Ability
Disruption
Banishes the targeted unit from the battlefield for a short duration. Upon returning, two illusions of the banished unit with bonus base damage are created under Shadow Demon's control.
↻ 26 / 24 / 22 / 20 sec.Mana 120
Shadow Demon
Abilities, roles and builds with an explanation for every purchase.
HERO GAME PLANWhat I want to do in the game
I save an ally with Disruption and restrict a dangerous target with demonic disables.
Spewing clouds of demonic poison to damage enemies or scout the battlefield, few dare to approach Shadow Demon. Banishing an enemy as his allies gather for the kill, he can inflict demonic curses as he summons traitorous illusions to turn enemy strength against itself.
Abilities at hand
01 / ROLE IN THE TEAM
A pick is not a plan yet.
My recommendation is a starting point. We choose another position together with the team and for its needs.
05
Hard support · position 5
Initial recommendationHelp the lane, provide vision and keep the ally alive first; expensive upgrades follow the necessary team purchases.
04
Support · position 4
I contribute through laning, control and movement. I adapt the expensive core route to my budget.
02 / ITEMS FOR A PURPOSE
What I buy and why.
This is an editorial starting plan based on hero mechanics. It is not presented as a match I have already tested or a popularity ranking.
Hard support · position 5
My starting plan
Here is my initial plan: I do my role's job first, then choose the items the team needs. I adapt the order and expensive purchases to the opponent.
01 / First stepArcane BootsProvide mana for laning and regular ability use.
02 / FoundationAether LensLets you use targeted abilities and items from a safer distance.
03 / FoundationGlimmer CapeAdds a protective tool and hides the chosen ally; invisibility does not replace escaping detection.
04 / Next choiceForce StaffMoves me or an ally out of danger; direction depends on the target's facing.
05 / Next choiceAghanim's ScepterUnlocks or upgrades Demonic Purge. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
What I change for the situation 3 options
Aghanim's Shard ↗Unlocks or upgrades Demonic Cleanse. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
Aeon Disk ↗Protects against sudden focus fire. I account for the cooldown and the fact that my damage is limited while it triggers.
Blink Dagger ↗Changes the entry angle and lets me reach a target quickly. Damage taken can prevent its use.
I see the minute on the clock. And the situation too.
I do not assign one ‘correct’ minute to every purchase. I look at my gold, the next fight and the problem: am I missing mana, target access, control or protection? If an expensive slot will arrive too late, I get a useful answer earlier.
03 / HERO ABILITIES
Abilities. As in the game.
Original Valve icons and descriptions. Cooldowns and mana are shown by level from the data snapshot; talents and upgrades can change the values.
Ability
Disseminate
When the ability’s target takes damage, all enemies within a radius of 675 of the target, including the target itself if it is an enemy, also take a portion of that damage. Can be cast on enemies or allies.
↻ 26 / 22 / 18 / 14 sec.Mana 100
Details
Whenever the target takes damage, all enemies, including the target itself if it is an enemy, within 675 range of the target also receive a portion of that damage. Can target enemy and allied units. Effect is paused if the target is hidden by Disruption.
Ability
Shadow Poison
Launches a cloud in the selected direction, damaging and poisoning enemies. The first 5 hits on the same target multiply the poison’s base damage by 1/2/4/8/16, while each subsequent hit adds 60 damage.
↻ 2.5 sec.Mana 40
Details
Deals damage in a line, and afflicts enemy units with a poison effect. The poison deals 1/2/4/8/16 times the stack damage based on the number of stacks on the target, up to 5 stacks. Additional stacks cause 60 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Ability
Demonic Purge
Purges the target, removing all positive effects and slowing it. The target’s movement speed gradually returns. When the effect ends, speed is fully restored and the target takes damage.
↻ 70 / 65 / 60 sec.Mana 150 / 175 / 200
Details and upgrades
Purges the target enemy unit, removing positive buffs, and slowing the target for the duration. The unit slowly regains its speed until the end of the duration, upon which damage is dealt. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Demonic Purge. DISPEL TYPE: Basic Dispel
Aghanim’s Scepter
Replaces the cooldown with 2 charges. The ability applies break to its victims.
Innates, upgrades and other forms2 abilities +
These abilities are not necessarily available at the same time. I check the condition beside the name: innate ability, another form or an Aghanim purchase.
From Aghanim’s Shard
Demonic Cleanse
Purges an allied target, continuously removing all negative effects for a duration. Heals the target when the effect ends. Works on units affected by Disruption.
Full description
Cleanses the target allied unit, removing negative buffs for the duration. At the end of the duration, the unit is healed. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Demonic Cleanse. DISPEL TYPE: Basic Dispel
Innate
Menace
Shadow Demon's Attacks apply a stacking debuff to the enemy for 8 seconds that increases their damage taken.
Full description
Shadow Demon's Attacks apply a stacking debuff to the enemy for 8 seconds that increases their damage taken.
Valve base stats +
- Health · base
- 626
- Mana · base
- 339
- Damage · Valve field
- 51–55
- Armour · Valve field
- 3
- Movement speed
- 290
- Attack range
- 500
- Strength · base / gain
- 23 / 2.6
- Agility · base / gain
- 18 / 2.2
- Intelligence · base / gain
- 22 / 3.6
These are fields from the official source. The hero's final values in the client account for attributes and other active mechanics.
KEEP EXPLORING
One hero. Many decisions.
Items, slang and real episodes help connect abilities with what happens in a match.