Late-game extension
Mainly focus on counter and stat items.
Item
Benefits
Counters nukers and disablers
Counters
Counters evasion and
Counters permabashers
Stats and a reliable slow
Stats and an invaluable spell block
Skill build
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
1
6
11
16
21
2
7
12
17
22
3
8
13
18
23
4
9
14
19
24
5
10
15
20
25
Tips
• Stay alive until level 6. After that start ganking
• Use Dark Pact early as a nuke, and later as a debuff removal. Remember it can remove stuns, slows and even tracking skills and Dust of Appereance.
• Activate Armlet of Mordiggian right before you start hitting.
• After a succesful gank, use the bonus stats you gained through Essense Shift. Farm, push towers or go to the next victim as soon as possible to take advantage of your high damage output.
• Never initiate a battle. Wait for the initiators to do their job or wait until most of the disables have been used and then take them all out in this order
Disablers-->Support-->Carries-->Tanks
• Use your ultimate smartly. You can know whether the enemy has sight of you or not. Stay for 10 seconds in fog and a lot of your HP is replenished.
• Remember Pounce is not a disable, so you are in the same danger whether you leash the enemy or not.
• Stick with your team late game, never go alone.
• If you are focused, back of, regen HP and then come back.
So this is my first guide. I never imagined of writing my first guide about this hero. Maybe it is because I see him being played wrong or see him underrated. I don't really remember how many nerfs/buffs has Slark suffered since he came out in DotA but I will tell you in 2 words of what he is. "Glass cannon". Trust me even Techies who is not meant to participate in battles isn't that fragile. This frog can be played as a ganker/semi-carry. His carry potential has a limit though.
Warning
This guide may be boring to read, as it contains a mass number of wall of texts.
Dark Pact
Ability Type: Active
Targeting Type: Instant
Ability Hotkey: C
Slark calls upon deities of the swamps to seal a dark pact. Sacrificing some of his lifeblood, Slark is redeemed of all negative effects. After 1.5 seconds, a dark wave of destruction emits from the Nightcrawler, dealing damage to all nearby enemies.
Level
Manacost
Cooldown
Casting range
Area of Effect
Duration
Allowed Targets
Effects
1
55
10 seconds
N/A
325
2 seconds (delay) / 0.5 seconds (pulses)
Enemies
75 total damage, removes buffs
2
50
9 seconds
N/A
325
2 seconds (delay) / 0.5 seconds (pulses)
Enemies
150 total damage, removes buffs
3
45
8 seconds
N/A
325
2 seconds (delay) / 0.5 seconds (pulses)
Enemies
225 total damage, removes buffs
4
40
7 seconds
N/A
325
2 seconds (delay) / 0.5 seconds (pulses)
Enemies
300 total damage, removes buffs
Notes
• 1.5 seconds after cast, a series of 10 pulses separated by 0.1 seconds deals 75/150/225/300 total magic damage to enemies within 350 AoE, and half that damage to Murloc Nightcrawler.
• Each pulse also removes buffs from Murloc Nightcrawler.
• Murloc Nightcrawler cannot kill himself with this skill.
• If Murloc Nightcrawler dies, the pulses stop.
Pounce
Ability Type: Active
Targeting Type: Instant
Ability Hotkey: E
Surges directly forward and latches on to the first enemy he hits, binding it with chains of darkness. The enemy is unable to move more than 325 distance away from the point of impact for 3.5 seconds.
Level
Manacost
Cooldown
Casting range
Area of Effect
Duration
Allowed Targets
Effects
1
75
12 seconds
400
325 (leash range)
3.5 seconds
Enemies
40 damage, enemy leashed
2
75
12 seconds
500
325 (leash range)
3.5 seconds
Enemies
80 damage, enemy leashed
3
75
12 seconds
600
325 (leash range)
3.5 seconds
Enemies
120 damage, enemy leashed
4
75
12 seconds
700
325 (leash range)
3.5 seconds
Enemies
160 damage, enemy leashed
Notes
• On cast, Murloc Nightcrawler leaps forward at a speed of 933.33, stopping when he latches onto an enemy unit in 95 AoE, or has traveled 400/500/600/700 distance.
• When an enemy hero is leashed, it takes 40/80/120/160 magic damage, and is unable to move more than 325 distance away from Murloc Nightcrawler's landing spot for 3.5 seconds (moving more than 100 distance away in less than 0.03 seconds will break the leash).
• Magic immune units cannot be leashed.
• Trees are destroyed in a 200x200 rectangle around Murloc Nightcrawler's landing area.
• Blinking or teleporting away will break the leash.
Reciting ancient Nightcrawler incantations, Slark enchants his blade to steal the power and courage from his enemies. Every time Slark hits an enemy hero, he steals 1 point from all attributes of that enemy hero while Slark gains 3 points of Agility.
Level
Manacost
Cooldown
Casting range
Area of Effect
Duration
Allowed Targets
Effects
1
N/A
0.4 seconds
N/A
N/A
15 seconds
Enemy heroes
Steals 1 of each attribute
2
N/A
0.35 seconds
N/A
N/A
30 seconds
Enemy heroes
Steals 1 of each attribute
3
N/A
0.3 seconds
N/A
N/A
60 seconds
Enemy heroes
Steals 1 of each attribute
4
N/A
0.25 seconds
N/A
N/A
120 seconds
Enemy heroes
Steals 1 of each attribute
Notes
• Each time Murloc Nightcrawler attacks an enemy hero, 1 point of each of that hero's attributes are stolen, granting Murloc Nightcrawler the sum of the stolen attributes as Agility.
• Attributes cannot be dropped below 1 by Essence Shift.
• When either Murloc Nightcrawler or the affected unit dies, its stats are returned to normal.
Shadow Dance
Ability Type: Active
Targeting Type: Instant
Ability Hotkey: D
Covers himself with a dark smoke, he becomes invisible and does not reveal himself while attacking or casting spells for 5.5 seconds. Passively increases Nightcrawler's movement speed and regeneration when he is out of sight of hostile units. Has a 0.7 delay when activated or deactivated.
Level
Manacost
Cooldown
Casting range
Area of Effect
Duration
Allowed Targets
Effects
1
120
25 seconds
N/A
N/A
5.5 seconds
N/A
Invisibility on cast, +30% movement speed and +2% HP regeneration when not visible
2
120
25 seconds
N/A
N/A
5.5 seconds
N/A
Invisibility on cast, +35% movement speed and +3% HP regeneration when not visible
3
120
25 seconds
N/A
N/A
5.5 seconds
N/A
Invisibility on cast, +40% movement speed and +4% HP regeneration when not visible
Notes
• When cast, the Murloc Nightcrawler becomes invisible for 5.5 seconds, this invisibility is not broken by casting abilities, using items, or attacking.
• While invisible from this ability's active effect, a visible cloud effect is shown at Murloc Nightcrawler's position.
• Shadow Dance passively grants +30%/+35%/+40% movement speed and +2%/+3%/+4% HP regeneration when Murloc Nightcrawler is not visible to the enemy (has a 0.7 second delay on activation and deactivation).
• If Murloc Nightcrawler is damaged by a neutral unit, the passive effect is removed for 2 seconds.
• Passive effect does not work if Murloc Nightcrawler is affected by Doom.
So as you can see Slark has a simple yet difficult gamestyle:
[+]Great ganking from level 6 on
[+]Good attack animation for last hitting
[+]Vision in night is as good as in day, giving you an advantage against other heroes in night time
[+]Can remove dust from himself
[+]Agility hero with a nuke
[+]Can fight all kinds of heroes.
[+]Ultimate serves as a counter-warding ability
[+]Thanks to his ultimate he is a good roamer from level 6 on, not losing much time while changing lane to gank, detection of your detection, and a heal even better than Heart of Tarrasque
[+]Low cooldown skills, ultimate has the longest cooldown of 25 seconds
[+]Oh come on where the fuck hell have you seen a self-purgable, 300 damage nuke for only 55/50/45/40 MP and 37.5/75/112.5/150 HP including a skill that can provide you with HP
[-]Slightly below average STR gain and low starting armor make him a bit fragile
[-]No real disable, only a semi enshare
[-]Mana intensive early game
[-]If not dust, wards and gems counter you too hard
[-]You possess the only invisibility that gives you off
•Note
From a general aspect Slark is a glass cannon. He can deal ridiculous ammounts of damage if he is let loose. All he has to do is start whacking some hits. Once he starts building up agility he pretty much 3-hit-KOs everyone.
So let's take a deeper look at his skills
Dark Pact
This is your nuke, pushing, farming and escaping tool. It has an extremely low cooldown, low manacost, can clear creepwaves pretty fast and most importantly it can dispel buffs. You can remove some really annoying skills like "Track" and "Amplify damage" and something very important you should know is that it can dispell "Dust of Appereance". Note that the damage it deals to Slark can not be used to suicide.
Pounce
Your semi-disable skill. It is actually just a worse version of Slithice's "Enshare". This is the skill that you use to buy time to hit the enemy to use Essense Shift. Take note that this skill has nothing to do with Mirana's Leap. This one destroys trees, cannot dodge projectiles and stops Slark if he catches an enemy. Good thing is, it won't affect creeps, so if you get the jump on an enemy farming a lane he can't really juke you in the creep-crown. The damage is minor. Some skills can break the leash because of granting excessive movement speed or forcing very fast movement. Here are some, if not all, of them:
Skills that can break the leash:
Skill
Hero/item
Adaptive Strike
Morphling
Time Walk
Darkterror
Phantom Strike
Mortred
Blink
Magina
Blink
Akasha
Blink Strike
Rikimaru
Illusory Orb
Puck
Nether Swap
Shendelzare Silkwood
Icarus Dive
Icarus
Hookshot
Rattletrap
Meat Hook
Pudge
Ymir
Snowball
Poof
Geomancer
Haunt
Mercurial
Recall
Ezalor
Teleportation
Furion
Teleportation
Scroll of Town Portal
Teleportation
Boots of Travel
Test of Faith
Chen
Relocate
Io
Infest
N'aix
Skills that won't break the leash:
Skill
Hero/item
Waveform
Morphling
Ball Lighting
Raijin Thunderkeg
Skewer
Magnus
Mirana Nightshare
Leap
Vaccum
Ish'kafel
Force
Force staff
Deafening Blast
Kael
Flamebreak
Jin'zakk
Primal Split*
Mangix
Supernova**
Icarus
Notes
*Leash won't break but Mangix will have no problem with casting his skill.
** Leash won't break but Icarus will have no problem with casting his skill.
Magic immunity to the victim will also break the leash.
Essense Shift
Your bread and butter skill. This is the skill that makes you so much hated and make enemies never want to come in melee range with you. Remember that with each hit you don't only lower the stats of the opponent, but raise your agility as well. With each hit you do you take 3 agility. Agility converts into attack speed, damage, armor.
Shadow Dance
Your signature skill. Gives you ultimate mobility and survivability, highly enhancing your ganking potential, anti-ward, full movement speed, regeneration 2 times better than the one of Heart of Tarrasque, 5.5 seconds of whacking without getting wacked and an extremely low cooldown of 25 seconds. You know god loves you.
Justification: Pounce can be used as a disable this early as the duration is 3.5 at level 1. Pretty handy. You can even attempt a first blood. You then take one point of Essense Shift as it is your signature skill and all you will be able to do is hit. After then Dark Pact should be maxed as it is your main nuke. After you max out your nuke give priority to Pounce because the range increases with each level and it helps for both ganking and escaping. We skipped Essense Shift since the increase of the duration of the stats is not that great early game, mid-late game though it will be great as it can be devastating, seeing how Slark kills one or two heroes and then rapes in like 4 hits other heroes is actually funny. If you think that the extra Essense Shift duration and Pounce's are useless and prefer survivability or want to carry, feel free to replace them with some stat points, but have at least one level to Pounce and Essense Shift. Trust me stats really help.
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
1
6
11
16
21
2
7
12
17
22
3
8
13
18
23
4
9
14
19
24
5
10
15
20
25
Justification: As you can see the diffirence with this build is that I postpone Pounce and Essense Shift in early game to invest point to stats. Notice that 5 points of stats are equal to the stats of the ultimate orb. That is +10 to all stats and that is 190 HP, 1.4 armor, 10% attack speed and 130 MP. Very comforting for this phase of the game. We choose to take stats from level 8 on, without skipping ultimate of course, because we can't skip Dark Pact since it has a nuke potential which is good in early game, so we skip Pounce and Essense Shift because the benefits they give per level are minor. I don't think Essense Shift's extra time will benefit you, nor the extra +40 damage per level from Leash, although the range may help. It is really your choise.
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
Level
Skill
1
6
11
16
21
2
7
12
17
22
3
8
13
18
23
4
9
14
19
24
5
10
15
20
25
Justification: Couldn't come up with a diffirent skill build name. Anyway what we do here is skip early levels of Dark Pact because we only need it as a debuff. We just level it up once as its HP cost increases with the levels and then max out the other two skills. After maxing them out keep on maxing stats which are really helpful. For those that hate this skill's nuke part so much you can even skip leveling Dark Pact in levels 23-25
Early game - Lane Phase(Levels 1-5)
If you picked Slark(-ap,-sd,-cm,-rd):
589 gold
If you randomed Slark(-ar, -random):
783 gold
Grab these items and go to a sidelane. Preferably the safe one (top for Sentinel, bot for Scourge). If you didn't finish your PMS in fountain finish it from the side shops as soon as possible. PMS and tangoes is to survive in lane, branches are for cheap stats and for a later upgrade to Magic Wand. Last hit carefully with every possible safe technique you know, such as aggroing creeps. When you get to level 5 is your chance to attempt a kill, since your nuke has 225 damage and you can hit for 3.5 seconds, maybe more with a stunner. If the opponents are superior (Viper, Rhasta) or are too hard to die (Magina, Puck etc) just wait till you get to level 6.
Mid game(Level 6-16)
5244 gold
This is your core build
Magic Wand is a really good item giving minor stats and a burst heal, which on Slark should be around 1/3 of his HP. From what I have experienced it also solves his mana problems after ganks. Definitely take it I think it is stupid to skip it no matter what hero you have.
Power Treads give average movement speed, extra attack speed, which we need, and +8 to any attribute. Always keep them in STR mode as Slark really badly needs this extra HP.
Poor Man's Shield is for lane survival but you shouldn't drop it, it still increases your EHP.
Armlet of Mordiggian when activated gives you:
+40 damage
+25% attack speed
+5 armor
-32 HP regeneration
+25 STR
Everything Armlet gives, DPS, survivability, helps Slark, especially the +25 STR. Once you get your armlet don't immidiately consider getting some lifesteal items, as your ultimate makes sure you regenerate the lost HP after a big fight.
Scroll of Town Portal. Every hero must carry one (Escape ganks, defend towers, help allies etc.)
After here on you can go ganking, so you may find yourself roaming a lot. Your ultimate makes up for that by making you very fast so you do not waste much time and have an HP fountain. Remember Slark can use all runes:
Regeneration: Not HP but it surely helps with MP, with which Slark has problems game.
Illusion: Not really that good but with some nice micro you can pretend fake ganks, make the lane opponents think that you are still there or even block the opponent while you are whacking him.
Invisibility: With this rune you can ensure your Leap is succesful. Note that the enemy can't see the smokes on top of Slark when he is invisible (without ultimate).
Haste: My favourite gank rune. You can easily get in range to Pounce the opponent and he can't outrune you. What's better than that?
Double damage: You steal damage via stats, so the damage you steal will be accounted in the Double damage rune bonus. Really devastating.
Gank tips:
So here is how you should gank:
1)Choose a victim and warn nearby allies you are coming.
2)Go behind the target and leash him with Pounce. If the enemy has some dangerous targetted stuns cast Shadow Dance to prevent from being disabled.
3)Whack his ass of.
4)Since you have now stolen some stats from the victim last hit some creeps in the lane with ease or even take a tower down if there are no missing heroes.
5)Go back in the jungle to restore lost HP.
6)Go back to step 1
That is basically how it's done. You shouldn't attempt to kill heroes by yourself unless they are really soft, don't have escape mechanisms, you are overfed, they are at red HP or they are just noobs.
Late game(Levels 17-25)
23675 gold
Actually this is the dream build for Slark, so don't plan on farming all of this
Power Treads shouldn't be replaced. Let them the way they are.
Armlet of Mordiggian does not lose its efficiency since the survivability it gives is still nice.
Cranium Basher synergizes well with your attack speed. Stealing and disabling the enemy as he can't do nothing about it is really gay nice.
Heart of Tarrasque is Slark's favourite item. It gives him insignificant HP to stand in battle and on top of your ultimate it adds another 2% regen. If you make a simple calculation you will notice that Heart of Tarrasque along with Shadow Dance at full level will bring you from critical HP to full HP in 16 seconds maximum.
Orchid Malevolence solves your mana problems, adds considerable DPS and on top of that the valuable Soul Burn. Forget those nukers and stunners and just whack their asses of while they can't even talk thanks to the silence
The Butterfly is almost every agility hero's favourite item. It fits Slark well with a huge DPS boost and an evasion to counter those annoying carries.
At this part of the game all heroes do the same thing. Stick together. Slark is no exception. Slark needs time to steal stats, which he will probably lack because carries have farmed, fights will almost always be 5vs5 and if the enemy is smart you will get focused and brought down quickly. Your destiny purpose is to wait till initiators have... initiated, all heroes are distracted and then whack the most dangerous heroes. Normally your priority should be this:
1) Disablers: they are more trouble than they are worth. Go in, bitchslap them kill them in a few hits (disablers are always fragile).
2) Support: their death means noone there to backup and save the carries. Significantly discourages the enemy team.
3) Carries: they are the stars now. After their sidekicks support and disablers have gone focus them. You should have stolen some stats from the previous victims so you might have a slight advantage.
4)Tanks: they don't pose much threat by themselves. Just kill them
Tips:
1)Dark Pact has lost its efficiency as a nuke, but it still is a really good skill. If the enemy has Dust of Appereance you can dispell it, if you can time it right you may also reduce stun durations. It is a purely defensive ability from now on, and a good on that is. Don't try to bee a smart-ass against wards or a gem though.
2)If you see that you are being focused, just activate your ultimate and run. The big MS diffirence will make you have an advantage. If they try to chase you your teammates will hit their backs really hard. If they ignore you just wait a few seconds for your HP to be replenished and go in to whack their asses now that all the stuns are used.
3)Pounce is not really that usefull here. The enemy will usually focus your allies so they may even not notice you hit them. Hold Pounce for escaping or chasing situations.
4)If you have landed a LOT of hits, and your DPS is like 200 base damage but you are low on HP, never go back to fountain. The stats will wear off after 60 seconds. Your HP will regenerate in 25 seconds at the most critical point, so just wait for your HP to regenerate and make use of your crazy damage.
5)Don't forget that althought this is the "stick together" phase, you are a very good warder alone. Wards in this part of the game are really usefull with the only disadvantage that if you get caught, you are fucked screwed. Slark knows when enemy has sight of him with his ultimate, therefore knowing if the enemy has wards or sight of him. If you see your ultimate's passive going off immidiately activate your ultimate and go back to your allies. Then come back with them to ward/counter-ward.
Early game - Lane Phase(Levels 1-5)
If you picked Slark(-ap,-sd,-cm,-rd):
589 gold
If you randomed Slark(-ar, -random):
783 gold
No diffirence here. Same as the normal build.
Mid game(Level 6-16)
7434 gold
Magic Wand, no matter what your build is, must be placed in a slot.
Power Treads, for the same reason, stats and IASIncreased Attack Speed are always welcome.
Poor Man's Shield is for the lane phase, so no changes here either.
Soul ring Some people will say it is a really good combo since Slark can replenish the HP missing through his ultimate and he really badly needs the mana. Other people say his HP is too short and can get him killed since the item gives you 10 seconds to use the mana, making it dangerous to go into battle, plus you already got a skill that sacrifices your HP. It is really your choice.
Mask of Madness is the most common Slark pub item. I don't say it is wrong, since it gives you burst attack speed so you can quickly steal stats, but it makes you more vulnerable.
Vanguard as the most common pub item on ALL heroes can't be missed on such a fragile hero, can it? You take this item since all you do is jump in the heart of the battle and whack facesno matter whose face it is and you will definitely attract attention.
This is a very risky build. What you basically do is:
1) Solve attack speed problem
2) Solve mana problem
3) Solveor not? HP problem
but that makes you somewhat useless before you have farmed it all and remember it is 2190 gold more than the armlet build. This is recommended when the enemy team has no nukers.
Late game(Levels 17-25)
23675 gold
Print these words in your mind I wrote previously. At this part of the game all heroes do the same thing. Stick together. Slark is no exception.
Most commonly seen item on Slark.
The actual thought is: "I need attack speed. Madness provides cheap attack speed with the disadvantage of making me squishier. My ultimate though makes up for that and when I take all the incoming damage I will be able to lifesteal it back with the stats I managed to steal"
Good thinking but this will only work if the enemy team has no AoE nukes and doesn't bother bying invisibility detection (most probably pubs).
Black King Bar
Yes the almight BKB. Gives you the invaluable magic immunity, the friend of all DPS heroes. Definitely get it if there are too many stuns/nukes in the opponent team.
Linken's Sphere
Gives considerable stats, solves mana problems to a degree and provides the invaluable Spell block. A perfect item, but what you really benefit from is the +10 STR and spell block (Agility is a waste since you already get it from Essense Shift, Intelligence and mana regen shouldn't be a problem if you manage your mana carefully). If you think of it 10 STR and Magic immunity for 5-10 seconds is granted from BKB. So between Linken's and BKB, I would prefer BKB.
Diffusal blade
Attack speed, extra INT for early mana, and the invaluable Purge. Get this if your opponents have a Sven or a Broodmother or if you just have difficulty landing that Pounce because of the retarted collision AoE.
Ethereal Blade
I personally hate this, but it seems to work. Stacking as much agility as you can then finishing the enemy off with Ether blast. Problem is you can never calculate how much damage it will inflict at the target since everything changes every minute, so if you don't calculate right you won't have another chance of killing him since he will be in Banished form. It will work in pubs though.
Your score is already 10-0 in some random pub? Are you a last-hit fag? Do you avoid ganks like a ninja or maphack? This item is here for you. Great stats solving your HP problems, a reliable slow. If you really are overconfident or have managed to get so much gold around minute 30 go ahead take it. Consider it in your luxury.
Another pub favourite item. I have even seen this in Puck Not a bad item for Slark though. It gives nice attack speed, damage and of course a nice STR boost, something you badly need. The slow seems nice, but it is unreliable, so don't count on it. But 3.5 seconds are more than enough to score a maim, so percentage is not actually that bad.
+25 Agility
+16 Agility
+25 Strength
+16 Strength
+25 Intelligence
+12 damage
+200 HP
+15 attack speed
+150 mana
+12% movement speed
Cold Attack (Passive, orb)
Greater Maim (passive)
If you didn't get my point Eye of Skadi gives 675 HP and 475 MP whereas Sange and Yasha gives 304 HP. In terms of survivability Skadi is definetely better. Now Eye of Skadi gives +25% attack speed and a permaslow, whereas Sange and Yasha gives 31% attack speed, +12 damage, +12% movement speed and an unreliable slow. The conclusion is that Skadi is better for survivability while whacking the target without being overrun thanks to your reliable slow, but Sange and Yasha gives you more DPS. Between these items I don't have a personal suggestion, because it all depends on the game. But if you want to have lifesteal then you should definitely get Sange amd Yasha, since it isn't an Orb effect and won't interfere with it. Don't forget that these items are still both in the Situational section.
Orb of Venom
This item actually gives you a lesser slow, but for the chasing power it gives it is really cheap. A really good item on Slark, but only bother with it in early-mid game. Late game favors carries and stunners, not slows.
Monkey King Bar
Is that Mortred, Rikimaru, Troll so annoying you can't even hit them? True strike is your friend. Keep in mind raw damage isn't what you are aiming for thought.
Raw damage items
The only reason these are situational is that it is stupid to neglet damage items on a pure DPSer. They contribute to the only thing that Slark does, whacking. But they don't increase your attack speed, since the only way to take advantage of Slark's Essense Shift through items is attack speed and no survivability, which Slark also partially lacks.
Satanic
You can even add it to your final luxury instead of situational. I remember once a Slark with over 200 damage and 200 HP activating satanic and getting a Triple kill leaving with full HP. Don't underestimate this on Slark. Also use it to counter blademail.
Aghanim's Scepter
The stats are really nice and I would consider this item as a core of Slark, but it just doesn't fit his ultimate
Soul Ring
You will regen the HP, and you won't miss it Careful when using in battles though, because when combined with Dark Pact can lead to leaving you with almost half your HP. Also useful to farm neutrals.
Medallion of Courage
Well sure, this item reduces armor so your whacking is more painful, but 1075 gold for just a -6 armor is not that good. Focus on your core mostly and if you really want it, tell your support to get it.
Boots
Power Treads
Gives you attack speed, + 8 stats which are better used in STR for more survivability. This is the best choice of boots for Slark.
Phase boots
Phase Boots are used for quicker roaming and for those heroes like Lycanthrope, Pudge etc that don't like to get blocked. You don't have a problem roaming the map since Slark already runs as if he is high, but if you are getting blocked too often, maybe consider taking this item. The increased raw damage is not too attractive though.
Arcane Boots
This is useless on Slark. Well yes it can solve your mana problems but a Magic Wand makes just fine. You don't need extra mana you need IASIncreased attack speed and survivability.
Boots of Travel
Well this are always the best boots, but they are far too expensive on Slark. If you managed to get 2200 gold, save 400 more for the Armlet of Mordiggian. It will prove much more rewarding. Still it is a must in late game.
Orbs
Mask of Madness has always been a standart item for Slark. Until 6.71b everyone loved this item, although it was crappy for Slark because it made him even more fragile than he was. From 6.72 that his STR gain is buffed this item actually becomes much more viable, but as I said earlier, only take it when the enemy team lacks nukes.
Dominator is not a frequently used item for Slark. I have only seen it bought for Slark just for Satanic.
Satanic is so fucking IMBA synergetic on Slark. As I mentioned earlier, if you are in a low HP situation, that means you have fought and stolen some stats, and that means HUGE DPS, and if you activate Satanic, 3-4 hits should regen you back to full HP. A must for late game and also a counter to blademail.
Maelstorm? Not really. I have never seen it on Slark and I am happy I haven't. It gives some pure damage, minor attack speed and Chain Lighting. Well yes, all these synergise with your attack speed but you actually need more survivability than this shit, which is more often used in pushing.
Mjollnir is just like Maelstorm. Yes it gives more attack speed and some crappy Static Charge. How can you use this? On an ally? You didn't take this item for pushing and supporting you know. On yourself? If you are getting focused, than you are doing it wrong.
Eye of Skadi is the best orb effect I can think of for Slark. Beating down on the target while permaslowing him is something to be noted.
Desolator is actually a nice item for Slark, not because of the pure damage but because of the -armor that synergises with the only thing you got, auto-attacksof course we are talking about the late game, were Dark Pact's nuking power is almost useless. Note that it doesn't give you any survivability though. No survivability=no live=no Slark=no whacking=no profit=lose.
Diffusal Blade is a rarely seen item on Slark but it is actually really good. The manaburn synergises with your high attack speed. This item is not usually gotten for its manaburn though (except for heroes like Slithice, Phantom Lancer, Spectre etc), but rather for the Purge that counters some heroes. If you just want the purge just ask your support to build one, you can invest your gold to better items than this.
Conclusion
Generally, Slark does not need any orb. All orbs are situational. The most used orb is lifesteal, since it synergises with Slark's DPS and his fragility, so my suggestion is Satanic, but that will be later in the game so don't farm for it in the beginning. Most pubs take lifesteal in the beginning of the game to ensure infinite farming in lane or woods. Slark doesn't really need it since if he stays out of sight for just a few seconds he can replenish his HP much faster than with a crappy Mask of Madness.
Blademail
Slark can't use this. His HP is really pathetic he can't return much damage.
Refresher Orb
Seriously I have seen this in pubs. They think that 11 seconds of unreavealing invisibility is IMBA. Too bad Slark's mana pool can't support this and there is something called True sight.
Vladimir's Offering
You don't need this item. You don't need its lifesteal. But if you really like all the auras tell your support hero to get it. The command aura has a bit of a synergy with Essense Shift, yet not worth being even a situational item.
Vanguard
AFAIK this is pubs' favourite item and I know many will rate my guide shit for this but I have to. So let's break it up a bit:
What I am trying to say here? Obviously if you want Vanguard it will be pretty early for survivability, so you will delay or even worse skip Armlet. Armlet gives more HP than Vanguard. Vanguard gives you regen but why do you need its regen when you got your ultimate? The damage block? Sure 40 damage block would be nice in all heroes, if it would fit them. You see damage block is diffirent from armor, cause if you put them down, damage block is for tanking, whereas armor is for surviving and there is a diffirence. Now damage block is definitely not what you need, so I am totally going to say NO to Vanguard. Just think that Armlet for only 375 more gold you can get a better item that not only gives you more survivability, but also gives you significant DPS.
Support items
No, no, no. You are not the "go on I will take care of ya" guy. Let your support get this.
Battlefury
Yeah one of pubs' favourite item. How will cleave actually work on this hero?
Radiance
Saying in all chat "I have much damage and low HP, kill me", is the same as getting this item. You will only attract attention.
Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse
Some say this is the ultimate item in the game. Not on Slark, leave that to INT heroes that have bigger problems with mana.
Lothar's Edge
When you realise that they have already countered your ultimates invisibility go facepalm yourself.
Kelen's Dagger
Don't know why I even have to mention this. It somehow helps you land a Pounce (or that perfectly timed Dark Pact), is probably the best mobility item, along with Boots of Travel, but 2150 just for a fucking blink that you don't really need and without giving extra stats is retarted. Focus on other items. Don't get me wrong I love this item it is my favourite item in the game but Slark is one of those heroes that doesn't need it.
Bloodstone
Seriously, go fuck yourself this is shit. The only synergy you got with this item is your low HP. Go in, die and let Bloodpact heal your allies.
Blademail
This is actually the most painful thing to Slark. Whenever an opponent activates Blademail, you must never hit him with the hope "Maybe I'll survive". Simply no, your HP is pathetic. Get Satanic to counter.
Ghost Staff
If you can't hit, you pretty much can't do shit. Don't waste time waiting for it to end find another target.
Eul's Scepter of Divinity
Pretty much the same with Ghost Staff, with the diffirence they can't do anything else to you either. You Pounce, catch them and then even if you are invisible they don't need to target you they just cyclone themselves.
Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse
Everyone hates this item.
Teleportation items
You don't really have a disable, just a long-lasting "stay here pussy" semi-movement-disable. Get MKB to counter.
True sight
Of course. No invisibility=focus=dead=no hit=bad. I am not listing Dust of Appereance since you can just remove it with Dark Pact.
Crystal Maiden
Who doesn't love her. Slow, semi-disable, no more mana problems.
Trackers
If someone manages to juke Slark, he has succesfully escaped him on most of the occasions. Gondar and Slardar make this impossible. Also the -armor of Slardar highly increases your damage.
Special mention:
Vengeful Spirit
Stun helps you Pounce the opponent, -armor will help since all you do is auto-attacking, Command Aura will tremendously increase your DPS later because it will increase your damage according to your (stolen) stats and Nether Swap, well in big fights it goes like this:
1)You have low HP
2)She swaps you
3)Enemy has no sight of you, you regen you HP
4)Back to the fight
Io
This new star will become your best friend soon enough. Tether boosts you, spirits make you unjukable and slow, need-to-be-nerfed IASIncreased Attack Speed and damage reduction and Relocate can help you regen your HP whether he teleports you to the fountain or anywhere.
Tuskar
Snowball ensures you get close to your enemy, Ice Shards ensure you Pounce your enemy, Frozen Sigil ensures you continue whacking your enemy and Walrus Punch is always there to KSkill-steal finish the enemy off.
Omniknight
He helps you land a pounce by slowing, he heals your whole damn HP with Purification and he can deal the same damage when you pounce on an enemy, if his IQ allows that. He will save your ass with his ultimate and his magic immunity is just so much better then BKB.
Nukers
They don't really give a shit about your existence. They will send you to hell in 2-3 seconds. Lina having the most powerful nuke, Ogre Magi killing you with a single spell if he is lucky and Lion with 2 disables and the 2nd strongest nuke in the game.
Assassins
Well, pretty much like nukers, with the diffirence you will never see it coming.
Disablers
Come on who doesn't hate them. Note that Invoker and Icarus only disable you from attacking with Deafening Blast and Icarus Dive, but that is all you do right?
Trackers
I actually don't think they pose such a problem. I mean sure they can see you for the next 30/25 seconds respectively but Dark Pact will get rid of their track skill. Still they are annoying.
Lucifer
Of course, the counter to everything. Note that if he dooms you your ultimates regeneration won't work whether enemy has sight of you or not.
Rubick
This guy, also known as Grand Fagus deserves to be in all heroes' enemy list with his gay Spell Steal. When you are to attack him, make sure you firstly use Shadow Dance and then Pounce, since if you use Shadow Dance last, he will steal it and use it for the next 3-5 minutes and that is not cool at all.
Special mention:
Tinker
He doesn't care how hard you hit, he will blind you, nuke you, permahex you later and since his core item is Boots of Travel he can always escape you.
Atropos
His Brain Sap hurts really bad, Nightmare can always save him or his teammates, his ultimate will hold you right where you fuckin stand for 5 seconds and his fuckinggaygoddamn enfeeble will take away 25/50/75/100 of your damage. This is ridiculous, seriously. Don't lose hope though, Dark Pact can save you from Enfeeble and if you time it right you can even escape his Fiend's Grip.
Rexxar
His hawk can see you from a mile, rendering your ultimate useless, he can permaslow you and his ultimate just rips you apart, with a cooldown of 45 seconds and 900 cast range if he gets Aghanim's. Seriously, you can't gank him and he can always gank you.
Bloodseeker
Well his silence isn't that annoying, since it increases your damage output because it increases it based on stats. The real problem is if he gets you to 40% HP you will never escape him. His ultimate pretty much tears you apart so it is not hard taking you down to 40%. If he focuses in ganking you, his usual job is Rupture-->Silence. Don't move an inch and when he silences you just whack his fuckin pig face of and drink HIS blood. If he has a partner though, just move out and die of Rupture. No need to give the AoE XP and gold to the other hero.
Barathrum
A charge that renders your ultimate useless whether you are invisible or not: check
He will always outrun you: check
Permabasher: check
Crazy STR gain: check
Just hope he doesn't focus you, because if he does you can't really do anything about it.
Replays
Sentinel
Scourge
Top lane
VS
Mid lane
VS
Bottom lane
VS
1. Just a random battlenet pub game. Zeus feeding and then leaving, 4 agility heroes on Sentinel and horrible teamwork at some points. You can see Slarkme rushing Heart of Tarrasque right after Armlet. I did it because our team needed a tank/initiator really bad, but initiator Slark is not recommended. I simply wanted to attract all the attention so that SF could initiate. Void was the one that owned the game. Download replay
I hope you are not mad at me for all these walls of text because I feel bad Feel free to send me a message if you got some suggestions or disagree with something. I will soon upload a replay to show how to play this hero.
Changelog
16/03/2011:
Started writing this guide.
17/03/2011:
• Finished guide
20/03/2011:
• Fixed some typing mistakes and icons
• Added Sange and Yasha in Situational section and compared it with Eye of Skadi
• Added Orb of Venom in Situational items
• Added disadvantage
• Added Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse, Eul's Scepter of Divinity and Teleportation items and as Counter items
• Moved Rexxar to Special mention
• Added another skill build
• Added trackers to Worst enemies
24/03/2011
Added Bloodseeker to Worst enemies
01/04/2011
• Added Alt + Tab miniguide section
• Added Contents section
07/04/2011
• Added Nuke haters Skill Build
16/04/2011
• Added another item build
• Added Soul Ring to Situational
• Added an advantage
28/04/2011
• Updated as of 6.72
04/05/2011
• Added Orbs section in Situational items
• Added Medallion of Courage as Situational item
• Added Kelen's Dagger and Bloodstone as Rejected items
• Added Tuskar to Best allies
• Added Rubick to Worst enemies
16/05/2011
• Updated as of 6.72b
18/05/2011
• Added Raw damage items to Situational items
• Added Boots section in Situational items
04/07/2011
• Moved Io to Special mention
25/07/2011
• Added Omniknight to Special mention
16/10/2011
• Added Replays section
Credits
• Icefrog, of course
• All the people that corrected my mistakes and your suggestions
Slark the Murloc Nightcrawler Author: D-REZ Map Vers.: 6.72f
I am a ninja
Froggy
Date Posted: 03/17/11 Last Comment:17/02/2013 Total Votes: 58 Current Rating: 7.61 Views: 134075
Careful when using in battles though, because when combined with Dark Pact can lead to leaving you with almost half your HP. Also useful to farm neutrals.
Not a bad item for Slark though. It gives nice attack speed, damage and of course a nice STR boost, something you badly need. The slow seems nice, but it is unreliable, so don't count on it. But 3.5 seconds are more than enough to score a maim, so percentage is not actually that bad.
Slark the Murloc Nightcrawler
