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Shadow Fiend

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Select Role

Ability Build

1
Shadowraze
2
Necromastery
3
Shadowraze
4
Necromastery
5
Shadowraze
6
Necromastery
7
Necromastery
8
Presence of the Dark Lord
9
Requiem of Souls
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
10
+25 Attack Speed
11
Presence of the Dark Lord
12
Presence of the Dark Lord
13
Presence of the Dark Lord
14
Shadowraze
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
15
Presence Aura Affects Buildings
16
Requiem of Souls
17
Attribute Bonus
18
Requiem of Souls
19
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
20
+3 Damage Per Soul
21
Attribute Bonus
22
Attribute Bonus
23
Attribute Bonus
24
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
25
Shadowraze Applies Attack Damage

Disables, Buffs and Passives

AbilitiesDisablesDispellable BuffsBreakable Passives
Interrupts ChannelingSilencesRoots
Shadowraze
Shadowraze
Shadowraze
Requiem of Souls

Item Build

Starting
Circlet
Tango
Slippers of Agility
Enchanted Mango
Enchanted Mango
Iron Branch
Early Game
Wraith Band
Power Treads
15
Magic Wand
16
Mask of Madness
Crystalys
Mid Game
Dragon Lance
95
Black King Bar
Aghanim's Shard
34
Manta Style
Late Game
19
Hurricane Pike
15
Blink Dagger
Daedalus
30
Satanic
15
Swift Blink
Situational
14
Linken's Sphere
Assault Cuirass
20
Silver Edge
Eye of Skadi
Butterfly
Neutral
Occult Bracelet
Grove Bow
Elven Tunic
12
Mind Breaker
60
Ninja Gear
Stygian Desolator
Mirror Shield
8
Force Boots

Hero Strategy

Stack Shadowraze debuffs on opponents' mid and secure lasthits at the same time if possible.

Build up Necromastery stacks through lasthitting and capitalize on the extra damage you have.

Try to stack camps close to mid after you push in the wave.

Kill the creepwave prior to rune spawns quickly and collect the runes. You need runes badly for mana.

Alert your teammates to stack for you as you can clear those early.

Focus on farming with mask of madness, especially at the Ancients and don't over rotate without runes.

Once you have Black King Bar, you can start to fight because Shadow Fiend is very susceptible to disables.

Keep sidelines pushed out when not much is happening.

Counter Strategy

Shadow Fiend has low starting damage and he relies on gathering souls through last hits. Try to contest last hits with him when his base damage is low.

Shadow Fiend does not have an escape mechanism, so look to gank him during the laning stage. If left unchallenged, he's one of the best farming heroes

Try not to run at Shadow Fiend in plain sight as you might get triple razed to death

Shadow Fiend's first big item is generally Black King Bar. Keep an eye out on the availability of Black King Bar in his inventory and try to gank him continuously before he gets the item.

In team-fights, look to play around Shadow Fiend's ultimate by either canceling it or moving away from him

Armor items are good against Shadow Fiend as his Presence of the Dark Lord is an armor reducing aura

Shadow Fiend should be a high priority target in team fights. If left unchecked, he can do tons of damage. At the same time, he's not that tanky and easy to bring down

Counter Items for Core Players

Laning Phase
17
Magic Stick
Wind Lace
Boots of Speed
7
Infused Raindrops
Damage items
Mid Game
16
Solar Crest
50
Mekansm
95
Black King Bar
18
Heaven's Halberd
Late Game
20
Scythe of Vyse
Butterfly
30
Satanic

Counter Items for Support Players

Laning Phase
17
Magic Stick
Wind Lace
Boots of Speed
7
Infused Raindrops
1
Sentry Ward
Mid Game
16
Solar Crest
50
Mekansm
14
Glimmer Cape
19
Force Staff
Late Game
20
Scythe of Vyse
95
Black King Bar