Slark

Agility•Melee•Carry, Escape, Disabler, 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
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
2
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
3
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
4
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
5
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
6
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
7
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
8
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
9
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
10Talent
-AbilityCooldowns Dark Pact Cooldown
11
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
12
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
13
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
14
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
15Talent
+total damage Dark Pact Damage
16
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
17
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
18Stats
Stats
19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+agi gain Agility gain/stolen per Essence Shift Stack
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
+durations Shadow Dance Duration

1
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
2
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
3
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
4
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
5
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
6
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
7
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
8
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
9
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
10Talent
-AbilityCooldowns Dark Pact Cooldown
11
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
12
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
13
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40

14
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
15Talent
+total damage Dark Pact Damage
16
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
17
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
18Stats
Stats
19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+agi gain Agility gain/stolen per Essence Shift Stack
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
+durations Shadow Dance Duration

1
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
2
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
3
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
4
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
5
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
6
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
7
Dark Pact
Q
Dark Pact
After a short delay, Slark sacrifices some of his life blood, purging most negative debuffs and dealing damage to enemy units around him and to himself. Slark only takes 30% of the damage. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 9 / 8 / 7 / 6sMana: 65
8
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
9
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75

10Talent
-AbilityCooldowns Dark Pact Cooldown
11
Pounce
W
Pounce
Slark leaps forward, leashing and applying Essence Shift stacks to the first hero he connects. That unit can only move a limited distance away from Slark's landing position.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 24 / 20 / 16 / 12sMana: 75
12
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
13
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
14
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
15Talent
+total damage Dark Pact Damage
16
Saltwater Shiv
E
Saltwater Shiv
Slark slices the target with his salty shiv, stealing a portion of the target's movement speed, Health Regen and Health Restoration. These effects stack independently.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4Cooldown: 14 / 12 / 10 / 8sMana: 25 / 30 / 35 / 40
17
Shadow Dance
R
Shadow Dance
When not visible to the enemy team, Slark passively gains bonus movement speed and health regeneration. If Slark is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive movement and health regeneration bonuses are lost for 2 seconds. When activated, Slark hides himself in a cloud of shadows, becoming immune to detection. Attacking, casting spells, and using items will not reveal Slark, but enemies can see the cloud itself.
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30sMana: 100
18Stats
Stats

19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+agi gain Agility gain/stolen per Essence Shift Stack
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
+durations Shadow Dance Duration

Talent tree

+durations Essence Shift Duration

Lv25Pick one

+durations Shadow Dance Duration

+attack speed Shadow Dance Attack Speed

Lv20Pick one

+agi gain Agility gain/stolen per Essence Shift Stack

+bonus regen Shadow Dance Regen

Lv15Pick one

+total damage Dark Pact Damage

+leash durations Pounce Leash

Lv10Pick one

-AbilityCooldowns Dark Pact Cooldown

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

Quelling Blade

100g

Destroy a target tree.

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.

Faerie Fire

65g

Instantly restores 85 health.

Circlet

155g

Slippers of Agility

140g

Observer Ward

Plants an Observer Ward, an invisible watcher that gives ground vision in a 1600 radius to your team. Lasts 6 minutes. Hold Control to give one Observer Ward to an allied hero.

Early Game

8 items

Power Treads

1,400g

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

Wraith Band

505g

Bracer

505g

Perseverance

1,400g

Orb of Corrosion

1,050g

Your attacks reduce the target's armor by -2, slows their movement by -16% (-8% against melee targets), and reduces Health Restoration by 16%. Lasts for 3 seconds.

Soul Ring

805g

Consume %abilityhealthcost% health to temporarily gain 170 mana. Lasts 10 seconds. If the mana gained cannot fit in your mana pool, it creates a buffer of mana that will be used before your mana pool.

Falcon Blade

1,125g

Hand of Midas

2,200g

Kills a non-hero target for 160 gold. Killing a neutral creep additionally grants a madstone bundle. Cannot be used on Ancient creeps.

Mid Game

8 items

Diffusal Blade

2,500g

Targets an enemy, slowing it for 4 seconds.

Aghanim's Scepter

4,200g

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

Mage Slayer

3,100g

Places a debuff when you attack enemies, dealing 40 physical damage per second and causing them to do 40% less spell damage for 3 seconds.

Perseverance

1,400g

Echo Sabre

2,700g

Causes melee attacks to attack twice in quick succession. The double attacks apply a 100% movement slow for 0.8 seconds on the first strike.

Shadow Blade

3,250g

Makes you invisible for 17 seconds, or until you attack or cast a spell. While Shadow Walk is active, you move 20% faster and can move through units. If attacking to end the invisibility, you gain 175 bonus physical damage on that attack.

Hand of Midas

2,200g

Kills a non-hero target for 160 gold. Killing a neutral creep additionally grants a madstone bundle. Cannot be used on Ancient creeps.

Power Treads

1,400g

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

Late Game

8 items

Aghanim's Scepter

4,200g

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

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

Disperser

6,100g

Dispels both the wearer and the target. Enemy targets are slowed for 5 seconds. Allied targets gain bonus movespeed and 40% slow resistance for 5 seconds. Caster is always granted the ally benefit on cast. Both movement speed reduction and increase start at 100% and gradually decrease to 0% over the course of the buff duration. Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

Eye of Skadi

5,900g

Attacks lower enemy movement by -25% if they are melee and -50% if they are ranged. Attacks also lower enemy attack speed by -20% and Health Restoration by 50%. Lasts for 3 seconds.

Silver Edge

5,700g

Makes you invisible for 17 seconds, or until you attack or cast a spell. While invisible, you move 25% faster and can move through units. Attacking to end the invisibility will deal 300 bonus physical damage, disable their passive abilities for 5 seconds, and cap their movement speed to 200.

Aghanim's Blessing

5,800g

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

Monkey King Bar

5,000g

Grants each attack a 80% chance to pierce through evasion and deal 70 bonus magical damage.

Sange and Yasha

4,200g