DecayDecay gives you a direct way to put healing reduction on a sustain target, alongside current-health damage over time. It suits fights where you need anti-heal applied deliberately before the enemy starts winning the health trade.
Players who want a direct anti-heal application without needing repeated weapon buildup.
Apply it before committing into the target's sustain. Keep the fight focused during the damage-over-time and healing-reduction window.
Against Lady Geist: Apply Decay before the finish attempt. Strong healing reduction plus current-health damage attacks the exact sustain window she relies on to survive while low.
Owning anti-heal is not enough if the application comes after the healing trade has already turned the fight. It also does not replace distance or control.
Buy it when healing is extending fights and your build cannot reliably apply another anti-heal option. Make the purchase before the next sustain-heavy engagement and use it as your team commits.
Average purchase: 18.5 minutes
Game-stage ranges are approximate, and average purchase times are a guide rather than a deadline. Buy sooner when this item would change your next fight.
| Stage | Average purchase |
|---|---|
| Early game · 0–10 min | Not available |
| Mid game · 10–20 min | 16.5 min |
| Late game · 20+ min | 24 min |
High-health sustain targets and fights where healing is preventing a finish.
Baba →Choose Toxic Bullets if you can maintain weapon hits, or Decay for targeted healing reduction. Apply it before the sustain window.
Both combine percentage-health damage with anti-heal. They are situational against healing items or upgraded Granny Long Legs melee lifesteal; anti-heal does not counter the barrier from Soothing Brew.
Lady Geist →Apply Decay before the finish attempt.
Strong healing reduction plus current-health damage attacks the exact sustain window she relies on to survive while low.
Victor →Apply Decay or another reliably applied anti-heal source before committing, and track his cleanse.
Healing reduction is valuable only while it remains applied; coordinated reapplication or denying the next sustain cast can be necessary to finish Victor.
These hero guides recommend Decay. Check the individual matchup for the build, situation, and timing.
HealbaneHealbane turns your spirit damage into healing reduction, making it a natural counter-buy for ability users facing sustain. Apply it before the enemy gets full value from healing, then use the reduced recovery to help your team secure the kill.
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Toxic BulletsToxic Bullets gives weapon users anti-heal and percentage-health bleed after repeated shooting. It fits carries who can keep landing shots on a sustain target, with the application built before the enemy's important healing window.
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Spirit BurnSpirit Burn rewards builds that can reach its spirit-damage trigger, adding an explosion, damage over time, and healing reduction. It combines damage scaling with anti-sustain pressure, but you must trigger the effect before the enemy's recovery decides the fight.
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