Shadow Demon

Intelligence•Ranged•Support, Disabler, Initiator, Nuker

Skill Build

A level 1-25 plan based on this hero's current ability list. Adjust talents and extra spells for the match.

Levels 1-25

1
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
2
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
3
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
4
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
5
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
6
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
7
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
8
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
9
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
10Talent
+stack damage% Shadow Poison Damage
11
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
12
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
13
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
14
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
15Talent
+25 Movement Speed
16
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
17
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
18Stats
Stats
19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+damage reflection pct% Disseminate Shared Damage
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
Demonic Purge Applies Shadow Poison

1
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
2
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
3
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
4
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
5
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
6
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
7
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
8
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
9
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
10Talent
+stack damage% Shadow Poison Damage
11
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
12
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
13
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45

14
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
15Talent
+25 Movement Speed
16
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
17
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
18Stats
Stats
19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+damage reflection pct% Disseminate Shared Damage
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
Demonic Purge Applies Shadow Poison

1
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
2
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
3
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
4
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
5
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
6
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
7
Disruption
Q
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.
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 24 / 22 / 20sMana: 120
8
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
9
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100

10Talent
+stack damage% Shadow Poison Damage
11
Disseminate
W
Disseminate
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.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 26 / 22 / 18 / 14sMana: 100
12
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
13
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
14
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
15Talent
+25 Movement Speed
16
Shadow Poison
E
Shadow Poison
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 50 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 2.5sMana: 45
17
Demonic Purge
R
Demonic Purge
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
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 70 / 65 / 60sMana: 150 / 175 / 200
18Stats
Stats

19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+damage reflection pct% Disseminate Shared Damage
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
Demonic Purge Applies Shadow Poison

Talent tree

AbilityCharges Charges of Disruption

Lv25Pick one

Demonic Purge Applies Shadow Poison

-AbilityCooldowns Demonic Purge Cooldown

Lv20Pick one

+damage reflection pct% Disseminate Shared Damage

-AbilityCooldowns Shadow Poison Cooldown

Lv15Pick one

+25 Movement Speed

+8 Strength

Lv10Pick one

+stack damage% Shadow Poison Damage

Item Builds

Based on real match data from OpenDota. Sorted by popularity.

Starting Items

8 items

Iron Branch

55g

Targets the ground to plant a happy little tree that lasts for 20 seconds.

Tango

90g

Consumes a target tree to gain 7 health regeneration for 16 seconds. Consuming an Ironwood Tree doubles the heal duration. Comes with 3 charges. Can be used on an allied hero to give them one Tango. Tree Range: 165

Blood Grenade

50g

Throw a grenade at the target area. Enemies in the area will take 50 damage on impact, and be slowed by -15% and take 15 damage every 1s for 5 seconds. Radius 300.

Observer and Sentry Wards

50g

Plant the currently active ward. Double-Click to switch the currently active ward.

Faerie Fire

65g

Instantly restores 85 health.

Sentry Ward

50g

Plants a Sentry Ward, an invisible watcher that grants True Sight, the ability to see invisible enemy units and wards, to any existing allied vision within a 1050 radius. Lasts 7 minutes. Does not grant ground vision. Hold Control to give one Sentry Ward to an allied hero.

Magic Stick

200g

Instantly restores 15 health and mana per charge stored. Max 10 charges. Gains a charge whenever a visible enemy within 1200 range uses an ability.

Smoke of Deceit

50g

Turns the caster and all allied player-controlled units in a 1200 radius invisible, and grants 15% bonus movement speed for 45 seconds. While the caster is still disguised, any allies that come within 300 range of them will also get the buff applied to them. Each smoke can only be applied once to allies. Attacking or moving within 1025 range of an enemy hero or tower, will break the invisibility. Disguise grants invisibility that is immune to True Sight. Smoke of Deceit is usable from the backpack and has no cooldown when swapped into the main inventory.

Early Game

6 items

Arcane Boots

1,500g

Restores 150 mana to all nearby allies. Radius: 1200

Tranquil Boots

900g

Whenever you attack a hero or are attacked by any unit, the bonus 14 HP regen is lost and the movement speed bonus is reduced to 40 for 13 seconds.

Null Talisman

505g

Urn of Shadows

825g

Provides 30 health regeneration when cast on allies, and deals 25 damage per second when cast on enemies. Lasts 8 seconds. Gains charges every time an enemy hero dies within 1500 units.

Power Treads

1,400g

Switches between +10 Strength, +10 Agility, or +10 Intelligence.

Bracer

505g

Mid Game

8 items

Arcane Boots

1,500g

Restores 150 mana to all nearby allies. Radius: 1200

Blink Dagger

2,250g

Teleport to a target point up to 1200 units away. Blink Dagger cannot be used for 3 seconds after taking damage from an enemy hero or Roshan.

Aether Lens

2,275g

Glimmer Cape

2,150g

After a 0.5 second delay, grants invisibility, 20 movement speed and a magic damage barrier that absorbs up to 375 damage to you or a target allied unit for 5 seconds. Can be cast while channeling.

Pavise

1,350g

When cast on an ally, grants them a physical damage barrier that absorbs 250 damage. Duration: 7s.

Force Staff

2,200g

Pushes any target unit 600 units in the direction it is facing.

Aghanim's Scepter

4,200g

Upgrades the ultimate, and some abilities, of all heroes.

Solar Crest

2,575g

When cast on an ally, grants them 5 armor, 60 attack speed, 15% movement speed and a 350 physical damage barrier. Does not grant bonus armor, movement or attack speed if used on self. Duration: 7

Late Game

6 items

Aghanim's Scepter

4,200g

Upgrades the ultimate, and some abilities, of all heroes.

Guardian Greaves

4,450g

Restores 325 health and 200 mana to nearby allies, and removes most negative effects from the caster. Radius: 1200 Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

Black King Bar

4,050g

Applies a basic dispel. Grants 60% magic resistance and immunity to reflected and pure damage. For the duration of the effect, any negative effect from enemy spells has no effect. Duration: 9s Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

Aghanim's Blessing

5,800g

Upgrades the ultimate, and some abilities, of all heroes.

Boots of Travel 2

4,500g

Upgrades your Town Portal Scroll, allowing it to target units and heroes, reduces cooldown, channel time and does not consume a charge on usage.

Octarine Core

4,900g