Zhang Liang

• Landing hits on the same enemy within 1.5 seconds of each other builds toward bonus true damage over time.
• His 1 summons barriers that stun and slow anyone who runs into them, zoning enemies out of a fight.
• His ultimate suppresses a single target for a guaranteed follow-up stun, making him a strong pick to lock down a key threat.

• Passive · Word of Power: Incantation — Landing consecutive hits on the same enemy within 1.5 seconds counts as sustained attack; every 1.2 seconds of sustained attack deals bonus true damage.
• 1 · Word of Power: Barrier — Summons four parallel magic barriers; enemies who touch one take magic damage, are stunned for 0.75 seconds, then slowed by 50% for 0.5 seconds, and the barrier shatters. Repeated barrier hits deal less damage and only apply the slow.
• 2 · Word of Power: Fate — Summons an erosion field that deals magic damage every half-second to an enemy standing in it (up to 2 fields at once, with bonus damage vs. minions/monsters); charges a new field periodically, up to 3 stored, and grants him bonus move speed while standing in one. The field also grants vision.
• Ultimate · Word of Power: Manipulation — Seizes an enemy hero for 2.2 seconds, dealing magic damage every half-second while suppressing them; completing the cast also creates a field under the target that deals magic damage and a 0.75-second stun to anyone who steps in it.

Build 1: Fleetfoot Boots → Mask of Anguish → Echo Staff → Scholar's Wrath → Staff of Nothingness → Sage's Codex

Tip: Zhang Liang has strong lockdown control, but relying only on Flash to engage is inefficient — Fleetfoot Boots lets him close the distance fast enough to land it.

Build 2: Fleetfoot Boots → Mask of Anguish → Echo Staff → Scholar's Wrath → Radiant Moon → Staff of Nothingness

Tip: When dived on, laying down his 1 and 2 followed by Radiant Moon's active often turns the fight into a kill for him instead.

Inscriptions: Nightmare, Sacrifice, Reincarnation

Tip: Ability power and magic penetration strengthen his early game, and spell vamp adds sustain; his passive relies on landing sustained hits and control on a target, so shorter cooldowns from these inscriptions help a lot.

Best with: Hou Yi, Bai Qi Counters: Lu Bu, Wang Zhaojun Countered by: Gan & Mo, Zhuge Liang