Mass Talons vs Orc

The build that ran Night Elf versus Orc for years: Demon Hunter and Archers into a straight tier 3 tech, two Ancients of Wind pumping Talons, Beastmaster second, Tinker third, then push.

By Wontu· Updated 24 September 2026

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About this build

Full guideMass Talons Versus Orc

Mass Talons versus Orc ran the Night Elf versus Orc meta for years, especially during the lull of patch 1.26. This strategy takes practice and understanding of the execution needed to make it work; the guide gives context to the build order, its strengths and weaknesses, and how to read your opponent. Watch the replays linked in it and practise.

Cyclone is the whole point: keep the Blademaster in the air at all times, then Grunts and Raiders. Do not cyclone Spirit Walkers, they can only be held for a short time.

Build order · 29 steps

#	Food	Instruction
1	5	Put 4 of the starting Wisps on gold and have the 5th Wisp build an Altar.
2	5	Build your 1st Wisp.
3	6	Take a Wisp from your gold mine when the 1st queued Wisp is 2/3 done and build an Ancient of War, ideally in position to creep.
4	6	Queue your 2nd Wisp.
5	6	The 1st Wisp created builds a Moon Well.
6	7	Queue your 3rd Wisp. Your 2nd and 3rd Wisps go to gold for 5/5. All future Wisps go to wood.
7	8	Queue your 4th Wisp.
8	9	The Wisps that built the Moon Well and Altar go to wood.
9	9	Build your first hero (usually Demon Hunter, Keeper is viable too). Continue Wisps until you have 9 on wood in total.
10	14	Send your next Wisp out of the Tree of Life (right after queuing a hero) to scout the opponent.
11	15	Build an Archer.
12	18	Build a Moon Well once you hit 40 wood.
13	19	When the Archer completes, begin the Ancient of War creep.
14	20	Your 9th wood Wisp is stuck in queue: start an Ancient of Wonders with a wood Wisp to drop to 19/20, then cancel it once the Wisp starts training.
15	21	Build a 2nd Archer. Tech to tier 2 (you should have 5 on gold, 9 on wood, 2 Archers and 1 hero).
16	23	Build a 3rd Archer.
17	25	Build a Moon Well when you have enough lumber.
18	25	Build a 4th Archer (not needed, but it helps with creeping and any early pressure).
19	27	You can build an early shop to close off your base and protect your future Ancients of Wind from harass.
20	27	When tier 2 finishes, tech to tier 3 immediately.
21	27	Build 2 Ancients of Wind in a safe position inside your base.
22	25	Build a Moon Well.
23	25	Buy a 2nd hero (most commonly Beastmaster skilling Quillbeast; see the guide for more).
24	30	Summon a Quillbeast right after buying the Beastmaster and go to the Orc base to cancel tier 2 buildings or kill burrows. A TP for a building kill is worth it.
25	30	Once the Ancients of Wind finish, research Adept training and make one Druid of the Talon. Creep your heroes.
26	32	Continue to build Talons until tier 3 finishes.
27	40	Tier 3 finishes: research Master training. Buy the push items (Orb of Venom, Staff of Preservation) (optional TP, invul potion, Heal Scroll) and head out.
28	42	Pick up a Tinker on the way to the opponent's base. Train a Pocket Factory to damage buildings and deal damage over time in the fight.
29	47	Fight the Orc. Keep the Blademaster in the air at all times, then Grunts and Raiders. Do not cyclone Spirit Walkers.