Julian splash art
Fighter

Julian

Fighter rated 70 magic offense, 60 durability, 20 difficulty in Moonton's in-game data, built around the passive Smith's Legacy scaling at 100% Total Physical Attack.

Julian is a Fighter hero in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang who excels at burst damage and sustained combat through his unique skill-casting mechanic. He is a highly adaptable hero, capable of initiating fights, chasing down enemies, and dealing significant magic damage, making him a formidable presence on the battlefield. His playstyle revolves around chaining abilities to unleash powerful enhanced skills.

Offense — Physical60
Offense — Magical70
Durability60
Difficulty20

Build guide Matchups & counters

Skills, ratings and recommended gear on this page are read directly from Moonton's official in-game hero data for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang — not scraped from another fan site, and nothing is invented to fill a gap. Data retrieved .

Written by EllieAnth — playing MLBB since 2017 (9+ years), peak rank Mythical Immortal, 1126 stars.

Assessment

Strengths & weaknesses

Understanding Julian's inherent advantages and disadvantages is crucial for mastering his gameplay and maximizing his impact in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

  • High Magical Burst Damage: With an offenseMagical score of 70, Julian can unleash significant magic damage, especially when chaining his skills and utilizing his enhanced abilities. His skills like Scythe (380 flat + 140% Total Magic Power) and Sword (400 flat + 80% Total Magic Power) provide strong burst potential, allowing him to quickly eliminate squishy targets or heavily damage frontline heroes.
  • Strong Sustain and Lifesteal: Julian's passive, Smith's Legacy, grants 15% extra Hybrid Lifesteal for 5 seconds (stacking up to 3 times) each time he hits an enemy hero with his skills. This inherent sustain allows him to recover health during prolonged engagements, increasing his survivability in skirmishes and team fights, making him harder to take down.
  • Low Difficulty for High Impact: Julian has a difficulty score of 20, indicating he is relatively easy to pick up and play effectively. This accessibility allows players to quickly grasp his core mechanics and contribute significantly to their team through his damage and crowd control, making him a rewarding hero for various skill levels.
  • Reliance on Skill Combos: Julian's damage and utility are heavily reliant on successfully chaining his skills to activate his enhanced abilities and passive effects. Missing key skills or failing to execute his combos precisely can significantly reduce his damage output and overall effectiveness, leaving him vulnerable.
  • Vulnerable During Cooldowns: After casting an enhanced skill, all of Julian's skills go on a 9-6 second cooldown. During this period, Julian is more exposed and vulnerable as he cannot cast his primary damage or crowd control abilities, making him susceptible to counter-attacks and burst damage from enemies.
  • Moderate Durability: With a durability score of 60, Julian is not exceptionally tanky. While his passive provides some sustain, he can be burst down quickly if caught out of position or if enemies focus him during his cooldown windows. Players must be mindful of their positioning and engagement timing to avoid being eliminated prematurely.

Kit

Skills

Passive

Smith's Legacy

After casting two different skills, Julian enhances his third skill. Casting the enhanced skill makes all his skills go on a 9-6s Cooldown (decreases with his level), but his Basic Attacks within the next 5s will deal 75 (+100% Total Physical Attack) (+120% Total Magic Power) Magic Damage and pull the target toward him.
Julian gains 15% extra Hybrid Lifesteal for 5s each time he hits an enemy hero with his skills (up to 3 stacks).

  • 75 + 100% Total Physical Attack Magic
  • 120% Total Magic Power Magic

Skill 1

Scythe

Julian hurls a flying scythe in the target direction, dealing 380 (+140% Total Magic Power) Magic Damage to enemies along the way and slowing them by 30% for 1s.
The scythe disappears upon hitting a non-minion enemy.

  • 380 + 140% Total Magic Power Magic

Skill 2

Sword

Julian summons a flying sword and dashes in the target direction, dealing 400 (+80% Total Magic Power) Magic Damage to enemies along the way.

  • 400 + 80% Total Magic Power Magic

Ultimate

Chain

Julian casts chains at the target location, dealing 300 (+100% Total Magic Power) Magic Damage to enemies hit after a short delay and immobilizing them for 1.2s.

  • 300 + 100% Total Magic Power Magic

Julian's unique skill set revolves around a powerful passive that enhances his abilities, demanding precise execution and strategic thinking.

  • Smith's Legacy (Passive): This is Julian's core mechanic. After casting two different skills, his third skill becomes enhanced. When you use this enhanced skill, all your skills go on a 9-6s cooldown, but your basic attacks for the next 5 seconds deal 75 flat + 100% scaling (Total Physical Attack, Magic) and 120% scaling (Total Magic Power, Magic) damage, and pull the target towards you. Additionally, hitting an enemy hero with skills grants 15% extra Hybrid Lifesteal for 5s, stacking up to 3 times. This passive dictates Julian's aggressive, combo-oriented playstyle. You should aim to constantly cycle through your skills to activate enhanced abilities and benefit from the lifesteal, which significantly boosts your survivability in prolonged fights. The magic damage scaling on basic attacks means that even after your skill rotation, you remain a threat, especially with magic power items.
  • Scythe (Skill 1): Julian hurls a flying scythe in the target direction, dealing 380 flat + 140% scaling (Total Magic Power, Magic) damage to enemies along the way and slowing them by 30% for 1s. This skill is excellent for poking enemies from a distance, initiating trades, or finishing off low-health targets. The high magic power scaling makes it a primary damage source, especially early in the game and when building magic items. Use it to apply pressure in lane, secure minion kills, or slow down fleeing opponents. The scythe disappears upon hitting a non-minion enemy, so positioning is key to hit your intended target.
  • Sword (Skill 2): Julian summons a flying sword and dashes in the target direction, dealing 400 flat + 80% scaling (Total Magic Power, Magic) damage to enemies along the way. This skill provides Julian with crucial mobility, allowing him to engage, disengage, or reposition quickly. The damage is respectable, and it can be used to close gaps on squishy targets or escape dangerous situations. Combine it with Scythe or Chain to set up your enhanced skill. The lower magic power scaling compared to Scythe means it's often used more for its mobility and utility in combos rather than raw damage, though it still contributes significantly to your burst.
  • Chain (Ultimate): Julian casts chains at the target location, dealing 300 flat + 100% scaling (Total Magic Power, Magic) damage to enemies hit after a short delay and immobilizing them for 1.2s. This is Julian's primary crowd control ability. It's crucial for locking down high-priority targets, setting up ganks, or peeling for your allies. The immobilization effect is powerful for securing kills or disrupting enemy formations. The magic power scaling ensures it deals meaningful damage in addition to its utility. This skill is often the one you want to enhance with your passive for maximum impact, as an enhanced Chain can turn the tide of a team fight.

Items

Clock of Destiny

Unique Passive - Time: Gains 20 extra Max HP and 4 extra Magic Power every 20s, capped at 15 stacks.

Magic Boots

Genius Wand

Unique Passive - Magic: Dealing Magic Damage to enemy heroes will reduce their Magic Defense by 3-7 (scales with level) for 2s. Stacks up to 3 times.

Brute Force Breastplate

Unique Passive - Brute Force: Each second after dealing damage, gain 6 extra Physical Attack and Magic Power and 2% extra Movement Speed for 4s, up to 6 stacks. Gain 15% extra Control Duration Reduction at full stacks.

Starlium Scythe

Unique Passive - Crisis: Within 3s after casting a skill, the caster's next Basic Attack will deal additional True Damage equal to 100 plus 100% Magic Power and briefly grant 10% Movement Speed. This effect has a 1.5s cooldown.

Oracle

Unique Passive - Bless: Received Shield and HP Regen effects are increased by 30%.

Julian's recommended build focuses on maximizing his magic damage output, enhancing his unique passive, and providing enough survivability to sustain him in fights.

  • Clock of Destiny: This item is an excellent early-game choice for Julian. Its Unique Passive - Time grants 20 extra Max HP and 4 extra Magic Power every 20 seconds, stacking up to 15 times. This provides Julian with a steady increase in both durability and magic damage as the game progresses, perfectly complementing his need for sustained power and a slightly higher health pool to survive engagements. It ensures he scales well into the mid and late game.
  • Magic Boots: These boots are a standard choice for magic damage dealers. They provide essential movement speed, allowing Julian to roam, position for skill shots, and escape more effectively. The mobility gained is crucial for a hero who relies on precise positioning to land his skill combos and activate his passive.
  • Genius Wand: This item significantly enhances Julian's magic damage output against enemy heroes. Its Unique Passive - Magic reduces the target's Magic Defense by 3-7 (scaling with level) for 2 seconds when Julian deals magic damage, stacking up to 3 times. This means Julian's subsequent magic damage, especially from his high-scaling skills like Scythe, will hit much harder, effectively shredding the magic resistance of even tankier opponents.
  • Brute Force Breastplate: This defensive item provides Julian with both survivability and offensive boosts. Its Unique Passive - Brute Force grants 6 extra Physical Attack and Magic Power and 2% extra Movement Speed for 4 seconds after dealing damage, stacking up to 6 times. At full stacks, it also provides 15% extra Control Duration Reduction. This item is perfect for Julian as he constantly deals damage with his skills and basic attacks, allowing him to gain sustained damage, mobility, and resilience against crowd control, making him harder to pin down and burst.
  • Starlium Scythe: This item synergizes incredibly well with Julian's passive and skill-based playstyle. Its Unique Passive - Crisis states that within 3 seconds after casting a skill, Julian's next Basic Attack will deal additional True Damage equal to 100 plus 100% Magic Power and briefly grant 10% Movement Speed. This effect has a 1.5-second cooldown. Since Julian's passive enhances his basic attacks after an enhanced skill, Starlium Scythe amplifies this effect, adding a significant burst of true damage and extra mobility to his post-combo attacks, making him even more lethal.
  • Oracle: As a hero who benefits from lifesteal and has moderate durability, Oracle is a strong defensive choice. Its Unique Passive - Bless increases received Shield and HP Regen effects by 30%. This directly boosts the effectiveness of Julian's passive lifesteal, allowing him to recover significantly more health during fights. It also makes any shields or healing from allies more potent, further enhancing his survivability and ability to sustain through prolonged engagements.

Coaching

Playstyle tips

Julian's playstyle is dynamic and aggressive, requiring players to master his unique skill-chaining mechanic to unleash his full potential.

  • Master Your Skill Combos: Julian's entire kit revolves around chaining two different skills to empower his third. Practice different sequences (e.g., Skill 1 > Skill 2 > Enhanced Skill 3) to understand which enhanced ability is best for each situation. The enhanced skill is your primary burst and crowd control tool, so always aim to activate it for maximum impact.
  • Utilize Passive Lifesteal: Remember that hitting enemy heroes with your skills grants you 15% extra Hybrid Lifesteal, stacking up to 3 times. In skirmishes or team fights, try to hit multiple enemies with your abilities to maximize this sustain, allowing you to stay in the fight longer despite your moderate durability. This lifesteal is crucial for extended engagements.
  • Aggressive Poking and Farming: With a difficulty score of 20, Julian is relatively easy to play aggressively. Use Scythe (Skill 1) to poke enemies in lane and secure last hits on minions. Its high magic power scaling makes it effective for early game pressure, helping you gain a gold and experience advantage.
  • Engage and Disengage with Sword: Sword (Skill 2) is your primary mobility tool. Use it to dash into range for your combos or to quickly escape dangerous situations. Be mindful of its cooldown, especially after an enhanced skill, as you'll be vulnerable without it. Proper use of Sword dictates your engagement and disengagement windows.
  • Capitalize on Enhanced Basic Attacks: After casting an enhanced skill, your basic attacks for the next 5 seconds deal additional magic damage and pull targets. Combine this with items like Starlium Scythe to maximize your damage output during this window. Don't just rely on skills; weave in empowered basic attacks to fully exploit your passive.
  • Positioning is Key: Despite having moderate durability, Julian can be burst down. Use your mobility to position yourself safely before initiating, and be ready to disengage if the fight turns unfavorable, especially during your skill cooldown windows. Good positioning ensures you can deliver damage while minimizing incoming harm.

Matchups

Counters

Based on the available data, specific hero matchups for Julian are not provided. Therefore, we cannot recommend specific heroes that Julian counters, is countered by, or works well with. In general, Julian performs well against squishy targets that he can burst down quickly with his skill combos and struggles against heroes with high magic resistance or strong crowd control that can interrupt his rotations.

In practice

A practical scenario

Imagine Julian in the mid-lane, spotting an enemy hero. He initiates a powerful trade with his core combo: Julian casts Scythe (Skill 1) towards the enemy, dealing 380 flat + 140% scaling (Total Magic Power, Magic) damage and slowing them. This is the first skill for his passive. Immediately, he casts Sword (Skill 2), dashing towards the slowed enemy, dealing 400 flat + 80% scaling (Total Magic Power, Magic) damage and closing the gap. This second skill enhances his ultimate. Julian then casts the enhanced Chain (Ultimate) at the enemy's position, dealing 300 flat + 100% scaling (Total Magic Power, Magic) damage and immobilizing them for 1.2 seconds. This triggers Julian's passive, empowering his basic attacks for 5 seconds. He follows with these empowered basic attacks, dealing 75 flat + 100% scaling (Total Physical Attack, Magic) and 120% scaling (Total Magic Power, Magic) damage, pulling the target. He also benefits from the 15% Hybrid Lifesteal from his initial skill hits, sustaining through the trade while delivering significant burst and crowd control.

Summary

Key takeaways

To truly master Julian and dominate the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang battlefield, focus on these key decisions and actions:

  1. Prioritize skill rotation to constantly activate your passive's enhanced abilities and gain Hybrid Lifesteal. Julian's power lies in his ability to chain skills effectively, so practice your combos to maximize damage and utility in every engagement.
  2. Weave empowered basic attacks into your post-combo damage. After an enhanced skill, your basic attacks become a significant source of magic damage and provide crowd control, especially when paired with items like Starlium Scythe, ensuring no damage is left on the table.
  3. Build Clock of Destiny early to scale both your magic power and durability, ensuring you remain relevant and resilient throughout the game. Follow up with Genius Wand to shred enemy magic defense and Brute Force Breastplate for sustained combat stats and mobility.
  4. Utilize your mobility from Sword (Skill 2) for both aggressive engagements and safe disengages. Knowing when to commit and when to retreat is crucial, especially during your skill cooldown windows after an enhanced ability, to maintain your presence and avoid unnecessary deaths.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does Julian's passive, Smith's Legacy, work and how should I use it effectively?

Julian's passive activates after casting two different skills, enhancing his third skill. When you use this enhanced skill, all your skills go on cooldown, but your basic attacks for the next 5 seconds deal additional magic damage (75 flat + 100% Total Physical Attack + 120% Total Magic Power) and pull the target. Additionally, hitting enemy heroes with skills grants 15% extra Hybrid Lifesteal, stacking up to 3 times. To use it effectively, always aim to chain two skills to empower your third, then follow up with empowered basic attacks to maximize damage and benefit from the lifesteal for sustain.

What is the recommended item build for Julian to maximize his damage and survivability?

A strong recommended build for Julian includes Clock of Destiny for scaling magic power and HP, Magic Boots for mobility, Genius Wand to reduce enemy magic defense, Brute Force Breastplate for sustained combat stats and movement speed, Starlium Scythe to enhance basic attacks with true damage after skills, and Oracle to boost his lifesteal and overall survivability. This build balances his offensive magic damage with crucial defensive stats.

What is Julian's primary role in team fights given his skill set?

Julian is a Fighter hero with a strong magical offense (70 score) and moderate durability (60 score). In team fights, his primary role is to burst down high-priority targets using his skill combos, especially his enhanced ultimate, Chain, which immobilizes enemies. He can also sustain himself through his passive's lifesteal and follow up with empowered basic attacks, making him effective at prolonged engagements while dealing consistent magic damage.

How does Julian deal with enemies who build magic resistance?

Julian can effectively deal with enemies building magic resistance by utilizing items like Genius Wand. Its Unique Passive - Magic reduces the target's Magic Defense by 3-7 (scaling with level) for 2 seconds, stacking up to 3 times, each time Julian deals magic damage. This allows him to shred through enemy magic resistance, making his high-scaling magic damage skills like Scythe (380 flat + 140% Total Magic Power) and Sword (400 flat + 80% Total Magic Power) still highly effective.

What are Julian's key strengths and weaknesses that players should be aware of?

Julian's key strengths include his high magical burst damage, strong sustain through his passive's lifesteal, and a relatively low difficulty (20 score) for high impact. His weaknesses include a high reliance on executing skill combos, vulnerability during his skill cooldowns after an enhanced ability, and moderate durability (60 score) which means he can be burst down if caught out of position. Players should focus on precise combo execution and smart positioning.

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