Chikao: The Silent Assassin Who Put the "Edge" in Edge-Lord

Overview

Chikao is a 5-star Nature (Green) hero from the Ninja family, released in late August 2024. As a Ninja, he operates on the Charge mana speed system, giving him incredible flexibility. Unlike most heroes who target the tank or nearby enemies, Chikao has a very specific vendetta against anyone standing on the far left or right of the battlefield. He is a tactical assassin designed to dismantle defensive formations from the outside in. Whether he is a surgical scalpel or just a guy who refuses to look the tank in the eye depends entirely on how you wield him.

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Hero Art & Visuals

Chikao embraces the classic ninja aesthetic with a modern, high-fantasy twist. Clad in deep green robes with intricate gold dragon embroidery, he looks every bit the part of a stealthy killer. He dual-wields what appears to be a katana and a kunai, suggesting he is prepared for both up-close duels and ranged distractions. The mask covers his face, keeping his identity secret, but that intense gaze suggests he has already calculated exactly how to take down the enemy on the far right wing. It is a solid design that fits perfectly within the Ninja Tower theme—sleek, dangerous, and very green.

General Info

Hero Stats

Chikao enters the arena with stats that are firmly in the upper echelon of the modern meta. With a base Power of 1093, he sits comfortably among the elite. His attack stat of 1203 is particularly impressive, categorizing him as a heavy hitter right out of the box. His defense (1141) and health (1627) are respectable, ensuring he is not made of paper, but his primary purpose is clearly to dish out damage rather than soak it up. When compared to the power creep of 2025, he remains a competitive threat, especially given the Ninja family's ability to dodge.

Special Skill: Fatal Dreams

This special skill is a fascinating study in board control. The "Edge" targeting mechanic is rare and forces a different strategic approach.

• Targeting: He hits the enemies on the "edges" of the formation. In a full 5-hero team, this means the Left Wing (position 1) and Right Wing (position 5). If wings are dead, he moves inwards.
• The Sleep Mechanic: The sleep effect is potent. It incapacitates the enemy (no mana gain, no attacks) and significantly increases the damage they take. The fact that minion/fiend damage does not wake them up is a crucial detail for synergy.
• Dispel First: The dispel happens before the damage. This is huge. If a wing hero has a dodge buff or defense up, it is gone before the blade connects.
• Charge Flexibility:
  • 1x Charge: A quick slap to the wings to strip buffs or set up a sleep-induced damage spike.
  • 2x Charge: A solid hit that punishes the flanks.
  • 3x Charge: A nuclear option. 900% damage to two targets (or double to one) is essentially a delete button.

By the Numbers

• Mana Speed Analysis:
  • 1x Charge: 5 tiles.
  • 2x Charge: 10 tiles.
  • 3x Charge: 15 tiles.
  • Note: With a level 29 Mana troop or level 23 Magic/Styx troop (plus class/costume bonuses where applicable), you can shave these requirements down, making him extremely fast.
• Damage Calculation (Approximate):
  • Base Attack: ~1203
  • 1x Charge (300%): ~3,609 raw damage potential distributed.
  • 2x Charge (485%): ~5,834 raw damage potential distributed.
  • 3x Charge (900%): ~10,827 raw damage potential distributed.
  • Double Damage Scenario: If only one enemy is alive on the 3x charge, that is a theoretical 1800% damage. That is not a hit; that is an eviction notice.
• Sleep Damage Amp:
  • The +60% to +100% damage taken is a massive multiplier. If you hit a sleeping target with a sniper shot from another hero, they are likely vaporized.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

The Ninja family kit is designed for survival and evasion, allowing glass cannons to stay on the field longer than they have any right to.

Family Bonus

The chance to Dodge is the crown jewel here. Dodging special skills is one of the strongest defensive mechanics in the game. The Counterattack is a nice bonus, but the Dodge wins games. Having even one other Ninja increases these odds, making Ninja stacks very annoying to deal with.

Passives

Decreased Minion Health: This passive is a direct counter to the minion meta. Summoners facing Chikao will find their meat shields significantly flimsier, inheriting 50% less health. This makes clearing minions with tile damage much easier.

Aether Power

Attack Up: A simple but effective boost. +20% attack for the first 6 turns makes his early 1x or 2x charges hit significantly harder. In fast-paced wars or raids, this front-loaded damage is excellent.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Released during a period where "Charge" heroes were well-established but often criticized for being unpredictable on defense. Chikao entered as a high-stat beatstick with a niche targeting system.
• Power Creep Analysis: His stats are modern. 1200+ attack is the new standard for hitters, and he meets it. His skill percentages (up to 900%) keep him relevant as a finisher.
• Modern Viability Verdict: Viable. He is not a "plug and play" hero for every defense team due to his targeting, but on offense, he is a tactical monster. In a meta filled with annoying wing heroes (revivers, dodgers), Chikao offers a direct solution. He is a high-skill cap hero; in the hands of a player who counts tiles and plans moves, he is devastating. On auto-play, he might just poke a wing while the tank kills you.

Emblem Path Analysis

As a Monk, Chikao has a chance to resist status ailments, which ensures he keeps charging even when hit with mana slows or blinds.

The Silent Blade (Attack Focus)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes his massive damage multipliers. On a 3x charge, every point of attack stat scales incredibly well.
• Cons: Slightly squishier, relying more on the Dodge family bonus for survival.

The Iron Ninja (Defense Focus)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Increases survivability, allowing him to reach that elusive 3x charge more often.
• Cons: Sacrifices the kill pressure of his special skill.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Silent Blade (Attack Focus) is the way to go. You bring Chikao to kill things. His multipliers are huge. Lean into his strength. If he hits a wing for 900% damage, you want that wing dead, not "mostly dead."

Strengths

• Massive Damage Potential: The 3x charge hitting for 900% is one of the hardest hits in the game.
• Tactical Dispel: Being able to strip buffs from wings specifically is great against corner-hiding support heroes.
• Sleep Utility: The damage amplification on sleeping targets allows for coordinated burst turns.
• Minion Softening: His passive makes enemy minions much easier to manage.

Weaknesses

• Fixed Targeting: He cannot hit the tank or center hero unless the wings are dead. If you are stuck behind a taunting tank or a healer in the middle, Chikao might not be able to help immediately.
• Charge Speed on Defense: AI plays charge heroes poorly, often firing at 1x when a 2x or 3x would be better, or holding onto 3x forever.
• Sleep Fragility: Tile damage wakes up the target. You need to be careful with your cascades, or you waste the sleep debuff instantly.

Best Game Modes

• Raids & Wars (Offense): This is his home. You can control when he fires and who he targets (to an extent).
• Map Stages / Towers: His sleep can control boss waves effectively, and his 3x charge can one-shot tough enemies.
• Titans: High tile damage and a massive special multiplier make him usable, though the sleep mechanic is less useful here as you will likely wake the Titan immediately with tiles.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Chikao shines in "Control and Delete" teams. You want to pair him with heroes who can exploit the openings he creates.

Sample Team Ideas

1. The Ninja Squad: Chikao + 2 other Ninjas (e.g., Ogima, Peridot).
   • Why: Maximize the dodge chance. The high damage output from the family creates overwhelming pressure.
2. The Sleep & Bomb: Chikao + High Burst Sniper (e.g., Lianna, Gefjon).
   • Why: Use Chikao to sleep a target (applying the +damage debuff), then fire your sniper into the sleeping target for a guaranteed kill.
3. The Minion Munchers: Chikao + Grimble/Bera.
   • Why: Chikao weakens the minions' HP, making Grimble's job of eating them for mana even easier, cycling your team faster.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Counters:
  • Taunt Heroes (Ludwig, Krampus): Since Chikao targets edges, a Taunt hero in the center forces him to hit the tank. While he dispels, if the Taunt is undispellable or refreshed, it ruins his targeting logic.
  • Ailment Blockers (Hathor, Garnet): Blocking the sleep prevents the damage amp.
• Anti-Synergies:
  • DoT Heroes (Damage over Time): Heroes who apply burns or poisons will wake up the sleeping targets immediately at the end of the turn, negating the crowd control aspect (though the damage amp applies to the tick).
  • Uncontrollable Cascades: If you are a player who relies on "pray and spray" tile play, you will constantly wake up your sleeping victims.

Advice for New Players

If Chikao is your first 5-star, congratulations, you have a cannon. Focus on learning how the Charge speed works. Don't feel pressured to always wait for 3x. Often, firing two 1x charges is better for controlling the fight than waiting for one big hit that comes too late.

Advice for Veterans

Chikao is a luxury tool for your war chest. He isn't a "must-have" defense hero, but on offense, he solves specific problems (like a revive-heavy wing). Is he worth Alpha Aethers? Probably not a priority over a top-tier tank or a more versatile hitter, but he won't disappoint if you do invest. His stats will hold up for a long time.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

The community reaction to Chikao was mixed, often comparing him to his portal-mates.

• The "Dud" Debate: One user asked, "Is this one the dud of the batch?" comparing him to "killing machines" Tora and Iga.
• The Defense: Another user retorted, "He can potentially hit one enemy for 1800% and you’re calling him a dud???"
• The Tactician's View: "I find he’ll be stellar on offense - he hits wings... so with 5-6 tiles he disables 2 heroes for as long as you don’t hit them."
• The Reality Check: "The ninja artwork is cool but the sleep specials take talent and I don’t have much of that."

Final Thoughts

Chikao is like a high-end sniper rifle in a game where many people prefer shotguns. He requires aim, patience, and timing. He won't indiscriminately blast the whole board like some heroes, but he will surgically remove the biggest threats hiding in the corners. If you like playing smart and setting up big combos, he is your guy. If you just want to smash buttons, he might just be a very well-dressed bench warmer.

Verdict: A lethal, high-skill attacker who rewards patience with devastating results. Ideally suited for dismantling corner-camping healers and revivers.