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Lifestealer

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Select Role

Ability Build

1
Feast
2
Ghoul Frenzy
3
Feast
4
Rage
5
Ghoul Frenzy
6
Infest
7
Ghoul Frenzy
8
Ghoul Frenzy
9
Feast
10
Feast
11
Rage
12
Infest
13
Rage
14
Rage
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
15
+12% Rage Movement Speed
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
16
+30 Damage
17
Attribute Bonus
18
Infest
19
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
20
+15% Ghoul Frenzy Slow
21
Attribute Bonus
22
Attribute Bonus
23
Attribute Bonus
24
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
25
+1.5s Rage Duration

Disables, Buffs and Passives

AbilitiesDisablesDispellable BuffsBreakable Passives
Interrupts ChannelingSilencesRoots
Rage
Feast
Ghoul Frenzy
Infest

Item Build

Starting
Tango
4
Quelling Blade
Gauntlets of Strength
Circlet
Iron Branch
Early Game
Bracer
8
Phase Boots
15
Magic Wand
Orb of Corrosion
Armlet of Mordiggian
Mid Game
Desolator
15
Blink Dagger
2.3
Skull Basher
Late Game
Eye of Skadi
Assault Cuirass
Aghanim's Shard
35
Abyssal Blade
Situational
Radiance
18
Heaven's Halberd
Sange and Yasha
Monkey King Bar
10
Nullifier
95
Black King Bar
35
Mjollnir
Daedalus
Hand of Midas
Neutral
Lance of Pursuit
Broom Handle
Orb of Destruction
Vambrace
Paladin Sword
12
Mind Breaker
10
Havoc Hammer
Stygian Desolator
40
Pirate Hat

Hero Strategy

Right-click opponents as much as you can on the lane for extra damage and sustain from Feast.

Orb of corrosion is great at harrassing enemies in the laning stage and works well with lifestealers spells.

Consider investing a point in Rage early on if there's a need for dispel or spell-immunity.

If the enemy has no way to cancel rage TP, be more aggresive on sides lanes and rage TP out.

Once you hit 6, you are really hard to kill and you can dispatch your support to help other lanes.

You can save an ally by Infesting it.

Lifestealer doesn't farm fast but is decent at fighting in early to mid game. Join good looking fights.

If you have gap-closing ally you can choose to Infest him to be able to get on top of opponents quickly.

Orchid, Basher and Scythe are problematic. Adjust your playstyle and itemization accordingly.

You can slow siege opponents' building by damaging it during Rage and then backing away.

Counter Strategy

Chip damage doesn't work against Lifestealer as he is able to recover with Feast. If you manage to bring him below half HP it will be hard for him to feast as he risks dying

Buy boots early against Lifestealer as he is a fast hero who often buys Venom Orb and rushes Phase Boots

Items and spells that go through spell immunity are effective against Lifestealer

When you gank Lifestealer he will Rage and teleport out on first signs of trouble. Make sure you disable him before he rages if you do not yet have a disable that goes through spell immunity

Lifestealer's main spell in fights is Rage. Play around it by disabling him or by saving heroes he is chasing

Lifestealer tends to have lots of evasion due to his level 20 talent and a Halberd purchase. Look to counter it by getting true strike items

Keep in mind that Lifestealer might be infested in the initiating hero or that he can use Infest to escape

Counter Items for Core Players

Laning Phase
Wind Lace
Boots of Speed
Armor items
Mid Game
18
Orchid Malevolence
Late Game
20
Scythe of Vyse
22
Ethereal Blade
35
Abyssal Blade
Eye of Skadi
27
Shiva's Guard

Counter Items for Support Players

Laning Phase
Wind Lace
Boots of Speed
Armor items
Mid Game
14
Glimmer Cape
19
Force Staff
22
Ghost Scepter
Late Game
20
Scythe of Vyse
22
Ethereal Blade