Demilune: The Buff-Stealing, Moon-Crashing Growth Spurt Machine

Overview

Demilune is a 5-star Dark (Purple) hero from the Astral Elves family, originally released in May 2024. As a Wizard class hero running at Fast mana speed, he was designed to be a disruptive force that punishes enemies for relying on buffs while simultaneously steroid-injecting his own team with Attack Growth. While he doesn't wield a wand or wear a pointy hat in the traditional sense, his ability to make enemy buffs disappear and reappear on your team is nothing short of magic. He fits the role of an aggressive utility damage dealer who excels at turning the tide of battle in a single turn.

Hero Art & Visuals

Demilune sports a mystic, nocturnal aesthetic typical of the Astral Elves. He is draped in deep violets and cosmic blues, holding a staff that looks like it could double as a very fancy mood light. The crescent moon motif is heavy here, adorning his headpiece and staff, reinforcing his connection to the lunar cycle. His expression is stoic, suggesting he has seen the future and knows exactly which buff you were planning to use next. It is a clean, magical design that screams "I am better than you, and I am taking your defense up."

General Info

Hero Stats

When we look at Demilune's stats through the lens of late 2025, the power creep is evident. His base power of 1051 and attack of 1095, which were considered elite upon his release, now sit firmly in the "average" to "good" category.

For context, modern hitters like Devyani (released Dec 2025) boast base attack stats pushing past 1300 and power levels over 1200. While Demilune is no longer the stat monster he was in mid-2024, his distribution is still serviceable. He has enough bulk to survive a hit or two, especially with his damage-sharing passive, but he relies more on his utility and special skill mechanics to stay relevant than raw stat checking.

Special Skill: Moon Crush Beam

Moon Crush Beam is a Swiss Army knife of offensive pressure. Let's break down why this skill remains effective even as stats age.

First, the Never Miss mechanic is timeless. As Dodge heroes and Rogues continue to be annoying staples of defense teams, having a fast sniper who guarantees a hit is invaluable.

Second, the Buff Steal is one of the strongest forms of dispel in the game. It doesn't just strip the enemy; it potentially swings the momentum by granting those buffs to your team. Stealing a Taunt, Defense Up, or Health Regen can completely nullify an enemy's turn.

Third, the Attack Growth (+340 Attack) is massive. Unlike standard attack buffs which are percentage-based and can be overwritten, Growth is a permanent stack (until the battle ends or you die) and adds a flat value. This significantly boosts tile damage and the output of subsequent special skills.

By the Numbers

• Mana Speed: Fast. He requires 8 tiles to charge, or 7 with a level 23 Mana Troop (or equivalent bonuses). This allows him to fire early and often.
• Damage Potential:
  • Target: 495%. With a base attack of 1095, this is a substantial hit.
  • Nearby: Minor damage is usually half the primary percentage, so roughly 247%.
  • Total raw damage output is respectable, especially when you factor in the +340 Attack Growth kicking in for subsequent hits or tile damage.
• Growth Impact: The +340 Attack is applied to the caster and nearby allies. In a 3-hero formation or center position, that is +1020 total attack power distributed across your team. This flat increase is particularly potent on heroes with high damage percentages or multi-hit skills.
• Buff Redistribution: The value here is variable but potentially infinite. Stealing a 50% defense buff and a 40% healing buff provides far more "effective HP" to your team than a standard heal might.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

The Astral Elves are built to be slippery and punishing to attackers, and Demilune benefits greatly from this lineage.

Family Bonus

The Astral Elf family bonus is a defensive dispel. Having a 50% (or 70% with 2+ heroes) chance to dispel a buff from an enemy who hits them with a special skill is excellent passive mitigation. It punishes AoE hitters severely, often stripping them of their attack buffs or protection immediately after they fire.

Passives

• Resist Poison: A solid immunity. While poison isn't the most devastating ailment, immunity to any DoT (Damage over Time) increases survivability.
• Share Received Damage: This is a double-edged sword. It mitigates massive single-target snipes that would otherwise one-shot Demilune, spreading the pain across the team. However, it also means AoE attacks hit the whole team slightly harder cumulatively, and it can put your squishier supports at risk if Demilune takes a heavy hit. Generally, it is a net positive for keeping him alive to fire his Fast skill.

Aether Power

Attack Up is a straightforward and effective Aether Power for a damage dealer. It boosts his raw attack stat for the first 6 turns, which synergizes perfectly with his Fast speed, ensuring his first Moon Crush Beam hits with maximum impact before the battle drags on.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon his release in May 2024, Demilune was widely considered an S-Tier hero. Players compared him to a "Buff-Stealing Pepperflame," praising the combination of high damage, fast speed, and the newly popularized Growth mechanic. He was a top pick for wars and raids.
• Power Creep Analysis: As we look at him in late 2025, Demilune has naturally slid down the rankings. The introduction of heroes with 1300+ base attack and even more complex skill sets (like Devyani's ability to deal extra damage based on modified stats) makes Demilune's raw numbers look quaint.
• Modern Viability Verdict: Despite the stat creep, Demilune remains Highly Viable. Speed and Utility often outlast raw stats. A Fast dispel that steals buffs will never be bad. A hit that never misses will always have a niche. He may no longer be the scariest tank or the hardest hitter, but on offense, he is a surgical tool that can dismantle modern meta defenses relying on buffs. He has transitioned from a "Must-Have Nuke" to a "Tactical Specialist."

Costume & Costume Bonus

As of this review, Demilune does not have a costume. This analysis focuses solely on the base version.

Emblem Path Analysis

Demilune is a Wizard. The classic debate is survival vs. damage.

The Aggressor

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes the damage of his 495% snipe. Since he heals via stealing buffs (sometimes) or killing enemies quickly, offense is often the best defense.
• Cons: The damage share passive can wear him down if his health pool is too low.

The Survivor

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Keeps him alive longer to steal buffs and distribute them. The longer he lives, the more Growth stacks he can apply.
• Cons: His snipe might fail to secure kills on modern overhealed enemies.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Aggressor (Attack) path is recommended. Demilune's primary job is to remove a threat and swing the tempo. At Fast speed, you want that first hit to be lethal or close to it. rely on his passive damage share and teammates to keep him alive.

Strengths

• Utility at Speed: Stealing buffs at Fast speed is incredibly disruptive.
• Consistency: "Never Miss" ensures he is reliable against Dodge heroes.
• Team Scaling: Attack Growth permanently boosts the team's damage floor.
• Survivability: Damage sharing prevents him from being easily one-shot by snipers.

Weaknesses

• Damage Share: Can accidentally kill low-health teammates if Demilune takes a massive hit.
• Aging Stats: His base stats are lower than late-2025 heroes, reducing his damage ceiling.
• Dependent on Buffs: If the enemy has no buffs to steal, he loses a significant chunk of his utility (though the damage and growth remain).

Best Game Modes

• PvP Offense (Raids/Wars): His best environment. You can time his skill to steal key buffs like Taunt or Counterattack.
• Buff Booster Tournaments: He is an absolute monster here. Stealing buffs in a mode where buffs increase attack is game-winning.
• Titans: The Attack Growth is useful for increasing tile damage, though animations and Fast speed can be slightly slower than ideal for pure titan scoring compared to specific titan specialists.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Demilune works best in "Alpha Strike" teams designed to dismantle the enemy before they settle in, or in control teams where his dispel keeps the enemy naked.

Sample Team Ideas

• The Purple Blitz: Demilune - - - -
  • Pair him with other Fast Purple hitters. Demilune fires first to strip defensive buffs, followed by the other snipers to clean up the vulnerable targets.
• The Growth Engine: Demilune - Pepperflame - - -
  • Stacking Growth (if mechanics allow distinct sources) or simply overwhelming the enemy with stat boosts. Even if they don't stack directly, having multiple sources ensures your team is always buffed.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Counters:
  • Passives that resist ailments/dispel: Modern heroes often have passives that prevent dispel or resist negative effects.
  • Mana Control: Fast heroes hate mana cut.
• Anti-Synergies:
  • Other Buff Stealers/Dispellers: You don't want too much redundancy. If you have a dispeller firing before Demilune, there is nothing for him to steal.

Advice for New Players

If you are lucky enough to pull Demilune early, max him immediately. He acts as a sniper, a dispeller, and a buffer all in one. He will carry you through map stages and early raids with ease. His damage share will help keep your weaker 4-star heroes alive by soaking up hits for them.

Advice for Veterans

Demilune is still worth a roster spot, but be mindful of his stats. He is likely not your primary damage dealer anymore against 6000+ TP teams. Use him as a counter-pick against buff-heavy defenses (e.g., those relying on Taunt or Heal over Time). Limit breaking him is still a valid choice if you lack the newest dispellers, but think twice before using Alpha Aethers if you have top-tier 2025 nukers waiting.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

When Demilune was released, the community reception was overwhelmingly positive, bordering on ecstatic.

• The "Scoria Treatment": Players noted that Demilune received a significant buff right before release, similar to the hero Scoria. He was given more Growth (+340) and the buff stealing mechanic was enhanced.
• "Buff Stealing Pepperflame": This was a common nickname. Players recognized the similarity in the Growth mechanic but valued the utility of stealing buffs even more.
• The Polls: Early polls showed a massive majority voting him as "Yes, absolutely" worth summoning for.
• The Growth Debate: There was some grumbling about Growth (a Goblin mechanic) leaking into other families, diluting the uniqueness of the Goblins, but most players were too happy to have the skill to complain too loudly.

Final Thoughts

Demilune remains a shining example of how utility preserves a hero's value. While his attack stat might not make the newest heroes tremble in their boots, the phrase "Steals all dispellable buffs" is timelessly terrifying. He is a tactician's dream, capable of turning an enemy's greatest strength—their buffs—into their downfall. He might not be the newest toy in the box, but he is certainly one of the most useful.

Verdict: A versatile, fast-speed utility hero who has aged gracefully. Excellent for offense and specialized tournaments, though his stats require Limit Breaks to keep up with the cutting edge.