Hello guys this will be the first guide that i'm gonna make so expect some mistakes.


Due to recent buffs to this guy, he can be an early gamer. Why? just read and learn (thogh you will be expecting some grammatical errors. Like this one. )


Pros:
Causes distraction or even destruction among enemy if used correctly.

Good escape mechanism.

Good Bait

Cons:
Fragile (but still, DW can save you from getting first blooded.)

Slow (290 ms.)

needs a good baby sitter (like dazzle.)


Skills



Spirit lance

Throws a magical spirit from his lance at a target, damaging it and slowing it down for 3 seconds. An illusion is created attacking the target.

Skill Explanation: Your nuke and slow. (and the first skill that you'll be using in your combo.)

Uses: Escaping (to ensure that you won't be killed.)
to start a kill (though not that high chances.)


Doppelwalk


Allows the Phantom Lancer to become invisible for a period of time, leaving behind a duplicate of himself to confuse enemies. 15% movement bonus at all levels.

Skill Explanation: Great escape tool, good for Surprises too.

Uses: Escaping (obviously)
Surprising

Juxtapose



Skill Explanation: This is what makes him Annoying. LOTS of him.
Uses: Baiting,Cornering and pushing.

Phantom Edge



Even more me.

1. Skill build
2. lvl1- Doppelwalk
3. lvl2- Spirit lance
4. lvl3- Spirit lance
5. lvl4- Doppelwalk
6. lvl5- Juxtapose (yeah. an early jux.)
7. lvl6- Juxtapose
8. lvl7- Spirit lance
9. lvl8- Doppelwalk
10. lvl9- Spirit lance
11. lvl10- Doppelwalk
12. lvl11- Phantom edge
13. lvl12- Phantom edge
14. lvl13- Juxtapose
15. lvl14- Juxtapose
16. lvl15- Stats
17. lvl16- Phantom edge
18. lvl17~25 Stats
    

my expected questions:

Why Juxtapose at lvl 5/6? he doesn't have enough attack speed to create illusions! + his illusion will die in seconds!

nahh... just keep pressing 'S' While attacking (last-hitting) and you will produce illusions. who cares if it dies in seconds? as long as you can produce enough images you will be summoning blue cats. not sure about this though.

Item Build

At the well:
2 Slippers of agility
1 set of Tangoes
3 GG Branches

Early:
Quelling Blade (my favourite for melee heroes)
Poor man's Shield
Magic wand (you use it if you have low mana for escaping)
Boots
And one of the following: Soul ring,Soul urn and bassilus (i prefer basilius cause it can be upgraded using wraith bands. but Soul urn is better cause it makes your Illusions tankier. (maybe a hit is good. but its a LARGE improvement for that.))

early mid:
BoT or BoR

mid:
Quelling Blade
PMS
Magic Wand
Boots
Soul ring/Soul urn/Ring of the Archmagi

At this point you will need to rush Diffusal if you didn't make it before mid gaming you can't kill easily... (and that's why he needs a babysitter.)


Extensions:
Manta. More Illusions are better.
Tarrasque. You and your illusions now has a ton of hit points.
Butterfly. His 3rd best item.
Radiance. the passive works on him but it doesn't stack. + raw damage doesn't work on illusions.

Strategy

At Early Gaming:

Harass Ranged Heroes (using Spirit lance) And pull creeps. (by pressing 'A' then clicking on the enemy. Be sure to not get hit!) until you can Get your Core items (be sure not to forget to buy a Quelling Blade!)

Mid Gaming

You can kill enemy heroes as long as you have Diffusal. heres the combo:
Throw a Spirit Lance then doppelwalk go to the back of the enemy then ATTACK! enemy running? purge him to catch up. Still not dead? use Spirit Lance again.


Late Gaming

This is your favourite part of the game. you change some combo to make it better: Spirit lance>DoppelWalk>Get to the back of your target>use manta then just push the lanes.



Miniguide to Doppelwalk:

You can escape the enemy using this skill maybe about 75% of the time but
you can make it almost foolproof,how? when being chased use doppelwalk (no mana? use wand.(keep the charges for mana purposes)) then while you head to your base make your illusion run into some different escape points.

I also use my doppelwalk's illusion to buy items safely in the side shops and secret shop.


Friends and foes (and feeders)
(I won't be posting pics so bear with it. )
Friends:

Disablers
They Make the enemy stop you make them die

Fellow Illusionists
Like naga. She uses ensnare to catch up while we corner them.


Foes:

Cleavers
they hit you and your illusions at the same time

Aoes
same reasons as Cleavers

Enchantress
She makes you and your illusions attack like tiny

Foods:

Single type Disablers
Specially the paper ones. they disable you its an illusion and even if it disables the real one, your illusions still damage them