Cleaver is one of the most feared tanks in Hero Wars, a hero who can completely change the tide of battle with a single move. In this Hero Wars Alliance Cleaver Guide, you’ll learn how to master his skills, build him effectively, choose the right skins and glyphs, equip the best artifacts, and counter him in the Arena or Grand Arena. Cleaver isn’t just a defensive wall—he’s a powerful frontline disruptor capable of dragging enemies straight into danger.
Hero Wars Cleaver Skills Breakdown
Understanding Cleaver’s abilities is key to unlocking his full potential as a tank and battlefield disruptor.
Rusty Hook Skill
The Rusty Hook skill allows Cleaver to throw a hook at a distant enemy, dealing damage and pulling them into melee range. This ability scales with physical attack and is one of the strongest displacement tools in Hero Wars. When timed perfectly, it can pull a fragile damage dealer or support hero into danger, where your team’s burst attackers like Keira, Ishmael, or Yasmine can finish the job instantly.
Putrefaction Skill
Putrefaction deals pure damage to nearby enemies and also to Cleaver himself for five seconds. The damage scales with health, making health a key stat for his build. Since pure damage ignores armor, this skill is particularly effective against heavily armored tanks. The self-damage can synergize with allies like Xe’Sha and Aidan, who benefit from allied damage intake to increase their own power.
Mutilation Skill
Mutilation deals area damage and stuns all enemies in front of Cleaver. It scales with physical attack and skill level, adding crowd control to his disruption toolkit. When combined with Rusty Hook, this skill can lock down high-priority targets before they can react.
Heavyweight Skill
Heavyweight is Cleaver’s passive ability, boosting his Strength stat. This directly increases his survivability and improves most of his skills, making it a cornerstone of his durability in prolonged fights.
Hero Wars Alliance Cleaver Guide: Building the Ultimate Tank
Cleaver is a front line tank belonging to the Way of Chaos faction. Building him effectively requires careful investment in armor, health, and Strength.
Recommended Items by Rank
- Violet: Dragon Shield, World Tremor, Cosmic Tremor
- Orange: Blued Plate Armor, Asklepius’s Staff, Unity of Extremes
- Orange +3/+4: Equipment levels 14–15 for optimal early-to-mid game performance
Hero Wars Cleaver Skins Priority
Cleaver currently has six skins: default, physical attack, health, armor, magic defense, and toughness. Upgrade in this order:
- Armor
- Health
- Strength
- Toughness
- Magic Defense
- Physical Attack
Hero Wars Cleaver Glyphs Priority
- Armor
- Health
- Strength
- Magic Defense
- Physical Attack
Level them to 40 for a balanced stat foundation before further upgrades.
Hero Wars Cleaver Artifacts Priority
- Book (armor + magic defense)
- Weapon (team armor buff via Rusty Hook)
- Ring (Strength bonus)
Gift of the Elements
Maximize armor and health to increase Cleaver’s frontline survivability.
Talismans
- First Talisman: Strength and Health
- Second Talisman: Crushing and Toughness (VIP-exclusive)
Even without VIP items, Cleaver remains effective with proper leveling.
Hero Wars Cleaver Counters
Despite his strength, Cleaver has several reliable counters:
- Hero Wars counter Dorian – Heals nearby allies with vampirism after being pulled
- Hero Wars counter Andvari – Prevents displacement with Living Earth
- Hero Wars counter Aurora – Punishes Cleaver with magic reflection
- Hero Wars counter Lian – Charms Cleaver when targeted by Rusty Hook
- Martha – Survives long enough after being pulled to heal the team
- Jorgen – Reduces Cleaver’s energy gain, slowing his skill rotation
Hero Wars Arena Tank Strategy with Cleaver
In the Arena and Grand Arena, Cleaver’s disruption works best when paired with:
- High burst damage dealers
- Heroes that capitalize on displacement (e.g., Jhu, Yasmine)
- Frontline supports who can sustain the team during aggressive plays
A Hero Wars tank guide isn’t complete without highlighting that Cleaver’s true power comes from timing his hook and controlling high-value targets.
Final Thoughts on Cleaver in Hero Wars
Cleaver is more than just a defensive presence—he is a strategic weapon in the hands of players who can read enemy formations and exploit weaknesses. Mastering this hero requires understanding not just his abilities, but also when and whom to target with his disruptive skills. Whether you’re building him to dominate the Grand Arena tank role or devising ways to shut him down, this Hero Wars Alliance Cleaver Guide gives you the tools to take control of the fight.
