Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +Thunderclap passive generates consistent burst damage and hero prioritization through passive mechanics
- +Lightning Strike provides both damage and repositioning for kiting and dodging enemy engages
- +Thunderbird's damage scales with enemy HP loss, making it effective in extended fights and against tanky targets
Weaknesses
- −Low win rate (25%) indicates poor matchup spread and difficulty closing games despite damage output
- −Skill 2 teleport has delayed damage windows (2 hits within 5s requirement) making it unreliable for quick trades
- −Ultimate can be blocked by non-target enemies, reducing reliability in teamfights with multiple frontliners
Abilities
PThunderclap
Whenever Tulen hits an enemy with a skill, he gains a Lightning Charge. After accumulating 5 charges, he attacks nearby enemies with lightning, dealing magic damage. Lightning targets heroes first. If the same enemy is hit multiple times within 1s, subsequent hits deal 20% reduced damage. (Lightning only hits minions if that minion hits Tulen.)
1Ion Prisms
Tulen fires 3 lightning bolts in a cone, dealing magic damage to enemies in the area. Enemies hit by more than 1 bolt take an additional 30% magic damage per bolt. Each bolt that hits an enemy grants Tulen 1 Lightning Charge.
2Lightning Strike
Tulen teleports in a chosen direction, dealing magic damage to enemies at the destination and his starting point. If an enemy takes damage from both hits within 5s (the 2nd hit deals 50% reduced damage), they are slowed by 90% for 3s. Hitting enemies with this skill grants Tulen 1 Lightning Charge. This skill can be stored up to 3 times.
RThunderbird
Tulen locks onto a target and strikes with a lightning spirit, dealing magic damage plus 30% bonus damage equal to HP Tulen has lost. (Grants 1 Lightning Charge.) The lightning spirit can be intercepted by other enemy heroes. If this skill kills an enemy, its cooldown is reduced by 80% and passive ability triggers instantly. (Non-hero enemies take magic damage and are knocked airborne.)
Skill Order
Priority: R > Q > W| Skill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1Ion Prisms | 1 | · | 3 | · | 5 | · | 7 | · | 9 | · | · | · | 13 | · | · |
2Lightning Strike | · | 2 | · | 4 | · | · | · | 8 | · | 10 | · | 12 | · | 14 | · |
RThunderbird | · | · | · | · | · | 6 | · | · | · | · | 11 | · | · | · | 15 |
Loadout
Desolate
Spirit
StainStandard Build
1
2
3
4
5
6Core Combos
Poke & Reposition
12Use Ion Prisms to stack Thunderclap charges while damaging enemies, then Lightning Strike away to safety. Effective for harassing from range without committing.
All-in Burst
1R2Chain Ion Prisms into Thunderbird on priority target for massive burst, then reposition with Lightning Strike if needed. Use when Thunderclap is fully stacked for guaranteed passive proc.
Teamfight Control
21RTeleport into fight positioning, fan out Ion Prisms to multiple targets for damage amplification, then lock priority targets with Thunderbird.
Gameplan
Early Game
Levels 1–6- →Play safe in lane; use Ion Prisms to stack Thunderclap passively while maintaining distance from enemies
- →Avoid committing to extended trades until Thunderclap is fully stacked for passive proc advantage
- →Use Lightning Strike defensively to escape ganks rather than aggressively committing early
Mid Game
Post Broken Spear- →Group for objectives and use Lightning Strike positioning to control teamfight spacing while landing multi-target Ion Prisms
- →Target enemies with depleted HP pools with Thunderbird for maximum true damage scaling from missing health
- →Stack Thunderclap before major fights to ensure passive proc timing coincides with critical moments
Late Game
Teamfight phase- →Position behind frontline and chain Ion Prisms into squishies; use Lightning Strike to kite and maintain safe distance
- →Reserve Thunderbird for high-priority targets (ADC/supports) as blocking by multiple enemies severely reduces its value
- →Use passive Thunderclap procs to chunk grouped enemies in sieges and create openings for your team's follow-up
Matchups
Tulen gets countered by
- PuomaMobile dash-heavy kit closes gap on Tulen; interrupts can block Thunderbird casting, nullifying ultimate damage
AtaHigh burst damage and mobility dash lines allow easy all-in trades before Tulen can stack Thunderclap efficiently
ArthurArmor-heavy tank with crowd control and interrupt mechanics prevents Tulen from maintaining safe distance and casting chains
Tulen synergizes with
TaaraHard-engage tank creates space for Tulen's Lightning Strike repositioning; Taara's CC chains enable Thunderbird guaranteed hits
ElsuLong-range poke synergizes with Tulen's positioning; coordinated multi-target harass allows stacking Thunderclap safely
CreshtGround-control and block abilities protect Tulen from diver engages while Tulen deals sustained AOE damage from back line
Pro Tips
- →Track your Thunderclap stacks visually; time your combo window around when the 5th charge builds to maximize burst damage windows
- →Lightning Strike's dual-damage zones (teleport location + origin point) allow you to hit enemies trying to chase you—use this for counterplay
- →In teamfights, deliberately position to land Ion Prisms on 2+ enemies for the 30% damage amplification stacking effect; don't tunnel single targets
Tulen is a high-risk, positioning-dependent mage struggling in the current meta (25% WR) despite strong theoretical damage. Pick into teams lacking mobile divers where you can safely stack Thunderclap and land multi-target Ion Prisms. Avoid into mobile assassins and interrupt-heavy teams that prevent your combos from completing.