Yrel and Echoes of Alterac: Beginner Heroes of the Storm Tips for WoW Players

By Neryssa Last Updated: 2018/06/12 Changelog Patch: 10.2.6

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New Hero: YrelYrelYrel

Yrel is slated to be released in Heroes of the Storm on June 12th.

BackstoryTanaan JungleAnkova the FallenShadowmoon ValleyMag'har Orc Allied Race Recruitment Scenario

We are with you, Geya'rah!
Cease this pointless defiance, mag'har! Stand down and welcome the Light!
Retreat while you still can! You will not force your doctrines upon us, draenei!
The High Exarch orders you to submit... or face judgment!
Enough talk! Let us be judged upon the field of battle!
For Draenor! For the mag'har!
The naaru offer us peace and order!
You mean subjugation!
Give up your hate! The Light can heal the scars of war!
Our scars are not yours to take!
This once-fertile land is now lifeless dust. That's what your hate has done!
Yrel... I have failed you...
Your High Exarch cannot save you. My people will never stop fighting until Draenor is free!
Come, champions of Azeroth. We must tell the warchief of our victory.

Yrel Spotlight

Blizzard

After their homeworld fell to demonic corruption, the Draenei found refuge on Draenor, and for a time, knew peace. Raised within the Temple of Karabor, Yrel served as an acolyte, until a mysterious stranger united the Orcs into a fearsome Iron Horde. Only through a chance meeting with the forces of Azeroth, was Yrel rescued from orcish captivity, and able to become a leader for her people. Now, in the Alliance's moment of need, Yrel comes to return the favor in the Nexus.

Yrel is a deliberate melee tank, whose heavyweight abilities reward investment and careful timing.

Each of her abilities is channeled, and gain strength as it charges up to maximum. Upon activating an ability, its target indicator begins to light up. Pressing the ability hotkey a second time activates the ability. This can be done at any time, but doing it at maximum charge gives Yrel the maximum benefit possible for the ability. Yrel cannot attack and moves at reduced speed while channeling an ability.

Abilities

Trait - Divine Purpose: Activate to instantly charge Yrel's next basic attack at no mana cost.
Passive: Yrel's Basic Abilities charge up over 1.5 seconds, increasing in effectiveness, but reducing Yrel's Movement Speed by 25%.

Q - Vindication: Unleash holy energy around Yrel, dealing 42 damage to nearby enemies and healing her for 96. Charging up this Ability increases its damage up to 140, and healing up to 320.

W - Righteous Hammer: After readying herself, she swings her Hammer of the Naaru at enemies and knocks them back. Channeling this ability increases damage and knockback. At max channel, it also stuns enemies.

E - Avenging Wrath: Leap to a location, dealing 150 damage to enemies in an area and Slowing them by 50% for 1 second. Charging up this ability increases its range.

R1 - Ardent Defender: Surround Yrel in a barrier for 3 seconds, absorbing all damage taken and healing her for 50% of the damage received.

R2 - Sacred Ground: Yrel sanctifies the ground around her, gaining 40 Armor until she leaves the area.

Talents

Light of Karabor (Q): Increase Vindication's radius by 15%. Vindication's healing is increased by 20% per enemy Hero hit.

Dauntless (Passive): Casting a Basic Ability grants Yrel 35 Physical Armor for 2 seconds.

Maraad's Insight (Passive): After casting a Basic Ability, Yrel's next Basic Attack heals her for 148.

Aegis of Light (E): Upon landing, Avenging Wrath grants other nearby allied Heroes 25 Armor for 5 seconds.

Gift of the Naaru (Trait): Divine Purpose heals the lowest nearby allied Hero other than Yrel for 400.

Hand of Freedom (Active): Grant an allied Hero 35% Movement Speed for 3 seconds and remove all Slows and Roots from them. Cannot be used on Yrel.

Righteous Momentum (W): While channeling Righteous Hammer at maximum charge, gain 45% Movement Speed.

Holy Avenger (E): Hitting an enemy Hero with Avenging Wrath at maximum charge reduces its cooldown to 1 second.

Divine Steed (Passive): Mounting is instant and grants 80% Movement Speed that decays over 3 seconds.

Samaara's Light (Passive): While above 50% Health, gain 15% Movement Speed.

Ardent Defender (R1): Surround Yrel in a barrier for 3 seconds, absorbing all damage taken and healing her for 50% of the damage received.

Sacred Ground (R2): Yrel sanctifies the ground around her, gaining 40 Armor until she leaves the area.

Aldor Peacekeeper (Q): Enemy heroes hit by Vindication at maximum charge deal 30% less damage for 3 seconds.

Repentance (E): Increase Avenging Wrath's slow by 25% and duration by 0.5 seconds.

Velen's Chosen (Passive): Hitting an enemy Hero with a Basic Ability at maximum charge grants 10% Spell Power for 10 seconds, up to 30%.

Templar's Verdict (W): Righteous Hammer reduces the Armor of enemy Heroes hit by 20 for 2 seconds.

Divine Favor (Trait): Casting a Basic Ability reduces the cooldown of Divine Purpose by 2 seconds.

Holy Wrath (Passive): After casting a Basic Ability, Yrel's next Basic Attack splashes for 30% increased damage around the target.

Word of Glory (R1): Ardent Defender heals nearby allied Heroes by 100% of the healing received by Yrel.

Hallowed Ground (R2): Casting Avenging Wrath while inside Sacred Ground moves Sacred Ground to Yrel's location upon landing.

Bubble Hearth (Active): After 1 second, Yrel becomes Invulnerable and casts Hearthstone. Cannot be canceled.

Seraphim (Active): Activate to become Unstoppable for 2 seconds.

Skins and TintsBase Skin TintsMad Jester TintsVoice LinesNew Map: Alterac PassAlterac Valley

Alterac Pass is slated to be released in Heroes of the Storm on June 19th.

Map Spotlight

Blizzard

A new realm has come to the Nexus, and with it, untapped power, and a bitter feud for control. Realm lords, factions and heroes will stop at nothing to claim victory in the mountains of Alterac.

Alterac Pass is a large 3-lane battleground that hosts the familiar warcries of long-time rivals, the Horde and the Alliance, as the clash in the Nexus. Unlike traditional Battlegrounds, Alterac Pass does not feature a structural Core at the Hall of Storms, but in its place, stand respected faction leaders for each side, General Vanndar Stormpike for the Alliance, and General Drek'thar of the Frostwolf Clan for the Horde.

Players must fight their way through traditional 14 keeps to find themselves face-to-face with their opposition's leader. If you want to claim victory, you'll have to bring them down.

Map ObjectivesEchoes of Alterac Event

Echoes of Alterac is slated to be released in Heroes of the Storm on June 12th.

Quests and Rewardsas the rewards from the opposite side will become inaccessible until the next Echoes of Alterac event

Step 1: Play 4 game as a Warcraft Hero;
Rewards: 1 Warcraft Reinforcements Chest (a loot chest that has a increased chance of awarding you a Warcraft hero!)

Achieve 50 Takedowns in winning games;

Rewards: Swift Stormpike Portrait/Raging War Wolf Portrait

Play 6 Games with friends;

Rewards: Alliance Banner/Horde Banner

Win 8 Games as a Warcraft Hero.

Rewards: Swift Stormpike Mount/Raging War Wolf Mount

* If a quest does not state you need to play with a Warcraft hero, you can choose heroes from any other Blizzard universes!an additional 50% ExperienceLoot Box Rewards

Portraits and skins from Echoes of Alterac will be released in Heroes of the Storm on June 12th.

PortraitsSpraysSkins

Skins from Echoes of Alterac will be released on Heroes of the Storm on June 19th.

Spirit Healer Auriel
Spirit Healers are impartial arbiters of life and death and it takes a considerable injustice for one to choose a side and go to war. Auriel's presence has granted a new hope to the Alliance.

Vanndar Muradin

After years of combat with the Frostwolves, Vanndar was among the first warriors Varian contacted as he rallied the Alliance. His invaluable experience may prove key to finally securing the pass from the Horde.

Grand Marshal Varian

Rallied by the Lady of Thorns call, Grand Mashal Varian Wrynn left Stormwind with his father's blessing and the Stormwind army in tow. The Alliance would not let Alterac fall before to the Raven Lord's machinations.

Nightslayer Valeera

While Valeera's allegiances may be her own, her friendship with Varian meant she couldn't allow him to go to war alone. If he was going to fight the Horde, than so she would be his blade in the dark.

Sapper Junkrat
The mischievous Goblin Sappers are known throughout the Horde for their incredible aptitude for destruction. Despite their short life expectancy, some sappers like Jammi Foxxleson even became goblin engineers.

Drek'thar Rehgar

The great Raven spirit had been right... The Alliance marched into Alterac with new allies and ready for war. While the spirit's strange power could aid him, to fight an army he would need allies.

High Warlord Garrosh

After decades of dutiful service to his warchief Thrall, Garrosh was appointed High Warlord and given a mission of vital importance to his mentor and friend: secure Alterac for the Horde once and for all.

Warsong Johanna

It is said that to face a Warsong Commander in battle is to experience the might of the Horde first-hand. Despite years of constant warfare, Jo'Hanna still charges into battle with a warcry that shakes the heavens.

Mounts

Mounts from Echoes of Alterac will be released on Heroes of the Storm on June 19th.

Tips for Heroes of the Storm BeginnersHow do I install Heroes of the Storm?

Open up your Battle.net Launcher.

Select Heroes of the Storm game on the left-hand side.

Click Install.

What Heroes can I play?

Warriors are heroes with a lot of health, either serving as tanks for the frontline, or bruisers, which are tanky DPS that softens the enemy's health.
Warcraft Warrior Heroes: Anub'arak, Arthas, Chen, Cho, E.T.C., Garrosh, Muradin, Rexxar, Stitches, Varian, Yrel

Assassins

Warcraft Assassin Heroes: Gall, Chromie, Falstad, Greymane, Gul'dan, Illidan, Jaina, Kael'thas, Kel'Thuzad, Lunara, Maiev, Ragnaros, Samuro, Thrall, Valeera, Varian, Zul'jin

Supports

Warcraft Support Heroes: Alexstrasza, Brightwing, Li Li, Malfurion, Rehgar, Tyrande, Uther

Specialists

Warcraft Specialist Heroes: Gazlowe, Medivh, Murky, Sylvanas

What Heroes are the easiest?EasyVery Hard

Warrior: E.T.C., Muradin

Assassin: Jaina, Thrall

Support: Li Li, Uther

Do I have to spend money to play Heroes of the Storm?

When you first log onto Heroes of the Storm, you will be prompted to complete a Basic Tutorial, which teaches you the basic mechanics of the game for each of the main roles, as well as how battlegrounds work. When you finish the Tutorial, you are given the choice of one of three Warcraft heroes permanently for free: Jaina, Muradin, or Tyrande.

Afterward, you will be offered a Veteran Tutorial, focusing on more advanced tasks that happen in every match. Competing it will award you a starter chest, which has a guaranteed Hero and a 7-day Stimpack, which increases XP and gold gains.

Each week different heroes are available to play for free. For June 12th-19th the following Warcraft heroes are free to play: Malfurion, Gazlowe, Thrall, Lunara, Falstad, Rehgar, Garrosh and Varian.
You can easily identify Heroes that are free to play by the Nexus icon on their portraits.

Foundation BundleE.T.C.GreymaneUther

They range from 2,000 gold or $3.99 to 15,000 gold or $12.99

However, between the free hero you get AND the rotation you should not feel pressured to buy a hero.

You can also purchase skins, which are pricier as they get more elaborate, but they do not affect your character's skill or power. Skins are merely cosmetic changes to characters.

How long do games take?How do I queue with a friend?

Versus A.I. (play against a team of A.I, enemies recommended for brand new players to Heroes of the Storm or MOBA games in general)

Quick Match (select a character and get to rumble! recommended for those who are used to Mobas or want to go out against other players)

Unranked (allows players to construct teams according to enemy picks)

Ranked (test your mettle in competitive move against other players)

Brawl (funky game modes that change weekly!)

Custom Games (custom build your own settings to play with friends)

What is a MOBA?How do I look like less of a noob?HOTS Logs

Yrel and Echoes of Alterac: Beginner Heroes of the Storm Tips for WoW Players

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