Stitches - Default

Level 1

Hungry for More giving movement speed on one of the fattest hitboxes is pretty strong, and has synergy with both ultimates. Consider this the default on any map where you have reasonable access to globes, and usually pick this with W build Alexstrasza.

Patchwork Creation gives a strong self-sustain buff, and armor on a hero with a high health pool and strong self-sustain is very valuable. Consider this on maps like Shrines where it's easy to keep up the armor by hitting the shrine minions.

Level 4

Tenderizer gives some self-sustain, and the slow makes it easier to maintain body blocks and generally annoy opponents. Reasonable default talent.

Vile Cleaver can be picked when playing the trait build, and has good synergy with Patchwork Creation . Opt for trait build if you expect very drawn out fights into multiple melees.

Level 7

Serrated Edge provides a high reward for hitting hook, helping your team burst down the hook target and giving you another Hook threat faster.

Putrefaction should be picked with trait build for the sustain, and can optionally be used to hamper heroes that rely on self-healing like Sonya.

Second Helping is a decent talent if the enemy team's only way of fighting is going front-to-back. It's generally fairly hard to go through a Stitches, and a Stitches that gets multiple Es off in a fight is almost unkillable.

Level 10

Putrid Bile is almost mandatory to tank effectively. Only pick Gorge if you have a good combo (e.g. Medivh Portal, Falstad Gust) or if you're desperate.

Level 13

Meat Hook provides a pretty decent amount of sustain, especially if you're allowed to keep hitting the hook target. In slower teamfights you can hook their frontline and keep trying to refresh the buff.

Under Pressure gives a minor damage buff to Slam, which can be okay with trait build if you don't need the extra sustain, but is generally low impact.

Level 16

Pulverize 's slow and armor reduction are strong in teamfights, and make it incredibly annoying to move past a Stitches as the slow easily sets up any other ability in the team.

Digestive Juices can be used as a peeling tool against backline divers, or to reduce the damage of things like Diablo's Lightning Breath or self-sustain reliant heroes like Sonya. Strongly consider picking this if you picked Second Helping at 7.

Flare Up adds some stats for long drawn out fights, consider picking this if you're playing trait build and none of the other talents look appealing.

Level 20

Gift From The Embalmer makes it incredibly punishing the fight in the Putrid Bile AoE, and reduced death timers in the late game are a huge deal. This is a very strong default.

Master Hooker can be a good pick if you're struggling to confirm kills on hook because of the amount of healing on the kill target.

Gas Bag can be picked if you're struggling to frontline effectively due to the amount of CC, though this should very rarely be the case for Stitches.