Offensive lane support

Can we use Shadow blade instead of blink ?

Great guide, thanks! I think you should add something about mid game because that is really the strength of the SS IMO. I also like to level ether shock early but not just for the early lane harass but also because of how strong the spell is in the level 7 range where SS needs to shine by taking towers. The spell also really helps the SS gain some gold and levels throughout the rest of the game. Once you get your wards you need to find a way to use them by either pushing towers or a team fight. Try to combo the SS with another pusher like DP or Lycan and you can make it very hard on the enemy.

SS is a great combination of ganking potential, pushing, and team fight. He can be very successful in lane but even if the lane doesn't go as planned the SS can recover fairly easily and help the carry they were supporting recover by winning team fights and pushing towers.

Nice guide :) +repped

ended with a 16/4/8 kdr :D

Keep up the good work!

It's been along time since this guide, just saw it recently and helped me a lot :)
I play SS a lot. After agahnim, I usually go perseverance and build it into a refresher orb (dual serpent wards baby!) so that's a suggestion... I never went Eul (already two stuns and thought not necessary) but will give it a try :)

I actually play SS a lot differently - I ignore Ether Shock until much later in the game, and skill Hex first, then Shackle (unless I'm mid, in which case my build would look more like yours). My reasoning is, as a true support, I don't WANT the kill - and the measely damage that Ether does at L1-2 isn't going to get ANYONE a kill. However, the Hex and Shackle durations go up pretty fast (0.75 s / level), which gives more and more time for a damage-dealer to close. Doing this I can almost guarantee a kill if I'm laned with someone with decent early damage, and it's guaranteed if they themselves have a decent stun (SK or Sven, for e.g.)

My main problem with Ether is that you have no follow up, because SS's auto-attacks suck, and without a good disable, you aren't giving a follow-up to your teammates, either.

My combo usually goes: initiate with Hex, partner and I move in, disable with Shackle while partner wails on target, auto-attack to finish target (partner stun if needed), retreat from enemy lane partner who has been wailing on us.

I also think your "mid to late" item list should be Eul's Scepter, Perseverance, or Point Booster, and then "lategame" be Bloodstone, Linken's Sphere or Aganim's. I have gotten a BKB once, out of dozens of games with SShaman, and although it was glorious for a few seconds(usually get focused hard), it didn't shore up the mana regen or hp. It's also very rare that you'll get this much money.

Later in the game, when I have Ether and Wards, I can solo-push lanes easily. Before that, you need backup anyway (Wards help a lot with the push, though).

I'm going to try your build and see if I like it better. It seems more of a push than a gank-in-lane build.

Nice build and I always wonder why shaman gets no much items. by the way, I get thrilled in channeling shackles to Bounty before he gets invis and give the kill to my lane mate. Nice and funny hero. =)

Really good guide ! First time with shadow, just made the whole enemy team rage-quit by saving 4 time my lan mate and controlling the dangerous hero in team fight. They left with a great "Shadow too OP". Got 6-1-7 in 19 minutes.
I had a great lan mate, PA. And against potentially powerful hero: Sven/Drow.

Thank you so much for the trapping hint, very useful :p

I never thought about buying blink on rhasta before since i prioritize mana and health but interesting idea

Also add drums as an recommended item cheaper than ultimate orb -1 to all stats but you get a ms and as aura and it's really good on supports that move slow

You don't need minus armor to kill someone with a wardtrap, If you do then you're behind and you should have brought someone to gank with you anyway.

Ags isn't that good on SS. BKB is good late game because it's a guaranteed shackle. Shackling the DPS'er or another semi-carry can win you teamfights, even if he doesn't get focused.

Thank You:) +1