AFK Arena Hendrik Guide

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Introduction

AFK Arena Hendrik, known as “The Defender,” is a Tank class hero from the Lightbearer faction, introduced in patch 1.19. As a melee front-line fighter, Hendrik’s primary role is to protect his allies by absorbing damage and controlling enemies on the battlefield. His unique abilities are designed to enhance his durability, allowing him to withstand substantial amounts of damage while maintaining crowd control over opposing units. His kit includes several mechanics that make him a formidable presence in the front lines, ensuring he can absorb blows and disrupt enemy formations effectively. Whether in PvP or PvE, Hendrik excels in reducing the incoming damage for his team and ensuring that enemies are unable to overpower his allies.

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Hero Overview

AFK Arena Hendrik is a highly regarded tank hero, known for his exceptional defensive capabilities and his ability to protect and support his team. As a front-line hero, he plays a critical role in absorbing damage and ensuring that his allies remain safe and effective throughout battles. His design revolves around minimizing the damage taken by his team while simultaneously disrupting the enemy’s formation and abilities.

In addition to his defensive skills, AFK Arena Hendrik’s toolkit includes several crowd control abilities that allow him to manipulate the flow of battle. He can stun enemies, reduce their damage output, and even take on fatal damage intended for his more vulnerable backline allies. This makes him an invaluable presence in a variety of game modes, whether it’s in player-versus-environment (PvE) content like the campaign and guild bosses, or player-versus-player (PvP) content such as the Arena.

AFK Arena Hendrik’s ability to control enemies and mitigate damage helps ensure that his team stays intact while giving his allies the chance to deal damage without worrying about being overwhelmed by enemy attacks. This combination of crowd control, durability, and protection makes him a solid pick for anyone seeking a reliable tank to lead the charge in the toughest battles. His impact is especially significant in high-level and challenging encounters, where his ability to outlast and control the opposition can turn the tide in favor of his team.

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Skills

Crippling Blow

Allows AFK Arena Hendrik to smash the ground with his shield, dealing damage to surrounding enemies. It also stuns enemies for 1 second, with the stun duration increasing by 0.2 seconds for every 10% of Hendrik’s maximum health that is lost, up to a total of 4 seconds. This means the lower Hendrik’s health, the longer the stun, which is useful for controlling enemies in prolonged battles. The damage dealt by this ability increases at level 81 to 160% and at level 161 to 180%.

Shield Bash

Involves AFK Arena Hendrik using his shield to knock back an enemy, dealing damage and stunning them for 1.5 seconds. At level 21, the damage increases to 150%, and at level 181, it rises to 180%. Additionally, at level 101, after the stun effect ends, the affected enemy’s damage is reduced by 40% for 5 seconds, making it a powerful debuff to weaken opponents.

Sacrificial Shield

Is Hendrik’s protective ability. If a backline teammate is about to take fatal damage, Hendrik will jump in front of them and absorb all the damage for 10 seconds. While using this ability, Hendrik cannot be mind-controlled. It can only be used once per battle, but at level 121, damage taken while protecting a teammate is reduced by 40%. At level 201, this reduction increases to 60%, making him even more effective at guarding his allies.

Standfast

Activates when AFK Arena Hendrik’s health falls below 40%, triggering a defensive stance. In this stance, Hendrik regenerates 6% of his maximum health per second, which increases to 7% at level 221. During this time, any damage dealt to Hendrik is reduced by 30%. This ability lasts for 10 seconds, or until Hendrik’s health is restored to 90% of his maximum health, with the duration increasing to 13 seconds at level 141. Like his other defensive abilities, Standfast can only be used once per battle.

These skills make Hendrik an incredibly durable tank, allowing him to control the flow of battle, protect his teammates, and withstand substantial damage while dealing significant crowd control.

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Lore

AFK Arena Hendrik’s background stands out in the king’s army, as he is not a typical soldier driven by the desire to kill. Instead, he views taking a life as a last resort, preferring to incapacitate his enemies and avoid bloodshed whenever possible. Despite his pacifistic nature, Hendrik is an incredibly valued member of any formation due to his unmatched strength and defensive capabilities.

AFK Arena Hendrik’s remarkable physical prowess allows him to wield two massive shields with ease, using them to deflect enemy attacks and serve as a “walking fortress” on the battlefield. His presence ensures the safety of his allies, making him an irreplaceable asset in combat.

The source of AFK Arena Hendrik’s pacifism lies in a great sorrow from his past, which has led him to view violence as something to be avoided. As a young soldier, Hendrik was assigned to a routine supply escort mission. The roads were considered safe at the time, but a few soldiers were always needed to deter any bandit threats. On one such mission, Hendrik and his squadron were ambushed by a group of poorly equipped bandits. They were quickly defeated, and Hendrik felt their deaths were justified, a product of their criminal actions.

However, a turning point came when AFK Arena Hendrik saw one of the defeated bandits attempting to escape with a sack of grain. Without hesitation, Hendrik shot the man with his crossbow. As the bandit lay dying, he begged Hendrik to help a girl who was hiding nearby. Investigating the area, Hendrik found a small child who turned out to be the daughter of the man he had killed. Witnessing the child’s distress, Hendrik was overcome with guilt, questioning the righteousness of his actions.

This event deeply affected AFK Arena Hendrik, leading him to reconsider his approach to violence and battle. He took the child in his arms and left the area, determined to atone for the life he had taken. The experience shaped his philosophy, and he now believes that violence should only be used when absolutely necessary, as reflected in his quote, “The only blood that can redeem you is your own.”

AFK Arena Hendrik’s lore sheds light on his reluctance to fight, driven by his desire to protect others rather than cause harm. This inner conflict defines him as a warrior who seeks redemption and peace, forever haunted by the consequences of his past actions.

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Builds

AFK Arena Hendrik’s effectiveness in battle can be significantly enhanced by focusing on the right build, which includes his Signature Item, Furniture Set, Engravings, and Artifacts. These elements work together to boost his survivability, damage output, and overall tanking capabilities.

AFK Arena Hendrik’s Signature Item, called The Bastion, represents a pair of tower shields that create an unbreakable wall when brought together. The skill tied to this item, “Steadfast,” increases Hendrik’s maximum health at the start of a battle based on a percentage of his attack rating. Initially, it provides a 300% health increase of his attack rating.

At +10, the health boost jumps to 600%, and at +20, AFK Arena Hendrik’s attacks deal additional damage equal to 2% of his max health. At +30, the health increase becomes 1000% of his attack rating. It’s generally recommended to upgrade his Signature Item to +10, as this provides a significant benefit, and purple emblems are well worth the investment. Upgrading beyond +10 is not considered as valuable unless you have excess emblems, as the return on investment for the +20 and +30 upgrades is comparatively low.

AFK Arena Hendrik’s Furniture Set, called Defensive Stance, offers bonuses to the defense rating of an allied hero positioned above him in the formation. The 3/9 bonus increases the defense of that hero by 25% of Hendrik’s defense rating. The 9/9 bonus increases this to 60%. While these buffs are useful, they are considered somewhat niche, so it’s recommended not to heavily invest in his Furniture Set beyond the -/9 bonus, as other heroes may provide more substantial benefits from their furniture sets.

For Hendrik, the minimal engraving investment is E0, but the recommended investment is E30, which maximizes his potential. The specific order in which to invest the engraving cores varies, and while optimal and maximum investments are indicated by color codes in some sources, the detailed priority order is not specified in the provided materials. More detailed information can be found on external guides, like the AllClash Pro website.

Artifacts/Collections: The “Waistband of Resilience” is the recommended artifact for Hendrik, as it further enhances his tanking abilities. Collections in the Ghoulish Gallery are not a priority for Hendrik at this time, as there are other heroes who benefit more from these collections.

In summary, the optimal build for Hendrik would focus on upgrading his Signature Item to +10, with limited investment in his Furniture Set (beyond the -/9 bonus), and aiming for E30 engravings. The Waistband of Resilience is a strong artifact choice, while collections do not need to be prioritized for him at this stage.

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Performance in Different Game Modes

AFK Arena Hendrik’s performance in AFK Arena varies across different game modes, with his defensive abilities and crowd control making him more suitable for some modes than others. Here’s a breakdown of how he performs in various game modes:

In Campaign mode, Hendrik is rated as a B-tier hero. While he can be used effectively, there are generally better options for progressing through campaign stages. His role as a tank may not be as crucial in the early stages of the campaign, where damage output often takes precedence.

In Tower mode, Hendrik performs at an S-tier level, his best rating. This is where he truly shines. His ability to protect allies, absorb damage, and disrupt enemy formations makes him extremely effective in the tower. Since Tower battles often last longer, Hendrik’s resilience and crowd control abilities are invaluable in drawing out the fight and keeping his team alive.

In Nightmare Corridor, AFK Arena Hendrik is rated C-tier, indicating that he is not very effective in this mode. The challenges in the Nightmare Corridor often require heroes who can provide both high damage and utility, and Hendrik’s tanking abilities alone may not be enough to carry his team through the more difficult stages.

Similarly, in the Cursed Realm, Hendrik is also rated C-tier, meaning he is not a strong choice for this mode either. The Cursed Realm demands high damage output and specific synergies, which Hendrik may struggle to provide, making him a less optimal pick here.

Key Takeaways

AFK Arena Hendrik excels in Tower mode, where his defensive capabilities and crowd control abilities truly shine. His ability to protect his team and disrupt enemies is invaluable in longer battles, allowing him to absorb damage while keeping his allies safe. However, he is less effective in Campaign, Nightmare Corridor, and Cursed Realm modes.

In these modes, AFK Arena Hendrik’s tanking abilities may not provide the necessary damage or utility to succeed, as these game modes often require more offensive power or specialized synergies. These performance ratings are based on the current game meta, and hero effectiveness can shift with updates and patches. Overall, Hendrik is considered a top-tier pick for Tower mode, but less optimal in modes where high damage output and versatility are needed.

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Signature Item

The Bastion

The Bastion”, and it is described as a pair of tower shields that, when brought together, form an unbreakable wall. The Signature Item’s skill is called “Steadfast”. This skill increases Hendrik’s maximum health at the beginning of battles.

Skill: Steadfast

“Steadfast” improves with upgrades by increasing Hendrik’s max health based on a percentage of his attack rating. Initially, at no upgrade level, it increases his max health by 300% of his attack rating. It’s important to note that this increase applies only to Hendrik’s additional max health and does not affect the proportion of health he already possesses.

At +10, the max health increase from “Steadfast” becomes 600% of Hendrik’s attack rating. As with previous upgrades, this increase does not affect the proportion of health he already possesses. At +20, Hendrik gains an additional benefit: all of his attacks deal extra damage equal to 2% of his max health. At +30, the max health increase reaches 1000% of his attack rating, once again applying only to the additional health and not affecting the proportion of health Hendrik already has.

It is recommended to upgrade Hendrik’s Signature Item to +10, as the buff is considered significant and purple emblems are worth investing in. However, going beyond +10 is not considered as valuable unless you are swimming in emblems, as the +20 and +30 upgrades are too expensive for the return value.

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Furniture Set and Bonuses

Defensive Stance

AFK Arena Hendrik’s Furniture Set Bonus is called “Defensive Stance”. This set provides bonuses that enhance his ability to protect his allies by increasing the defense of a specific teammate. Here are the details of the bonuses:

3/9 Mythic Pieces

When AFK Arena Hendrik has 3 out of 9 pieces of his Mythic furniture set, the defense rating of an allied hero that is positioned directly above Hendrik in the formation is increased by 25% of Hendrik’s own defense rating value.

9/9 Mythic Pieces

When AFK Arena Hendrik has all 9 pieces of his Mythic furniture set, the defense rating of an allied hero that is positioned directly above Hendrik in the formation is increased by 60% of Hendrik’s own defense rating value.

Key Takeaways

Hendrik’s furniture set bonus is focused on enhancing the defense of a specific ally, making him a solid choice for protecting a key damage dealer in the formation. The bonus increases the defense rating of the hero directly above Hendrik, scaling up based on how many pieces of his Mythic furniture set are equipped. However, it is generally recommended to aim for a -/9 furniture set bonus.

This is because the defense buff, while useful, is quite niche compared to other heroes and their furniture bonuses. Therefore, completing the full 9/9 set for Hendrik is not a high priority, as the benefit is not as impactful as it is for other heroes. Additionally, since the bonus only applies to the hero directly above Hendrik in the formation, it’s essential to carefully consider team positioning when using him.

AFK Arena Hendrik Guide: Conclusion

AFK Arena Hendrik is a Lightbearer faction tank hero who excels at protecting his teammates and disrupting enemies with his crowd control abilities. As a melee tank, he prioritizes the safety of his allies, acting as a walking fortress capable of deflecting enemy attacks with his shields. His skill set includes AoE stuns, single-target stuns and knockbacks, and a sacrificial shield that protects a backline ally from fatal damage. Additionally, when his health drops below 40%, he enters a defensive stance, healing himself and reducing incoming damage. His Signature Item, “The Bastion,” greatly enhances his survivability by increasing his max health based on his attack rating.

It’s recommended to upgrade it to +10 to maximize its effect, though further upgrades beyond this are generally not worth the cost. At +10, Hendrik’s max health is increased by 600% of his attack rating, and at +20, all his attacks deal additional damage equal to 2% of his max health. At +30, this bonus increases to 1000% of his attack rating. Hendrik’s Furniture Set, “Defensive Stance,” provides a defense boost to an ally positioned directly above him in the formation, making it useful, but too niche to invest heavily in, with a -/9 furniture set bonus being the general recommendation.

With 3/9 pieces, the defense of the ally increases by 25% of Hendrik’s defense, and with 9/9 pieces, it increases by 60%. For engravings, the recommended investment is E0, with the maximum investment being E30, though higher investments aren’t necessary unless you’re a top player. In terms of game modes, Hendrik excels in the Tower, where his tanking and crowd control abilities are highly effective. However, he is less impactful in the Campaign, Nightmare Corridor, and Cursed Realm modes.

His lore adds depth to his character, with his pacifistic nature stemming from a past incident where he killed a bandit, later discovering the bandit’s daughter and seeking atonement for his actions. Hendrik’s story shapes his approach to battle, where he focuses on protecting others rather than causing harm. In conclusion, Hendrik is a valuable tank, particularly in the Tower, where his defensive and disruptive abilities shine. He is a strong addition to any team when built and used correctly, with a focus on upgrading his Signature Item to +10 and leveraging his role in the Tower game mode.