[Lightning Revenant] The Restless Dead Await

[teStud0]

Guide Version | Forum Version

teStud0's short public friendly guide on
Razor, The Lightning Revenant (6.66b)

Table of Contents:

I) Alt Tab Mini Guide
II) Hero info
II) Skills
VI) Play Style
Early game (levels 1 - 5)
- Skill build
- Item build
- Strategies
Middle game (levels 6 - 11)
- Skill build
- Item build
- Strategies
Late game (levels 12 - 25)
- Skill build
- Item build
- Strategies
V) Best allies and Worst enemies
VI) F.A.Q
VII) Replays
VIII) Changelog

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I) Alt Tab Mini Guide

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Skill build:

Usual/Chaser build:


Anti Carry build:


Starting items:


Core items:

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II) Hero Info

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Story:

Razor is lightning incarnate. It is a living being, capable only of unleashing it's tremendous electrical power to anything and everything nearby. The only indication of sentience from it is its ability to control its surges, which never seems to actually strike any it would call friend. Like its namesake, it cuts to the bone, with speed and accuracy, sometimes jumping from one thing to another. Its unnatural form gives it speed, and a thirst for blood. It is a force to be reckoned with, and only the strong dare face it.

Stats:

Base Damage: 43 - 49
Strength: 21 + 1.7
Agility (primary): 22 + 2.0
Intelligence: 19 + 1.8
Movespeed: 295
Base Attack Time: 1.7
Attack Range: 550 (ranged)
Sight Range: 1800 (daytime) / 800 (night time)
Affiliation: Neutral Agility

Hero PROS:

1) Jack - of - all - trades carry: Good farming/nuke skill, two dps boosting skills (has the ability to kill late game carries) and a utility (chase/escape mechanism) skill.

Hero CONS:

1) Item dependent
2) Has no real disable
3) Skills are situational/hard to land, difficult to learn/master

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III) Skills

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Plasma Field (Active Instant)
Razor releases a wave of energetic plasma. which grows in power as it extends outwards. Deals damage to units both on expansion and on contraction. The further the plasma is from Razor the more energy it has.

Level 1: Min damage 80. Max 140
Level 2: Min damage 120. Max 210
Level 3: Min damage 160. Max 280
Level 4: Min damage 200. Max 350

Manacost: 125
Cooldown: 16 seconds
Casting range: 700
Projectile speed: 600

Notes
• Damage type: magic

|teStud0's tips:| More flashier version of ye old Chain Lightning but with the same use: Good farming and hero nuking skill as well. Takes time to master though and note that this skill hits an area twice therefore when @ level 4 as a reference it deals 175 in its expanding wave and 175 damage in its contracting wave. This also applies with the minimum damage.

Static Link (Active Location Targeting)
Taps into the energy of a target hero, creating a charged link between Razor and his foe. As long as this link is maintained, Razor will continue to steal damage from the target and add it to his own. Drains up to 10 seconds. Bonus lasts 13 seconds after that.

Level 1: 5 attack damage per second
Level 2: 10 attack damage per second
Level 3: 15 attack damage per second
Level 4: 20 attack damage per second

Manacost: 20/30/40/50
Duration: 13 - 23 seconds
Cooldown: 45/40/35/30 seconds
Projectile speed: 1250

Notes
• The link is broken when either unit dies, the distance between them becomes greater than 700, or when Razor loses sight of the targeted unit.
• If targeted on the ground, the link will travel in that direction and grants vision. If an enemy hero comes within 225 range of it during this time, will be linked to Razor.
• Can be blocked by Linken's Sphere.
• Metamorphosis based skills CAN dispel the -damage debuff (Beserker Rage, True Form, Chemical Rage etc.)
• The Link itself gives sight as it travels along the ground/links to an enemy hero

|teStud0's tips:| Although a situational skill due to its "distance" requirement, gives HUGE dps to basically kill any hero 1v1. It's an anti newb/noob skill bcoz the longer the enemy engages you the higher the dps transfer is. When maxed out gives a whopping +200 damage for the duration.

Unstable Current (Passive)
Razor's very body is a constantly shifting miasma of dark energy. This unnatural state allows him to move with supernatural speed, and any foe foolish enough to launch a direct magical assault against him will have their boldness rewarded with a shock of purging electricity.

Level 1: 3% movement, 40 damage
Level 2: 6% movement, 60 damage
Level 3: 9% movement, 80 damage
Level 4: 12% movement, 100 damage

Duration (Purge): 0.3/0.6/0.9/1.2 seconds

Notes
• Damage type: magic
• Damage activates when the spell cast on Razor begins its effect.
• Only activates if the caster is a hero unit.
• Does not work against arrow effects.

|teStud0's tips:| More MS + gives a heavy purge and some damage when an enemy hero casts a skill to you = This skill.

*Topic regarding Purge's interaction with enemy skills:

Most unit targeting skills will activate the purge effect, BUT:

Originally Posted by DemonicTrashcan

Skills that can target units or the ground don't always purge the opponent. If Lion (as an example) casts Impale on you, he will be purged. If he casts Impale on the ground around you, you'll be stunned and he won't be purged. It's completely dependent on the fact if the hero directly targets you or not.

Furthermore:

Originally Posted by clan_iraq

This also applies to likewise coded skills; a storm bolt cast on a nearby creep, even though it appears as "ground targeting", in reality will target that creep; hence the purge will hit sven if he directly bolts razor, but will not hit him if it is targeted at a nearby creep.

Spells which are ground targeted in DotA, based off things like blizzard or shockwave, will never proc the purge. Some spells have secondary non-aoe targets in a sense, like forked lightning, which will not proc the purge unless it is, again, targeted directly at razor.

Eye of the Storm (Active Instant Ultimate)
The Lightning Revenant calls upon a powerful storm of crackling energy, which strikes weakened enemies with deadly bolts of lightning. The storm is charged with Razor's malevolent will, and will seek out only the most injured targets for its armor shattering blasts.

Level 1: Deals 37.5 damage and reduces armor by 1 each strike. One strike each 0.85 seconds.
Level 2: Deals 50 damage and reduces armor by 1 each strike. One strike each 0.75 seconds.
Level 3: Deals 62.5 damage and reduces armor by 1 each strike. One strike each 0.6 seconds.

Manacost: 100/150/200
Duration: 20/25/30 seconds
Cooldown: 80/70/60 seconds
AoE: 525

Notes
• Damage type: physical
• Each blast targets the lowest health enemy unit within range.

|teStud0's tips:| So when you use this skill and there's two units within the area 1) a 180/300hp creep and 2)a 300/600hp hero the Storm will hit the CREEP because it has a lower hp. Sounds frustrating right? It does sometimes. But together with Link its a skill that makes Razor a hero to be reckoned with.

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VI) Play Style

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Early game (levels 1 - 5)

a) Skill build:

	Usual/Chaser:	Anti carry:
1 -	Plasma Field	Plasma Field
2 -	Unstable Current	Unstable Current
3 -	Plasma Field	Plasma Field
4 -	Unstable Current	Static Link
5 -	Plasma Field	Plasma Field

b) Item build:

Starting items:

Early Core items:

Consumables: Do I really need to explain those?
Magic Stick/Wand: Helps counteract those heavy nuke spamming enemies in lane.
Urn of Shadows: This recently introduced item gives cheap hp, some mana regen and practically a free Salve and small nuke that also helps Eye of the Storm to target heroes better. Fits nicely to Razor as a tanking/semi gank hero.
STR Treads: It makes you move faster to land Plasma Field effectively, hit faster and btw makes you even TANKIER! Wow. Amazing.

REJECTED items:

Null Talisman: Plasma Field has a 125 manacost / 16 second cooldown, and its the only active skill that you'll spam early game so more INT won't be needed.
Poor Man's Shield: Could be a nice item on Razor if he was melee and the item added +STR rather than +AGI. Again, Razor NEEDS to be tanky people.
Wraith Band: You don't need this because it's really not hard to last hit with Razor. Besides more pictures of yourself can make you more self conscious, right?

NOT a starting item:

Mask of Death / Helm of Iron Will: Rushing your lifesteal without tanking items and more damage from Static Link = Pretty much useless really.

c) Strategy:

--Although Razor has been totally remade, his role is practically the same: To out - carry anyone. But unlike his boring (ultra farming then generic point - click wash and rinse hero) former self he relies more on his skills now to deal great amounts of damage together with being aggressive by chasing to achieve the same outcome.

About 6.65+: Razor might have been recently nerfed with his stats + manacost on Eye of the Storm and the damage block on Vanguard, But he's still a hero to be reckoned with. He's still effective people.

--During the laning phase you're a ranged hero with a good nuke. Although you need to farm your items you can still be a threat if the right opportunity occurs.

Item build justification:
--His physical damage potential now is huge due to Static Link and Eye of the Storm BUT the downside is it takes time to fully utilize them in battle, thus equipping him with survivability items to effectively wreak havoc during clashes is the most effective way to do so.

Skill build justification:
--Maxing Plasma Field is a must because it's your only nuke which is good on any hero anyway and it's an area of effect skill hence works also as an effective farming skill.

--Most of the time you'll need the +MS in Unstable Current more to effectively land your skills thus it's more convenient to master it next.

--Although you can learn a single level of Link during the earlier stages of the game because it's a good anti juking (since it gives sight) and a "last resort" (out - physical hero hitting) skill.

Using Plasma Field effectively:
-- Simply put, the longer the distance it travels the higher it's damage hence a good initiating skill upon closing on a target hero/creeps. It's also a good finishing skill when your attack range and/or Eye range can't keep up with the target (700>475/525).

Using Plasma Field on creeps: (56k Warning)

Using Plasma Field on heroes:

Using Static Link effectively:
-- Cast this skill to a target when you're near to it as possible. Once you're draining damage it's time to pewpew (or in other terms normal attacking) the linked target. This is the time to utilize animation backswing canceling (see link below for details). DO NOT forget to constantly follow your linked target because the damage transfer will break once it is out of range (>700)

Static Link range:

Using Unstable Current effectively:
-- Try to lure enemies by them casting a skill on you therefore they''ll be slowed by it's purge effect. Once this happens it will be a good opportunity to chase and cast Static Link.

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Middle game (levels 6 - 11)

a) Skill build:

	Usual/Chaser:	Anti carry:
6 -	Eye of the Storm	Eye of the Storm
7 -	Plasma Field	Plasma Field
8 -	Unstable Current	Unstable Current
9 -	Unstable Current	Static Link
10 -	Static Link	Unstable Current
11 -	Eye of the Storm	Eye of the Storm

b) Item build:

Primary Core items: -> ->

Vanguard: You'll need the hp and constant regen, hence the CORE of Razor's TANKYNESS. Nuff said.
Helm of the Dominator: Gives decent lifesteal for tanking purposes + Dominating neutrals is priceless. Note that with Maxed Link gives 30 lifesteal PER hit.
Yasha: Gives +MS which help is chasing and nice dps as well. Prerequisite to Manta so you'll be able to utilize it as the game goes along.

Must have supplies: /

Optional items:

Bracer: Cheap alternative tankiness. You can buy this if your Vanguard is kinda delayed.
Blademail: If you're tanky and going rambo might as well be focus fired. This item is perfect for that sort of thing.
Hood of Defiance: Good hp regen + spell resistance. Again and again, he NEEDS to be tanky people!
BKB: If the enemy team consists of 5 stunners then maybe it's a must item. Note that using avatar WON'T dispel Link.
Diffusal / Desolator: If you really want to rip the enemy into shreds rather than be tanky, then they can be alternative orbs. It may work because of Razor's innate hybridness, but for me I just don't like it too much.

REJECTED items:

SnY: Maim -> Maim is a fail orb plus Yasha can be upgraded to Manta which progresses better in the late stages of the game.
Mask of Madness: 30% damage increases = it makes you less tanky. :mellow:
Maelstrom: Chain Lightning? Another wasted excuse for an orb.

c) Strategy:

Using Eye of the Storm effectively:
-- Like most AoE ultimates out there (Eclipse, Omnislash, Chain Frost) try to maximize this skill on heroes alone. This skill has a range minimum, so CHASING your target effectively is a must. Use this when the chances of it hitting your target hero is great (hence when it's low on hp) or even solely engaging 1v1. You can just chase with Eye to finish off enemies OR you can still pewpew if you still have the opportunity. Note that Eye has 50 more range than your attack range so it's more than possible.

Using Eye of the Storm:

Eye of the Storm range:

Other effective strategies:
- Animation backswing canceling
- Common minimap awareness
- Rune controlling
- Dominating neutrals for an extra disable

**Recommended comprehensive DotA guide Link**

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Late game (levels 12 - 25)

a) Skill build:

	Usual/Chaser:	Anti carry:
12 -	Static Link	Static Link
13 -	Static Link	Unstable Current
14 -	Static Link	Static Link
15 -	Stats	Stats
16 -	Eye of the Storm	Eye of the Storm
17-25 -	Stats	Stats

Usual/Chaser:
12 - Static Link
13 - Static Link
14 - Static Link
15 - Stats
16 - Eye of the Storm
17 -> 25 - Stats

Anti carry:
12 - Static Link
13 - Unstable Current
14 - Static Link
15 - Stats
16 - Eye of the Storm
17 -> 25 - Stats

b) Item build:
Extension Core items: -> ->

Satanic: THE late game item because it further amplifies your role as a tanker/carry hero. Note that with Maxed Link you can deal 50 Lifesteal PER hit, and upon activating Unholy Rage it will give a whopping 300 Lifesteal PER hit. Game breaking isn't it?
Manta Style: Fits well to Razor as a "hybrid" hero: Some damage, attackspeed, movespeed, +stats and images. Note that using this skill also won't dispel Static Link.
Heart of Tarrasque: The "icing on the cake" item. Nuff said.

Luxury items:

Pipe of Insight: It makes you AND your team tanky to skills. I approve.
Assault Curass: More armor means more EHP which also means tankyness so it's good. The -armor also amplifies Razor physical attack/Eye and attack speed is great with any late game hero out there.
Butterfly: Gives you another tanking ability (evasion) and nice damage/attack speed.
Radiance: Carries need to farm. This item helps with that and it's nice with Eye's almost per second damage.
MKB: Best raw damage item for Razor because of its cost effectiveness + ministuns help in chasing.
Eye of Skadi: Gives great stats and the frost attack ability that any chaser will love.

c) Strategy:

--Although I have my own item build core, changing in to counter enemy lineups are also improtant (BkB for heavy casters, Diffusal if your team lack disables, MKB for anti evasion/hard carries, Dusk/Gem for anti invis, BoT for late game pushes/defense etc.). Again, Razor isn't the usual carry hero thus having versatile item build CAN work.

--Use your item actives (Manta's images / Satanic's Unholy Rage / Blademail's damage return) when you are focus fired. Blademail punishes them for focus firing, images give extra dps, enemy confusion, added pushing power and Link + Unholy rage = Cheese (seriously). Note that images won't have the visual in Link and Eye of the Storm, therefore be cautious when using them while the images are still active.

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V) Best allies and Worst enemies

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Best allies:

Heroes that helps you chase:

Heroes that helps you not to get focus fired immediately (also called as initiators):

Heroes that amplify your damage output:

Worst Enemies:

Heroes who has an innate evasion skill:

Heroes who has the ability to outrun you:

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VI) F.A.Q

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--"What do you think of MKB?"
Answer: It's the BEST raw dps item for Razor bcoz 1) Ministuns helps in chasing and 2) It's a good late game item due to the True Strike ability. Although it still isn't a priority. Remember that Razor already has enough dps in Static Link alone. He just needs chasing and tanking items to deal damage.

--"Lothars? I find the latter pretty popular on him in Pubs."
Answer: It's a good anti newb/noob item, but that's it. Gem/Dusk counters this item hard and as a mentioned before Razor doesn't need raw damage items. If you really want to chase that bad, buy Phase Boots / Boots of Travel instead.

--"Diffusal or Shiva's Guard?"
Answer: Diffusal. It's Purge has a shorter cooldown hence better chasing ability than Shiva's. Besides, too much +INT for a hero who doesn't need it.

--Does using Purge / BKB / Manta Style on Razor remove Static Link?
Answer: No.

Please contribute in this guide by asking questions in your replies. I will answer them through here and thanks in advance! :)

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VII) Replays

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Replay 1
*Typical noob/newb stomping

Replay 2
*Same as replay 1

Replay 3
*Absurd game due to it being 4v3 therefore I kinda wasn't playing serious but it shows Razor's true power as an anti carry.

Replay 4
*No choice but bought hard tankish items (Vanguard and Hood) due to our team having no tank at all. Continued with the core and negated the fully farmed Morphling.

Replay 5
*First 6.65 Razor replay. Still effective as before due to Urn. Went straight to Satanic because I had allies that had good disables.

(Will attach more post nerf Razor Replays soon)

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VIII) Changelog

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10/5/09 - Started guide
10/11/09 - Refinished initial text content and specific mechanics, added two replays.
10/12/09 - Guide published.
10/13/09 - Added screenshots.
10/21/09 - Added two viable items and more strategy info.
10/22/09 - Added spoilers and reorganized text content.
11/1/09 - Added mechanics info on Static Link.
11/4/09 - Added one replay.
11/6/09 - Added Blademail as a optional item. (I keep on forgetting this viable item so pardon me for the late addition.)
11/9/09 - Improved skill build and skill usage presentation. Added anchor and non quote box. Improved Magic Stick/Wand icon.
11/10/09 - Made Vanguard as an alternate to Helm of the Dominator. Added links to other effective strategies.
11/13/09 - Further improved strategy text.
11/15/09 - Added another replay.
11/18/09 - Reorganized item builds. Added Atl Tab Mini guide.
11/20/09 - Added minor improvements. Improved Best Allies and Worst enemies section.
11/23/09 - Slightly improved grammar. Added the skill builds in table form. Improved item explanation on Helm of Dominator/Satanic and Heart.
11/24/09 - Improved Plasma Field with creeps picture into a gif.
12/21/09 - Improved terminologies on core items
1/16/10 - Updated for 6.65. Added Urn of Shadows as a core item. Removed Ring of Basilius. Placed Bracer to optional items. Switch Manta and Satanic in terms of priority.
1/22/10 - Added one replay. Added arrows for better item priorities.
2/26/10 - Added some small useful info on Static Link.

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[teStud0]

Please help by adding content specifically:

- More general strategies
- Replays with the core item build
- Asking questions
- Comments on the guide

Thanks in advance for those who'll help

[nix]

What do you think of MKB?
Lothars? I find the latter pretty popular on him in Pubs.

I think you should mention that level 4 Plasma Field can kill the ranged creep by itself (until late in the game)

[UTDC.Justin]

I'll move it to published, but please change the replay section by adding them as attachments and linking to those. Thanks, and gj.

[iser]

well written. i like it.

some pictures to show the range of the spells. to master razor, you really need to be well aware of the range of all your spells. for plasma field, show the different dmg zones. for static link, show where it would break (and also, how close the link has to be to the hero if you cast it on the ground). for the ulti, i guess just show the radius.

there has been a lot of debate about his build (diffusal/deso/satanic). i will try your build out.

[Mikzcool]

I think I agree there with iser. Awareness with AOE skills will definitely be a plus on anyone who plays razor.

And I think good allies will be heroes that can erase a wave of creeps in seconds. (Lina Inverse, Tortured Soul, Rylai etc.) In case of Lane clashes. This will help in team clashes wherein Razor's Ultimate will only hit heroes.

How about Buriza du Kyanon? I think +200 physical damage multiplied by 2.25 (when static link is activated) looks pretty promising considering Razor is a DPSer.

And lastly Good Guide.^^

[HolySaint]

are you sure getting both manta and hotd is good? I prefer hotd on him

[i.am.hybrid]

Diffusal or Shiva's Guard?

[earlybird92]

pubs use lothars cause of the uncanny synergy between Razors ulti and WW.

Apparently, Eye of the storm still works when you are wind walking. It gets seriously cool when you are zapping the poor fellow with your ulti whilst you are invis and there is nothing he can do about it.

[Spikey94]

Good guide, but why not wraiths?

[AdrianCCSeng]

Nah i never tried to use the remaked razor once..coz i dun wan screw up the game..since i dunno wad to buy for it...juz wanna ask

can purge remove static link absorbed dmg/recover being sucked away dmgs?

does using manta style remove static link absorbed dmgs/recover being sucked away dmgs??

lol..

[danielpro25]

have to disagree with your skill build, what's the use of Static Link(SL) if it's so easily broken? 1 SL should be enough and PF and Unstable should be maxed quickly so you have that added ms to absorb more dmg with SL. And you should also suggest delaying Sl if there are heroes who can easily break it such as Puck, BH and make you unable to spam it such as Mana burners and silencers.

[teStud0]

Originally Posted by danielpro25

have to disagree with your skill build, what's the use of Static Link(SL) if it's so easily broken? 1 SL should be enough and PF and Unstable should be maxed quickly so you have that added ms to absorb more dmg with SL.

Learning Link and Current actually depends on the enemy lineups. If there are more carries then Link should be prioritized and if more caster heroes are present then Current can be maxed out first. You're forgetting that this is a pub guide, hence it focuses on the "general" idea on playing Razor properly. Hence why my suggested skill build is learned as such.

Originally Posted by danielpro25

And you should also suggest delaying Sl if there are heroes who can easily break it such as Puck, BH and make you unable to spam it such as Mana burners and silencers.

Like I said it depends on the situation and besides, Link only works well with carry heroes so meh.

Thanks for mentioning it though. I knew my info in the strategy part still needs improvement.

[AdrianCCSeng]

some 1 answer my question plz?

[SoULtAk3r]

razor dont need lifesteal right?? helm of dominator is orb to razor.if some 1 use it many ppl will say noob. i always see razor wif helm of dominator alway be feeder. lifesteal to razor is not proper item.

[banane]

Well I think its a good guide, but why u bough a sobi mask (last screenshot), but dont tell it in the guide? :P

[Shiupelis]

Bcoz he in optional items section he mentioned ring of basilius. btw nice guide. That how I play most of the heroes : fixing heros weakneses. same u did with razor making him more tanky :) 10/10

[razorblade25]

I use the "radiance rush" strategy back when razor was not revemped. would you recommend it for the new razor?

[MX.2000]

Thanks for guide, t-up.

[teStud0]

Originally Posted by razorblade25

I use the "radiance rush" strategy back when razor was not revemped. would you recommend it for the new razor?

Not really. The main idea of my guide is make Razor "TANKY", then go whatever you hell want. Seriously .