Heroes of the Storm – Sonya the Barbarian – Talents
From the frozen Dreadlands of the north comes the mighty Barbarian warriors. After surviving the destruction of her home and the death of her tribe, Sonya wanders Sanctuary in search of battle and a better life for her people.
Store Cost: 5,500 | $7.49
Role: Melee Warrior
I haven’t heard of Sonya before in literature based on the Diablo franchise. Let’s assume she is the Diablo III in-game playable female Barbarian. Considering her name and her redish hair, she is definitely a pop culture reference to The Red Sonja (1985).
The Barbarian is one of the classes of Sanctuary in the Diablo franchise. The Barbarian class was introduced for the first time as a playable class in Diablo II (2000).
The Barbarian, a member of any of several tribes on the fringes of civilization, rebuffs the influence of those he sees as soft and weak. Ceaseless clan warfare and the constant struggle to survive in the hostile wilderness are evident in the Barbarian’s sturdy and powerful frame. Though perhaps lacking the sophistication of his civilized contemporaries, the Barbarian has an acute awareness of his surroundings. Because of his shamanistic belief in the animal powers with whom he identifies, the Barbarian is sometimes associated with stories of lycanthropy. In fact, he believes that he can improve his superb battle tactics by calling upon the totemic animal spirits to infuse him with supernormal strengths and abilities.
Legend says that when the world was very young the tribes of the Northern Steppes were given a sacred charge. Somewhere deep within the great mountain, Arreat, lies a source of great power, crucial to the well being of all humanity. The tribes were tasked to act as guardians of this artifact. They have shaped their way of life in observance of this power and fulfilling their sacred duty.
Steeped in mystery and tradition, these people refer to themselves as the “Children of Bul-Kathos,” the great and ancient king. To better protect their lands from outside forces, they adopted a nomadic lifestyle, frequently moving within the confines of the Steppes and maintaining few permanent settlements. Isolating themselves from the world outside their territories, they eschew the use of magics and complex machinery, as they believe these things can only weaken their resolve developed over so many years.
The Children of Bul-Kathos have developed a kinship with the land and have learned to harness the primal energies within nature to enhance their own substantial physical prowess. It is because of this, together with their freedom from the trappings of the outside world, that the Western Kingdoms have historically referred to these tribes as “Barbarians,” an epithet that belies the rich cultural and spiritual history these people truly possess. Although some trade with these curious bands of nomads, they do so only along the outermost borders of their lands. All intrusions into the territory surrounding Mount Arreat are forbidden, and warriors from the northern tribes are quick to thwart any incursions. Every foreign attempt at conquest has been met with fierce and decisive resistance.
An account of one skirmish recounts how hordes of Barbarian tribesmen silently appeared where none had been but moments before. Their bodies painted in mysterious designs and their faces howling as they charged like the fierce mountain winds, the tribesmen descended on the invaders. Fully half of the trespassing army immediately dropped their weapons and fled, the remainder were set upon by the Northmen with fervor that none of the battle-hardened invaders had ever witnessed. No mercy was asked and none was given, but in the end, when the outlanders sounded a full retreat, no chase was given either… at least none that could be observed.
Since news of Diablo’s re-emergence has spread, a small number of Barbarian warriors have begun roving the lands outside the Steppes, prepared for war and seeking information regarding the recent activities of the Prime Evils.
Traits and Abilities
Renowned for their awesome combat prowess as well as their arrogant demeanor, the Barbarians appear to be perpetually girt for battle. Through harsh conditioning, the Barbarians excel in physical combat and tremendous feats of strength. They derive their power chiefly through intense physical training, but they also tap primal energies from the living world around them. They can manifest these or add to their already considerable catalogue of superhuman feats of strength and power.
Sonya, Wanderer of the North
This is the default skin of Sonya the Barbarian. The skin has different tint variations. The default tint is free. The second tint is unlocked by completing three Hero Quests. The Hero Quests become unlocked at level 10.
The Wrath Sonya has a skeletal-theme on her shoulderpads, breastplate, belt and boots. It also has different tint variations.
How to apply a tint and a skin to your character? Join a Practice, Cooperative or Versus Mode game. On the lobby screen, you will see a button on the bottom-left titled: Hero Details.
You will see the following UI Interface pop up. If the skins or tints were unlocked, you can switch your character skin or tint by pressing on the left or right arrow (as shown in the image below).
|Ancient Spear (Q)||Throws out a chained spear that pulls Sonya to the first enemy unit it hits, dealing 79 damage and briefly stunning them. If Ancient Spear connects Sonya generates 20 Fury.
Cooldown: 15 seconds
|Hammer of the Ancients (W)||Deals 120 to the target enemy.
Cooldown: 1 second
|Whirlwind (E)||Deals 335 to nearby enemies over 4 seconds.
Cooldown: 1 second
|Fury (Combat Trait)||Sonya uses Fury instead of mana. Fury is gained by taking damage, using Basic Attacks, or by using abilities that generate Fury. Sonya also has 15% life leech on all attacks and abilities.|
|Path of the Warrior||Your Hero gains an extra 25 Health for every level gained.|
|Endless Fury (Trait)||Increases maximum Fury to 150.|
|Shot of Fury (Trait)||Activate to gain 25 Fury. 45 second cooldown.|
|Amplified Healing||Increases healing taken and regeneration effects by 30%.|
|Focused Attack||Every 5 seconds, your next Basic Attack deals 50% addtional damage.|
|War Paint (Trait)||Increases Life leach to 20%.|
|Massive Hammer (W)||Damage of Hammer of the Ancients is increased by 50% and the Fury cost is increased to 20.|
|Block||Periodically reduces the damage received from Hero Basic Attacks by 50%. Stores up to 2 charges.|
|Poisoned Spear (Q)||Ancient Spear deals an additional 50% damage over 4 seconds.|
|Seismic Slash (W)||Hammer of the Ancients deals splash damage behind the target.|
|Leap (R)||Leap into the air, dealing 61 damage to nearby enemies, stunning them for 1.5 seconds.
Cooldown: 40 seconds
|Wrath of the Berserker (R)||Gains +100% bonus Attack Speed, +40 bonus Move Speed, +10% additional Lifesteal and silences, stuns, slows, and roots against your Hero have their duration reduced by 50%.
Cooldown: 100 seconds
Duration: 12 seconds
|Spell Shield||Periodically reduces the damage received from Hero Abilities by 50%. Stores up to 2 charges.|
|Composite Spear (Q)||Increases the range of Ancient Spear by 30%.|
|Wind Shear (E)||Casting Whirlwind removes all movement impairing effects and increases move speed by 10%.|
|Cyclone (E)||Increases the radius of Whirlwind by 80%.|
|Imposing Presence||Enemies that attack you have their Attack Speed slowed by 30%.|
|Mystical Spear (Q)||Ancient Spear will pull the Barbarian to the target point, even if it misses a unit (but will not gain Fury).|
|Hamstring Spiral (E)||Whirlwind slows enemy move speed by 25% for 1 second.|
|Stoneskin||Activate to gain 20% of your max health in Shields for 5 seconds.|
|Resurgence of the Storm||Upon dying revive back at your Altar after 5 seconds. This can occur once every 120 seconds.|
|Fury of the Storm||Basic Attacks bounce twice to nearby enemies for 50% damage.|
|Arreat Crater (R)||Leaves behind an impassable crater for 3 seconds.|
|Anger Management (R)||Increases the damage of other Barbarian abilities by 50% while Wrath of the Berserker is active. Increases the reduction of silences, stuns, slows, and roots for 75%.|
Voice Over Quotes
These are the voice over quotes repeated by Sonya the Barbarian when the player clicks on her multiple times. Transcript courtesy of Egrem. (Thank you)
”Why do you bother me?”
“Choose your next words carefully.”
“I swear, the next person who names me Barbie on Battle.net gets an axe to the forehead.”
“Bul-Kathos, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one will remember why we fight, or why we die. All that matters is that five stood against five. I ask you, grant me one request. Improve my MMR! If you do not listen, then to hell with you!”
“Let’s see, crush enemies, done. Drive them before me, of course. Hear the lamentations of their women… let’s skip that one.”
“You! Death by snu snu!”
“Blondes may have more fun, but redheads are more fun.”
“Gingers do have souls, okay?”
“I keep killing, but no loot comes out. This game makes no sense.”
“Ever have that nightmare where you’re at work in your underwear? That’s me, every day.”
“If I ever find out who invented the chainmail bikini, I’m going to punch their jaw off their face.”
“Once in my many travels, a pig of a man told me to make him a sandwich. So I sliced him nice and thin.”
Basic Hero Quests
Basic Hero Quests are unique to each Hero. Usually they are focused on using a spell/ability “X” amount of times against any enemy Hero; and the last one asks you to play 10 games with your Hero.
Epic Hero Quests
The Epic Hero Quests are not available until you reach level 10, and until your Hero has completed the 3 Basic Hero Quests. These are not unique for each hero. All Heroes must complete the same Epic Hero Quests.