Pluth, The Tinkerer Who Broke His Own Kit

Overview

Pluth is a 5-star Legendary hero from the Astral Dwarfs family, representing the Fire (Red) element. He enters the arena as a Wizard with Very Fast mana speed, carrying a "Planar-time-widget" that promises to disrupt the very fabric of the battlefield. Unfortunately, in practice, Pluth has earned a reputation as the "black sheep" of the prestigious Astral family. While his peers (Salniss, Vard, Quari) offer devastating power or unyielding defense, Pluth offers... chaos. And not always the good kind.

Hero Art & Visuals

Pluth’s artwork captures his nature as a "Tinkerer." He holds a complex, glowing device and wears an expression of mild confusion, as if he's not entirely sure what the button he just pressed actually does. The Astral aesthetic is there—starry skin, cool armor—but he lacks the martial imposition of Vard or the deadly grace of Salniss. He looks like the guy who fixes the starship's engine by hitting it with a wrench.

General Info

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Hero Stats

Pluth's stats are respectable for a 2025 hero, though his health is on the lower side compared to his tankier brethren.

With 1246 Attack, he has the potential to hit decent numbers, especially given his Very Fast speed. However, his special skill multiplier doesn't fully leverage this stat.

The "Planar-time-widget" is a grab-bag of effects that struggle to find a cohesive identity:

Formation Shuffle: He rearranges enemy positions randomly. This is his main gimmick. At Very Fast speed (6 tiles), you can dislodge a problematic tank (like Fergus or Phorcys) and shove them into the corner.
- The Catch: It's random. You might move the tank to the flank (bad) or move a fragile sniper to the tank position (good). Or you might move a hero you wanted to hit with tiles into a safe corner.
215% Damage to All: For Very Fast speed, this is acceptable, but hardly lethal. It functions more as a chip-damage tool to soften targets. (Buffed from an initial 190%).
Ailment Extension: Increases the duration of all status ailments on enemies by 1 turn. This sounds great on paper (infinite silence?), but in reality, 1 turn is rarely game-changing unless you have a very specific ailment-heavy team.
-20% Mana Generation (2 Turns): A minor annoyance added in a balance patch. 20% is barely noticeable, and 2 turns is blink-and-you-miss-it. It feels like a pity buff.

By the Numbers

Damage Potential:
- 215% x 5 enemies = 1075% Total Multiplier.
- With the Special Boost Aether Power (+30% damage), this jumps to roughly ~280% per target for the first 6 turns. This makes him a somewhat threatening AOE nuke in the opening moves.
Mana Speed:
- 6 Tiles (Very Fast). He will fire often. This is his saving grace. If he shuffles the board every 2-3 turns, the enemy never settles into a defensive rhythm.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

As an Astral Dwarf, Pluth shares the excellent family kit, which is often better than his actual special skill.

Family Bonus

The passive dispel chance is fantastic for a Very Fast hero. Every time he fires (or ends a turn), he rolls the dice to strip buffs. Volume of fire matters here.

Passives

Superior Bypass Minions: He ignores minions. This ensures his 215% chip damage actually lowers HP bars instead of scratching paint off minions.
Perfect Accuracy: He never misses. This guarantees the shuffle and the ailment extension land.

Aether Power

Special Boost gives him +30% damage for the first 6 turns. This is critical. Without it, his damage is negligible. With it, he can actually pressure the enemy team early.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

Historical Context: Upon release, Pluth was widely panned. Players called him the "Dud" of the portal. The shuffle mechanic was seen as unreliable, and his damage was laughable (originally 190%).
Power Creep Analysis: Despite buffs raising his damage to 215% and adding a mana debuff, Pluth remains a niche hero. He has not crept into the meta; he has barely stepped onto the porch.
Modern Viability Verdict: C-Tier. He has a specific use case: countering static formations with heavy tanks. If you absolutely must move a tank, he does it fast. Otherwise, there are better Reds.

Costume & Costume Bonus

As of late 2025, Pluth does not have a costume.

Emblem Path Analysis

Pluth is a Wizard. The Jinx talent (extra damage per buff) synergizes slightly with his role as a poker.

The "Maybe He'll Kill Something" Build

Path: Attack > Health > Defense
Pros: Maximizes the 215% hit. You need every ounce of damage to make him worth the roster slot.
Cons: He remains squishy.

Final Recommendation

Attack Path. If you are using Pluth, you are gambling. Might as well bet on damage.

Strengths

Disruption: Moving a slow, taunting tank to the wing can win a raid instantly.
Speed: Very Fast AOE is always somewhat useful for finishing off low-HP teams.
Passives: The Astral Dwarf passives are elite.

Weaknesses

RNG Dependency: The shuffle can backfire disastrously.
Low Impact: Extending ailments by 1 turn and reducing mana by 20% are "micro-effects" that rarely swing the battle.
Competition: In Red, he competes with heavy hitters and healers who offer reliable value.

Best Game Modes

PvP Offense: B-Tier. Specifically against teams where the Tank is 90% of the threat (e.g., Phorcys, Fergus).
Bloody Battle: A-Tier. Very Fast speed and bypass minions makes him a decent poker in 5-star tournaments where healing is banned.
Farming: B-Tier. Quick AOE helps clear waves.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Sample Team Ideas

The "Chaos Theory" Team:
- Composition: Pluth - Cheshire Cat - - - .
- Why: For the memes. Just keep moving them around until they get dizzy.
The Ailment Extender:
- Composition: Rayne (Poison) - Pluth - Narcisa - .
- Why: Use Pluth to keep heavy DoT effects like Rayne's poison active for longer.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

Counters: Taunt Heroes (if he doesn't shuffle them to the wing first). Cleanse.
Anti-Synergy: Tile-based teams. If you set up a board to hit the tank and Pluth moves the tank, you just wasted your board.

Advice for New Players

If Pluth is your first 5-star, level him. Very Fast speed is forgiving for new players. But do not prioritize him over reliable snipers or healers.

Advice for Veterans

Pluth is a toy. Level him if you are bored and want to mess around in raids. Do not rely on him for War hits unless you have a specific plan for a specific tank.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

The "Buff Beggars": The Pluth balance thread is one of the most active, filled with players begging for "more damage" or "better debuffs."
The "Face" Comment: One user noted, "The look on his face says it all. He’s still trying to figure out why he sucks so much."

Final Thoughts

Pluth is a hero searching for a purpose. He has a box full of tools—shuffling, damage, extension, mana cut—but none of them are sharp enough to cut through the modern meta. He is the Astral Dwarf you pull and say, "Well, at least I got the family bonus."

Bottom line: Shuffle the deck if you feel lucky. Otherwise, fold.

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