Alchemist - The International 3 Super-Carry

Hi, duly noted about the shadow blade/ maelstrom thing. Yeah, I see people use the armlet quite a lot, and while it makes you definitely more tanky, i don't think it's gives as much utility as a maelstrom which can both be used for faster farming and some mid game presence, aswell as building into the late game mjollnir. That said, if the game is looking to be very active around the mid game and your team aren't making space for you to farm, I totally agree armlet is a viable option.

Again I agree if you rush a straight SB without Midas, maxing unstable concoction is correct because you are building into an alchemist who is able to fight more easily early game. I am naturally quite a greedy carry and prefer to have minimal impact and use space created to farm for longer, and then make a greater shock impact later In the game, which is why the guide maxes greevil's and suggests Midas. A lot of it is personal preference, I guess. I also really dislike battlefury and radiance on alchemist, because while they help with farming, they don't have a progression- by going Midas maelstrom with greevil's, you farm quickly due to the 55 attack speed boost + the chance to chain, aswell as there being item progression in the maelstrom which can be built into a mjollnir for the late game. I personally feel unless you are playing Anti-Mage / PA etc or Naga/Spectre building battlefury/radiance isn't great as it knocks you out a bit for the midgame...but again it's just subjective I guess. Thanks for the comment anyways!

Thanks for the input, however I have no idea how to do that... I just had a spare half hour and hadn't seen a true carry alchemist guide in a long time!

I think you should say in the item build not to buy both Shadow Blade and Maelstrom, as you do in the written part. Also, another good mid game item I usually take instead of the Maelstrom is the Armlet of Mordiggian, which gives more defense and doesn't have the HP removal backdraw when using Chemical Rage. I like the rest, though: Shadow Blade/Armlet into Black King Bar is my usual build, with Assault Cuirass and Abyssal Blade as extensions. I usually don't build a Midas, especially if rushing an SB, but I never complain about Alchemists buying it unless they're having a hard laning phase.

As for the skill build, I'd max Unstable Concoction any day, especially if going for a Shadow Blade: you don't really need Greevil's Greed in the first levels unless you're going to rush a Battle Fury or a Radiance, since Heroes don't farm fast 5 minutes into the game and the extra gold won't be that much of a difference.

Nice guide, I just don't quite like the all-text thing. Make some images, links to the site's database, not just all plain text, I'm sure it'll look better

Devildebil942- agreed, however since The Summit, Dreamhack and ESL One, AA has been getting MUCH less attention; therefore it would be interesting to see if AA continues to fade and as a result if Alchemist makes a resurgence.

krwiozerca- agreed he is a glass cannon, which is why you could pick up a heart as your last item: I think the point is though, he gets farmed so quickly that at the time at which he wants to fight, 2.2k health (roughly) is ample, especially if you have team-mates with you.

With the greevil's greed level thing; I just made a mistake clicking the level button thing on the guide- the point is just to max it by 7

to answer your question as to his crashing in the current meta
AA
thanks to the popularity of aa in the current metagame alchemist was reduced to a support\nothign at all becouse his ultimate shuts you down completely

aside from that, great guide, realy made me want to play the hero

I am pretty sure you are right, bballer23. In that case, on level 4 you can pick either Acid Spray or seconds level of Unstable Concoction.

Why the author could make a mistake like that?

Also, since the nerf on Chemical Rage not providing Alchemist with additional HP, he is kind of a physical glass cannon, that can be kited easily, and while stunned he can be killed with ease. You need more HP items, unless you are ensured that your team can protect you.

I have a question about the skill build, not that I know much about alchemist but I am pretty sure that for any hero, you can't skill one skill 3 times in 4 levels(Greevil's Greed)