I think people are using Zandora wrong

[Batmann]

Throughout my research into Gigantic’s hero tier-list, I’ve discovered that Zandora is pretty much in the lowest tier in almost all of them. As a skeptic, I try to figure out if Zandora’s placement in F-tier is deserved or are people simply unsure on how to use her properly.

First of all, Zandora’s auras do not stack. When I first encounter the hero, I assume her auras stack with each other, but that is not the case. And I bet some of you out there probably had that misconception as well when you first started playing this game.

Learning that, I now have to re-think my entire approach on how I use this hero. The auras are not meant to be spammed but are instead supposed to be used more sparingly, each aura used according to the situation you’re currently in. If you want to move your team forward to a certain location faster, use “Aura of Haste”. If you are about to fight an opponent head-on, use “Aura of Strength”. If you want to heal yourself and nearby allies, use “Aura of Life”.

Additionally, Zandora is a hero that is heavily dependent on teamwork, arguably even more so than other heroes. Perhaps the most effective way to take full advantage of her auras is to have your team be bunched up together, with Zandora being your team’s center. However, many Gigantic players, at least from my personal experience, tend to wander off and not stick to Zandora herself, which is why Zandora’s auras tend to get under-utilized in-game.

Perhaps one of the most notable ways Zandora’s auras could benefit the whole team was during a Rampage, when all the heroes are forced to congregate in one location in order to attack the opposing guardian. Theoretically, if you use Aura of Strength right as you and your team attack the guardian, your team would absolutely melt that health bar. Throw in a “Vow of Shielding” if you have it available to add a bit of survivability, just for good measure.

With a well-coordinated team and the right strategy, Zandora could easily go from underpowered to overpowered. But hey, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe, after all this, you might still consider Zandora as low-tier when compared to the other heroes. However, hopefully after reading this, you might at least have a better appreciation towards the Star Knight.

TL;DR Zandora’s auras do not stack. Use the auras appropriately. Teammates should stick to a Zandora as much as possible.

[Sterling]

Zandora is a team fighter with some utility for finishing squishies. People haven't figured out how to use her because pickup teams rarely properly communicate. She cannot soak damage by herself, she can barely off heal, and her battle aura only buffs right clicks. Team play with her is extremely important because these buffs are designed for melees.

That being said, she's a tempo monstrosity. Any fight she's in and actually affecting will go your way. Comp her with a slightly attentive Aisling, MT or bruiser and you're going to run roughshod over team fights even outnumbered. Get caught out alone and you're a sitting duck because she's actually surprisingly squishy without any bloodlust sustain.

Most heroes in this game value self-sufficiency to some extent, but Zandora was an experiment in a more team focused hero. I think Motiga did a great job balancing her.