Quick Answer
Ming is a durable Burn/Rush Vanguard with a strong Act 1 and a useful Endless ceiling. Current Patch 0.5.3 material says he was falling off too much in Act 2, so all three Ming specializations received scaling buffs. That makes him a good hero to study, but his success depends heavily on timing.
How Ming Works
Ming's core passive is Inner Flame. His basic loop is to stand near enemies, use Max HP for both survival and Burn scaling, enter Rush, and double the pressure from Inner Flame during the opening Rush window. His Rank B specialization then converts Rush into Burn/Stun, Vanguard Max HP, or extended Rush and damage immunity.
This makes Ming a bridge between frontline, Burn, Rush, Vanguard, and high-Max-HP builds. He is not just a backline caster. He needs enough durability to stay relevant while his Burn and Rush effects matter.
Specializations
The Searing is the best direct-damage and Burn specialization in the current material. Patch 0.5.3 improved its late scaling by increasing Burn per Rush trigger. Use it when the run generates many Rush triggers and Burn synergies are already present.
The Tempered is the team-oriented Vanguard and Backup route. It focuses on Max HP, opening durability, Rush, and support for other heroes that benefit from Vanguard or HP scaling. The Enlightened is the Rush-extension and opening damage-immunity route, historically dominant and then retuned.
Build Priorities
Prioritize Max HP, Rush triggers, Mana or Mana Regen where needed, Magic, Burn amplification, and survivability. The exact order depends on specialization. For Searing, direct Burn and cast timing matter more; for Tempered, team HP and Vanguard count matter more.
Ming's current weakness is not that he cannot work. It is that Act 2 scaling needs support, which the 0.5.3 patch directly targeted. Treat him as a strong early hero that still wants a clear late plan.