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Phantom Lancer

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Select Role

Ability Build

1
Spirit Lance
2
Phantom Rush
3
Doppelganger
4
Phantom Rush
5
Phantom Rush
6
Juxtapose
7
Phantom Rush
8
Spirit Lance
9
Spirit Lance
10
Spirit Lance
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
11
+40 Spirit Lance Damage
12
Juxtapose
13
Doppelganger
14
Doppelganger
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
15
-1s Spirit Lance Cooldown
16
Doppelganger
17
Attribute Bonus
18
Juxtapose
19
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
20
+10% Juxtapose Damage
21
Attribute Bonus
22
Attribute Bonus
23
Attribute Bonus
24
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
25
+24% Critical Strike (200%)

Disables, Buffs and Passives

AbilitiesDisablesDispellable BuffsBreakable Passives
Interrupts ChannelingSilencesRoots
Spirit Lance
Doppelganger
Phantom Rush
Juxtapose

Item Build

Starting
Tango
4
Quelling Blade
Iron Branch
Iron Branch
Slippers of Agility
Circlet
Early Game
Power Treads
Wraith Band
15
Magic Wand
Mid Game
Aghanim's Scepter
15
Diffusal Blade
34
Manta Style
Aghanim's Shard
Late Game
Heart of Tarrasque
15
Disperser
Butterfly
15
Bloodthorn
Eye of Skadi
Situational
35
Abyssal Blade
Monkey King Bar
14
Linken's Sphere
Octarine Core
Sange and Yasha
Neutral
Broom Handle
Lance of Pursuit
Pupil's Gift
Vambrace
Elven Tunic
Vindicator's Axe
12
Mind Breaker
60
Ninja Gear
Mirror Shield
Apex
40
Pirate Hat

Hero Strategy

Bind a bright yellow Doppelganger illusion to make deceptive plays as it takes the same damage as the hero.

Use Spirit Lance to secure ranged creep lasthits.

Toggle on Phantom Rush on early levels so you don't waste it randomly.

Doppelganger dispels on cast and can be used to disjoint projectile spells and ranged attacks.

Phantom Lancer likes long fights in which you can amass illusions and grind opponents down.

Pick up Aghanim's Shard around minute 20, especially if you have issues engaging in fights or being behind.

Counter Strategy

Phantom Lancer's main escape mechanism is Doppelganger. As this spell has a very long cooldown at lower levels, look to play aggressively as soon as he used it

Pressure Phantom Lancer while he's farming Diffusal Blade. He's very weak until he gets that item. Smoke on him and place wards in his jungle

Phantom Lancer's main item is Diffusal Blade. Items that give you and your team burst of mana are good against him. Sample items are Magic Wand, Soul Ring, Arcane Boots, Arcane Ring, and Enchanted Mango

Use AOE nuke to weaken Phantom Lancer's illusions to figure out which one is the real hero

You strongest item timing is heart of tarrasque, Try not to die before this timing and get there as fast as possible after diffusal and manta.

Spells like Lion's and Shadow Shaman's Hex and Pugna's Life Drain are able to destroy Phantom Lancer's illusion instantly. That can help when the illusion count is low, but not when there are plenty of them

Against Phantom Lancer purchase items that are dealing AOE damage, preferably magical damage. For example Mjollnir, Radiance or Shiva's Guard. Battlefury is good as well but Phantom Lancer has a lot of armor and usually evasion on top of that

Phantom Lancer loves long fights as he's able to drain huge amounts of mana. Ideally, look to burst him and to finish the fights reasonably fast. If the fight prolongs, count on the fact that you will be running low on mana and it might be better to disengage

Counter Items for Core Players

Laning Phase
Armor items
17
Magic Stick
Mid Game
Maelstrom
4
Battle Fury
95
Black King Bar
18
Gleipnir
Late Game
20
Scythe of Vyse
22
Ethereal Blade
35
Mjollnir
27
Shiva's Guard
Radiance
Butterfly
Assault Cuirass
15
Overwhelming Blink

Counter Items for Support Players

Laning Phase
Armor items
17
Magic Stick
Mid Game
14
Glimmer Cape
22
Ghost Scepter
Late Game
20
Scythe of Vyse
22
Ethereal Blade
95
Black King Bar