My Guide to Sniper

About Me

Hi guys my name is Felix. I have been playing Dota2 for 2.7 years (If I'm not wrong) and you can find me on Instagram or Twitter (@felix_denz).

This is my seventh guide here, so i expect my elders to give me comments and help me fix my mistakes. If there is a sameness with other's guide, it is a pure coincidental and don't sue me for it.

About Sniper

Lore
Kardel Sharpeye was born deep in the mountainous valleys of Knollen where, since time immemorial, the folk have survived by hunting the strange, cliff-dwelling steepstalkers above their villagekilling them from a distance and collecting their carcasses where they fell. Sharpeye was among the best of these strange folk for whom projectile weapons are but another appendage, and to shoot is as natural as to touch.

On his day of summoning, when he was to gain full standing in his village, Sharpeye took the ancient test: a single shot from the valley floor to strike a beast down from the cliffs. To miss was to be dishonored. With his entire village standing vigil, Sharpeye took his shot. A steepstalker fell; the crowd cheered. But when the carcass was collected, the village grew silent, for the elders found that the bullet had pierced its glittering central eye then fallen to be clenched in the steepstalker's mandibles. This ominous sign was the literal opening of a dark prophecy, foretelling both greatness and exile for the gunman who made such a shot. Sharpeye the Sniper was thus, by his own skill, condemned to make his way apart from his peopleand unwelcome back among them until he has fulfilled the remainder of the prophecy by attaining legendary stature on a field of battle.

Kardel Sharpeye, the Sniper is NOT a hero with the longest range, his range is added from Take Aim, and his base range isn't the longest. The longest would be Techies with 700 range.

Most pub players think he excels at hitting heroes, but I find that he has more potential than that. He is a tower pusher, initiator, and also very helpful in teamfights, so never judge him as a range creep with a KS ult, please. It's just too sad..

I also find most Sniper guides here got bad comments, so I'm hoping my guide will be one of those with good comments XD

In this guide I will cover about:
(*)Pros and Cons
(*)When and When Not To
(*)Skills
(*)Items
(*)Skill Builds
(*)Friends and Foes

Pros and Cons

Pros:
(*)Good tower pusher.
(*)Longest range WITH Take Aim
(*)Low cooldown ult.
(*)Has a free MKB ( Headshot), which is good
(*)Good late-game potential

Cons:
(*)No escape skills.
(*)Very squishy throughout the game without survivability items.
(*)First target on every teamfights.
(*) Headshot is unreliable True Strike since it has a proc chance.
(*)Mostly played by pub noobs in a wrong way
(*)Coolest google in the game, which I hate.

When and When Not To

Pick Sniper if:
(*)You have no right click hero.
(*)You need a mid laner ( Sniper is a pretty good mid-laner if played correctly)
(*)Your enemy is mostly squishy heroes.
(*)You have nice supports who can increase your survivability rate.
(*)You have enough supports.

Don't pick Sniper if:
(*)Your enemy has good escape mechanism [A.K.A Anti-Mage, Queen of Pain, Faceless Void, you name it]
(*)You have enough carry in your team.
(*)Your supports are dumb, or even worse, you have no supports.
(*)Your enemy team's heroes have gap-closer skills [A.K.A Morphling, The Spirit Trio, you name it]
(*)Most of your enemies are tanker who will likely purchase Blade Mail. Yeah, Blade Mail.
(*)You can't play safe and always tempted to go for aggresive kills.

Skills

I WILL NOT EXPLAIN ABOUT THE SKILLS, YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE DOTAFIRE'S DATABASE.



Your main active skill. It slows, damages, and has a pretty nice slow. Can be used to SCOUT and also START A TEAMFIGHT. Think of it as a platform for your team to engage. Most of the enemies will get slowed, which is good for you. After this range creep has been nerfed, his Shrapnel is now even better than usual. You can launch multiple Shrapnel, and therefore increasing the range of your skill.

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Your 1st passive skill. Chance to deal more damage, and a mini stlow. Yeah, stlow. Used to be STUN, now is a SLOW. So, STLOW. Naw jokes, it's a mini slow, which is good. It also provides True Strike when it procs, which means your hit will not miss. This is pretty good when fighting evasive heroes, and this is why Monkey King Bar is really good on Sniper. Orb effects stacks fully with Headshot.

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This is why Sniper is called as a "Range Creep". Hitting heroes from a crazy long range, sniping their head, and annihilate them. This skill adds extra range up to 400 units!! Sniper's total range will be like 950 (correct me if I'm wrong). That's not all. On max range, towers will not be able to hit him! Use this ability with Shrapnel. Throw a Shrapnel on the tower to provide vision, and free hit! Be careful though, towers has Backdoor Protection.

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Your ult. This is why Sniper is always labbeled as a KS hero. This skill is not only for KS. I repeat, this skill is not only for KS. Most people forget that this skill has a low cooldown, which means you can repeatedly shot it. Use this to lower your enemy's health, so ganking will be much easier. This skill can also be used to start a teamfight. Don't keep this skill only to kill fleeing heroes. You can even use this skill on a full health hero. Shooting Assassinate will most likely make the enemy confused, even for 1 sec. Your team can dive in that short interval, and you can do your job.

Items

Basic survivability item. Since without Take Aim you will most likely get harrassed by enemy supports.

Same as above, only available if you have a generous support.
Same as the first.
Provides stats. The reason I don't pick Slippers of Agility is it only provides AGI, whilist Sniper is a weak early-game hero. Without some extra stats, it's hard to survive on lanes. Can be upgraded to Wraith Band, Bracer, or Null Talisman.
Also provides stats, but more. Upgradable to Ring of Aquila
Sniper's boots of choice. As I say, extra stats is needed. So? Phase Boots is also acceptable, as the extra damage is also good on Sniper.
Upgraded from Wraith Band. Extra stats, and aura, which is good for you and your team. Since you will most likely spam that level 3 Shrapnel, you need mana. Ring of Aquila provides mana regeneration, that's why it is good.

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Yeah, Blink Dagger. Most people go Shadow Blade, but I don't think that item is good. Invisibility is good, and a few extra damage and attack speed is also great, but it is counterable by many things. Do I have to list them? Okay. Sentry Ward, Dust of Appearance, Necronomicon, Gem of True Sight, amplify damage, Track, what else? That's all? Okay. Whilist Blink Dagger is only counterable by attacks. It also makes you gains access to unreachable spots like the middle of the forest, or uphills and even downhills.
Most people will likely go Mask of Madness to Desolator and then end this with Divine Rapier, and accidentally / purposely got ganked to death. Maelstrom provides attack speed and damage, but the best is that Chain Lightning. It lets Sniper clear creeps very fast, and increase Sniper's ability to do his job, tower sieging. Upgradable to Mjollnir.
Sniper needs stats, and this item provides it. And as a bonus, Sniper gets 2 friends! Illusions! More Sniper means more damage. This item is so good if you are going to be a tower pusher. Be careful though, don't use them to fight Roshan, as they will just get destroyed.
Hi there my name is Black King Bar and I provide Invulnerability. Do you want to purchase me? Yes I do. Now, Sniper and Black King Bar are best buddies. Increase Sniper's survivability rate, since Sniper is most likely will be targeted first in teamfights, and always a subject to ganks. This item is good on him. Don't purchase this if the enemy's team has no magic nukers.

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Yeah, higher MS, and Teleportation enables you to split push easier.
Every AGI heroes' main items. Sniper included. Never underestimate the Flutter, as it will lets you escape from the enemy's wrath. Evasion is counterable by Monkey King Bar.
You know what this do. More like a 6th slot item for Sniper
Upgraded from Maelstrom. Active is really good against right clickers. STRIKE THEM TO DEATH!
Stacks with Headshot. Both has a proc chance of 14% (correct me if I'm wrong). When you have this item, your ability to destroy T3 towers will be as good as hell. Buy this to counter Blur, Butterfly, Heaven's Halberd, drunken haze, Drunken Brawler, Smoke Screen, and Rubick's Smoke Screen.
Extra stats and the magnificent slow. Don't buy this if you already got Desolator. UAM doesn't stacks except Lifesteal.

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Really good item on Sniper. Increasing his armor and right click capability. I wouldn't recommend buying this item if you already got an AC hero like Lycan.
With this item you will melt everything super fast. +60 DMG and -7 armor is nothing to laugh at.
Really strong item on Sniper. One of the highest damage item in game. The only downfall is illusions don't benefit from the crits (correct me if I'm wrong).
Well, this is rather a strange item on Sniper. But, don't overlook this item. If you are going to focus on tower sieging, this item is as good as hell. You benefit from the mana regeneration and extra MS, and if someone is trying to gank you, you can just Cyclone them to heaven. Yeah heaven, since going up to sky isn't going to hell.
Another alternative from Black King Bar. I think this item is even better on Sniper. You will always be far from the teamfights and most skills that go through BKB has a pretty long range [A.K.A Primal Roar, Doom, you name it], and Sniper benefits from the stats.
This item is a pretty popular item on Sniper, but I don't like this item. It makes you even squishier. Sure you benefit from that extra AS, but once you got stunned, you are toast. I suggest buying this item when you are not facing heroes that can burst you down to death.
Same item as MoM, but more promising. Helm of the Dominator can be used to Dominate neutrals, and they can be used to stack camps, or scouting enemy teams. I've seen many videos where a Dominated Satyr or Hellbear stomped the enemy team with low health. It's just so sad. Satanic also increases your survivability rate with that Lifesteal and Unholy Rage.
As per the request from Hamstertamer, I will add this item. Great escape mechanism, as Blink Dagger is not as reliable as Force Staff. Extra INT is also very helpful for spamming that Assassinate.

AVOID THESE!!

Your ult will not be buffed by this item.
dagon Seriously? Are you that desperate??
I already explained about this item on Blink Dagger's section.

Skill Build

My build is pretty balanced, since Sniper's skills are all good. But like any other builds, there is a focus. My build focused on tower sieging, and at the same time, winning teamfights.

You are going to max that Take Aim first, then Shrapnel, then Headshot.

At level 1 take that Take Aim. You will need that extra range to survive from harrassments. You can last hits from a safe place, and kill from a far place. After that take Shrapnel and Take Aim again. Headshot is taken on level 4, and maxed last. Don't use that Shrapnel on early games, as the damage is still pretty low. At level 6 your skill build will be 2-1-2-1.

Once you hit level 9, you can start spamming your Shrapnel a little bit. You will have your Ring of Aquila, so mana regeneration is not an issue too much for you. You can even start ganks now, since you already have 4 points on Take Aim. Never stay in a lane too long, or you will be a subject to ganks. Always carry a TP to switch lanes or to def. At level 11 your skill build will be 4-1-4-2.

You now have max Shrapnel and Take Aim. It's time to rampage the game! Start taking T2 towers (assuming all T1 is already down), and this will be even faster when you have someone like Jakiro or Pugna to help you melt those towers. Never go alone, since Sniper is always a subject to ganks. Keep switching between lanes, and eventually, you will find yourself getting a bunch of farms.

NEVER FORGET TO TAKE YOUR ULTIMATE SKILL EVERYTIME POSSIBLE.

Friends and Foes

As a glass cannon hero, he needs companions. But whoever makes friends, also makes enemies. So, voila!

Sniper's friends are those who can set up a nice "platform" for him to kill everyone. Meaning, heroes that has great AOE skills that can stop enemy's movements.

• Disruptor -> Kinetic Field
• Earthshaker -> Echo Slam
• Enigma -> Black Hole
• Tidehunter -> Ravage
• Warlock -> Chaotic Offering

Sniper's few best friends are also the one that can ensure his safety, as Sniper is ALMOST ALWAYS the primary target in every teamfights.

• Dazzle -> Shallow Grave
• Juggernaut -> Healing Ward
• Abaddon -> Aphotic Shield
• Io -> Tether -> Healing Salve / Mekansm
• Lich -> ice armor

And also, some of his best friends are those who can scouts!

• Beastmaster -> Call of the Wild (Hawk)
• Lycan -> Summon Wolves
• Riki -> permanent invisibility
• bounty -> Shadow Walk
• Clinkz -> Skeleton Walk

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Sniper's worst nightmare are those who can burst him down ASAP.

• Lina -> Laguna Blade
• Tinker -> Laser -> Heat Seeking Missile -> Ethereal Blade -> dagon -> pretty much your nightmare in a set.
• Pudge -> Meat Hook + Dismember combo. Be extra careful, cause Pudge loves squishy heroes like you!
• Lion -> This bastard is the worst. He stuns you, watch you running like a frog, drains you to death, and then BOOM! Burn you with only 1 Finger. Yeah, the Finger of Death.

Also those who can close gaps in an instant, making your trademark Long Range useless.

• Anti-Mage, Queen of Pain, Riki -> Blink
• Earth Spirit -> Rolling Boulder
• Ember Spirit -> Fire Remnant
• Storm Spirit -> lightning ball
• You do realize these 3 are the legendary Spirit Trio XD
• Morphling -> Waveform
• Magnus -> Skewer
• Tiny -> Toss (Toss your teammates to Sniper's direction).
• Dark Seer -> Vacuum
• Chaos Knight -> Reality Rift -> Chaos Bolt -> Phantasm -> Manta Style -> Do I have to continue??

And remember this bastard!


I think this guy has a problem with Sniper. You can see on every game, Spirit Breaker will always charge Sniper. Yeah.

Ending

Thank you for taking your time to read my so-so guide. I know, this is not the best. I know, this guide has no MATH thing or EXAMPLE thing, but I hope this could at least help you guys. Comments from elders and everyone are always welcome with open hands.

Chapter Title

Thu, 8 Jan 2015
- Added Force Staff into Situational Items
- Added Chaos Knight into Friends and Foes' Chapter

Tue, 6 Jan 2015
- Guide Published