Weaver: BKB or Linken's Sphere?

Title says it all. I feel that the Linken's Sphere is outdated (I personally go Desolator as my core), but people recommend it a lot without mentioning Black King Bar.

I'm more inclined to the BKB due to the lower cost yet (imo) better effect.

This choice is assuming that Weaver is ran as a #1 by the way.

Definitely Linken's. You mostly get it for the regen since it's very handy for the laning phase of such a farming Hero; the extra stats also help a lot in the mid game. You don't really need BKB's magical immunity most of the time since Weaver can easily escape from difficult situations. The Linken's block can be used on another Hero or just to avoid BKB-piercing disables such as Primal Roar and Fiend's Grip.

BKB is most of the time a situational item since, as I said before, Weaver's abilities make him a difficult Hero to catch; but still, I sometimes buy a Drum of Endurance and then a Yasha and Black King Bar to come into fights quicker when I'm behind in farm and levels. Also, of course the Desolator is most of the time a core item (not always since you will need a Monkey King Bar against PA and Butterfly-carriers), but if you don't have enough stats ( Drum of Endurance/ Ultimate Orb) or sustainability ( Ring of Health) you'll get focused too much in teamfights and, eventually, die before getting kills.

I think Peppo says the most of it, Linkens just gives an already hard to kill hero pretty much invulnerability + the regen he needs for his spells, however it means he gets active a bit later, but when he does he can be pretty hard to deal with.

However if the enemy team has more area of effect spells like say an invoker or such a bkb can totally be the better choice however you'll perhaps find yourself with a bit of a mana problem (unless there's a CM / KotL / arcane boots / etc) assuming you don't choose your shukuchis sparingly. (I sure don't!)

And perhaps you already have a hero that soaks up a lot of damage and you're needed for plain DPS, you could skip the magic immunity items and go straight for a deso and drums.

I agree with you that a lot of people go linkens without even thinking it over though.

For sure you should think about it.

If you're split pushing against heroes like batrider, clock, beastmaster, heroes with shadowblade+hex, then Linken's is definitely what you want. However if your team relies on 5 man, there's no reason not to go Deso + BKB and skip the Linken's altogether.

Dont decide now. Decide it on your games. If you are mainly splitpushing get a linkens. But often when you are fighting you need a BKB. Look at their spells and decide then. Your choice should come down PURELY on the effect of the item. Not the stats or regen it gives.

^ This

Imo there are also times where getting both can be viable, a Linken's Sphere can make you hard to lock down as a Split Pusher, but when the other Team starts getting more and more Items that can lock you down Late Game, you may need that BKB to block what your Linken's cannot keep up with.

As is was already mentioned, you have to decide depending on the specific game.


Especially as a #1 Weaver there will be many games, where you cannot afford to go linkens first and you need BKB.
An example would be, if you are up against massive AOE Teamfight like Tidehunter/Disruptor or similar stuff like that. Linkens won't do **** gainst those heroes and you can very much just die to those Combos, due to your low HP/Armor.
With some mana-management a Basilius is usually enough regen.

You also might be forced to go both, Linkens AND BKB on some ocassions.

Yeah does depend what you're up against - Linken's Sphere can be bad if you take too long about it (really need damage items to be effective in team fights), and is obviously more useful against specific single target powers that may be used to try and counter you.

BKB is very useful, but is more situational - as noted against the likes of Ravage etc it's pretty useful. Linkens is more rounded stats/regen wise though.