Balancing Phantom Assassin

Not exactly. Remember that Vlad's gives 15% damage, and I think that comes AFTER crits. So PA still Crits for a bit (Although less than other builds), and is a lot tankier than usual.

Getting a new one and dumping the old one (can't sell them anymore T-T )

That's the thing, you don't really need a Damage Item, you get Damage from Mortal Strike and Attack Speed from Phantom Strike, PA's biggest problem early on, is that she's Squishy and thus susceptible to getting Nuked down before she can Right-Click anyone down.

Battle Fury allows you to Farm, but you're not Anti-Mage, you're not gonna clear Camps very quickly so it's barely any better than Hand of Midas or Maelstrom, but more than twice as expensive, and if the other Team are dumb enough to clump up? You might as well build Dagon, anything works against n00bs.

^^

So my build was actually legit? Like, without the mjollnir, just the maelstrom.

Fixed it for you. You (almost) always want to prioritize Abyssal Blade over Monkey King Bar though, even delaying it for an Eye of Skadi is good in some cases. Oh, if you really like the Maelstrom take it after the BKB since it's not used as a farming item in this build.


Do you really need so many items to actually deal damage as a PA? In the early game the thing that counts most is teamwork, and in a 5v5 engagement having Drums + Vlad's is usually better than having a BF/BKB unless you're bulking up for the late game. And if you still think you'll deal no damage after the BKB, remember that you should've got enough early lead to finish the game before the very late stages. If you haven't, then you're left with a backup build that helps your team and doesn't make you useless.

So, to me, there are two kind of builds:
The mid-game focused PA: Phase Boots, Drum of Endurance and/or Vladmir's Offering and Black King Bar.
The late game PA: Power Treads, Ring of Aquila (if you like it), Black King Bar and optional Helm of the Dominator.
As for the late game items, I usually go - in this order - Abyssal Blade, Satanic/ Eye of Skadi (Satanic when you go HotD, Skadi when you go Vlad's), Monkey King Bar and then Assault Cuirass/ Heart of Tarrasque/ Scythe of Vyse/Skadi.
I go Power Treads in the BKB rush build because it lacks early game survivability and attack speed, two things that are much more valuable than extra crit damage and movement speed in this case.

Keep in mind that I change my mind a lot, so maybe I won't like those builds next month.

Thanks, Peppo!

I will try that someday.
I have one more question, though. Why Abyssal over MKB?

because they are both damage items but abyssal gives the bash and the active. MKB is only better against evasion.

Actually peppo why skadi only with vlads? Did you forgot it stacks with lifesteal?

Keep in mind that you have to think about your late game items before reaching the late game, that's why I never get an early HotD if I'm sure I'll get a Skadi or a Vlad's if I want a Satanic. Basically, Vlad's is the better lifesteal item, and since going Vlad's + Satanic is a waste you usually want to get a Skadi with it. Vice versa, if you buy a HotD, the Satanic is a cheaper upgrade that doesn't take an extra inventory slot.

Aquilla isn't that bad of an item. Yet there is a time that you should get it and a time to skip it.

You literally should be aiming to have Aquilla complete by 5-7 minutes. Any later and it's seriously gimping you. It's also one of the first items you should be selling to open up slots.

Y aquilla so hated? Isnt it like an early game stat item like drums and vlads?

Also Sny..... :(((((