Balancing: Ghost tank, Guard, Demon

[Prog]

It's wrong to compare 1 skill of 1 tank with 1 skill of 1 other tank. Tank balance has to be seen holisticly, while the ultimate of tank x might be stronger than that of tank y it does not imply that there should be anything changed, becouse there might be synergys, different usages in different gamestages, etc which have huge impacts on overall balance of one tank. Even small differences in gold cost can make huge overall balance changes, like the mentioned demon-frost comparison. It is so much easier to play start tank->demon than start tank->frost, making the effective cost of the frost way higher than just those 3k more. In this time span you either die more often, creep worse, get less kills, or you need to buy additional hulls etc. It's not as simple as take tank x with full equipment and tank y with same equipment and compare them without thinking of their position in the game, possible strategies within those tanks play certain roles, etc.

Regarding ghost tanks creeps and aoe ultis: If you use the skills well it can work out that way for example (in 1on1 play on lane): leech mana first -> spawn creeps when opponent can't cast aoe spells. That makes your opponent having to use his spells really early before you leech the mana, giving you the chance to wait with creeps until he used his aoe spells. Of course the opponent can still play very defensivly and regenerate mana all the time, but that should be ok with you, as you might be able to save for a stronger tank with less equipment that way.