Dawn will provide 2 stacks per god hit. You can only gain 2 stacks per god per ability. You also receive 2 stacks per allied god affected by your abilities' Bliss enhancements.

In Shiva Tandava, your Steps will add or remove stacks depending on your current state. In Bliss state, Step 3 will provide you with 10 stacks. However, stacks do not carry over into the next state. Therefore, if the 10 stacks you gain would cause you to exceed 20 stacks, you will be cycled into Destruction with 0 stacks. If you perform Step 1, you will lose 10 stacks until you are set back to zero stacks while remaining in the Bliss state.

Oppositely, in Destruction, Step 1 will provide 10 stacks or cycle you into Bliss, while Step 3 will cause you to lose 10 stacks until you are set back to 0.

Step 2 has no effect.

Emblazoned Sweep

Note that the pull is considered a "True Hard CC" ability, and will apply 2 stacks of Diminishing Returns.

Damaru's Tempo

Note that the knockup is considered a "True Hard CC" ability, and will apply 2 stacks of Diminishing Returns.

Pillar of Dawn

Potential Max Aura Damage: 112 / 176 / 240 / 304 / 368 (+64%)

Shiva Tandava

Analyzing the numbers in the above chart, we can reach the following conclusions:

1 - 1 - 1 - 1 should only be used for Mana restoration. Otherwise, 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 should be used, as it provides equal healing as well as additional damage. Ideally, this combo should be used in Destruction as it will cycle you into Bliss and proc the passive cooldown reduction for your abilities.

Similarly, 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 should be used instead of 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 due to the fact that it delivers equal damage as well as some added healing. Ideally, this combo should be used in Bliss as it will cycle you into Destruction and proc the passive cooldown reduction for your abilities.

2 - 1 - 2 - 3 and 2 - 3 - 2 - 1 deliver the best all-around numbers. Ideally, 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 should be used when Samsara has more than 10 stacks in Destruction. Conversely, 2 - 3 - 2 - 1 should be used when you have more than 10 stacks in Bliss. This will cycle Shiva into the next state, providing cooldown, and will start him with 10 stacks once the ult finishes.

1 - 1 - 3 - 3 and 3 - 3 - 1 - 1 are slightly weaker than the combo mentioned above. Its strength lies in the fact that it can be used to proc your passive twice. When starting off in Bliss, use 3 - 3 - 1 - 1, and when starting off in Destruction, use 1 - 1 - 3 - 3. This will cycle you through both states for a total of 4 seconds of cooldown reduction on your abilities. Because of this, it is recommended that you use all three abilities before performing this sequence for maximum value.

Thank you for reading this Shiva Ability Guide.

Please use the comment section for any questions or recommendations for improvement.