Van Helsing
Overview
Van Helsing unleashes relentless projectile volleys with attack speed scaling. Punishment chains trigger devastating grenades and cooldown resets.
Abilities
Waltz of the Wicked
Continuous projectile barrage in area. Wave count scales with attack speed (8/10/12/15 at 0/40/100/180% bonus).
⚡ Adrenaline Rush
16% attack speed over 12 seconds. Grants awakening stack. Stacks trigger bonus grenade or crossbow strikes.
🔐 Demonbane Crossbow
Dash dealing 200% single damage. Punishment boost increases by 50%.
🎯 Grenade
235% area damage toss. Triggers punishment with defense down bonus.
Talent: Swift Shot
Each skill cast grants 12% attack speed (stacks 10 times, entire battle duration).
Level Enhancements
⭐ Level 2
Attack increases by 20% against 4+ energy enemies
⭐ Level 3
Increases Attack by 15%
⭐ Level 4
Max swift shot stacks grant 30% Attack and reduce overdrive cost by 1
⭐ Level 7
Waltz triggers punishment for full cooldown refund plus 400% area bonus
Our Take on Van Helsing
Van Helsing is an SSR Arcane Wisdom Archer whose output grows over the fight. Swift Shot adds 12% attack speed per skill cast for the rest of the battle (up to 10 stacks), and Waltz of the Wicked fires more waves at higher attack speed: 8, 10, 12, or 15 waves at 0, 40, 100, or 180% bonus.
Strengths
- +Swift Shot stacks last the whole battle, and at level 4 max stacks grant 30% Attack and reduce Overdrive cost by 1.
- +Grenade deals 235% area damage and triggers Punishment, which makes him a Punishment source for allies.
- +Demonbane Crossbow's Punishment boost increases by 50%, and level 7 makes Waltz trigger Punishment for a full cooldown refund plus 400% area bonus.
- +Level 2 adds 20% Attack against enemies with 4+ energy.
Weaknesses
- −He starts slowly; Waltz only fires 8 waves until he builds attack speed.
- −Ten Swift Shot stacks give 120% bonus attack speed, so if bonuses add together he still needs about 60% from other sources (Adrenaline Rush's 16% included) to reach 15 waves.
- −The text does not explain what Adrenaline Rush's bonus grenade or crossbow strikes deal.
How to Play Van Helsing
Van Helsing is a back-row Archer. Cast skills early and often: every cast adds a permanent Swift Shot stack, so delaying Waltz of the Wicked until attack speed is higher gives more waves. Adrenaline Rush adds 16% attack speed for 12 seconds and an awakening stack. Grenade is his reliable Punishment trigger. Level 4 rewards reaching 10 stacks, and level 7 turns Waltz into a repeatable Punishment burst.
Good Teammates
- Tyrfing (SSR) – Each Punishment Van Helsing's Grenade triggers lowers Tyrfing's Overdrive cost (level 2) and boosts his next Overdrive (level 7).
- Ophelia (SSR) – Ophelia's Beatification grants [Sanctuary] whenever an ally triggers Punishment, which Grenade does.
- Athena (UR) – Athena's Shield of Aegis gives allies 40% Attack Speed while the barrier holds, helping Van Helsing reach Waltz's higher wave thresholds.
Keywords in brackets are explained in the status effect glossary.
Should You Invest?
Van Helsing is SSR and rated T3 here, but his Grenade makes him a dependable Punishment enabler for several other units. He is a reasonable build for Punishment teams and longer fights, less so for short bursts.
Van Helsing FAQ
- How many waves does Waltz of the Wicked fire?
- It fires 8, 10, 12, or 15 waves at 0%, 40%, 100%, or 180% bonus attack speed.
- Does Van Helsing trigger Punishment?
- Yes. Grenade triggers Punishment, and at level 7 Waltz of the Wicked can trigger it too for a full cooldown refund.