Hero Discussion: Night Stalker

Hi guys, it's TheSofa, bringing you another community discussion.



I understand there are 2 ways of playing Night Stalker: Mid and offlane.
I don't really like playing him mid, I'd much rather play an offlane #3 role.
Usually it's farm by day and kill people by night.
I like to dominate their jungle at night, roaming around and placing wards.
I like playing Night Stalker with Luna, extra 10 seconds of night really helps in team-fights.

Items (Major only, skipped Tango, Branches etc): Stout Shield >> Boots of Speed >> Urn of Shadows >> Phase Boots >> Aghanim's Scepter >> Situational

Situational: Skull Basher, Vladmir's Offering, Crimson Guard, Maelstrom/ Mjollnir

Thanks guys!

Going mid and getting Hand of Midas to farm during the day (and using it whenever) is really good as well.


You could probably max Void and get silence at level 2, Hunter in the Night at level 4. At level 5 bar, night's going to start. You should have bottle and at least brown boots by then.


I feel Phase Boots is not really the thing to go on him. Just get treads, much better. Armlet of Mordiggian is a really good item on him as well. I usually choose it over Vanguard.

My situational items have overlap only on Skull Basher, and i skip stout shield, get a bottle and go mid, but otherwise similar.

as i see it there are 2 sub-sets of items you can build on NS, utility and raw/stats/i cant think of a good name. examples below:

Utility: Gem of True Sight(NS is one of the best carriers due to aghs vision), Orchid Malevolence(extra silence and a bit more damage is nice, especially with the popularity of storm), Scythe of Vyse(sheep is always nice), Blink Dagger(good on (almost) everyone, if you are snowballing or want to kill wards with your gem, it is good), Diffusal Blade(in case of Omniknight), Heaven's Halberd(some useful stats and a disarm for overfed carry), Eul's Scepter of Divinity(gained some fame as a recommended item. i rarely actually get it over sheep/orchid, though), and theoretically Rod of Atos, but ive never actually tried it.

the other category: Heart of Tarrasque(very useful, keeps you from getting killed as quickly, then heals you if you run out of the fight), Armlet of Mordiggian(cheap and strong), Black King Bar(i dont need to explain this), Assault Cuirass(go-to right-click enhancer and counter to phys dps), Abyssal Blade/ Skull Basher(bkb piercing stun, some damage, almost always get assault first), Monkey King Bar(pesky evasion), Eye of Skadi(nice slow, some hp, armor and attack speed. not the best choice in most cases though), Satanic(usually better than heart if you are late game and have a few damage items), Linken's Sphere(i hate bane), and i have a little idea about using Manta Style to provide a distraction or scout for wards with a gem, but ive never tried it. if doing that, i might get a Sange and Yasha and disassemble it for halberd and manta. its probably not worth it, though.

i rarely get any item past the first few (4 utility, 7 other) on either list, and i find myself building utility more and more often.

the main problems i encounter is when:
A. i cant get level 5, boots and bottle by first night (rare, but Viper and TA have done it a couple times)
B. all other lanes lost and ganks do not snowball any of them

almost forgot, skill build is: qwqeqeq or qwqeqrq to start, then max e, then w before stats.

edit: 3 posts in ~2 minutes, was not expecting that

Whos with me on NS getting a euls?

I've seen him played in a very passive way before with Scythe of Vyse, Orchid Malevolence and such. I personally don't like this way of building him.

I usually try for Phase Boots and an Armlet of Mordiggian followed by Skull Basher, Drum of Endurance, Heart of Tarrasque, Manta Style, Radiance (those last three are situationals.

I usually play NS mid, getting a bottle if I think that I will need to use tons of abilities. At 4 minutes, armlet or no, I'm ganking. If i haven't participated in at least 4 kills by the 8 minute mark I take it as a personal failure as a Night Stalker.

I don't really like this hero so im going to ****post :D

anyways, i like the phase > urn > drums > euls Vroom-Vroom build :D

My Man!! High Five UP TOP!!!

http://www.dotafire.com/dota-2/guide/out-of-control-how-to-ball-as-balanar-14403

Saves me typing stuff, especially considering I just made it :)

the guide adv is real.

lol jks.REPLY TO THE ****ING COMMENTS YOU KLUTZ