A Mini guide to Rylai the Crystal Maiden

Hero introduction

Read Rylai the Crystal Maiden details for all detailed information about her abilities and stats.
Pros: Has strong slows and disables, AoE ultimate, has strong mana regeneration aura, powerful laner and ganker. In team battles and chasing, she's really useful.
Cons: Low move speed, slow attack speed and weak damage. But her weak Farm power has been reduced by her role and usefulness of her abilities.
Role: Supporter, Disabler, Nuker, chaser.


Skill build

1. Frost nova | Frostbite
2. Frostbite | Frost nova
3. Aura
4. Aura
5. Aura
6. Frostbite
7. Aura
8. Frostbite
9. Frostbite
10. Freezing field
11. Freezing field
12. Frost nova
13. Frost nova
14. Frost nova

Frost nova vs Frostbite
It's recommended to take Frost nova because 5 sec strong slow is much better than 1.5 sec disable. I'd dump disable only in case I have Mirana the Priestess of the Moon in the lane, so I can disable the hero to support Mirana's arrow. In case I have any other hero to make a first blood, (e.i. Yurnero) it's recommended to dump Frost nova first.

Maxing Aura as soonest as possible
Rylai's Aura is very useful because it doesn't regenerate mana only to nearby units, it regenerates mana to all allied units in the game. Everyone will be able to spam their skills, and you will also have always mana to make a kill on the lane, same thing to all allies.

Delaying Ultimate
The Ultimate is useless in the early game because of two reasons: You will not have enough mana and there are not team battles in the early game. You will also be better with a bit stronger disables. In the early game, enemy will not really get always to close to you, only if it's melee hero, and he's chasing you, so that means you will be at kinda low HP.

Item build

Starting items
In the early game, you need some tangos and salves for HP regeneration. Mana regeneration is not that important since you have an Aura. Chicken is very useful because it supports whole team and yourself. Chicken will bring you next items.

Items afterward
Boots of speed and Magic stick are very good items for Rylai because Rylai has to chase and disable enemy. Magic stick can be upgraded into Magic wand, and it's recommended to upgrade. Chicken will bring you recipe scroll and one more Ironwood branch, while Magic stick can be bought on the side shop. Don't forget to upgrade your chicken into Crow.

Core items
Isn't Rylai top focus, doesn't she need HP? Because of that, you are going to buy x2 Bracers. Also, because you are chaser, or to escape, or whatever, you should buy Phase boots. And at least, Wards. A lot of wards, some teleport scrolls to escape from ganks, teleport to lane quickly, etc. After you get some gold, buy Ogre Axe, Mithril hammer and then buy Black King Bar recipe scroll. BKB is really important item for Rylai because her ultimate is channeling and she's top focus, and because it gives her extra STR for Health.


Strategy

Early game
In the early game, I highly recommend you dual lane with other Disabler or with Axe/Yurnero. If you are laning with other disabler, you should slow enemy so your ally will get closer to him and stun him, then you both will use hit-move-hit method. If you had disable too, then disable before you slow. After few hits, your disable should be ready again, so disable that hero if it's still alive. Laning with Axe is almost same, you should slow/disable your enemy so Axe can taunt him and you will hit that hero while that hero hits Axe, and Axe's Helix will damage enemy hero. Do not make this combo unless there are not creeps. Laning with Yurnero is kinda easy, just slow/disable enemy so Yurnero can get him with his Blade fury, while enemy is running, you should follow him and make few hits until your next disable if enemy is still alive. Recommended lane is Sentinel - Bot, Scourge - Top because of pulls and making easy skills. Also, it will improve your chance to avoid gank.

Mid game/Late game
In the mid game, I highly recommend to follow your Allies or let them follow you. Try to push some lanes, when you see your enemies, disable top focus, and let some tank get intro them, then you should come, and use your ultimate, also slow enemies which want to escape with your Frost Nova. When you are out of HP or Mana, and your Stick is empty, let your Crow bring you x2 Healing slaves and one clarity potion. Do not let Crow relax! While some of your allies are fighting with Roshan, you should scout and guard nearby spots, because it's not good to take bounties from carries. In the Late game do everything should be same, but before you cast your ultimate, use your BKB or GS so you will not be stopped while casting your ultimate. And always focus on top focused heroes, and carries.

Good allies: Axe, Yurnero, Sven, Leoric, Lina, Mirana.
Worse enemies: Void, Tauren chieftain, Slardar, BKB.


Replays:

Misery vs Astra - Patch 1, 24 - Version: 6.61c
Misery: Zeus, Viper, Earthshaker, Venomancer, Akasha.
Astra: Chen, Morphing, Lion, Tauren chieftain, Rylai.
Winner: Astra.