HoN Heroes

The Big Hero Guide – Updated for 1.47

My own notes: Im going to overlook the Boots area. Personally i dont think that Steam Boots are junk. The Boots Changes reminds me alot of how Dota used to be before the introduction of Phase Boots (old enhanced marchers), 6.49-6.54. Back then Casters could get Steam Boots for fast stats to add to their survivability. Same principels here. Attack speed bonus gone, but the boot is cheaper and faster, and gives more stats. I consider them to be pretty good boots. New Enhanced Marchers are however very good due to their big increase of MS. Keep in mind that the IAS bonus isnt that good in late game. You are fast with them but more squishy. Post Haste are very strong and can be used for every hero if you have good farm and the game is low on action in early game.

• Shield Breaker is much stronger now. Consider Shieldbreaker builds.
• Hakons Blade can be considered (i think, havent tested) as a last slot item for most carries. Do the math, a hero with 17 armor has 50% phys resistance. In that case Hakons increases your damage output with 100%. Consider it as a second flayer.
  
• Nomes Wisdom can be considered on every supporter if you have a mana intensive team and plan to push early.
  
• Riftshards is still called Flayer in my guide. However the pics are updated.
• As i said ill overlook big parts of this guide and polish them but ill consider it updated for now (It was done in a very fast pace, an hour or so).
  
• With the strength threads gone consider Fortified Bracelets on agility heroes if you go for Enhanced Marchers since they give a nice damage boost but no HP.
  
• I removed the overall hero strength part since i simply have no clue anymore. Im open minded when it comes to these big changes. I want to be clear: Nobody knows the current tier list since the game has changed alot in a very fast pace. Dont listen to haters. Dont be biased towards heroes. Try out new Scout, and try out new Wildsoul, both are good. And yes, Defiler can still be used with the old school builds (Dota 6.57 and prior). Dont be a zombie!
  

Written for Non-em games. Best viewed in 1680:1050 and 1280×1024

Presentation

This is my second guide. My first one was “the Big Item Guide” which presented most of the items, which heroes they are good on and which ones they suck on. My hero guide will present recommended item builds for all the heroes, skill builds and some minor strategy tips. The question is why am I writing this guide? Two reasons, first of all because I want to help the new players out so they don’t make the same mistakes I did when I was a new to Dota. Secondly I think that a lot of the guides here are spreading false information making it even harder to learn how the heroes are supposed to be played! Another reason I write this is because I want the new players to have a simple guide with all the basic information in one post. For more advanced info you should read the premium hero specific guides. However the hero specific guides are always pretty long and when playing, I think there is a need for a simpler guide that just mentions the basics. The best use of this Guide is to have it in the back ground and alt tab when you get your hero!

I want to be very clear on this: This guide is only based on my opinions which are acquired by playing Dota for a couple of years. The information presented in this guide is only guidelines, opinions and by no means facts. If you don’t agree, argue with me, i love to debate HoN. I might add that I rarely use specific item builds. I do whatever is nessesary every game! So this is a newbie helper, nothing else!

The Hero Guide

Lets move on. The info i will present for the specific heroes are:
Skill builds: Just some recommended skill builds.
Item Builds: Just use these as a guide line. There are several builds for every hero and i have just presented you with a couple. These are just made for new players who have no idea to put on what hero. If the items are presented within ( these ) it means its a luxury item. Its not yet done on all heroes but will be changed aswell as the color of the luxury items.

Preferred lane = What lane does the hero prefer?
Hero type = What role the hero usually has in your team i e Tank, Carry, Supporter, Ganker. I’ll further explain this below.
Item dependence: Is the hero good on his own or does he need gear to be useful? For instance a Pyromancer does not need alot of gear to be useful. On the other side a hero like Chronos needs alot of items to be usefl.
Early game power/Lane control: Tells you if your hero is strong early game or not. Early game is usually the Laning Phase (Short early game) lvl 1-11 (Long early game). Early game phase differs from game to game and the definition is different from player to player.
Mid game power: Tells you if your hero is strong in midgame. Mid game is after the laning phase, usually lvl 9-16 now alot of ganks and pushes are going on, some towers has usually fallen.
Late game power: Tells you if your hero is strong in lategame. Usually lvl 16-25 and when the game is more centering around team pushes and people are moving around in stacks.
Farming skills: Is your hero a good farmer or not? By farming skills I mean how many creep kills your hero is able to do in an averege game. Soulstealer usually does atleast 130-200 by the 30 minute mark while Andromeda should be happy if she has 50-60 by that time.
Gank power: All heroes can gank, but some are better than others.
Hero Weakness: Self explanatory.
Hero Strength: Same
Countered By: How is the hero to be countered?
Best Allies: Tells you the heroes that has good synergy with him.
Best against: Tells you which heroes your hero-type your hero is best against
Overall hero strength (Removed)
Suitable for newbies? Another very subjective label telling you if i think he is suitable for newbies or not. Dont listen to this one, its only a pinpointer and completely taken out of my ass.



The Different Classes:

Baby Sitter: A good laner that helps your laning partner to farm, usually a hero with a weak early game.
Ganker: A hero with a skillset that makes him good on killing heroes in early game/mid game. Runs around the map trying to kill farming heroes which is his main role. Usually hunts the other teams Carry.
Carry: A hero that carries the team to victory. Carries are heroes with a good late game skillset and good stats gain. These are usually very item dependent, should not gank and concentrate much more on farming (ofcourse you must help with defending and teampushes but your main role during early game/mid game is to farm).
Semi Carry: Is a secondary carry or a hero which has some late game potential. Usually these lose to a real carry in late game but they compensate for that with a much stronger early/mid game.
Roamer: A type of ganker that needs almost no gear and can start ganking from lvl 1-3. They put pressure on the other teams lanes so that your own team can farm better.
Supporter: A hero which supports your team in team fights. Often has good disables or heals and so on.
Initiator: A hero which starts your battles. First in, Last out. Its imperative for a initiator that he starts the team clashes, not the opponent team.
Tank: A hero with a beefy strength gain that takes damage for the team. Usually first in (sometimes before the initiator so he gets a good positioning). First in, First to die, Never backs away. Not a hero for people without a spine.
Pusher: A hero with a skillset that is good for killing creeps and sieging towers or is excellent on putting preasure on the other team while doing so.
Disabler: A hero with lengthy stuns or immobilizing skills.
Nuker: A hero with high spell damage. Chain nukers have several different nukes that can be cast in a fast pace.
Wardhoe: A hero that usually gets wards for your team for map control. Usually has a very low item dependence.

Heros:

http://forums.heroesofnewerth.com/showthread.php?t=9084 <– My Item Guide for Starting gear, Hero specific Builds and other Item possibilites.

Agility Heroes

*Night Hound – Rikimauru

1 – Smoke Bomb__10 – Backstab
2 – Pounce_______11 – Invisibility
3 – Pounce_______12 – Smoke bomb
4 – Backstab.._.___13 – Smoke bomb
5 – Pounce____.__.14 – Smoke bomb
6 – Invisibility____15 – Stats
7 – Pounce_.___.__16 – Invisibility
8 – Backstab_____17-25 – Stats
9 – Backstab

Item build 1: Enhanced Marchers – 3x Soulscream rings – Nullfire Blade – (Wingbow – Geometers Bane – Flayer – Whispering Helm)

Item build 2: Enhanced Marchers – 3x Soulscream rings – Shield Breaker – (Wingbow – Flayer – Whispering helm).

Item build 3: Enhanced Marchers – 3x Soulscream rings – Hack and Slash – (Wingbow – Flayer – Whispering helm).

Optional: Shrunken Head .

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Legion Bottom – Hellborne Top
Hero type: Carry
Item dependence: Heavy

Early game power/Lane control: None
Mid game power: Some
Late game power: Strong

Farming skills: Low
Gank power: Some since he is invisible thus surprising the enemy.
Hero Weakness: Needs alot of farm and is weak early game.
Hero Strength: Deals alot of damage in late game if well farmed. Invisibility is strong since enemies cant detect you without anti invisibility gear.
Worst enemies: Arachna, Pestilence and Scout, , Void Talisman.
Best Allies: Baby sitters so he can farm early game.
Best against: Heroes with low health pool in lategame.

Suitable for newbies? Yes very easy to play.

*Swiftblade – Yurnero

1 – Blade Frenzy__10 – Stats
2 – Stats________11 – Swift Slashes
3 – Blade Frenzy__12 – Way of the Sword
4 – Stats________13 – Way of the Sword
5 – Blade Frenzy__14 – Way of the Sword
6 – Swift Slashes_.15 – Way of the Sword
7 – Blade Frenzy__16 – Swift Slashes
8 – Stats________17-20 – Counter Attack
9 – Stats________

Item build: Enhanced Marchers – Runed Axe – Shield Breaker – Shrunken Head – Wingbow – Whispering Helm

Optional: Soulscream rings or Fortified Bracelets. Post Haste.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Legion Bottom – Hellborne Top
Hero type: Carry
Item dependence: Heavy

Early game power/Lane control: Strong
Mid game power: Medium
Late game power: Strong

Farming skills: Excellent
Gank power: Some since his Blade Frenzy deals nice damage in early game. If an allied hero has a slow the opponent will take full damage.
Hero Weakness: Needs alot of farm to be useful in mid / late game.
Hero Strength: Deals alot of damage in late game if well farmed. Has some early game power if laned with a hero who has a stun or slow.

Countered by: Early game casters: Torturer, Pyromancer, Glacius, Thunderbringer, Pebbles, Succubus. Also countered by ganks and disablers, Totem of Kuldra, Void Talisman.
Best Allies: Baby sitters, Demented Shaman, Glacius, Pollywog Priest, Venomancer and slowers/stunners like Hellbringer, Electrician, Puppet Master, Arachna
Best against: Magmus. Good versus melee heroes in the lane.

Suitable for newbies? Yes very easy to play.

*Moon Queen – Luna Moonfang



1 – Moon Beam_-_10 – Multi Strike
2 – Stats________11 – Moon Finale
3 – Moon Beam_.._12 – Lunar glow
4 – Stats________13 – Lunar Glow
5 – Moon Beam_-_14 – Lunar Glow
6 – Moon Finale_-.15 – Lunar Glow
7 – Moon Beam -._16 – Moon Finale
8 – Multi Strike_._.17 – Multi Strike
9 – Multi Strike_.._18-25 – Stats

Optional: Take Multi Strike if you face melee heroes in the lane. Last two levels of Multi strike can be got later, after Lunar glow (at lvl 15 and 17). 1-2 levels of multistrike is however very good before lunar glow for jungling/fast farm purposes. if your hero deals 100 damage, the first bounce does 65 damage, and the second 42,5 (100% damage incrase in the jungle), the third, 27,5 the fourth 18 damage. Do however you want.

Item build: Enhanced Marchers – Soulscream ring x3/Bracelets x2 – Shrunken Head – Geometers Bane - Wingbow – Whispering Helm (can be got at any time) – Symbol of Rage – Flayer

Item build 2: Enhanced Marchers – Soulscream ring x3/Bracelets x2 – Geometers Bane – Behemoths Heart/Frostwolf Skull – ( Whispering helm – Wingbow – Flayer – Symbol of Rage)

Optional: Bottle, Post Haste.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: No preferrance – Any lane works.
Hero type: Carry
Item dependence: Very heavy

Early game power/Lane control: Medium
Mid game power: Medium
Late game power: Very Strong

Farming skills: Excellent
Gank power: Some, her ultimate does a great deal of damage and she has a great finishing nuke.
Hero Weakness: Needs alot of farm to be useful in mid / late game. Very low health pool.
Hero Strength: Deals amazing damage in late game if well farmed. Very strong ultimate.

Countered By: Early game casters/gankers: Torturer, Pyromancer, Thunderbringer, Glacius, Thunderbringer, Pebbles, Succubus, Ophelia. Also countered by disablers. Ganks, Totem of Kuldra.

Best Allies: Baby sitters so he can farm early game and net frags.Creep clearers so her ultimate deals full damage i e Behemoth or Wretched Hag. Immobilizers like Keeper of the Forest and Tempest.
Best against: Good versus all heroes in late game.

Suitable for newbies? Yes very easy to play.

*Magebane – Magina

1 – Flash
2 – Mana Combustion
3 – Mana Combustion
4 – Flash
5 – Mana Combustion
6 – Mana Rift
7 – Mana Combustion
8 – Flash
9 – Flash
10 – Mantra
11 – Mana Rift
12 – Mantra
13 – Mantra
14 – Mantra
15 – Stats
16 – Mana Rift
17-25 Stats___

Optional: Spell resistance can be skipped and flash taken instead. Do not take spell resistance if you dont face any casters.

Item build 1: Enhanced Marchers – Soulscream ring x3 – Hack and Slash – Wingbow – Whispering Helm (can be got at any time) – (Savage Mace – Flayer)

Item build 2: Enhanced Marchers – Soulscream ring x3 – Helm of the Black Legion – Geometers Bane – (Behemoths Heart/Wingbow/Frostwolf Skull – Brutalizer)

Optional Behemoths Heart. Fortified Bracelets instead of Soul Scream rings. Helm of the Black legion is optional in the first build aswell, and life steal is always an option for jungling. Post Haste is optional.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Legion Bot – Hellbourne Top
Hero type: Carry
Item dependence: Medium/High

Early game power/Lane control: None
Mid game power: Strong
Late game power: Strong

Farming skills: None
Gank power: Low
Hero Weakness: Needs some farm to be useful in mid / late game. Very low health pool.
Hero Strength: Deals good damage in mid game and late game if well farmed. Has a blink so he can chase and escape.

Countered By: Early game casters/gankers: Torturer, Pyromancer, Thunderbringer, Glacius, Thunderbringer, Pebbles, Succubus, Pollywog Priest,. Also countered by disablers, Totem of Kuldra, silences like Hellflower and Blood Hunter. Nomes Wisdom semi-counters his aura, Void Talisman counters his attack if he is fed.
Best Allies: Baby sitters, Demented Shaman, Voodoo Jester, Pollywog Priest, Glacius, Slither, Puppet Master so he can farm early game.
Best against: Good versus casters in Mid game late game. For instance after Defilier casts her ultimate, her manapool will be low so you can kill her with your ultimate.

Suitable for newbies? Medium.

*Scout – Gondar/Sniper Hybrid

1 – Electric Eye
2 – Vanish
3 – Vanish
4 – Electric Eye
5 – Vanish
6 – Marksman Shot
7 – Vanish
8 – Disarm
9 – Disarm
10 – Disarm
11 – Marksman Shot
12 – Disarm
13 – Electric Eye
14 – Electric Eye
15 – Stats
16 – Marksman Shot
17-25 Stats_

Item build 1: Enhanced Marchers – Soulscream ring x3/Bracelets x2 – Hack and Slash – Shrunken Head (optional) – Whispering Helm (can be got at any time) – Savage Mace/Flayer – Symbol of Rage

Item build 2: Enhanced Marchers – Soulscream ring x3/Bracelets x2 – Shield Breaker – Shrunken Head (optional) – Whispering helm (can be got at any time) – Savage mace/Flayer – Symbol of Rage

Optional: Bottle


Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Legion Bot – Hellbourne Top - Can solo mid.
Hero type: Semi ganker – Carry – Late game Assassin.
Item dependence: Heavy.

Early game power/Lane control: Some with vanish and Wards.
Mid game power: Medium/Low.
Late game power: Strong.

Farming skills: None
Gank power: Medium with his ultimate and vanish.
Hero Weakness: Needs farm to be useful in late game. Very low health pool.
Hero Strength: Decent ganker with ultimate and vanish. Very strong map control with his wards.

Countered By: In early game: Nukers, disablers and anti-invis heroes like Pestilence and Arachna. Also countred by Puzzlebox and Dust of revelation, Void Talisman.
Best Allies: Baby sitters like Demented Shaman so he can farm early game.
Best against: Good versus casters in late game and low hp ranged agility carries like Soulstealer. Also great versus roamers since he can ward in early game thus ruining their ganks. Great vs other carries in late game due to disarming attack.

Suitable for newbies? Yes, very easy to play. And skill wards for christ sake!

Intelligence Heroes

*Blacksmith – Ogre Magi


1 – Fireball______10 – Stats
2 – Hammer-____.11 – Chaotic Flames
3 – Fireball____.._12 – Stats
4 – Hammer_._.__13 – Stats
5 – Fireball__._.__14 – Stats
6 – Chaotic_____.15 – Stats
7 – Fireball ____._16 – Chaotic Flames
8 – Hammer-.____17-20 – Frenzy
9 – Hammer____,_21-25 – Stats

Item build 1: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Post Haste/Steam Boots – Talismans of Exile x2 – Sacrifical Stone – Totem of Kuldra – Frostfield Plate

Item build 2: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Post Haste/Steam Boots – Talismans of Exile x2 – Totem of Kuldra – Frostfield Plate – Behemoths Heart

Optional: Wards. he is a great ward hoe, Shaman Headress if you face alot of spell damage.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane except mid.
Hero type: Roamer, Ward hoe, Ganker, Nuker.
Item dependence: Very low

Early game power/Lane control: Decent. Has a nuke and a slow.
Mid game power: Strong. His nukes deal good damage in midgame.
Late game power: Medium. His nukes does good damage in late game aswell. Focus their weaker heroes.

Farming skills: None
Gank power: High.
Hero Weakness: Low manapool.
Hero Strength: Strong chain nuker. Good carry support with Frenzy.

Countered by: Silencers, Shrunken Head, Shaman Headress.
Best Allies: Pyromancer, Torturer , Late game Strength Carries that needs increased attack speed.
Best against: Heroes with low health pool like other casters and agility heroes.

Suitable for newbies? Yes, easy to play.

*Nymphora – New hero.


Skillbuild 1: You lane with a strong chain nuker or mana consuming hero.

1 – Zeal
2 – Grace of the Nymph
3 – Grace of the Nymph
4 – Volatile Pod
5 – Grace of the Nymph
6 – Volatile Pod
7 – Grace of the Nymph
8 – Volatile Pod
9 – Volatile Pod
10 – Zeal
11 – Zeal
12 – Zeal
13 – Teleport
14 – Teleport
15 – Stats
16 – Teleport
17-25 – Stats

Skill build 2: You are the baby sitter

1 – Zeal
2 – Volatile Pod
3 – Volatile Pod
4 – Grace of the Nymph
5 – Volatile Pod
6 – Grace of the Nymph
7 – Volatile Pod
8 – Grace of the Nymph
9 – Grace of the Nymph
10 – Zeal
11 – Zeal
12 – Zeal
13 – Teleport
14 – Teleport
15 – Stats
16 – Teleport
17-25 – Stats

There is nothing more i hate than when S2 games makes this. You want all 3 skills just as bad. Skill build justification is needed:

The reason i want to skill 1 in zeal is that it can actually save your life from a first blood or help you net one. The two different prios, Grace of the Nymph or Volatile Pod is pretty self explanatory. Taking Teleport at lvl 13? Its our only choise now. Its not that its a bad skill, its only that her three others are better and cant be replaced by a 135 gold item. Yeah, homecoming stone does almost what her ultimate does, at lvl 6 we hardly do any tp:ing except to towers. Taking teleport lvl 2 on 13 or 11 doesnt make that big difference and we still get it at the same time at 16 so the nice tele ganks can still be going on. The big team pushes usually comes late. I cant se any other way to skill her except taking one in volatile pod and maxing her two other skills and taking the pod at 10-12.

Item build: Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots/Post Haste – Talismans of Exile x2 or Fortified Bracelets – Astrolabe – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostfield Plate – Frostwolf Skull)

Item build 2: Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots/Post Haste – Staff of the Master – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostwolf Skull – Frostfield Plate)

Optional: Wards are essential if you play nymphora. Nomes Wisdom.


Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane except mid.
Hero type: Ward hoe, Supporter, Baby sitter, Pusher, Anti Pusher.
Item dependence: Very low

Early game power/Lane control: Excellent. Has a great heal and stun.
Mid game power: Strong. Her heals shine in midgame fights
Late game power: Medium. Her heals start to lose power but her ultimate is very nice for nice pushes and ganks.

Farming skills: Excellent. Her nuke/heal is great for farming.
Gank power: Low.
Hero Weakness: She has low HP.
Hero Strength: Very strong supporter and Baby sitter.

Countered by: Silencers. Burst damage, chain nukers.
Best Allies: All melee agility/strength since she can help them farm with her heal. Special mention is heroes with a stun so she can land her nuke.
Best against: N/A

Suitable for newbies? Medium

*Thunderbringer – Zeus

1 – Chain lightning__10 – Lightning Rod_-_
2 – Lightning Rod_-_.11 – Lightning Storm
3 – Blast of Light_…_12 – Chain lightning
4 – Blast of Light_…_13 – Chain lightning
5 – Blast of Light_…_14 – Chain lightning
6 – Lightning Storm_.15 – Stats
7 – Blast of Light_…_16 – Lightning Storm
8 – Lightning Rod_-_17-25 – Stats
9 – Lightning Rod_-_

Item build 1: Bottle – Steam Boots/Post Haste – Talismans of Exile x2 – Sacrifical Stone – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostfield Plate)

Item build 2: Bottle – Steam Boots/Post Haste – Talismans of Exile x2 – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostfield Plate – Behemoths Heart)

Item build 3: Ring of Sorcery – Steam Boots/Post Haste – Fortified Bracelets x2 – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostfield Plate – Behemoths Heart)

Item build 4: Ring of Sorcery / Bottle - Steam Boots/Post Haste- Staff of the Master – (Totem of Kuldra)

Optional: Post haste, Wards. Shrunken head is optional if you get focused alot and tend to die.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane, can solo mid.
Hero type: Ward hoe, Chain nuker, Ganker, Baby sitter, Pusher.
Item dependence: Low

Early game power/Lane control: Excellent. Has heavy nukes.
Mid game power: Very strong. His nukes are extremly strong in midgame.
Late game power: Medium. He has ok in lategame due to his lightning rod.

Farming skills: Good. Slick attack animation and great nukes.
Gank power: High.
Hero Weakness: Low range, very mana intensive, squishy. Tends to get focused in teamfgihts.
Hero Strength: Did i mention his strong nukes?

Countered By: Shaman Headress, Silencers, Totem of Kuldra, Hellflower, Shrunken Head, Burst damage nukers, Barrier Idol.
Best Allies: Hellbringer can remove magic resistance on enemies for increased magic damage.
Best against: Good vs most heroes, specially ones with low hp.

Suitable for newbies? Yes, medium / easy to play.

*Pollywog Priest – Rhasta

Skill build 1

1 – Magical Bindings_
2 – Electric Jolt
3 – Electric Jolt_
4 – Morph
5 – Electric Jolt
6 – Voodoo Wards
7 – Electric Jolt
8 – Magical Bindings
9 – Magical Bindings
10 – Magical Bindings
11 – Voodoo Wards
12 – Morph
13 – Morph
14 – Morph
15 – Stats
16 – Voodoo Wards
17-25 – Stats

Skill build 2

1 – Magical Bindings_
2 – Morph
3 – Magical Bindings_
4 – Morph
5 – Magical Bindings
6 – Voodoo Wards
7 – Magical Bindings
8 – Morph
9 – Morph
10 – Stats
11 – Voodoo Wards
12 – Electric Jolt
13 – Electric Jolt
14 – Electric Jolt
15 – Electric Jolt
16 – Voodoo Wards
17-25 – Stats


Optional: You can make Electric Jolt your main skill (you level it to lvl 4 at lvl 7). If so level take morph 10-14.

Item build 1: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots/Post Haste – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Staff of the Master – (Restoration Stone – Frostfield Plate)

Item build 2: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots/Post Haste – Puzzlebox – (Staff of the Master – Restoration Stone)

Optional: Portal Key.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane.
Hero type: Ganker, Disabler, Pusher, Baby sitter.
Item dependence: Medium.

Early game power/Lane control: Strong because of his great disables.
Mid game power: Strong because of his great disablers and pushing ultimate.
Late game power: Strong because of his disables.

Farming skills: Medium.
Gank power: Very strong, his disables and wards are great ganking tools.
Hero Weakness: Low healthpool, Low movement speed and bad casting range thus forcing him to be in the middle of the fight and getting focused.
Hero Strength: Great disables and great push with ultimate.

Countered by: Shrunken Head and heavy nukers like Pyromancer, Torturer and Thunderbringer.
Best Allies: Good with almost every hero. Special mention: Swift Blade, Magebane
Best against: Late game carries without Shrunken Head.

Suitable for newbies? Medium, yea, i changed it ! He is easy to play but there is a feed warning for new players trying to use him.

*Tempest – Enigma

1 – Elemental_____10 – Meteor
2 – Glacial Blasts_.11 – Elemental Void
3 – Elemental_____12 – Meteor
4 – Glacial Blasts_.13 – Meteor
5 – Elemental_____14 – Meteor
6 – Elemental Void15 – Stats
7 – Glacial Blasts_.16 – Elemental Void
8 – Glacial Blasts_.17-25 – Stats
9 - Elemental_____

Optional: Glacial Blasts can be maxed out first if you plan to gank alot.

Item build 1: Marchers – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Portal Key – Shrunken Head – Post Haste – (Totem of Kuldra – Frostfield Plate – Restoration Stone).

Optional: Wards, Steam Boots.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Jungle.
Hero type: Pusher, Ganker, Initiator, Ward hoe.
Item dependence: Medium

Early game power/Lane control: Strong. Good stun for ganking, excellent jungle power.
Mid game power: Very strong. Game breaking ultimate.
Late game power: Very strong because of his ultimate.

Farming skills: Excellent.
Gank power: High.
Hero Weakness: Low health and somewhat item dependant. Long cooldown on his ultimate.
Hero Strength: He is an excellent farmer and his ultimate is game breaking.

Countered By : Stunners, silencers and heavy nukers like Thunderbringer, Pebbles and Pyromancer. Hellbringer, because he can stun with his ultimate from a great distance. Night Hound is good versus tempest aswell due to his Pounce and Smoke Bomb for breaking ultimate. Pharaoh because of his annoying ministuns. Totem of Kuldra, Wards and Hellflower. Countered by Tablet of Command. It cancels his ultimate.
Best Allies: Heroes that benefit from his ultimate like Torturer, Soulstealer, Pyromancer and Magmus.
Best against: Good vs most heroes, specially Shrunken Head since his ultimate goes through it.

Suitable for newbies? No, Not really. He is quite hard to play.

*Ophelia – Chen

1 – Command_____10 – Ophelias Judgement
2 – Natures Wrath_.11 – Ophelias Touch
3 – Command_____12 – Ophelias Judgement
4 – Natures Wrath_.13 – Ophelias Judgement
5 – Command_____14 – Ophelias Judgement
6 – Ophelias Touch 15 – Stats
7 – Natures Wrath_.16 – Ophelias Touch
8 – Natures Wrath_.17-25 – Stats
9 -Command__________

Item build 1: Enhanced Marchers – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Astrolabe – (Totem of kuldra – Frostfield Plate/Frostwolf skull.)

Item build 2: Boots of Speed – Puzzle Box – Enhanced Marchers – (Totem of Kuldra – Frostfield Plate/Frostwolf skull)

Item build 3: Enhanced Marchers – Astrolabe – Staff of the Master – (Totem of Kuldra)

Optional: Wards, Post Haste. Barrier Idol is optional, Nomes Wisdom.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Jungle.
Hero type: Pusher, Roamer, Supporter, Ward hoe.
Item dependence: Very low.

Early game power/Lane control: Very strong, excellent roamer and pusher. Fast jungler aswell with the creeps.
Mid game power: Very strong. The creeps are still strong for pushes and ganks.
Late game power: Low. Creeps has lost all power.

Farming skills: Excellent.
Gank power: Very High.
Hero Weakness: Low health, dependent on her creeps.
Hero Strength: The creeps are very strong early game and midgame. Great global healing ultimate.

Countered By: Heavy nukers, Wards and area of effect heroes. They clear her creeps well.
Best Allies: Heroes that stuns and slows so her creeps can do full damage.
Best against: Good vs most heroes in early game escpecially ones without escape mechanism. Good against area of effect heroes because of her ultimate. So its a counter to AOE allthough AOE also counters her creeps.

Suitable for newbies? No! Hardest hero in the game to play.

*Pyromancer – Lina

1 – Dragon Fire____10 – Stats
2 – Phoenix Wave_..11 – Blazing Strike
3 – Phoenix Wave_..12 – Stats
4 – Dragon Fire____13 – Stats
5 – Phoenix Wave_..14 – Stats
6 – Blazing Strike __15 – Stats
7 – Phoenix Wave_..16 – Blazing Strike
8 – Dragon Fire____17-20 – Fervor
9 -Dragon Fire____21- 25 Stats___

Item build 1: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots/Post Haste – Fortfified Bracelets x2 / Talisman of Exile x3 – Totem of kuldra – (Frostfield Plate / Staff of the Master / Restoration Stone)

Optional: Wards, Portal Key.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane except mid.
Hero type: , Roamer, chain nuker, Ward Hoe.
Item dependence: Very low.

Early game power/Lane control: Very strong, excellent ganker.
Mid game power: Strong. Her nukes still deal a great deal of damage.
Late game power: Low. Her nukes has lost most of their power.

Farming skills: Excellent.
Gank power: Very High.
Hero Weakness: Loses strength as the game progress.
Hero Strength: Very strong nukes and great farmer / pusher.

Countered By: Shaman headress, Shrunken Head, Smart play, High hp heroes, Wards
Best Allies: Stunners or slowers so he easily can land her stunning nuke, Dragon Fire.
Best against: Great against low HP heroes like agility heroes or other intelligence heroes.

Suitable for newbies? Yes. Very easy to play.

*Defiler – Krobelus


1 – Grave Silence.._10 – Wave of Death_..
2 – Wave of Death_..11 – Blazing Strike
3 – Wave of Death_..12 – Grave Silence__
4 – Power in death__13 – Grave Silence__
5 – Wave of Death_..14 - Grave Silence__
6 – Expulsion ____._15 – Stats
7 – Power in death__16 – Blazing Strike
8 – Power in death__17-25 – Stats
9 - Power in death____

Optional: Take the last 3 levels of grave silence at 17-19 if you have a hard time surviving. LvL 4 wave of death can be got at lvl 7.

Item build 1: Bottle – Marchers – Fortfified Bracelets x2-3 – Totem of Kuldra – Post Haste – Behemoths Heart – Frostfield Plate.

Optional: Shaman Headress if you face alot of spell damage.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Solo mid, Solo bot as Legion, Solo Top as Hellbourne.
Hero type: Carry, Pusher.
Item dependence: High.

Early game power/Lane control: Strong, due to her nukes.
Mid game power: Strong. Because of her nukes , silence and ultimate.
Late game power: Strong because of her nukes, silence and ultimate.

Farming skills: Excellent.
Gank power: Medium.
Hero Weakness: She is very slow and needs to farm alot.
Hero Strength: Does enormous damage with her ultimate.

Countered by: Burst damage nukers like Thunderbringer, Jeraziah, his ultimate gives you time to kill her, Pebbles and Pyromancer. Magebanes ultimate is good versus her aswell. She is also weak vs gankers/Roamers since she lacks an escape mechanism and is the number one enemy.
Best Allies: Supporters and Disablers. She is great with Keeper of the Forest and Tempest.
Best against: Great vs all heroes because of her strong ultimate.

Suitable for newbies? Yes. Very easy to play.


*Glacius – Rylai

1 – Imprisonment..____10 – Tundra Blast_.____.
2 – Tundra Blast_.____.11 – Tundra Blast_.____.
3 – Chilling Presence_..12 – Tundra Blast_.____.__
4 – Chilling Presence_..13 – Glacial Downpour
5 – Chilling Presence_..14 -Glacial Downpour
6 – Imprisonment..____15 – Stats
7 – Chilling Presence_..16 – Glacial Downpour
8 – Imprisonment..____17-25 – Stats
9 -Imprisonment.._____

Item build 1: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Shrunken Head – Portal Key – (Staff of the Master – Frostfield Plate).

Optional: Post Haste. Wards are essential if you play Glacius.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane except mid.
Hero type: Supporter, Roamer, Baby sitter.
Item dependence: Low/None.

Early game power/Lane control: Very strong, due to his nukes and aura.
Mid game power: Medium because his aura effectivness has diminished, however his other spells are still useful.
Late game power: Weak.

Farming skills: Low.
Gank power: Very Strong.
Hero Weakness: Low Hp and is item dependent if he wants to use his ultimate.
Hero Strength: Excellent early game supporter, roamer and baby sitter.

Countered By: Game time and burst damage nukers like Thunderbringer, Pebbles and Pyromancer. Shaman Headress and Shrunken head. Also weaker vs blinkers / leapers.
Best Allies: Heroes that makes good use of her global aura. Tempest is great for placing a good ultimate and easier jungling. Pyromancer, Torturer and Swiftblade are worth a special mention.
Best against: Great vs all heroes because of her aura.

Suitable for newbies? Yes. Very easy to play.

*Demented Shaman – Dazzle

1 – Entangle.____.____10 – Arcane Hide__.____.
2 – Healing Wave.____.11 – Arcane Hide____.
3 – Entangle.____.____12 – Arcane Hide_____.__
4 – Healing Wave.____.13 – Storm Cloud
5 – Entangle.____.____14 – Storm Cloud
6 – Healing Wave.____.15 – Stats
7 – Entangle.____.____16 – Storm Cloud
8 – Healing Wave.____.17-25 – Stats
9 -Arcane Hide___

Optional: Storm Cloud can be got 10-11 if there are alot of team clashes going on in the game. This depends on your level.

Item build 1: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Post Haste/Steam Boots – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Staff of the Master – (Totem of Kuldra)

Item build 2: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Post Haste/Steam Boots – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Astrolabe/Barrier Idol – (Totem of Kuldra – Frostfield Plate – Frostwolf Skull)

Item build 3: Bottle – Boots of Speed – Puzzlebox – Post Haste – (Totem of Kuldra – Frostfield Plate)

Optional: Post Haste. Wards are essential if you play Demented Shaman. Nomes Wisdom.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane except mid.
Hero type: Supporter, ganker, Baby sitter.
Item dependence: Low/None.

Early game power/Lane control: Very strong, due to his heals, slow, and nice herassing power.
Mid game power: Good because of his heal and supporting skills.
Late game power: Medium, his heal loses strength. However he has a decent team fight ultimate for late game clashes.

Farming skills: High.
Gank power: Strong.
Hero Weakness: Loses power as the game progress.
Hero Strength: Excellent supporter, ganker and baby sitter.

Counters: Silencers, Blood Hunter, Burst Damage.
Best Allies: Melee agility or strength heroes that needs a baby sitter so they can farm. Defiler, Armaddon, because of the mass armor decrease.
Best against: Good vs all heroes because of his supporting skills.

Suitable for newbies? Yes. Very easy to play.

*Voodoo Jester – Witch Doctor with Warlocks heal/dot

Build 1 – Ganker
1 – Acid Cocktail.____10 – Mojo__.____.
2 – Cursed Ground___.11 – Spirit Ward._.____.
3 – Cursed Ground___.12 – Mojo
4 – Acid Cocktail.____13 – Mojo
5 – Cursed Ground___.14 – Mojo
6 – Spirit Ward._.__.__.15 – Stats
7 – Cursed Ground___.16 – Spirit Ward._.____.
8 – Acid Cocktail.____17-25 – Stats
9 - Acid Cocktail._____

Build 2 – Baby Sitter
1 – Acid Cocktail.____10 – Cursed Ground___.
2 – Mojo_________.__.11 – Spirit Ward._.____.
3 – Mojo_________.__.12 – Acid Cocktail.____
4 – Cursed Ground___.13 – Acid Cocktail.____
5 – Mojo_________.__.14 – Acid Cocktail.____
6 – Spirit Ward._.__.__.15 – Stats
7 – Mojo_________.__.16 – Spirit Ward._.____.
8 – Cursed Ground___.17-25 – Stats
9 - Cursed Ground___.__

Optional: You can go for a Cursed ground/Mojo build aswell and thus waiting with stun to lvl 10-14. But that requires advanced laning and correct laning partners/team.

Item build 1: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Shrunken Head – Staff of the Master – (Totem of Kuldra/Behemoths Heart / Frostfield Plate)

Item build 2: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots – Fortified Bracelets x2 – Codex – (Totem of Kuldra – Frostfield Plate)

Optional: Post Haste, Portal Key.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane except mid.
Hero type: Ganker, Baby sitter.
Item dependence: Medium.

Early game power/Lane control: Very strong, due to his heal, curse, stun. Curse + Heavy nuker = Dead target.
Mid game power: Good becauseof his stun, curse, heal and ultimate.
Late game power: Medium, his curse does enormous damage in late game. But he requires farm to be useful at this stage.

Farming skills: Low.
Gank power: Strong.
Hero Weakness: Low HP and Low mana pool.
Hero Strength: Excellent ganker and baby sitter.

Countered By: Chain nukers, healers, stunners and blinkers, Astrolabe, Totem of kuldra, Hellflower, Shrunken Head, Shaman Headress, Healers, Ophelia, Demented Shaman, Jereziah, Homecoming Stone.
Best Allies: Chain nukers, area of effect disablers like Keeper of the Forest, Chronos and Tempest
Best against: Strength heroes and melee heroes.

Suitable for newbies? No, quite hard to play.

*Puppet Master – New Hero – Pic skipped for later.

1 – Puppet Hold_.____10 – Puppet Hold_._____.
2 – Puppet Show.____.11 – Voodoo Puppet_._._.
3 – Whiplash_-__.____12 – Puppet Show.____.__
4 – Whiplash_-__.____13 – Puppet Show.____.
5 – Whiplash_-__.____14 – Puppet Show.____.
6 – Voodoo Puppet_._.15 – Stats
7 – Whiplash_-__.____16 – Voodoo Puppet_._.
8 – Puppet Hold_.____17-25 – Stats
9 - Puppet Hold_.____

Optional:

Item build 1: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Hellflower – Frostwolf Skull – (Hakons – Flayer – Savage Mace/Totem of Kuldra/Shrunken head)

Item build 2: Bottle – Boots of speed – Puzzlebox – Post Haste/Enhanced Marchers – (Totem of Kuldra – Frostwolf Skull)

Item build 3: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers/Steam Boots/Post Haste – Fortified Bracelets x2 – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostfied Plate – Frostwolf Skull)

Item build 4: Bottle – Enhanced Marchers – Fortified Bracelets x2 – Shield Breaker – Shrunken Head – (Demonic Breastplate – Flayer)

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane, can solo mid.
Hero type: Ganker, Disabler, Semi – Carry, Baby sitter
Item dependence: Low / Heavy depending on role.

Early game power/Lane control: Strong, due to his disables.
Mid game power: Good because of his disabels.
Late game power: Strong because of his disables and potential damage output.

Farming skills: High.
Gank power: Strong.
Hero Weakness: Low health pool.
Hero Strength: Excellent, ganker, disabler and baby sitter. Potential late gamer.

Countered By: Chain Nukers, Blinkers, Ganks, Roamers.
Best Allies: Good with all heroes.
Best against: Heroes without escape mechanisms.

Suitable for newbies? Medium.

*Hellbringer – Warlock Wannabe

1 – Unholy Shackles_______.____.
2 – Death Boil
3 – Death Boil__
4 – Life Void____.
5 – Death Boi__.
6 – Malphas
7 – Death Boil
8 – Unholy Shackles/Life Void
9 – Unholy Shackles/Life Void
10 – Unholy Shackles/Life Void
11 – Malphas
12 – Life Void/Unholy Shackles_
13 – Life Void/Unholy Shackles__
14 – Life Void/Unholy Shackles_
15 – Stats_
16 – Malphas
17-25 – Stats

Optional: Life Void can be taken above unholy shackels at level 8-10, one level of life void is good for the heal effect. Look at your team. If you have alot of casters and aoe spell damage Life Void is probably more useful. If you dont, the slow is probably better. If you want life void only for the healing effect, keep it only at lvl 1 since it costs 80 mana at lvl 1 and 140 mana at lvl 4. In terms of increasing your own DoTs damage with life void in the lane is debatable since it costs 140 mana. Its often better to save the mana and wait for the DoT cd to finish so you can cast a new one.

Item build 1: Enhanced Marchers/Post Haste – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Astrolabe – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostfield Plate)

Item build 2: Marchers – Puzzlebox – Post Haste – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostfield Plate)

Item build 3: Post Haste – Restoration Stone – Totem of Kuldra – (Frostfied Plate)

Optional: Restoration stone is always a viable option.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane, can solo mid.
Hero type: Ganker, Supporter, Pusher, Ward hoe.
Item dependence: Low

Early game power/Lane control: Strong, due to his damage over time.
Mid game power: Very strong because of Malphas, his ultimate.
Late game power: Medium because of his ultimate and supporting power.

Farming skills: Low.
Gank power: Strong.
Hero Weakness: None.
Hero Strength: Excellent, ganker, and Pusher.

Countered By: Arachna, Shrunken Head, Nullfire blade.
Best Allies: Good with all heroes especially heroes with spell damage since life void lowers magic resistance.
Best against: Late gamers that cant handle Malphas early, like melee agility. Heroes with a big channeling ult like Tempest

Suitable for newbies? Yes, very easy to play.

*Torturer – Leshrac

1 – Chain Reaction __10 – Impalement____.____.
2 – Agonizing Bonds_..11 – Impalement__
3 – Agonizing Bonds_..12 – Impalement__
4 – Chain Reaction __13 – Torment
5 – Agonizing Bonds_..14 – Torment
6 – Chain Reaction __15 – Stats
7 – Agonizing Bonds_..16 – Torment
8 - Chain Reaction __17-25 – Stats
9 -Impalement__

Optional:

Item build 1: Bottle – Post Haste – Fortfified Bracelets x2 – Sacrifical Stone – Frostfield Plate – Staff of the Master/Totem of Kuldra/ Behemoths Heart

Item build 2: Bottle – Post Haste/Steam Boots – Totem of Kuldra – Staff of the Master – Frostfield Plate – Behemoths Heart

Item build 3: Bottle – Post Haste/Steam Boots – Staff of the Master – Frostfield Plate/Behemoths Heart

Item Build 4: Bottle – Marchers – Sacrifical Stone – Post Haste – Staff of the Master – Frostfield Plate/Behemoths Heart.

Optional: Wards, Post haste.

Hero Basics:

Preferred lane: Any lane, can solo mid.
Hero type: Ganker, Roamer, Pusher, Semi Carry, Ward hoe.
Item dependence: Low / Medium / High depending on role.

Early game power/Lane control: Strong, due to his nukes
Mid game power: Very strong because of his nukes and area of effect capabilities.
Late game power: Medium/low because his spells start to do less damage.

Farming skills: Excellent.
Gank power: Very strong.
Hero Weakness: Very low health pool, and is somewhat mana constrained.
Hero Strength: Excellent, ganker, and Pusher.

Countered by: Heavy nukers like Pebbles, Thunderbringer and Pyromancer, Silencers, Blood Hunter, Shrunken Head, Hellflower, Shaman Headress, Barrier Idol.
Best Allies: Stunners, Magmus, Hammerstorm and slowers, Venomancer, so he can land his stun. Tempest, Keeper of the Forest, Hellbringer
Best against: Late gamers that cant handle his heavy spelldamage early, like melee agility and other low HP heroes.

Suitable for newbies? Medium, his stun is tricky to land with a lousy cast time.