Foreword
Okey,this is my 2nd guide in PlayDotA,check out my 1st guide for PHOENIX THE ICARUS.And again,forgive me for my poor English,I am a Chinese educated student.


Introduction
Templar Assassin is actually a professional hero in DotA,but she is not popular and we seldom find her in Pub Games.So,I’ll be introducing & teaching you guys how to play the Templar Assassin most effectively.



Basic Infos

PROS
-A very strong carry(or semi-carry)
-Her skills are seriously strong
-Her armor reduction buff is WTF
-She’s cute
-Her skills doesn’t cost a lot of mana
-Her ultimate slows for ALOT
-A powerful Mid-Late game hero
-Her STR & AGI gain is quite high

CONS
-Fragile against DPS & AOE heroes
-An Item will make her MAD!!(please refer to the WORST ENEMIES/ITEMS section)
-As a ranged hero,Her range is too short
-A bad Ganker(I’ll say like this because of her refraction)


Skill Builds
Ok,i'll show few sets of skill builds for lanaya based on different situations/playing styles.

Build 1(normal build)

1.Psi Blade/Refraction
2.Refraction/Psi Blade
3.Refraction
4.Meld
5.Refraction
6.Psionic Trap
7.Refraction
8.Meld
9.Meld
10.Meld
11.Psionic Trap
12.Psi Blade
13.Psi Blade
14.Psi Blade
15.+
16.Psionic Trap
17-25.+

This should be a normal skill build for Lanaya(actually IDK how you guys play lanaya,I am a Malaysian,I learn to play Lanaya myself).I don’t care whether you’re playing as what role,Refraction must be max 1st.If you learn Psi Blade at level 1,there are 2 situations.Or else,you could choose whatever skill to be up at lv 1 to suit your playing style.
1.You’re being harassed by your lane enemies.You need the range to kill creeps.
2.You are confidence to harass your lane enemies(especially when they’re melee heroes.)


Build 2(when you’re being harassed seriously at start game)

1.Refraction/Meld
2.Meld/Refraction
3.Refraction
4.Psi Blade
5.Refraction
6.Psionic Trap
7.Refraction
8.Meld
9.Meld
10.Meld
11.Psionic Trap
12.Psi Blade
13.Psi Blade
14.Psi Blade
15.+
16.Psionic Trap
17-25.+

This build will be suitable for you if you cannot farm and being harassed seriously.At lv 1,learn 1 lv of Meld or Refraction.Meld is for you to hide yourself and you can also get experience without being harassed.But,if your lane enemies are using some aoe nukers or dps heroes(slayer,butcher,storm spirit,etc)be careful.They will fu** your ass if they saw where are you hiding.


Build 3(Meld Spammer)

1.Psi Blade
2.Refraction
3.Meld
4.Refraction
5.Meld
6.Psionic Trap
7.Refraction
8.Refraction
9.Meld
10.Meld
11.Psionic Trap
12.Psi Blade
13.Psi Blade
14.Psi Blade
15.+
16.Psionic Trap
17-25.+

This build will be effective when there are soft heroes on the lane you're facing.By spamming Meld,they will be very vulnerable and they will be hard to control that lane.As a conclusion,you had totally owned that lane!


Item Builds
START GAME



1st start game item increases your AS and DMG.The 2nd one provides you more EHP(effective hit points)and allows you to survive in a lane more longer.Besides that,always remember to call somebody to share/buy courier for you.

WHAT BOOTS SHOULD I BUY?

Don't buy this on early game.You already have a 50% slow.Buy it on Late game is the most suitable because you need to run here & run there,push here & push there.


2nd boot choice for your early game.If you wanna some damage,buy this.


Best of all.Power Treads gives you increased AS,and you can also change it into diferrent form.But beware!Changing treads will break your Meld.


Don't even buy this for Lanaya.Lanaya's skills cost less mana.She don't need this.If you're out of mana,buy a Clarity potion.

CORE ITEMS

This is the main core for Lanaya.If you guys wanna know the usage of Kelen's Dagger,please read the "How To Play Lanaya?" section.


The Butterfly provides evasion,IAS,DMG and AGI.Most of the Agi heroes need this.

OMG,i can only list out 2 core items for Lanaya because she can buy many items.I'll show other items in the other sections.

ORB ITEMS
1st recommended

You will be horribly strong when you bought this.By casting Meld and Desolator,enemy hero will get a fu**ing -14 armor buff.

2nd recommended

These are the 2nd orb items that i'll buy.HotD gives you a lifesteal effect and +5 armor.Yasha gives you increased As & Ms.Diffusal Blade will be effective when enemy heroes are mana dependant and they have a low mana pool.Eye of Skadi slows enemy hero by 30%,by adding your ultimate,it's a 65% slow!Sange & S&Y also have maim effect to let you chase enemy heroes easier.

not recommended

MoM will let you more fragile,but if you can use refraction wisely,you can buy MoM(although it is not recommended).By the way,please don't buy Satanic for Lanaya,By spending a WTF 6150 gold,you didn't benefit alot from it,it's just a waste.

SITUATIONAL ITEMS

If there are some serious nukes in enemy team,buy this.


Actually this can be the core item for Lanaya,but if there are spell heroes in enemy team,you will be owned.If there's not,BUY THIS!The effect of Meld+Desolator+Medallion=-20 armor.It's WTF!


Anti spells/nukes.


Buy this if there is/are 1 or 2 stunners in enemy team.


Anti stunners.Activating this and Refraction=INVULNERABLE.

LUXURY ITEMS

This also decreases enemies' armor.You worth it.


This Gives you massive HP boost and a super fast regeneration.


If you wanna show off and you don't know how to spare the money,buy this.

+DAMAGE(OR ATTRIBUTE) ITEMS
Lanaya can buy many damage items.I'll list out most of them.



These are the examples.I'll mention Battle Fury.Somebody might laugh at me,why the hell are you buying Battle Fury for a ranged hero?WHY?why can't a ranged hero buy Battle Fury?If you don't have a regeneration item but you also need damage,this will be your best choice.

REJECTED ITEMS

You won't receive any damage if Refraction is activated.So,Blademail is useless.


You already have an invisible skill.Waste on Lanaya.


How to Play Lanaya?
Actually,You will be able to play Lanaya most effectively if you use Hotkey.It is because Lanaya needs to use skills quickly.If you're slow,you maybe can't win the battle.
WITH KELEN'S DAGGER
1.Cast Refraction before the battle(best in dark vision/fog)
2.Wait for a few seconds.(Wait for the Refraction's cooldown.Refraction can be cast twice if you can use it wisely.)
3.Blink near to your target and cast Meld immediately.
4.Hit your target and fight him.
5.If your target wanna run,cast Psionic Trap.
6.Cast Release Trap immediately.
7.Chase and kill.

WITHOUT KELEN'S DAGGER
1.Cast Refraction before the battle(best in dark vision/fog)
2.Wait for a few seconds.(Wait for the Refraction's cooldown.Refraction can be cast twice if you can use it wisely.)
3.Run near your target and Meld-Hit him.
4.If your target wanna run,cast Psionic Trap.
5.Cast Release Trap immediately.
6.Chase and kill.

RUN WITHOUT KELEN'S DAGGER
1.Cast Refraction and run.
2.Cast Psionic Trap and immediately use Release Trap.
3.If enemies don't have a gem/sentry ward/dust,cast Meld in Dark Vision/Fog.
4.Wait until they go away.

RUN WITH KELEN'S DAGGER
1.Cast Refraction and run.
2.Cast Psionic Trap and immediately use Release Trap.
3.If enemies don't have a gem/sentry ward/dust,cast Meld in Dark Vsion/Fog.
4.Wait until your Kelen's Dagger can be use,and blink away.

p/s:If you're being chased by non AOE heroes,you can cast Meld and Blink away straightly.

p/s 2:DON'T EVER SAVE YOUR ULTIMATE BUT NOT TO SAVE YOUR ALLY/ALLIES!Lanaya's Ultimate costs only 15 Mana and her Ultimate cooldown is short with a casting range of 2000!It's greatly further than a Kelen's Dagger!!So,why don't you use it to help your teammate if you cannot rush to there?

Lanaya's Best & Worst Allies/Enemies
BEST ALLIES
Slowers/Buff Placers

All of them has a Ms reduction skill.They can support you effectively.Besides that,Omniknight's Repel can help you alot.

AOE Stunners/Nukers/Disablers


Because you're a bad ganker,so,if you wanna kill in Ganks,you'll need their support.

Armor Reducing Heroes


OMG,their ultimates result in a word,'PAIN!'.Besides that,their ultimate Cooldown are short,so they can help you alot.

If You're using your Ultimate to Support...


Some of these heroes have a very fast Ms.If you cast your ulti on enemy heroes,they will be more easier to chase.Juggernaut needs Ms reduction to use his Bladefury most effectively,you can do that.

WORST ENEMIES/ITEMS
DPS/SKILL SPAMMERS
























SUMMONING SKILLS/ILLUSIONS














BEST ENEMIES

Useless Ultimate on you.


You can even win Ursa with spamming all your skills and drag the battle.


0 Damage for you except his Ultimate.


If he don't have a Manta's Style at late game and you have a Desolator,you must own him for sure.

Conclusions
I seriously hope that this guide could have help you guys a lot.I'll be writing more guides if I have the time.

Credits
-Myself
-Icefrog & PlayDotA

Changelog

• 5/3/2011-Guide Submitted.
• 7/3/2011-Spelling correction.Added a new section in LANAYA'S BEST ALLIES & P/S 2

THE END