The Universal Gadget Opening

from Demigod Forums

I've only gotten to use this once but it looks promising.  Basic idea is that two of your players open with the universal gadget item.  They move together and get one enemy under 1300 health then both of you cast the gadget.  This will net a quick kill.  At level 1, you only get 900 gold back for this(600 for the kill, 300 for the assist) so it actually puts you down 100 gold as the trade off.  I think it's worth it though because that's a good 30-40 seconds that their player isn't creeping(so he loses out on gold and critical early game experience).  You can actually each get two of them with your starting gold and then do it to two players.  It doesn't work once players get over 2.5k health or so because they'll retreat before their health gets anywhere near that low.  At level 1 though, your health just starts that low.

 

Obvious potential counters:

QoT shield

Sedna heal

The healing potions with a 0.3s cast time(to get you back over 1300 before the gadget finishes casting, it's on a 2 second cast time)

Turning around the instant you see two dgs together early on(but this means losing out on that lane for the moment, which could be very bad).

 

 

Possible ways to deal with the said obvious potential counters:

Cancel the cast and whack them some more :P.  Your own nukes help.

Mass charm

Deep Freeze

A third player with the gadget(this will put you behind more gold for the kill though and is harder to coordinate)

2,272 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

mmm, interesting idea but as you already pointed out a simple Combat Heal potion can negate this. those things only cost 250 gold, i pretty commonly buy 2 or 3 of them as my starting items. i kinda dislike the idea of a strategy that is countered by a very cheap and very common item. 

Reply #2 from Demigod Forums Top

Actually, I have been using the trinket as a first purchase for hero's with little direct damage (Such as the Queen).

 

Often people will get a little cocky when they see you playing a shield queen.  650 Direct damage is actually not that uncommon.  Tag teaming with a regulus from an adjacent lane can get some really surprising kills.

 

The reason I find it a solid investement though, is because not only does it often pay itself back, but worst case scenario, and it's a solid health potion. 2 seconds to get ~full heal is only slightly less efficient than a robust potion.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Demigod Forums Top

those things only cost 250 gold
End of quote

They cost 500.

I use a lot of universal gadgets but i usually use them the opposite way (ive gotten a kill or 2 with them also). Ill stick with a partner and heal them if they get in a bad situation. Also, you can heal yourself with these.

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

Hehe, you asked me to try this with you earlier but it was my first game as UB I think it was so I had to decline.  I can see the strategy getting used a lot in high skill level games though.  I might try it with a Regulus build, what's the range on them? Is it melee?

Reply #5 from Demigod Forums Top

15 yards it's about auto attack range. It fires off much like fireball and snipe so just get in range once.

Reply #6 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting TheUnholyones, reply 3

those things only cost 250 gold

They cost 500.

End of TheUnholyones's quote

 

universal gadgets cost 500.

 

i was referring to combat health potions, which cost 250 (or maybe its 275, can't quite remember). 

 

my main point was that using the gadget as a direct damage consumable compares poorly on an economic basis to the combat health potion. 

 

 

Reply #7 from Demigod Forums Top

It does compare poorly on an economic basis to the combat health potions if it's just used as an extra little bit of damage(seriously, the potion would completely negate it), you have to get the kill in order for the gadget to pay off.  The opponent basically has to be under 2k max health or so for you to do it which means your opportunity pretty much disappears after the first two engagements.  As long he's below that for max health, you can take him down below 1300 fairly quickly and then you and your ally nuke him for the kill.  If he's got a combat potion, you'd have to cancel your cast and hit him a few more times before trying again.

Reply #8 from Demigod Forums Top

If it's the last 650, then I'd say it's a pretty big win on an economic basis.  Thing is, there are few to no early game Direct Damage items, and very few ABILITIES that can even do that much damage.  I find it often catches people off their guard.

Reply #9 from Demigod Forums Top

I'd also like to add now, that since the respawn time at level 1 is 24-25 seconds, you break even on gold because they don't have any income from gold mines while respawning so they're losing at least 100 for the death.  This means if you get the kill, it's always worth it.