Murky channeling March of the Murlocs
A Channeled Ability is a type of Ability that requires a certain determined period of focus from the caster to bear fruit. Some abilities require a casting period before the ability is cast, while others require a continuous channel to maintain their effect. Most channeled abilities disable other actions until the channel is cancelled, interrupted, or its duration ends. There are many different channels but the 2 general ones are stationary and mobile, with some exceptions.
Channeled abilities can be always be interrupted by Stuns and Stasis effects, usually also by Silences and/or Knockbacks, and in a few cases by Roots or damage. It is important to note that Time Stop effect, like Zeratul's Void Prison, does not interrupt channels, and will only stall them. If an ability is interrupted, or in some cases cancelled by the caster, during a channeled cast time, it is put on a 10 seconds cooldown (or the ability's normal cooldown, if it is shorter than 10 seconds). Otherwise channeled abilities will go on full cooldown once interrupted.
Abilities that have a delayed effect (e.g. Johanna's Condemn), abilities with a toggled or persistent effect (e.g. Kerrigan's Maelstrom) or abilities with cast time, which upon being interrupted does not initiate a cooldown, are not counted as channels.
Stationary
Stationary channels require the hero to stay still in order for the ability to work. They are generally interruptable by hard crowd control effects, such as a stuns, stases, and silences, but are also interrupted by being dazed from a knockback. There are many abilities with a very brief casting animation, so only those with a recordable cast time are recorded here.
Channeled Abilities
- Abathur's "Symbiote" can channel indefinitely, grants a new set of abilities.
- Alarak's heroic "Counter Strike" is an unstoppable 1 second channel.
- Ana's heroic "Eye of Horus" can channel indefinitely until all shots are depleted.
- Anduin's heroic "Holy word: Salvation" has a 0.5 second cast period, then a channel for 3 seconds.
- Cassia's "Fend" channels up to 1.5 seconds.
- Chen's trait "Fortifying Brew" can channel up to 5 seconds.
- Deathwing's "Molten Flame" has a 1.5 second cast period, then an indefinite channel while Deathwing has Energy remaining.
- Deckard's heroic "Stay Awhile and Listen" has a 1 second cast period, then a channel for 3 seconds.
- Diablo's heroic "Lightning Breath" is an unstoppable 4 second channel (increased to 12 seconds with level 20 talent "Hellstorm").
- D.Va's level 20 talent "Pew! Pew! Pew!" causes her heroic "Big Shot" to become a channeled attack that channels for 0.5 seconds.
- E.T.C.'s heroic "Mosh Pit" has a 0.75 second cast period, then a channel for 4 seconds.
- Fenix's heroic "Planet Cracker" has a 0.5 second cast period and channels for 4 seconds.
- Gul'dan's "Life Drain" can be channeled up to 3 seconds unless the target travels too far away.
- Imperius' Basic Ability "Celestial Charge" channels a Stun for up to 1 second.
- Junkrat's heroic "RIP-Tire" has a 1 second cast period and can be channeled up to 15 seconds.
- Leoric's "Wraith Walk" can be channeled up to 2.5 seconds (increased to 5 with the level 13 talent "Ominous Wraith") and is unstoppable.
- Li-Ming's heroic "Disintegrate" is channeled for 2.5 seconds (can be channeled indefinitely with the level 20 talent "Archon").
- Murky's heroic "March of the Murlocs" has a 0.75 second cast period, and at level 20 with "Neverending Murlocs" can be channeled indefinitely.
- Murky's heroic "Octo-grab" is an unstoppable 3 second channel.
- Nazeebo's heroic "Ravenous Spirit" is channeled for 8 seconds.
- Nova's heroic "Triple-Tap" has 1 second cast period followed by up to 1.5 second channel while firing.
- Qhira's "Carnage" channels for 0.5625 second.
- Stukov's heroic "Flailing Swipe" channels for 1.75 seconds.
- Stukov's "Lurking Arm" can be channeled indefinitely. Stukov can still use "Bio-Kill Switch" while channeling.
- Stukov's heroic "Massive Shove" channels indefinitely until enemy hit collides a terrain.
- Tassadar's "Shock Ray" has 0.375 seconds cast period followed by 0.75 seconds channel.
- Tassadar's level 13 talent "Oracle" can be channeled for up to 4 seconds.
- Tassadar's trait "Resonance Beam" lets his basic attack channels indefinitely to increase damage.
- Whitemane's "Inquisition" and "Clemency" can be channeled for up to 3 seconds.
- Yrel's level 20 talent "Bubble Hearth" has a 1 second cast period, after which Yrel channels Hearthstone for 6 seconds while Invulnerable. Once channeling begins, it can not be stopped or canceled.
Channeled Cast
- Abathur's heroic "Ultimate Evolution" has a 1 second cast period.
- Abathur's mount "Deep Tunnel" has 2.5 second cast period.
- Alexstrasza's trait "Dragonqueen" and heroic "Cleansing Flame" both have a 1.25 second cast period.
- Arthas' heroic "Sindragosa" has a 0.75 cast period.
- Auriel's level 20 talent "Angelic Flight" has a 2 second cast period.
- Auriel's heroic "Resurrect" has a 1 second cast period.
- Azmodan's "Globe of Annihilation" has a 0.5625 second cast period.
- Azmodan's "All Shall Burn" has a 0.5 second cast period.
- Brightwing's heroic "Emerald Wind" has a 0.5 second cast period.
- Brightwing's "Phase Shift" has a 2 second cast period.
- Chen's heroic "Storm, Earth, Fire" has a 1 second cast period.
- Dehaka's mount "Brushstalker" has a 1.5 second cast period, reduced to 1 second with the level 20 talent "Apex Predator".
- Dehaka's heroic "Isolation" has a 0.375 second cast period.
- D.Va's ability "Call Mech" has a 0.5 second cast period, becoming instant with the level 20 talent "MEKAfall".
- D.Va's heroic "Big Shot" has a 0.5 second cast period.
- E.T.C.'s heroic "Stage Dive" has a 1 second cast period.
- Falstad's heroic "Hinterland Blast" has a 1 second cast period.
- Falstad's mount "Take Flight" has a 2 second cast period, reduced to .5 seconds with the level 20 talent "Epic Mount".
- Fenix's "Warp" has a 0.5 second cast period.
- Gazlowe's "Deth Lazor" can be channeled indefinitely until activated.
- Gul'dan's heroic "Rain of Destruction" has a 1.5 second cast period.
- Gul'dan's level 20 talent "Demonic Circle" allows him to use "Summon Demonic Circle" that has a 1 second cast period.
- Illidan's heroic "The Hunt" has a 0.75 second cast period.
- Imperius' heroic "Wrath of the Angiris" has a 0.75 second cast period.
- Hanzo's heroic "Dragonstrike" has a 1.5 second cast period.
- Junkrat's heroic "Rocket Ride" has a 1.25 second cast period.
- Kael'thas' heroic "Pyroblast" has a 1.5 second cast period.
- Lt. Morales' heroic "Medivac Dropship" has a 0.75 second cast period, then allied heroes can channel on the Dropship for .5 seconds to enter.
- Lt. Morales' heroic "Stim Drone" has a 0.75 second cast period.
- Malfurion's heroic "Twilight Dream" has a 0.5 second cast period, and at level 20 "Astral Communion" has a 1 second cast period.
- Medivh's heroic "Ley-Line Seal" has a 0.5 second cast period.
- Mephisto's heroic "Consume Souls" has a 2.5 second cast period.
- Mephisto's heroic "Durance of Hate" has a 1 second cast period.
- Qhira'S heroic "Final Strike" has a 0.5 second cast time.
- Ragnaros' trait "Molten Core" has a 1.5 second cast period.
- Sgt. Hammer's heroic "Blunt Force Gun" has a 1 second cast period.
- Tassadar's heroic "Black Hole" has a 0.5 second cast period.
- The Lost Vikings' heroic "Play Again" has a 2 second cast period.
- Tyrael's heroic "Judgement" has a 0.75 second cast period.
- Tyrael's heroic "Sanctification" has a 0.5 second cast period.
- Xul's heroic "Poison Nova" has a 0.5 second cast period.
- Nukes on Warhead Junction have a 1.5 second cast period.
Mobile
Mobile channels do not prevent the hero from moving and are never interrupted by dazes, requiring stuns, stases or silences to interrupt. Many of these are, however, grant unstoppable for the duration of the channel altogether and cannot be interrupted.
Channeled Abilities
- Azmodan's "All Shall Burn" channels for 2.5 seconds. Azmodan can still use "Summon Demon Warrior" and "Demon Lieutenant" while channeling.
- His level 13 talent, "Cydaea's Kiss", reduces the duration to 2 seconds for the cost of self-healing.
- Chen's heroic "Wandering Keg" channels for 5 seconds and is unstoppable.
- Dehaka's "Drag" channels for 1.75 seconds. He can still use basic attacks, "Dark Swarm" and "Essence Collection" while channeling.
- His level 7 talent, "Constriction", increases the duration to 2.25 seconds.
- D.Va's "Boosters" channel for 2 seconds. D.Va can still use "Self-Destruct" while channeling.
- D.Va's heroic "Bunny Hop" is an unstoppable 4 second channel.
- D.Va's "Defensive Matrix" channels for 3 seconds, increased to 6 seconds with the level 4 talent Get Through This!
- Gall's heroic "Shadowbolt Volley" is an unstoppable 4 second channel.
- Gall's heroic "Twisting Nether" is unstoppable and can be channeled up to 5 seconds.
- Genji's "Deflect" channels for 1.25 seconds.
- Hogger's "Hogg Wild" is an unstoppable 1.5625 second channel, prolonged by up to 1.375 seconds upon every collision with terrain.
- Kharazim's level 16 talent "Way of the 100 Fists" causes "Radiant Dash" to become a channeled attack that hits the enemy 6 times if he stays close enough.
- Leoric's heroic "March of the Black King" is an unstoppable 3 second channel that cannot be controlled.
- Li Li's heroic "Jug of 1000 Cups" channels for 6 seconds.
- Lt. Morales's "Healing Beam" channels as long as the target is in range. Lt. Morales can still attack and use abilities while channeling.
- Samuro's heroic "Bladestorm" is a 3 second channel.
- Sonya's "Whirlwind" channels for 3 seconds. Sonya can still use "Shot of Fury", "Ferocious Healing", "Nerves of Steel" and "Ignore Pain" while channeling.
- The Butcher's "Ruthless Onslaught" is an unstoppable channel that lasts until he reaches his target or has charged for ~ 4 seconds. The Butcher can still use "Furnace Blast" while channeling.
- The Lost Vikings' "Longboat Raid" is an unstoppable 15 second channel that ends early if the boat is destroyed.
- Triglav Protector's "Gatling Cannon" can be channeled for up to 4 seconds and is unstoppable.
- Tychus' "Overkill" channels for 4 seconds. Tychus can still use abilities while channeling.
- Valla's heroic "Strafe" channels for 4 seconds. Valla can still use "Vault" while channeling.
Channeled Cast
- Blaze's heroic "Combustion" can be channeled for up to 2.6 seconds until activated.
- Cho's "Surging Fist" can be channeled for up to 5 seconds until activated.
- Fenix's heroic "Purification Salvo" has a 1.5 second cast period.
- Hanzo's "Storm Bow" can be channeled indefinitely until activated.
- Li Li's heroic "Water Dragon" has a 2 second cast period.
- Lúcio's heroic "Sound Barrier" has a 1 second cast period.
- Triglav Protector's "Particle Cannon" can be channeled indefinitely until activated and is unstoppable.
- Yrel's trait "Divine Purpose" allows all her basic abilities "Vindication", "Righteous Hammer", and "Avenging Wrath" to be channeled indefinitely.
Waygate Channel
These abilities involve entering portals to instantly teleport to its other end after completing the channel. These channels are all "stationary" and can be interrupted by Stuns, Stases, Knockbacks and exceptionally by Roots, however, not by Silences.
- Entering Medivh's "Portal" takes 0.25 seconds.
- Entering or exiting the lower level in Haunted Mines takes 0.5 seconds.
- Entering the tunnel in Towers of Doom takes 2 seconds.
Weak Channel
This is a special category of channeled abilities that is composed of either out-of-combat abilities or map objectives. These channels are interruptable simply by taking damage that is not in the form of DoT or by taking any other action.
- All heroes without an alternate mount must channel for 1 second to get on their mount.
- All heroes must channel for 6 seconds to use Hearthstone.
- Alarak's heroic "Deadly Charge" can be channeled indefinitely until reactivated or cancelled.
- Medivh must channel for 1.5 seconds to transform into Raven form.
- Zagara's heroic "Nydus Network" must be channeled for 1.5 seconds.
- Zul'jin's "Troll Regeneration" channels up to 4 seconds.
- Dragon Shire's Dragon Statue, and Alterac Pass's Prison Camps must be channeled for 3 seconds.
- Towers of Doom Altars, Blackheart's Bay/Revenge Cannons, and Cursed Hollow Tributes, all must be channeled for 6 seconds.
- Warhead Junction Nukes, Tomb of the Spider Queen Altars, and Garden of Terror Seeds must be channeled for 5 seconds.
- Entering the tunnel in Warhead Junction takes 2 seconds.