Hey guys! Are you ready to dominate the Land of Dawn with Esmeralda? This guide will break down the best Esmeralda build used by the top global players in 2021. We'll dive deep into item choices, emblem setups, spell selections, and gameplay strategies to help you reach Mythic and beyond. So, buckle up and get ready to master the Astrologer!

Understanding Esmeralda's Strengths and Weaknesses

Before we jump into the build, it's crucial to understand what makes Esmeralda tick. Esmeralda is a unique mage/tank hybrid, excelling at sustained damage and survivability. Her abilities allow her to absorb shields from enemies and convert them into her own, making her incredibly difficult to kill in prolonged fights. This makes her a fantastic pick in team fights and skirmishes where she can constantly generate shields and deal consistent damage.

Strengths:

• High sustain and survivability
• Consistent damage output
• Strong in team fights
• Excellent at absorbing damage
• Relatively safe laner

Weaknesses:

• Vulnerable to burst damage, especially early game
• Susceptible to crowd control (CC) effects
• Item-dependent; needs to farm effectively
• Can be countered by heroes with true damage
• Requires good positioning and timing

Understanding these strengths and weaknesses is key to playing Esmeralda effectively. Knowing when to engage, when to back off, and how to position yourself in fights will significantly impact your success.

The Top Global Esmeralda Build (2021)

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty! This is the build that the top Esmeralda players were rocking in 2021. Keep in mind that item builds can be situational, so adapt based on the enemy team composition and your own playstyle. However, this build provides a solid foundation for most games.

Core Items:

• Demon Shoes: Mana sustain is crucial for Esmeralda, especially in the early to mid-game. Demon Shoes provide a significant boost to mana regeneration, allowing you to spam your abilities more frequently. Managing your mana effectively is essential for harassing enemies in lane and sustaining through team fights. Consider this as your very first item to gain advantage early game.
• Enchanted Talisman: This item further enhances mana regeneration and provides a cooldown reduction (CDR) bonus. CDR is incredibly important for Esmeralda as it allows you to use your skills more often, maximizing your shield generation and damage output. The additional magic power is also a nice bonus, increasing your overall damage potential.
• Concentrated Energy: This item provides a massive boost to spell vamp, allowing Esmeralda to heal herself for a percentage of the damage she deals with her abilities. This, combined with her shield absorption, makes her incredibly difficult to kill. Concentrated Energy is a core item for Esmeralda, providing both sustain and damage. Its lifesteal helps you stay in fights longer, continuously absorbing and converting shields.

Situational Items:

• Fleeting Time: Another excellent CDR item that also provides a passive effect that reduces the cooldown of your ultimate ability after you get a kill or assist. This can be incredibly useful in team fights, allowing you to use your ultimate more frequently to initiate or escape. If you are in a match that has lots of clash, consider building this item to have more advantage.
• Immortality: This item provides a second life, allowing you to resurrect after being killed. This is a great item for surviving burst damage and making aggressive plays. Immortality is especially useful in the late game when death timers are longer. Having a second chance can turn the tide of a team fight.
• Athena's Shield: If the enemy team has a lot of magic damage, Athena's Shield is a great item to build. It provides a magic damage shield that can absorb a significant amount of damage, making you more resistant to burst damage. The extra HP and magic resistance are also valuable stats for Esmeralda. Build this item when the enemy mage is fed.
• Antique Cuirass: If the enemy team has a lot of physical damage, Antique Cuirass is a strong choice. It reduces the physical attack of nearby enemies, making you more durable in team fights. The additional HP and armor are also beneficial for Esmeralda. This item is very effective against marksmen and fighters.
• Holy Crystal: If you're ahead and want to maximize your damage output, Holy Crystal is a good option. It provides a large amount of magic power, significantly increasing your damage potential. However, keep in mind that this item doesn't provide any defensive stats, so it's best to build it when you're already relatively tanky.

Item Build Progression:

A common item build progression looks like this:

1. Demon Shoes
2. Enchanted Talisman
3. Concentrated Energy
4. Fleeting Time / Athena's Shield (depending on enemy team comp)
5. Immortality / Antique Cuirass (depending on enemy team comp)
6. Holy Crystal / Situational Item

Remember to adapt your build based on the specific game situation. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

Emblem Setup

The recommended emblem setup for Esmeralda is the Mage Emblem with the following talents:

• Tier 1: Agility (Movement Speed) - This helps with positioning and rotating around the map.
• Tier 2: Observation (Magic Penetration) - This increases your damage output against enemies with magic resistance.
• Tier 3: Magic Worship - This deals additional damage to enemies when you hit them with your skills, further increasing your burst potential.

Alternatively, you can also use the Tank Emblem with the following talents:

• Tier 1: Vitality (HP) - This increases your overall survivability.
• Tier 2: Fortress (Armor) - This reduces physical damage taken.
• Tier 3: Tenacity - This reduces the duration of crowd control effects, making you more resistant to CC.

The Mage Emblem is generally preferred for its increased damage output, but the Tank Emblem can be a good option if you need more survivability.

Spell Selection

The most common spell for Esmeralda is Flicker. Flicker provides an escape mechanism and can be used to reposition yourself in fights or to initiate surprise attacks. It's a versatile spell that can be used in a variety of situations.

Alternatively, you can also use Purify if the enemy team has a lot of crowd control. Purify removes all CC effects from you, allowing you to continue dealing damage and absorbing shields.

The choice between Flicker and Purify depends on the enemy team composition and your own playstyle. If you're confident in your positioning and don't need the extra escape, Purify can be a valuable asset. However, Flicker is generally the safer and more versatile option.

Esmeralda Gameplay Tips and Tricks

Now that we've covered the build, emblem setup, and spell selection, let's talk about some gameplay tips and tricks to help you master Esmeralda:

• Harass in lane: Use your first skill, Frostmoon Shield, to harass enemies in lane and generate shields. Be mindful of your mana consumption, but don't be afraid to poke at the enemy laner to keep them on their toes.
• Prioritize farming: Esmeralda is item-dependent, so it's important to prioritize farming in the early game. Focus on clearing minion waves and taking jungle camps to get your core items as quickly as possible.
• Rotate effectively: Esmeralda is a strong roamer, so don't be afraid to rotate to other lanes to help your teammates. Look for opportunities to gank enemy laners or secure objectives.
• Position yourself carefully: In team fights, position yourself in the middle of the action, where you can constantly absorb shields and deal damage. Be mindful of your positioning to avoid getting caught out by enemy crowd control.
• Use your ultimate wisely: Esmeralda's ultimate, Falling Starmoon, is a powerful initiation tool. Use it to engage on enemies from a distance or to escape from dangerous situations. Time your ultimate carefully to maximize its impact.
• Abuse the Shield Mechanic: Esmeralda's passive and first skill allow her to steal shields from enemies. This is crucial to her sustain and damage output. Always try to target enemies with shields to maximize your effectiveness.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Esmeralda can be a challenging hero to master, so don't be discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Practice her in Classic or Brawl mode to get a feel for her abilities and playstyle. Watch replays of top Esmeralda players to learn from their strategies.

Counters to Esmeralda

Even with the best build and gameplay, Esmeralda has some counters that can make her life difficult. Here are some heroes to watch out for:

• Karrie: Karrie's true damage ignores Esmeralda's shields, making her a very effective counter.
• Helcurt: Helcurt's silence can prevent Esmeralda from using her abilities, rendering her useless in fights.
• Chou: Chou's crowd control and burst damage can easily shut down Esmeralda.
• Vale: Vale's burst magic damage can quickly eliminate Esmeralda, especially in the early game.

When facing these counters, it's important to play more cautiously and rely on your teammates for support. Avoid engaging in solo fights and focus on farming and rotating effectively.

Conclusion

So there you have it, guys! The top global Esmeralda build and guide for 2021. Remember that item builds and strategies can be situational, so adapt based on the specific game you're in. With practice and dedication, you'll be able to master Esmeralda and climb the ranks in Mobile Legends. Good luck, and have fun dominating the Land of Dawn!