Nevermore, the harrowing Shadow Fiend is the enslaver of all souls. His eerie abilities harness him the power to dominate the battlefield. Shadow Fiend is one of the top-tier mid-heroes in the game, he can be on the Mount Rushmore of Mid heroes. Every mid-player has him in their rotation, primarily due to how easily this hero can farm and deal damage right from the early stages of the game. The recent buffs to his Shadowraze and Necromastery have also brought him under the radar of carry players, making him a versatile pick. If you want to expand your hero pool while climbing up the MMR ladder, then Shadow Fiend is the right hero in this patch.
The haunting Shadow Fiend is an excellent hero in the meta, but with certain builds and items, he can dominate the game quite easily. We bring you the Best 5 Shadow Fiend Builds in the current meta, these builds are highly effective and make sure he ends up crushing the game in his favor.
5. Bzm Build
The young and dominant Bzm is not only an impressive mid-laner but also an exceptional team fighter and team player. He is known for his versatile hero pool and exceptional Shadow Fiend plays. He has a very hyper-aggressive but disciplined play style on this hero. Shadow Fiend as a hero suits Bzm’s playstyle very well. His insane reactions made him fall under the radar for OG. It was a hero that was spammed by Bzm even when it was nerfed into oblivion, just shows how dedicated he was to this hero. Bzm goes a pretty standard SF item build, but it's his spell build that is the center of focus here.
Bzm loves to cripple his enemies by fighting as soon as he gets Black King Bar on Shadow Fiend, not giving them any chance to use their spells or escape. Along with that, he is known to build items like Arcane Blink and Hurricane Pike that allow him to become more elusive and escape from his foes. The build is highly common but works amazingly versus low armor and squishy heroes in particular. This build also allows you to be a menace right from the early game and be excellent at controlling the tempo and pace of the fight. In this highlight, Bzm demonstrates that tweaking the skill builds even slightly can change the trajectory of the game.
Use This Build If:
- You want an extremely reliable mid-Shadow Fiend build that is fit for the late game
- You want to be in control of the teamfight as a mid-SF
- You want to be involved in more teamfights from the early stages of the game
Skill Points
Level 1: Shadowraze - Shadow Fiend razes an area in front of him, dealing AoE damage. Since Shadow Fiend has three razes he can use from level 1, they stack and provide spell amplification with each stack reducing movement speed and turn rate.
Level 2: Necromastery - With each enemy or unit he kills (or denies), Shadow Fiend traps their souls, gaining increased damage. When Shadow Fiend dies, 40% of his trapped souls are lost. Necromastery helps SF do immense damage when he uses his ultimate. Hence most SF players prioritize this spell early on in the game.
Level 3: Shadowraze
Level 4: Necromastery
Level 5: Shadowraze
Level 6: Necromastery
Level 7: Shadowraze
Level 8: Requiem of Souls - Shadow Fiend releases all the souls he captured through Necromastery, dealing damage in a large AoE, slowing enemies, and fearing them. Their magic resistance is also reduced briefly, making them highly vulnerable in a teamfight.
Level 9: Necromastery
Level 10: Presence of the Dark Lord - Shadow Fiend’s presence reduces armor for enemies in an AoE. This is an effective spell that helps him do high damage in a teamfight if opts for the physical damage build.
Level 11: +25 Attack Speed
Level 12: Requiem of Souls
Level 13: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 14: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 15: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 16: Presence Aura Affects Buildings
Level 17: Stats
Level 18: Requiem of Souls
Level 19: Stats
Level 20: +3 Damage Per Soul
Level 25: Shadowraze applies attack damage
Items to buy for this build (Early to Late Game)
- 3x Enchanted Mango (65 Gold) - Grants passive +0.6 health regeneration if not consumed. Upon consumption, it refills 100 mana instantly. Shadow Fiend lacks in the mana department and having a mango or two in handy can perhaps help him net kills in the early game.
- 2x Iron Branch (50 Gold) - Grants +1 of all attributes per branch. It provides decent sustain in the early game. The branch can be also planted to block paths for enemies or to deceive them under the fog.
- Tango (90 Gold) - Provides health regen if used on a tree (has 3 charges). It's the cheapest yet most convenient way of healing up in the game's early stages when you are playing in the side lanes. Regardless of the hero you play, Tango is a core item.
- Bottle (675 Gold) - Purchased at 1 minute. The bottle is an essential item on a mid-hero. Regardless of the hero you play, Bottle keeps you sustained through the laning phase by replenishing your mana and HP. It also ensures you store power runes for later instead of immediately using them. As Shadow Fiendis played in the mid-lane in this matchup, a Bottle always comes in handy.
- Magic Stick (200 Gold) - Purchased at 2 minutes. Gains a charge each time an enemy uses a spell around you. Each direction grants 15 HP and mana and can have up to 10 charges. It is a perfect item in the laning stage if you face heroes who cast spells frequently.
- Observer Ward - Purchased at 3 minutes. Grants vision of an area in an AoE upon the plant. The ward is stationary and can be destroyed by enemies if they purchase a sentry ward. It is a beneficial item in the mid-lane for Shadow Fiend as it provides him with the vision to see any incoming ganks or to secure the runes in the early game.
- Power Treads (1400 Gold) - Bought at 6 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping Shadow Fiend stay durable and sufficient in all stages of the game.
- Clarity (50 Gold) - Purchased at 6 minutes. Grants 6 mana regeneration for 25 seconds. As Shadow Fiend loves using mana to secure creeps and kills, this item ensures he sustains his mana throughout the laning phase or even in the late game.
- Magic Wand (450 Gold) - Bought at 8 minutes. Gains a charge every time an enemy uses a spell in an AoE. It can store up to 20 charges, with each charge healing you up to 15 HP and mana. It is an ideal starting item as it allows SF to sustain himself in the lane if he is facing spellcasting heroes.
- Dragon Lance (1900 Gold) - Bought at 9 minutes. It increases the attack range for Shadow Fiend while increasing his stats, allowing him to deal more damage and increasing his survivability.
- Yasha (2050 Gold) - Bought at 12 minutes. Provides increased agility, attack, and movement speed. Shadow Fiend benefits highly from this increased agility and attack speed. This item can further be upgraded into Manta Style.
- Manta Style (4600 Gold) - Bought at 16 minutes. Creates two illusions of Shadow Fiend- on usage, also allowing him to dispel certain spells or dodge if he times it right. It can also be used to split push lanes and farm efficiently. It also provides him with increased stats, agility, and attack damage.
- Black King Bar (4050 Gold) - Purchased at 21 minutes. Provides magic immunity upon usage, making Shadow Fiend invulnerable during team fights. It is essential in most matchups as he has low magical resistance. He can use BKB while channeling his ultimate, ensuring he does not get stopped in his tracks while using it.
- Shadow Blade (3000 Gold) - Purchased at 26 minutes. Turns Shadow Fiend invisible for a brief duration, increasing his movement speed while he is invisible. If he attacks enemies to break the invisibility, he deals a bonus of 175 damage, which works exceptionally with the cleave.
- Crystalys - (1950 Gold) Bought at 29 minutes. It grants each attack a 30% chance to deal 160% critical damage. The damage can be extremely useful in the early game to fend off enemies and neutralize them.
- Silver Edge (5450 Gold) - Purchased at 30 minutes. Shadow Blade and Crystalis can further be upgraded into Silver Edge which offers the same benefits as its predecessor while also dealing a guaranteed 160% critical strike and disabling enemy passive for 4 seconds. If you are facing enemies with multiple powerful passive spells, then Silver Edge is the right item for you.
- Morbid Mask (900 Gold) - Purchased at 33 minutes. Heals Shadow Fiend for a percentage of the damage he deals to his enemies. It can further be upgraded into Satanic.
- Satanic - (5050 Gold) Bought at around 34 minutes. Allows Shadow Fiend to lifesteal quickly on physical attacks upon activation, and also provides basic dispel from the latter. Great to sustain in the ultra-late game as you can be surrounded by multiple enemies at once.
- Aghanim’s Shard (1400 Gold) - Purchased at 35 minutes. Shadow Fiend gains an extra soul per kill. He can consume a soul per attack to deal critical damage and fear the target. It is an ideal way to fight in the late game as you can fear enemies while dealing damage to them.
- Hurricane Pike (4450 Gold) - Purchased at 38 minutes. Dragon Lance can further be upgraded into Hurricane Pike, which allows Shadow Fiend to force himself and the targeted unit 450 units away from each other while allowing Shadow Fiend to freely attack them for 5 attacks from that distance if he has the vision. Hurricane Pike is an essential item for Shadow Fiend as it helps him escape a messy fight or start one.
- Blink Dagger (2250 Gold) - Purchased at 41 minutes. Blink Dagger is a core item on Shadow Fiend, as it allows him to initiate a teamfight, or chase enemies with it. It can also be upgraded into Arcane Blink. This will enable him to be the frontline and initiates a fight with the follow-up of his ultimate.
- Arcane Blink (6800 Gold) - Purchased at 42 minutes. Blink Dagger can further be upgraded into Arcane Blink which provides 25% Mana Cost Reduction, 20% Debuff Application, and 50% Cast Point reduction on all Shadow Fiend’s spells and items upon usage. It is an ideal item in the late game which helps you deal that extra damage in a teamfight.
- Refresher’s Orb (5000 Gold) - Purchased at 50 minutes. Refreshes the cooldown of all items and spells. It is an effective item on Shadow Fiend as it allows you to use crucial spells like Requiem of Souls twice, along with items like Black King Bar or Arcane Blink.
Neutral Items
- Pig Pole - Provides +6 of all attributes. Its active turns Shadow Fiend into a pig, making him unable to use spells or items but increasing his movement speed, which can allow him to escape certain sticky situations.
- Grove Bow - Upon physical attacks by Shadow Fiend, it makes the targeted enemy take 15% amplified magical damage.
- Elven Tunic - Provides Shadow Fiend with increased attack and movement speed along with increased evasion. The bonus perks help Shadow Fiend deal high damage in a teamfight and be elusive at the same time.
- Spell Prism - Reduces the cooldowns of Shadow Fiend’s spells and items by 25%. This combined with Arcane Blink can make Shadow Fiend a menace.
4. ILTW Build
Achieving major success at a young age is quite a rare feat in the Dota pro scene. Not all players are like the young and talented iLTW. The CIS star has been a relevant player for ages, and he’s still in his early 20s! handles it well. iLTW is an aggressive laner on Shadow Fiend, extremely powerful right off the bat, and stays relevant even in the late game. This build offers high physical damage potential which may decimate your enemies within no time. While this build deals with damage, it also offers decent defense at the same time. It is advised that you begin this build with Shadowraze and further max Necromastery so you can deal hybrid damage to multiple units at once.
iLTW is known to build various item builds that supplement his abilities and enhance his damage potential. On a physical damage Shadow Fiend build, it is often advised to build items that increase your potential, while also building items that can sustain you in a fight. is an essential item on Shadow Fiend, which offers him critical damage. Further, iLTW also builds Satanic and Black King Bar which help him stay durable and shield him from any threats in a fight. It is not a true Shadow Fiend game if you do not build a Divine Rapier. It offers optimum damage which you need to close a game out, iLTW plays an excellent Shadow Fiend, pay attention to his insane map awareness in the highlight video.
Use This Build If:
- You want an early game fight oriented Shadow Fiend build which does not falter in the late game
- You want a highly self-sustainable build that can help you stay durable and withstand immense damage
- If you are facing squishy low HP heroes
- You are facing squishy and low armor heroes, this build deals high damage and eviscerates their armor
Skill Points
Level 1: Shadowraze - Shadow Fiend razes an area in front of him, dealing AoE damage. Since Shadow Fiend has three razes he can use from level 1, they stack and provide spell amplification with each stack reducing movement speed and turn rate.
Level 2: Necromastery - With each enemy or unit he kills (or denies), Shadow Fiend traps their souls, gaining increased damage. When Shadow Fiend dies, 40% of his trapped souls are lost. Necromastery helps SF do immense damage when he uses his ultimate. Hence most SF players prioritize this spell early on in the game.
Level 3: Shadowraze
Level 4: Necromastery
Level 5: Shadowraze
Level 6: Presence of the Dark Lord - Shadow Fiend’s presence reduces armor for enemies in an AoE. This is an effective spell that helps him do high damage in a teamfight if opts for the physical damage build.
Level 7: Shadowraze
Level 8: Necromastery
Level 9: Necromastery
Level 10: +25 Attack Speed
Level 11: Requiem of Souls - Shadow Fiend releases all the souls he captured through Necromastery, dealing damage in a large AoE, slowing enemies, and fearing them. Their magic resistance is also reduced for a brief duration, making them highly vulnerable in a teamfight.
Level 12: Requiem of Souls
Level 13: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 14: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 15: Presence Aura Affects Buildings
Level 16: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 17: Stats
Level 18: Requiem of Souls
Level 19: Stats
Level 20: +3 Damage Per Soul
Level 25: Shadowraze applies attack damage
Items to buy for this build (Early to Late Game)
- 2x Iron Branch (50 Gold) - Grants +1 of all attributes per branch. It provides decent sustain in the early game. The branch can be also planted to block paths for enemies or to deceive them under the fog.
- Magic Stick (200 Gold) - Purchased at 2 minutes. Gains a charge each time an enemy uses a spell around you. Each direction grants 15 HP and mana and can have up to 10 charges. It is a perfect item in the laning stage if you face heroes who cast spells frequently.
- Faerie Fire (70 Gold) - Instantly restores 85 health upon usage for Shadow Fiend. It also passively grants 2 damage per instance. It is an effective item if you’re playing in the mid lane, or just want extra damage and sustain in the side lanes.
- Quelling Blade (100 Gold) - Increases the physical attack damage on non-hero units, and can also be used to cut trees. It is an unusual item on ranged heroes like Shadow Fiend but iLTW purchases it to deal higher damage in the laning phase.
- Tango (90 Gold) - Provides health regen if used on a tree (has 3 charges). It's the cheapest yet most convenient way of healing up in the game's early stages when you are playing in the side lanes. Regardless of the hero you play, Tango is a core item.
- Sage’s Mask (175 Gold) - Purchased at 0:10. Provides 0.7 mana regeneration. It is an ideal early-game item for Shadow Fiend as it helps him spam his spells without worrying much about his mana.
- Ring of Basilius (425 Gold) - Purchased at 1 minute. Provides +0.5 Mana regeneration to Shadow Fiend and +1 mana regeneration to all allies in an AoE.
- Magic Wand (450 Gold) - Purchased at 2 minutes. Gains a charge every time an enemy uses a spell in an AoE. It can store up to 20 charges, with each charge healing you up to 15 HP and mana. It is an ideal starting item as it allows SF to sustain himself in the lane if he is facing spellcasting heroes.
- Power Treads (1400 Gold) - Bought at 6 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping Shadow Fiend stay durable and sufficient in all game stages.
- Clarity (50 Gold) - Purchased at 6 minutes. Grants 6 mana regeneration for 25 seconds. As Shadow Fiend loves using mana to secure creeps and kills, this item ensures he sustains his mana throughout the laning phase or even in the late game.
- Morbid Mask (900 Gold) - Purchased at 7 minutes. Heals Shadow Fiend for a percentage of the damage he deals to his enemies. It can further be upgraded into Mask of Madness or Satanic.
- Mask of Madness (1775 Gold) - Purchased at 9 minutes. Grants 110 attack speed and 30 movement speed while silencing and reducing armor by 8. It is a standard purchase on Shadow Fiend due to the armor loss but if you have your team backing you then it can be an ideal item if combined with Necromastery.
- Dragon Lance (1900 Gold) - Bought at 12 minutes. It increases the attack range for Shadow Fiend while increasing his stats, allowing him to deal more damage and increasing his survivability.
- Black King Bar (4050 Gold) - Purchased at 17 minutes. Provides magic immunity upon usage, making Shadow Fiend invulnerable during team fights. It is essential in most matchups as he has low magical resistance.
- Aghanim’s Shard (1400 Gold) - Purchased at 18 minutes. Shadow Fiend gains an extra soul per kill. He can consume a soul per attack to deal critical damage and fear the target. It is an ideal way to fight in the late game as you can fear enemies while dealing damage to them.
- Hurricane Pike (4450 Gold) - Purchased at 21 minutes. Dragon Lance can further be upgraded into Hurricane Pike, which allows Shadow Fiend to force himself and the targeted unit 450 units away from each other while allowing Shadow Fiend to freely attack them for 5 attacks from that distance if he has the vision. Hurricane Pike is an essential item for Shadow Fiend as it helps him escape a messy fight or start one.
- Butterfly (4975 Gold) - Bought at 25 minutes. It increases Shadow Fiend’s evasion by 35%, making it hard for enemies to deal with physical attacks on him. It also increases his agility, making him deal higher damage in teamfights.
- Satanic - (5050 Gold) Bought at around 29 minutes. Allows Shadow Fiend to lifesteal quickly on physical attacks upon activation, and also provides basic dispel from the latter. Great to sustain in the ultra-late game as you can be surrounded by multiple enemies at once.
- Eye of Skadi (5300 Gold) - Bought at 34 minutes. This causes Shadow Fiend’s attacks to lower enemy attack and movement speed while reducing their health regeneration and lifesteal by 40%. It is an exceptional item if you are facing tanky heroes that regen or lifesteal fast. It also provides immense bonuses such as increased stats, HP, and Mana.
- Linken’s Sphere (4600 Gold) - Purchased at 36 minutes. Blocks one targeted spell every 14 seconds, and also increases stats and mana regen. This build has enough offensive items, and having a balance of offensive and defensive items can be extremely useful in the late game, helping Shadow Fiend stay alive in the high-pressure teamfights.
Neutral Items
- Lance of Pursuit - Attacking from behind slows the enemies by 12% (6% for Shadow Fiend as he is ranged) and 15 more damage to them. It is an ideal item if you are facing heroes that are very fast right from the early game.
- Pig Pole - Provides +6 of all attributes. Its active turns Shadow Fiend into a pig, making him unable to use spells or items but increasing his movement speed, which can allow him to escape certain sticky situations.
- Dagger of Ritsul - Consumes 100 HP to gain 40 damage for 8 seconds. As Shadow Fiend has decent HP in the middle game, he can afford to sacrifice the 100 HP for a significant amount of damage in a teamfight.
- Elven Tunic - Provides Shadow Fiend with increased attack and movement speed along with increased evasion. The bonus perks help Shadow Fiend deal high damage in a teamfight and be elusive at the same time.
- Titan Sliver - Increases Shadow Fiend’s base attack damage by 20%, it also increases his magic resistance by 16% and buffs up his status resistance by 12%. These stats allow Shadow Fiend to be highly durable and resilient in a teamfight.
3. Ana Build
Ana gained notoriety as a pub star, playing a wide range of heroes as a carry. His Shadow Fiend is said to be extremely lethal. Ana is known to be quite the aggressive laner, often picking Shadow Fiend to synergize with other heroes on his team. Ana’s Shadow Fiend is quite different from everyone else’s on this list, this is because it’s one of his most-played heroes. He quite well knows everything the hero can do, this helps him induce fear in the mind of his enemies. Ana can be seen demolishing his foes with the help of his clear-cut build.
Ana has been praised widely for his intense and nail-biting performance on Shadow Fiend. Everything from perfect Shadowraze to fighting with Requiem ultimate, he knows it all. Ana loves Black King Bar combined with Arcane Blinkon this hero, which essentially secures his farm and deals immense damage to his foes. Ana prefers fast-paced games and is seen ending pub games in just under 30 mins. This build is guaranteed to land you kills and win you games if you follow it thoroughly.
Use This Build If:
- You want a spellcasting hybrid damage-oriented carry Shadow Fiend build
- You want a hard-hitting build that is relevant through the late game
- You are facing low heroes with low HP and armor
- You want a mid-Shadow Fiend build that prioritizes teamfight over fighting
Skill Points
Level 1: Shadowraze - Shadow Fiend razes an area in front of him, dealing AoE damage. Since Shadow Fiend has three razes he can use from level 1, they stack and provide spell amplification with each stack reducing movement speed and turn rate.
Level 2: Necromastery - With each enemy or unit he kills (or denies), Shadow Fiend traps their souls, gaining increased damage. When Shadow Fiend dies, 40% of his trapped souls are lost. Necromastery helps SF do immense damage when he uses his ultimate. Hence most SF players prioritize this spell early on in the game.
Level 3: Shadowraze
Level 4: Necromastery
Level 5: Shadowraze
Level 6: Necromastery
Level 7: Shadowraze
Level 8: Requiem of Souls - Shadow Fiend releases all the souls he captured through Necromastery, dealing damage in a large AoE, slowing enemies, and fearing them. Their magic resistance is also reduced for a brief duration, making them highly vulnerable in a teamfight.
Level 9: Necromastery
Level 10: +25 Attack Speed
Level 11: Presence of the Dark Lord - Shadow Fiend’s presence reduces armor for enemies in an AoE. This is an effective spell that helps him do high damage in a teamfight if opts for the physical damage build.
Level 12: Requiem of Souls
Level 13: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 14: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 15: +100 Shadowraze Damage
Level 16: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 17: Stats
Level 18: Requiem of Souls
Level 19: Stats
Level 20: +3 Damage Per Soul
Level 25: Shadowraze applies attack damage
Items to buy for this build (Early to Late Game)
- Tango (90 Gold) - Provides health regen if used on a tree (has 3 charges). It's the cheapest yet most convenient way of healing up in the game's early stages when you are playing in the side lanes. Regardless of the hero you play, Tango is a core item.
- 2x Iron Branch (50 Gold) - Grants +1 of all attributes per branch. It provides decent sustain in the early game. The branch can be also planted to block paths for enemies or to deceive them under the fog.
- 3x Enchanted Mango (65 Gold) - Grants passive +0.6 health regeneration if not consumed. Upon consumption, it refills 100 mana instantly. Shadow Fiend lacks in the mana department and having a mango or two in handy can perhaps help him net kills in the early game.
- Observer Ward - Grants vision of an area in an AoE upon the plant. The ward is stationary and can be destroyed by enemies if they purchase a sentry ward. It is a beneficial item in the mid-lane for Shadow Fiend as it provides him with the vision to see any incoming ganks or to secure the runes in the early game.
- Bottle (675 Gold) - Purchased at 1 minute. The bottle is an essential item on a mid-hero. Regardless of the hero you play, Bottle keeps you sustained through the laning phase by replenishing your mana and HP. It also ensures you store power runes for later instead of immediately using them. As Shadow Fiend is played in the mid-lane in this matchup, a Bottle always comes in handy.
- Boots of Speed (500 Gold) - Purchased at 3 minutes. Provides +45 movement speed to Shadow Fiend. It is ideal for all heroes as you can further purchase upgraded boots with it.
- Infused Raindrops (225 Gold) - Purchased at 3 minutes. Passively provides +0.8 Mana Regeneration while consuming a charge to block 120 incoming magic damage from instances over 75 damage. It comes with 6 charges, helping Shadow Fiend fare well against heroes with high magic damage output.
- Magic Stick (200 Gold) - Purchased at 4 minutes. Gains a charge each time an enemy uses a spell around you. Each direction grants 15 HP and mana and can have up to 10 charges. It is a perfect item in the laning stage if you face heroes who cast spells frequently.
- Magic Wand (450 Gold) - Purchased at 5 minutes. Gains a charge every time an enemy uses a spell in an AoE. It can store up to 20 charges, with each charge healing you up to 15 HP and mana. It is an ideal starting item as it allows SF to sustain himself in the lane if he is facing spellcasting heroes.
- Clarity (50 Gold) - Purchased at 6 minutes. Grants 6 mana regeneration for 25 seconds. As Shadow Fiend loves using mana to secure creeps and kills, this item ensures he sustains his mana throughout the laning phase or even in the late game.
- Power Treads (1400 Gold) - Bought at 7 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping Shadow Fiend stay durable and sufficient in all game stages.
- Blink Dagger (2250 Gold) - Purchased at 11 minutes. Blink Dagger is a core item on Shadow Fiend, as it allows him to initiate a teamfight, or chase enemies with it. It can also be upgraded into Arcane Blink. This will enable him to be the frontline and initiates a fight with the follow-up of his ultimate.
- Black King Bar (4050 Gold) - Purchased at 16 minutes. Provides magic immunity upon usage, making Shadow Fiend invulnerable during team fights. It is essential in most matchups as he has low magical resistance.
- Arcane Blink (6800 Gold) - Purchased at 21 minutes. Blink Dagger can further be upgraded into Arcane Blink which provides 25% Mana Cost Reduction, 20% Debuff Application, and 50% Cast Point reduction on all Shadow Fiend’s spells and items upon usage. It is an ideal item in the late game which helps you deal that extra damage in a teamfight.
- Aghanim’s Shard (1400 Gold) - Purchased at 23 minutes. Shadow Fiend gains an extra soul per kill. He can consume a soul per attack to deal critical damage and fear the target. It is an ideal way to fight in the late game as you can fear enemies while dealing damage to them.
- Smoke of Deceit (50 Gold) - Purchased 27 minutes. It turns the caster and the allied heroes around them invisible unless they come in close contact with enemy heroes or enemy structures.
- Refresher’s Orb (5000 Gold) - Purchased at 30 minutes. Refreshes the cooldown of all items and spells. It is an effective item on Shadow Fiend as it allows you to use crucial spells like Requiem of Souls twice, along with items like Black King Bar or Blink Dagger.
- Shadow Blade (3000 Gold) - Purchased at 34 minutes. Turns Shadow Fiend invisible for a brief duration, increasing his movement speed while he is invisible. If he attacks enemies to break the invisibility, he deals a bonus of 175 damage, which works exceptionally with the cleave.
- Crystalys - (1950 Gold) Bought at 36 minutes. It grants each attack a 30% chance to deal 160% critical damage. The damage can be extremely useful in the early game to fend off enemies and neutralize them.
- Silver Edge (5450 Gold) - Purchased at 36 minutes. Shadow Blade and Crystalis can further be upgraded into Silver Edge which offers the same benefits as its predecessor while also dealing a guaranteed 160% critical strike and disabling enemy passive for 4 seconds. If you are facing enemies with multiple powerful passive spells, then Silver Edge is the right item for you.
Neutral Items
- Seeds of Serenity - Upon usage, provides +8 health regeneration to Shadow Fiend and his all allies in an AoE.
- Tumbler’s Toy - Propels Shadow Fiend 300 units in the direction he is facing. It gets disabled if the damage is dealt with by an enemy hero.
- Vambrace - It acts as a secondary Power Treads which provides Shadow Fiend the stats depending upon the attribute he has set it to. It is essential to survive through the early game.
- Grove Bow - Upon physical attacks by Shadow Fiend, it makes the targeted enemy take 15% amplified magical damage.
2. Miracle Build
Miracle’s high octane and intelligent gameplay have gained him fame and attention from all over the world. The early game build is the most prominent Shadow Fiend build which Miracle loves to try out in his pub games. Miracle’s map awareness and mechanical skills on Shadow Fiend are truly breathtaking and something we all can learn from. He quite well knows everything the hero can do, this helps him induce fear in the mind of his enemies with his immense push and fight potential.
Shadow Fiend is played differently by Miracle as he opts to play the hero in an extremely fast-paced manner, often wishing to buy the spellcasting and mobility items as soon as he can to paralyze the early game of his enemies. He prefers ganking and helping his team in teamfights instead of farming away as he can just push with Diabolic Edict, ending the game as soon as he can. Miracle’s item choices and skill build allow him to go aggressive on his enemies as early as possible. This build is ideal if you are facing enemies with low magic resistance or high armor.
Use This Build If:
- You want to push and pressure the enemy mid-laner as a mid-Shadow Fiend
- You want a spellcasting build that helps you deal terrific damage in teamfights
- You are facing heroes with low magic resistance
- You want to be involved in more skirmishes from the early game
Skill Points
Level 1: Shadowraze - Shadow Fiend razes an area in front of him, dealing AoE damage. Since Shadow Fiend has three razes he can use from level 1, they stack and provide spell amplification with each stack reducing movement speed and turn rate.
Level 2: Necromastery - With each enemy or unit he kills (or denies), Shadow Fiend traps their souls, gaining increased damage. When Shadow Fiend dies, 40% of his trapped souls are lost. Necromastery helps SF do immense damage when he uses his ultimate. Hence most SF players prioritize this spell early on in the game.
Level 3: Shadowraze
Level 4: Necromastery
Level 5: Shadowraze
Level 6: Necromastery
Level 7: Shadowraze
Level 8: Requiem of Souls - Shadow Fiend releases all the souls he captured through Necromastery, dealing damage in a large AoE, slowing enemies, and fearing them. Their magic resistance is also reduced for a brief duration, making them highly vulnerable in a teamfight.
Level 9: Presence of the Dark Lord - Shadow Fiend’s presence reduces armor for enemies in an AoE. This is an effective spell that helps him do high damage in a teamfight if opts for the physical damage build.
Level 10: Necromastery
Level 11: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 12: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 13: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 14: Requiem of Souls
Level 15: +100 Shadowraze Damage
Level 16: +25 Shadowraze stack damage
Level 17: Stats
Level 18: Requiem of Souls
Level 19: Stats
Level 20: +3 Damage Per Soul
Level 25: Shadowraze applies attack damage
Items to buy for this build (Early to Late Game)
- 2x Iron Branch (50 Gold) - Grants +1 of all attributes per branch. It provides decent sustain in the early game. The branch can be also planted to block paths for enemies or to deceive them under the fog.
- Observer Ward - Grants vision of an area in an AoE upon the plant. The ward is stationary and can be destroyed by enemies if they purchase a sentry ward. It is a beneficial item in the mid-lane for Shadow Fiend as it provides him with the vision to see any incoming ganks or to secure the runes in the early game.
- Tango (90 Gold) - Provides health regen if used on a tree (has 3 charges). It's the cheapest yet most convenient way of healing up in the game's early stages when you are playing in the side lanes. Regardless of the hero you play, Tango is a core item.
- 3x Enchanted Mango (65 Gold) - Grants passive +0.6 health regeneration if not consumed. Upon consumption, it refills 100 mana instantly. Shadow Fiend lacks in the mana department and having a mango or two in handy can perhaps help him net kills in the early game.
- Bottle (675 Gold) - Purchased at 1 minute. The bottle is an essential item on a mid-hero. Regardless of the hero you play, Bottle keeps you sustained through the laning phase by replenishing your mana and HP. It also ensures you store power runes for later instead of immediately using them. As Shadow Fiendis played in the mid-lane in this matchup, a Bottle always comes in handy.
- Magic Stick (200 Gold) - Purchased at 1 minute. Gains a charge each time an enemy uses a spell around you. Each direction grants 15 HP and mana and can have up to 10 charges. It is a perfect item in the laning stage if you face heroes who cast spells frequently.
- Boots of Speed (500 Gold) - Purchased at 3 minutes. Provides +45 movement speed to Shadow Fiend. It is ideal for all heroes as you can further purchase upgraded boots with it.
- Wind Lace (250 Gold) - Purchased at 4 minutes. Provides +20 movement speed. It is a decent early-game item providing SF with the much-needed movement speed that he lacks.
- Clarity (50 Gold) - Purchased at 6 minutes. Grants 6 mana regeneration for 25 seconds. As Shadow Fiend loves using mana to secure creeps and kills, this item ensures he sustains his mana throughout the laning phase or even in the late game.
- Power Treads (1400 Gold) - Bought at 6 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping Shadow Fiend stay durable and sufficient in all game stages.
- Magic Wand (450 Gold) - Purchased at 8 minutes. Gains a charge every time an enemy uses a spell in an AoE. It can store up to 20 charges, with each charge healing you up to 15 HP and mana. It is an ideal starting item as it allows SF to sustain himself in the lane if he is facing spellcasting heroes like Zeus.
- Infused Raindrops (225 Gold) - Purchased at 8 minutes. Passively provides +0.8 Mana Regeneration while consuming a charge to block 120 incoming magic damage from instances over 75 damage. It comes with 6 charges, helping Shadow Fiend fare well against heroes with high magic damage output.
- Quelling Blade (100 Gold) - Purchased at 8 minutes. Increases the physical attack damage on non-hero units, and can also be used to cut trees. It is an unusual item on ranged heroes like Shadow Fiend but Miraclr purchases it to escape Nature Prophet’s Sprout.
- Mask of Madness (1775 Gold) - Purchased at 11 minutes. Grants 110 attack speed and 30 movement speed while silencing and reducing armor by 8. It is a typical purchase on Shadow Fiend due to the armor loss but if you have your team backing you then it can be an ideal item if combined with Necromastery.
- Black King Bar (4050 Gold) - Purchased at 17 minutes. Provides magic immunity upon usage, making Shadow Fiend invulnerable during team fights. It is essential in most matchups as he has low magical resistance.
- Blink Dagger (2250 Gold) - Purchased at 21 minutes. Blink Dagger is a core item on Shadow Fiend, as it allows him to initiate a teamfight, or chase enemies. It can also be upgraded into Arcane Blink. This allows him to the frontline and initiates a fight with the follow-up of his ultimate.
- Arcane Blink (6800 Gold) - Purchased at 27 minutes. Blink Dagger can further be upgraded into Arcane Blink which provides 25% Mana Cost Reduction, 20% Debuff Application, and 50% Cast Point reduction on all Shadow Fiend’s spells and items upon usage. It is an ideal item in the late game which helps you deal that extra damage in a teamfight.
- Aghanim’s Shard (1400 Gold) - Purchased at 30 minutes. Shadow Fiend gains an extra soul per kill. He can consume a soul per attack to deal critical damage and fear the target. It is an ideal way to fight in the late game as you can fear enemies while dealing damage to them.
- Scythe of Vyse (5675 Gold) - Purchased at 38 minutes. Scythe of Vyse - Scythe offers immense disable potential as it turns the targeted enemy into a pig, making them unable to use any spells or items while also reducing their movement speed. This disabler item is of high value on Arc Warden as it allows him to dominate the late game with it as he can use it twice with the help of his double, locking down his foes and decimating them with the follow-up from his team.
- Force Staff (2250 Gold) - Purchased at 40 minutes. Pushes Shadow Fiend or the targetted unit in the direction they are facing. It is further upgraded into Hurricane Pike, as it allows him to chase enemies or escape a sticky fight.
- Hurricane Pike (4450 Gold) - Purchased at 42 minutes. Dragon Lance can further be upgraded into Hurricane Pike, which allows Shadow Fiend to force himself and the targeted unit 450 units away from each other while allowing Shadow Fiend to freely attack them for 5 attacks from that distance if he has the vision. Hurricane Pike is an essential item for Shadow Fiend as it helps him escape a messy fight or start one.
Neutral Items
- Trusty Shovel - Allows SF to channel for 1 second to dig either a Bounty Rune, Enchanted Mango, Flask, or a Kobold. It is an ideal early-game neutral item.
- Dragon Scale - Provides 5 Armor and 5 health regen while also dealing 18 damage per second to enemies hit by SF’s physical attacks.
- Ring of Aquila - Grants 1.25 mana regen and 2 armor to nearby allies and allied units. This is an exceptional teamfight item for SF.
- Paladin Sword - Increases lifesteal, spell lifesteal, regen, and healing by 14%. This allows Shadow Fiend to sustain his teamfights.
- Spell Prism - Reduces the cooldowns of Shadow Fiend’s spells and items by 25%.
1. Gpk Build
Not all heroes are as impactful as Gpk on Shadow Fiend. He is one of the rising stars in the European region. Gpk loves playing Shadow Fiend aggressively due to the fight and tank potential that the hero has to offer. He is also known to fare well in almost all matchups due to his survivability and spectacular spellcasting. He can also farm extremely fast and rotate to the other lanes when he gets his ultimate. It is difficult to stop an early game-farmed Shadow Fiend, he just snowballs and runs over his enemies effortlessly. Gpk optimizes a late-game build which allows him to stay relevant and demolish all his enemies with his ultimate, Requiem of Souls.
Gpk loves farming in the early game, an early-game Arcane Blink helps him deal heaps of AoE damage which helps him fight frequently and also be mobile. He often builds items that ensure he has enough mobility and sustains to withstand a teamfight early on. Hence, items such as Black King Bar, and Daedlus are highly preferred by him due to their efficacy. As the game progresses, you can also opt for Aghanim’s Scepter which offers amplifies the magical damage that Shadow Fiend and fight potential, though it’s not seen in this game, it is a highly effective item in the extreme late stages of the game. This build is ideal if you want to be a dominating force right from the laning phase.
Use This Build If:
- You want to have a high-impact Shadow Fiend gameplay right from the laning phase
- You are facing heroes with low magic resistance and low armor
- You want a late-game-oriented build that can obliterate even the worst enemies in the late game
- You want a self-sustainable build that makes you tanky, making it extremely valuable against damage-dealing heroes
Skill Points
Level 1: Shadowraze - Shadow Fiend razes an area in front of him, dealing AoE damage. Since Shadow Fiend has three razes he can use from level 1, they stack and provide spell amplification with each stack reducing movement speed and turn rate.
Level 2: Necromastery - With each enemy or unit he kills (or denies), Shadow Fiend traps their souls, gaining increased damage. When Shadow Fiend dies, 40% of his trapped souls are lost. Necromastery helps SF do immense damage when he uses his ultimate. Hence most SF players prioritize this spell early on in the game.
Level 3: Shadowraze
Level 4: Necromastery
Level 5: Shadowraze
Level 6: Necromastery
Level 7: Shadowraze
Level 8: Requiem of Souls - Shadow Fiend releases all the souls he captured through Necromastery, dealing damage in a large AoE, slowing enemies, and fearing them. Their magic resistance is also reduced for a brief duration, making them highly vulnerable in a teamfight.
Level 9: Necromastery
Level 10: +25 Shadowraze Stack Damage
Level 11: Presence of the Dark Lord - Shadow Fiend’s presence reduces armor for enemies in an AoE. This is an effective spell that helps him do high damage in a teamfight if opts for the physical damage build.
Level 12: Requiem of Souls
Level 13: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 14: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 15: Presence of the Dark Lord
Level 16: +100 Shadowraze Damage
Level 17: Stats
Level 18: Requiem of Souls
Level 19: Stats
Level 20: +3 Damage Per Soul
Level 25: Shadowraze applies attack damage
Items to buy for this build (Early to Late Game)
- 2x Iron Branch (50 Gold) - Grants +1 of all attributes per branch. It provides decent sustain in the early game. The branch can be also planted to block paths for enemies or to deceive them under the fog.
- Tango (90 Gold) - Provides health regen if used on a tree (has 3 charges). It's the cheapest yet most convenient way of healing up in the game's early stages when you are playing in the side lanes. Regardless of the hero you play, Tango is a core item.
- 2x Enchanted Mango (65 Gold) - Grants passive +0.6 health regeneration if not consumed. Upon consumption, it refills 100 mana instantly. Shadow Fiend lacks in the mana department and having a mango or two in handy can perhaps help him net kills in the early game.
- Faerie Fire (70 Gold) - Instantly restores 85 health upon usage for Shadow Fiend. It also passively grants 2 damage per instance. It is an effective item if you’re playing in the mid lane, or just want extra damage and sustain in the side lanes.
- Bottle (675 Gold) - Purchased at 1 minute. The bottle is an essential item on a mid-hero. Regardless of the hero you play, Bottle keeps you sustained through the laning phase by replenishing your mana and HP. It also ensures you store power runes for later instead of immediately using them. As Shadow Fiend is played in the mid-lane in this matchup, a Bottle always comes in handy.
- Boots of Speed (500 Gold) - Purchased at 2 minutes. Provides +45 movement speed to Shadow Fiend. It is ideal for all heroes as you can further purchase upgraded boots with it.
- Sentry Ward (50 Gold) - Purchased at 3 minutes. Reveals invisible enemies, units, and wards in an AoE. As SF is played in the mid-lane by GpK, he opts to purchase this item to destroy enemy observer wards, which saves him from getting ganked.
- Magic Stick (200 Gold) - Purchased at 3 minutes. Gains a charge each time an enemy uses a spell around you. Each direction grants 15 HP and mana and can have up to 10 charges. It is a perfect item in the laning stage if you face heroes who cast spells frequently.
- Clarity (50 Gold) - Purchased at 3 minutes. Grants 6 mana regeneration for 25 seconds. As Shadow Fiend loves using mana to secure creeps and kills, this item ensures he sustains his mana throughout the laning phase or even in the late game.
- Magic Wand (450 Gold) - Purchased at 4 minutes. Gains a charge every time an enemy uses a spell in an AoE. It can store up to 20 charges, with each charge healing you up to 15 HP and mana. It is an ideal starting item as it allows SF to sustain himself in the lane if he is facing spellcasting heroes.
- Infused Raindrops (225 Gold) - Purchased at 4 minutes. Passively provides +0.8 Mana Regeneration while consuming a charge to block 120 incoming magic damage from instances over 75 damage. It comes with 6 charges, helping Shadow Fiend fare well against heroes with high magic damage output.
- Power Treads (1400 Gold) - Bought at 6 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping Shadow Fiend stay durable and sufficient in all game stages.
- Blink Dagger (2250 Gold) - Purchased at 10 minutes. Blink Dagger is a core item on Shadow Fiend, as it allows him to initiate a teamfight, or chase enemies. It can also be upgraded into Arcane Blink. This will enable him to be the frontline and initiates a fight with the follow-up of his ultimate.
- Black King Bar (4050 Gold) - Purchased at 18 minutes. Provides magic immunity upon usage, making Shadow Fiend invulnerable during team fights. It is essential in most matchups as he has low magical resistance.
- Arcane Blink (6800 Gold) - Purchased at 24 minutes. Blink Dagger can further be upgraded into Arcane Blink which provides 25% Mana Cost Reduction, 20% Debuff Application, and 50% Cast Point reduction on all Shadow Fiend’s spells and items upon usage. It is an ideal item in the late game which helps you deal that extra damage in a teamfight.
- Scythe of Vyse (5675 Gold) - Purchased at 32 minutes. Scythe offers immense disable potential as it turns the targeted enemy into a pig, making them unable to use any spells or items while also reducing their movement speed. This disabler item is of high value on Shadow Fiend as it allows him to dominate the late game to lock down his foes and decimate them with the follow-up from his team.
- Crystalys - (1950 Gold) Bought at 35 minutes. It grants each attack a 30% chance to deal 160% critical damage. The damage can be extremely useful in the early game to fend off enemies and neutralize them. Shadowraze also has a crit chance.
- Daedalus - (5150 Gold) Purchased at 37 minutes. Daedalus allows Shadow Fiend to deal critical damage. This high damage allows him to be a devastating hard hitter, as he can also solo kill and does not always need follow-up from his team due to the items he has built earlier.
- Refresher’s Orb (5000 Gold) - Purchased at 40 minutes. Refreshes the cooldown of all items and spells. It is an effective item on Shadow Fiend as it allows you to use crucial spells like Requiem of Souls twice, along with items like Black King Bar or Blink Dagger.
Neutral Items
- Broom Handle - Provides increased armor, attack speed, and attack damage. Shadow Fiend with increased armor which helps him fare well in a teamfight.
- Arcane Ring - Provides 75 Mana to Shadow Fiend and his allies. It also increases his intelligence and armor making him resilient in skirmishes.
- Philosopher’s Stone - It increases the passively gold earned per minute (GPM) by 80, while also providing 200 max Mana, at a cost of reducing attack damage by 30. Shadow Fiend is a carry hero but this item still works on him as most of his damage dealt is magical.
- Timeless Relic - It provides Shadow Fiend with +20% Debuff duration while also increasing his spell amplification by 15%. As Gpk is playing SF in a magical build, this item is highly beneficial to him as it amplifies his ultimate and his magic damage potential.
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