Icon Contest #22 - Creep Ability

[Footman16]

Create 3 ability icons for a neutral creep of your choosing (you can only choose one.)
(Examples of Creeps. ) "Neutral Creep Ideas"
Please state your chosen neutral creep in the comments so others know which you have chosen. Lastly, 2 users can choose the same neutral creep but please do not copy each others works for the same outcome.

• No submission may violate any of the site rules.
• Your work must be mostly (50%) freehand.
• You must show at least 2 unfinished previews (WIP) for each of your submissions, before the deadline, as proof that they're yours. Minimum canvas size is 256 x 256 pixels.
• The icons must be made specifically for the contest. No previous works are allowed.
• Submissions must follow the contest theme.
• The icons must be physically attached to a post when complete and uploaded to the icon section. Icons mustn't be updated once uploaded, until the contest poll is over.
• Judges may not participate in the contest.
• No irrelevant, non-constructive or off-topic posts will be tolerated in this thread.
• Teamwork is not allowed.
• Final works need to be a set size of 64x64 not reforged size parameters.
• Copy and Pastes, trace-overs, AI use, or stealing anyone's artwork is not permitted.
• Referencing photos is permitted as long as you show those images in your final post.
• Use of textures and filter work is permitted.

-->Breaking any of these rules may lead to punishment in the judgement score, up to disqualification from the contest, depending on the weight of the issue. In case of doubts towards a certain rule you are very encouraged to discuss it in the contest thread so others and judges may help with sorting it out.<--

• 1st place: 850 experience points and $10 (courtesy of @Diegoit)
• 2nd place: 650 experience points
• 3rd place: 450 experience points
• Entry: 150 experience points
• Judge: 45 experience points per entrant

The three winners will receive an Award Icon representing the winning entry.
Winning a contest also unlocks Demon Rank icons (at least two wins is required).

• Footman16

Technical Note	How well-drawn the submissions are, in terms of quality & artistry. Elements such as the colour, shape, definition, clarity, shading, realism, proportions, details, and expressiveness will be considered.	/10
Creativity	How unexpected and creative are the ideas? How original and unique?	/10
Blizzard Style	Is the style similar to standard Warcraft 3 icons or is it different in some way?	/5
Theme	Are the icons following the contest theme? Does the icons represent the neutral creep that they have chosen?	/5
/20

Results calculation

• Judgement: 70%
• Poll: 30%

Final Score = (30*Reached_Votes/POSSIBLE_VOTES) + (70*Average_Judge_Score/POSSIBLE_SCORE)

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The contest shall begin on March 6th 2026 and conclude on May 27th 2026 GMT (day is included).

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Assigned Staff: Footman16

The Poll | Results

 

[Kyrbi0]

Oh heck yeah, this is a great Theme. Looking forward to seeing great Troll or (non-Scourge) Undead creep ability icons

 

[stein123]

If anyone has any questions please ask me or @Footman16

I gave everyone 2 months to work on there icons so its plenty of time to do so!

Have fun everyone.

2 years and two months later.... X'D, just kidding, i'm joining, hope to finish before the deadline

 

[Darkfang]

Ok I guess I can do it

 

[8512590215848]

Time passed since i've made some warcraft III icons... i want to join

 

[Chucky]

Do we need to make ability icons for the existing creep abilities or can we invent new ones ?

 

[Chucky]

This is going to be fun, better donate to charity lol but thanks.

 

[Panda]

This is going to be fun, better donate to charity lol but thanks.

Im happy you think its fun! also, going to be using the https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Enraged_Wildkin for my entry.

 

[Diegoit]

This is going to be fun, better donate to charity lol but thanks.

Winner can do it xd.

Pretty much invent new ones for creeps that does not have any unique ability icons for them or whatever creep you like.

Like for the "rock golem" you could create his rock hand smashing the ground making an ability called "BTNrocksmash" or something..



Also,

it seems Diegoit wants to donate 10 $ to the winner! so, thank him in advance

Ill need a paypall adress from a Hive admin to send the money now, better if thats u Panda.

 

[Panda]

Winner can do it xd.


Ill need a paypall adress from a Hive admin to send the money now, better if thats u Panda.

I just sent you a PM.

 

[Diegoit]

*bump, any WIP's ?

They dont want that powerful 10$

 

[Kyrbi0]

Well I mean it's a 2-month Contest, and it's only been ~2 weeks.

 

[Chucky]

I've been busy, gonna make a wip these following days.

 

[PrinceYaser]

Oh heck yeah, this is a great Theme. Looking forward to seeing great Troll or (non-Scourge) Undead creep ability icons

You asked for it.



Just kidding, this is not a WIP. But I'll definitely join.

 

[PrinceYaser]

Hmm, correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the theme was to make 3 icons for 3 units, not 3 icons for 1 unit?

 

[Kyrbi0]

Hmm, correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the theme was to make 3 icons for 3 units, not 3 icons for 1 unit?

Create 3 ability icons for a neutral creep of your choosing (you can only choose one.)

So you choose one (1) Creep, then make three (3) ability icons for that choice.

 

[PrinceYaser]

 

[PrinceYaser]

Alright I'm choosing Dark Troll Priest. Here is my first WIP.

 

[PrinceYaser]

Did some polish and refining for a final sketch.

 

[AnyNameYouWish]

Sounds like a bit of fun. I went for the Death Revenant, since it already has three nifty thematic abilities- Animate Dead, Death Coil, and Raise Dead. And I just like drawing skeletons. These are my initial concept sketches.

 

[PrinceYaser]

First icon, Shadow Mend:

Sounds like a bit of fun. I went for the Death Revenant, since it already has three nifty thematic abilities- Animate Dead, Death Coil, and Raise Dead. And I just like drawing skeletons. These are my initial concept sketches.

At first I also chose Death Revenant but changed my mind. Even made some concepts:

 

[Footman16]

Just realised, I probably should add a WiP table to the original post lol.

 

[AnyNameYouWish]

First icon, Shadow Mend:

View attachment 585097
View attachment 585098

At first I also chose Death Revenant but changed my mind. Even made some concepts:

View attachment 585101

Those are fantastic. Both the icon and the concepts.

 

[PrinceYaser]

Second icon WIP.

 

[8512590215848]

i have a question. It is supposed to depict some standard ability? or i can design by myself and think out some abilities for my units?

 

[PrinceYaser]

i have a question. It is supposed to depict some standard ability? or i can design by myself and think out some abilities for my units?

You can do either.

 

[Footman16]

i have a question. It is supposed to depict some standard ability? or i can design by myself and think out some abilities for my units?

Yeah as PrinceYaser said you can design icons for a standard ability or hypothetical abilities that the creep might have.

 

[PrinceYaser]

But designing new ones sounds cooler.

Second icon, Healing Strike.

 

[Villagerino]

First icon, Shadow Mend:

View attachment 585097
View attachment 585098

At first I also chose Death Revenant but changed my mind. Even made some concepts:

View attachment 585101

Great artist skills, love the shapes and the skull especially

Dear staff, I would like to ask for an extension due to a rib injury I sustained at work today. I have a certificate, and I can confirm that it's my data with other documents if needed. I'm glad I didn't break anything (was told that it was unlikely) but hell, working with my hands is difficult now. I would be grateful for an additional week

 

[Footman16]

Great artist skills, love the shapes and the skull especially

Dear staff, I would like to ask for an extension due to a rib injury I sustained at work today. I have a certificate, and I can confirm that it's my data with other documents if needed. I'm glad I didn't break anything (was told that it was unlikely) but hell, working with my hands is difficult now. I would be grateful for an additional week

Sure, we can extend by a week

 

[Villagerino]

Sure, we can extend by a week

Big thanks Glory to the judge!

I'm choosing between the two:

Maybe I'll even prepare 2 sets and make a choice at the last minute (as has happened before).

 

[AnyNameYouWish]

My finished icons: Raise Dead, Death Coil, and Animate Dead. Hand drawn, edited in Photopea using filters, brushes and other tools. NO AI USED.

And here's some WIP:

Here is my entry uploaded in the icon section

 

[Snake Akuma]

Oh God I just noticed that there is a contest for icons. Perhaps I can try to participate and take test on skills. Hopefully will be on time till deadline

Joining.

P. S. Choosing Infernal

 

[Darkfang]

doing abilities for the salamander

 

[Footman16]

Oh God I just noticed that there is a contest for icons. Perhaps I can try to participate and take test on skills. Hopefully will be on time till deadline

Joining.

P. S. Choosing Infernal

Nice to see more WiPs and people joining.

If folk need more time I'm open to extending a little further just so we have as wide a field of entries as possible! Great to see so many people getting involved

 

[Darkfang]

wip 2 Summon Magma Spawn

Wip 3

Final

Sharpness Correction

Fixed Horns and color intensity

and some shading for clarity

 

[Snake Akuma]

Nice to see more WiPs and people joining.

If folk need more time I'm open to extending a little further just so we have as wide a field of entries as possible! Great to see so many people getting involved

Thank you, I hope we all can do till deadline, otherwise I am good as well with extending it cuz the quality surely depends on that I think.

Gonna share all 3 WIPs with 256x256 size after sometime, now just sharing the process, then I will lock-in and continue in the same resolution but the ending ones might be in 128x128 to polish the icons, is that fine?

The whole idea of icons is based in Infernal that BaiyuGalan posted originally, as I remember it had all those extra animations that were added to Villagerino's golems (clap, stomp, attack slam, channel).

Note: Blue color is lightning source, red one is the icon parts

1. Fissure (icon based on skill of Earthshaker from DOTA, for those who don't know it: description below)

Spoiler: Original Description

Slams the ground with the Raigor`s mighty totem, causing the ground of around 1000 range to raise in front of him, damaging opponents and leaving an impassable wall for 8 seconds.

Spoiler: Large Image

2. Shocking Clap (stuns and damages all foes in front of the Infernal)

Spoiler: Large Image

3. Burning Stomp (classic stomp with stun but also deals damage per second for sometime)

Spoiler: Large Image

4. Reference

Spoiler: Large Image

Good luck everyone!

Now adding colors one by one, lightning on fissure will be yellow mostly because the fire color of Infernal is not like wooden green, but with some lemon hints and most likely it's about all the Fel icons in WoW. Gonna see which color fits more. Will be distorting, decreasing opacity and blurring those flames.

Spoiler: again large image

EDIT:
Green fits more

 

[Kyrbi0]

Nice to see more WiPs and people joining.

If folk need more time I'm open to extending a little further just so we have as wide a field of entries as possible! Great to see so many people getting involved

Just consider it as starting later

@Snake Akuma I think that 'fissure' icon is particularly Warcraft-y, nice job

 

[Snake Akuma]

Just consider it as starting later

@Snake Akuma I think that 'fissure' icon is particularly Warcraft-y, nice job

Thank you for review, honestly it's my first time to create smth 100% freehand and first ever experience in creating icons.

BTW, the fissure is done lads:

It looks a bit pixelated because I used crystalize function to mix colors and simulate rock effects. I had to refuse from some details on the right side because the detalization seems a bit complicated.

But overall in 64x64 it looks like that and I think I might return back to modify the sparks (green doom explosion effect):

Getting to second icon with Stomp

 

[Darkfang]

Thank you for review, honestly it's my first time to create smth 100% freehand and first ever experience in creating icons.

BTW, the fissure is done lads:
View attachment 588277

It looks a bit pixelated because I used crystalize function to mix colors and simulate rock effects. I had to refuse from some details on the right side because the detalization seems a bit complicated.

But overall in 64x64 it looks like that and I think I might return back to modify the sparks (green doom explosion effect):
View attachment 588278

Getting to second icon with Stomp

you are using too much of one green hue and it makes it all look bland/dull, notice the infernal uses 2 green colors (the one you used and a darker one for fade and background) and a little bit of white for highlights, I think those are some easy fix you can make and you can do it even directly in the icon 64x64, also, notice, the sharpen filter when used properly gives icons the final touch to look like proper WC3 icons that match the wc3 style.

 

[Snake Akuma]

you are using too much of one green hue and it makes it all look bland/dull, notice the infernal uses 2 green colors (the one you used and a darker one for fade and background) and a little bit of white for highlights, I think those are some easy fix you can make and you can do it even directly in the icon 64x64, also, notice, the sharpen filter when used properly gives icons the final touch to look like proper WC3 icons that match the wc3 style.

Thank you for your advice.
Yes I am planning to modify those sparks, make them a bit saturated and smooth. smth like this:

 

[Darkfang]

Thank you for your advice.
Yes I am planning to modify those sparks, make them a bit saturated and smooth.

try changing the background green to the darker fel hue, and the sparks, add some highlights and make some parts fade into the darker green as they fade from the highlight impact point.

 

[Snake Akuma]

removed two lightning layers and modified last 3rd one to make it darker and change the tone to green color (106,213,44) with 50% opacity

try changing the background green to the darker fel hue, and the sparks, add some highlights and make some parts fade into the darker green as they fade from the highlight impact point.

 

[Darkfang]

removed two lightning layers and modified last 3rd one to make it darker and change the tone to green color (106,213,44) with 50% opacity
View attachment 588283

I sent you an example, but take in mind, the main center is the impact, which should be highlighted in white (point of impact, center, white glowing more vibrant flames, tho small), as the sparks get away from the center they should also loose hue, else they look like some kind of chemical radioactive spill, lastly tho the background is better, it should also take in mind the glow of the impact (near the impact it should be brighter and more colorfull tho still darker, and as it fades away it should be just the regular dark tone you set up.

 

[Snake Akuma]

I sent you an example, but take in mind, the main center is the impact, which should be highlighted in white (point of impact, center, white glowing more vibrant flames, tho small), as the sparks get away from the center they should also loose hue, else they look like some kind of chemical radioactive spill, lastly tho the background is better, it should also take in mind the glow of the impact (near the impact it should be brighter and more colorfull tho still darker, and as it fades away it should be just the regular dark tone you set up.

Thank you again, I will enlight the center and test in classic size

 

[Villagerino]

WIPs for Succubus.

 

[Villagerino]

@Snake Akuma, @Darkfang, @PrinceYaser, @Panda, @8512590215848, are you making it in time, guys?

Nice to see more WiPs and people joining.

If folk need more time I'm open to extending a little further just so we have as wide a field of entries as possible! Great to see so many people getting involved

My icon set is ready, but I don't see any other icon sets other than AnyNameYouWish's. Shall we wait until the end of the day and announce an extension if no entries appear?

 

[Snake Akuma]

@Snake Akuma, @Darkfang, @PrinceYaser, @Panda, @8512590215848, are you making it in time, guys?


My icon set is ready, but I don't see any other icon sets other than AnyNameYouWish's. Shall we wait until the end of the day and announce an extension if no entries appear?

I am almost done with second icon and can complete third one till the end of the day. Not sure about other contestants

 

[Panda]

I was second guessing my whole entry and went through a real black-hole part of my life the last 2-3 weeks with alot of changes happening at once and i been finally feeling better. Im actually done my entry but ill post a WIP i saved from it will post it later as im at work.

What is the end date again? and can we possibly add more time, maybe 1-2 weeks for others to finish.

 

[Footman16]

Seems like people need more time so I'll extend the contest til May 27th, two weeks should be plenty of time for everyone?