Discussion of the Week: Shadowblade

Firstly, this is the new weekly thread I'll be doing. Basic discussion about basic or advanced topics. Feel free to suggest topics for future weeks!

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Shadow Blade is an item that grants invisibility and a good bit of burst damage upon exiting invis with an attack. It has no recipe cost, but costs 3000 gold total. A long time ago it was seen as a pub item that could easily be countered, hardly worth picking up on anyone, and then it got a spike in popularity, even in the pro-scene on many carries/semi-carries like Dragon Knight and Nature's Prophet (each for different reasons). It got nerfed shortly after it's spike in popularity, but still remains a staple for the heroes mentioned, and in pubs is still quite frequently picked up by a variety of heroes.

Personally, I feel that it is still an easily counterable item. It's good on Prophet because he can TP while invis, and it allows him to preemptively escape while enemies are tping in during a split-push, but besides that, I'm not a huge fan on the item. It costs quite a bit when there are better items for carries when it comes to late game investments. This is my personal opinion of it, don't take it as fact.

Clearly russian or troll item, however you can buy it on Bounty Hunter for 2 stealths and more dmg :D
I hate when I see pub Luna or Gyrocopter with this, they make me cry, especially if I lose to them because support don't buy any detection and I don't have slots to buy and carry one.

I really miss the old buildup of Claymore, Quarterstaff and the recipe. It's easier to make overall when compared to Shadow Amulet's 1600 gold.

I agree, samu. I think Quarterstaff needed more build options anyway, so now the only thing it builds into is Oblivion Staff and Butterfly. Now we have Shadow Amulet that builds into nothing else other than Shadow Blade. Hopefully Icefrog has more plans for it in the future.

Yeah, and Shadow Amulet in itself isn't that useful considering it's high cost. I suppose if the invis had less fade time, let you move for even a fixed distance until breaking (similarly to Nature's Guise, except without trees) then the current buildup for Shadow Blade can be justified.

I think a good addition to Shadow Amulet would be an AoE active, making people in a region invisible till they move? That would be great for roshan baits.

I love when people build shadow blade against me. Unless I'm playing prophet, I've already got at least my first core item by the time they build it, usually onto my second. Once they have it, counter it by carrying dust/wards.

Nothing better then watch an Ursa move up to your whole team while "safe" in shadowblade. Only to wait for perfect positioning to stun lock and kill.

There are very few heroes who get more from Shadowblade then Blink dagger.

With no receipe it's pretty good value for money - the attack speed bonus is basically free and obviously Shadow Blade is a big improvement over Shadow Amulet. It's still easy to counter, but that is down to a team effort to make sure they have sufficient detection (i.e. anyone who has space in their inventory should be carrying Dust of Appearance or Sentry Wards). Just saying "it's the supports job" isn't enough - they aren't always there, alive, etc when you might need it.

Shadow Blade - while the invis is obviously very useful, the bonus damage and movement speed are almost better in many ways - great for chasing, ganking and escaping.

For me, the secret to using a Shadow Blade well at more than a beginner's standard of play is to have good map awareness, and use it early. If you see that counter gank coming (e.g. by sending out your treant's to scout) then you can cloak early, use the bonus movement to run somewhere out of sight, and get away.

the item is a necessary evil - The reason for its increase in popularity is it's use OFFENSIVELY, not as an escape mechanism as it was before. Prophet is really the only exception.
Shadow Amulet needs a new item as suggested. something expensive, with something like a yasha - the hide becomes passive - and like smoke, you become visible when near enemy heroes.. only you fade after 3.5 seconds.. attacking and using skills you will be revealed.. really good ganking item, and the yasha move speed will get you around quickly..

Even if its counterable, its one of the best, if not the best early-mid damage boosting items, and the speed it provides while invis is worth it alone, but its definitely misused/abused in pubs. Could be worse, its version in HoN was given an upgrade (just imagine shadow blade being a main component in a rediculous luxury item).