![]() In the process, players are misled to believe that one item is better, by necessity, than the other. ![]() When Valve puts Shadow Blade as a core item for a hero like Sniper, it edges out Blink Dagger in the situational category. For heroes that can best use it, it’s the threat of “my carry can pickoff your carry” that gives Shadow Blade an edge over Blink Dagger. Shadow Blade allows you not only to initiate but to stealthily move around the map, underneath enemy observer wards. It’s why heroes with solo pickoff potential such as Windranger or Lina can be more devastating in the mid-late game with Shadow Blade instead of Blink Dagger. Sometimes you’ll see pro players use the threat of a missing core to put an enemy team on alert, then using that space to farm instead. Cores disappear and reappear on the map all the time, whether to farm the lane or the jungle. Missing cores that can initiate are more difficult to anticipate than missing support heroes. The difference between Shadow Blade and Blink Dagger as initiation items is that Shadow Blade puts pressure on the map by a core (safe or midlaner more often) instead of a support. Dragon Knight also benefits from Blink Dagger, but as a strength hero he benefits more from Shadow Blade’s attack speed buff, with Silver Edge being a natural upgrade with it’s Sange component. Shadow Fiend can channel Requiem of Souls on top of an unsuspecting enemy hero, almost guaranteeing an instant kill with damage up to 1440/2160/2880 (at levels 1/2/3). ![]() For heroes like Sniper or Drow Ranger, who are too squishy to initiate, the money is better off spent on stat items, like Yasha.Īs an initiation tool is where Shadow Blade recoups its cost. You can’t depend on a 2800 gold item to get away when it’s countered by a 180 gold item (though this will depend on your MMR bracket). Shadow Blade here is being used as an escape tool, and it’s in this case where pub players are doing it wrong. It’s about the common scene where three teammates fumble into a gank, and the enemy Drow Ranger enables Shadow Blade and walks away. This isn’t about late game scenarios where your carry has no slots for Dust, and the map is wide open to preempt Sentry Ward placement. ![]() Despite buffs to Dust of Appearance and reduced costs of Sentry Ward, invisibility remains invaluable when no one buys either. Is there a reason why pub players are picking Shadow Blade, if for any reason other than it being among the recommended items (in either the core or suggested category)? One explanation could be the value of invisibility among average pub players. The top 5 users of Shadow Blade this week It’s only in the niche cases among few heroes that Shadow Blade has a case for being a competitive item with Blink Dagger. As an escape tool, ever since Shadow Blade’s cooldown nerf, it fits more favorably with split pushing heroes, such as Invoker or Nature’s Prophet. Tidehunter, Tiny, Sand King).įor all other purposes, in the vast area of mobility, Blink Dagger is still the superior item.
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