Shadow Blade on Lich?

After lying awake in bed last night, my brain birthed an idea that may or may not be a by-product of not getting enough sleep. So I thought to myself, could Shadow Blade be a reasonable item to build on Lich? Here's my reasoning: Lich, is a support with a game-breaking ultimate in Chain Frost that is dependent on both positioning and timing. However, any team that knows what Chain Frost can do will tend to be a bit spread out whenever they see a Lich in team fights, so that way it prevents you from being to position Chain Frost in a way that will allow you to wipe out their whole team. However, with a Shadow Blade you could then have the luxury of walking up to an unsuspecting, clumped up team and get your Chain Frost off and watch as the whole enemy team reports you simply because "you imba." Now then my question for you folks is this: Is the ability to be able to get a couple good Chain Frosts enough to justify building a Shadow Blade on Lich? If not, what other items should I contemplate building and/or should I quit being a scrub and just learn to use a Blink Dagger?

Just learn to use a Blink Dagger. Shadow Blade is for right-click heroes.

Blink Lich on the other hands is pretty legit for the reasons you say.

The only problem is that the idea is very Gimmicky. If you are playing against competant opponents the moment they won't be grouping up when pushing anyway so it's effectiveness is limited. And again, against competent opponents you are only getting away with that once.

It'll troll lower level games, but everything does that.

I also wouldn't build a Blink Dagger on Lich, he's not picked for the ulti, he is picked to dominate lanes, and probably to transition into like Ice Armor on everything since it's a great defensive tool. Thus as your positioning isn't like game mattering vital, nor do you have a good disable to initiate with (Unlike say Rubick or Lion). Thus I'd build Force Staff every time, because it increases your ability to assist the team more than a Blink Dagger I'd argue. A good use of a Force Staff can be fight winning.

Neh, not really liking it. Much rather have a Veil of Discord and a Magnus or Faceless Void on the team :).

I'd say with Lich it's important to hang well back and counter-initiate rather than initiate - despite the slow people can get away from it pretty easily, and decent players will rarely clump without being forced to anyway. Your best chance to land a good ult is generally when they're already too busy fighting your team or disabled/slowed.

Since Chain Frost interrupts channeling spells it's best to use it after the teamfight started so you can take out channeling abilities like Black Hole and Death Ward in case those are in the game.
If there is no big channeling ult in the enemy lineup you should still hold untill the enemy team is initiating so you can throw them into confusion. They won't be sure wether to just go on or back away most of the time. Since many players also think BKB is overrated it's really effective.

I think the previous answers cover this pretty thoroughly.

Especially this one ^ THE POLL HAS SPOKEN! 8{D