Mortred, the Phantom Assassin
Table of Contents
Hi guys, I'm writing this guide because I wanna show you how is my play-style. Now that she got slightly buffed she can do much better in the competitive scenario. Remember that after playing so many times, this is the right way to play her according to my eyes. I hope you all like it.
Born into the reclusive Night Elf order known as the Wardens and shunned by mainstream Night Elf society, Mortred pledged allegiance to the Scourge to take revenge. A perfect blend of strength and speed, the years spent alone in the forests of Ashenvale allowed her to blend into the terrain, appearing phantomlike at times and striking when you least expect it. The deadly precision with which she carries out her attacks has made her a valuable member of the Scourge, and it is clear why she is known as the Phantom Assassin.
Stats
Strength: 20 + 1.85 (About average str gain to an Agility hero but her starting str now is much better)
Agility: 23 + 3.15 (Second best agi gain in the game)
Intelligence: 13 + 1 (Poor int gain, however you don't need int and mana isn't a problem to PA)
Affiliation: Scourge (Agility Tavern)
Attack Animation: 0.3 / 0.7 (Fast and easy to learn)
Damage: 46 - 48 (Weak compared to other carriers starting damage)
Casting Animation: 0.3 / 0.5 (This is swift)
Armor: 4.3 (Fair starting armor but contrasted by low starting HP)
Base Attack Time: 1.7 (Good, and gets better later on)
Movespeed: 310 (Above average, helps a little on chasing)
Missile Speed: Instant (Fast) (Does its job well)
Attack Range: 100 (melee) (Melee heroes suffer on early game if facing ranged ones)
Sight Range: 1800 / 800 (Day / Night) (Normal sight range)
I don't take any credit for this artwork. Image was gotten from
deviantART
Pro's & Con's[+]Insane critical multiplier;
[+]Escape mechanism if you have reliable allies;
[+]Easy last-hitting with Stiffling Dagger;
[+]She is a walking Butterfly and a Buriza-Do Kyanon;
[+]Strong late game presence;
[-]Weak early game;
[-]Too item-dependent;
[-]Low starting HP;
[-]Almost a dead weight if you can't farm properly;
[-]Easy target before she gets a BKB. |
Why would someone want to play mortred? Well, before trying to play this hero you should ask yourself if you enjoy playing stealth-like heroes; chasers and late carriers. And on top of that, if you have patience.
Mortred can change the tides of battles when she gets her late game items, becoming from a nobody to a "super carry" hero by one or two new items in your inventory. *coughs like Divine rapier and Satanic*.
Let's take a look at the skills of this smexy-looking creepy lady first:
[Note that for further information such as ranges, cooldowns and mana costs just click above the skill icon]
- This is a powerful slowing tool;
- You safely farm from distance by using this skill;
- Can protect both your and your allies' asses from being chased;
- Use this to help your team cast their spells;
- Easily hits your enemy's heroes to stop them from regenerating their health and mana on items that dispels on damage;
- It's mana cost is really low allowing you to spam this often;
- Also remember to cast it when slowing your enemy's hero will cause them to take a few extra hits from either the tower or your creeps (gay harassing I know right).
- The synergy of Stifling Dagger and Phantom Strike makes Mortred a good and competent chaser;
- When you think you can get a kill you basically throw your dagger and blink in even before your dagger reaches your oponnent. Getting 100% IAS on a slowed hero for 3 seconds really hurts. Your skills usage for chasing always start with Stiffling Dagger, then you blink to land your attacks. You can blink again before your dagger's cooldown refreshes: Keep repeating this process until you or an ally can kill the enemy hero;
- Remember to avoid spamming this on early game because blinking will end up with your mana pool too fast, and that will only make it worse for you to last hit with your dagger;
- You can also avoid being targeted with Blink;
- If you are somehow ambushed you can blink to an ally unit to escape.
- It's immensely better now with the new buffs and the Hero Icon Removal from the Mini-Map;
- It is a good choice against physical DPS heroes;
- Evasion doesn't stack with Butterfly;
- If you are new to DotA or Warcraft in general, make sure to have in mind that her Blur won't make it harder to see you due to something that can be enabled on options, thusly setting your health bar to be shown above your head. If you didn't know about that, go and check it out now!
- Her bread and butter;
- Definitely as the name says, this is her killer skill;
- At level one it won't do much compared to level two or three;
- Because of this skill maxed you literlly can reach the so-loved red four digits critical numbers;
- This is what makes your life-steal reliable;
- This is the reason why I love Phantom Assassin so much;
- It has a low % chance to strike a critical compared to other DPS carriers with critical too (only 15%), however your insane attack speed at late levels in addition with your extra 100% IAS you get from Blinking balances its landing rates so much.
Her skill building has 3 ways. Let's take a look:
Level 1 -
Phantom Strike
Level 2 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 3 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 4 -
Blur
Level 5 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 6 -
Phantom Strike
Level 7 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 8 -
Phantom Strike
Level 9 -
Phantom Strike
Level 10 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 11 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 12 -
Blur
Level 13 -
Blur
Level 14 -
Blur
Level 15 -
Stats
Level 16 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 17 ~ 25 -
Stats
| Explanation: This is her most used skill building, hence the name. Not only it's good for being well-around but it's so standard that it grants you flexibility for chasing, escaping, tanking some physical damage and etc. If you did well early-game you are gonna have a great transition to mid-game with this skill building because you will get a huge amount of evasion to play with. I high recommend this one for new players too. |
Level 1 -
Phantom Strike
Level 2 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 3 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 4 -
Blur
Level 5 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 6 -
Blur
Level 7 -
Blur
Level 8 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 9 -
Blur
Level 10 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 11 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 12 -
Phantom Strike
Level 13 -
Phantom Strike
Level 14 -
Phantom Strike
Level 15 -
Stats
Level 16 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 17 ~ 25 -
Stats
| Explanation: With this build we try to max her survivability the most. This is the proper route if you want to get a Vanguard for her because it will amplify your HP to the point physical damage will be a joke against you. Also follow this way when you know you won't be able to blink more than once. It will make your chasing capabilities weak early, but your presence in team-fights will be much more plausible. |
Level 1 -
Blur
Level 2 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 3 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 4 -
Phantom Strike
Level 5 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 6 -
Phantom Strike
Level 7 -
Phantom Strike
Level 8 -
Blur
Level 9 -
Phantom Strike
Level 10 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 11 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 12 -
Blur
Level 13 -
Blur
Level 14 -
Stifling Dagger
Level 15 -
Stats
Level 16 -
Coup de Grāce
Level 17 ~ 25 -
Stats
| Explanation: If you are playing a pub and you want to solo mid, it's okay. You can do that under certain conditions. Early Blur will allow you to detect when your enemy hero has left mid or not. Or when someone is coming. The uphill + your natural evasion will prove to be useful if you manage to control the creep waves for always being at your side before the river. Your Stifling Dagger will always have range enough to get any creep from a safe distance. |
- Question: "Why would someone max Blur early on that Survivability Route?"
- Answer: Most of the time you won't be able to afford a tower-dive or you will be focused to the point you will die before you can blink twice in a team-fight. That's when you leave Blink at level 1 and focus on maxing Blur and Dagger. Usually, if well coordinated that powerful 4 seconds of slow + your Blink coupled with one of your allies' disable will be enough to kill the majority of the heroes.
- Question #2: "Hey, how come at level 6 you don't get her ultimate? I mean seriously, it is a sexy free critical skill!"
- Answer: Having a critical at level six, when you don't actually have good damage to offer isn't a good thing. It will only tickle your enemies. However, focusing on her chasing or survivability skills first is better. So when you get it at level 10, you then can raise it to level 2 right away when she levels to 11. And that is when it starts to get better.
Now here's her ideal starting items and core item builds:
- Basically her starting items mainly focus on survivability.
- Ancient tango of Essifation and Healing Salve are due to the fact competent enemies will try to damage you as much as possible on your first 2 levels.
- 2 Slippers of Agility because you will transform that into a Poor Man's Shield, it is easy and cheap to build on the first few minutes and that will be a good help until the end of the mid game.
- 2 Iron Wood branch for stats and because you will transform that into Magic Wand.
- This basically what you should aim for your whole game.
- After your starting items, the first item you should purchase is a Stout Shield so you can get your Poor Man's Shield early.
- Then you should analyze what kind of heroes you are facing against. Do they spam too much skills? Do they try to harass a lot? If yes then you should purchase a Magic Stick before you start building your Power Treads, otherwise you can get your Power Treads first.
- Make sure it is a STR one since that extra HP is what Mortred most needs.
- Then once you have your Buttlefury you need to pick either Helm of the Dominator or BKB. Remember that you will need both at the end so if you are getting too much disabled on gankings or in Team Clashes then you should get a BKB;
- Helm of the Dominator will makes it easier for you to start jungling from level 11 and forth since your high criticals will start to shine helping a lot with lifestealing.
- After all that try to get enough money to purchase a Divine Rapier, if you ever manage to get one then the game is yours already, just make sure to don't go alone on a suicidal rush.
 | Satanic is an amazing thing on Mortred after she gets her main items. More lifesteal is always welcome since PA has a horrible HP along the game. Also it gives more STR boosting your life; More armor; A small damage boost and if activated you can get 175% Lifesteal for 3.5 seconds, this is time enough for you to throw your dagger, blink in and get 1 or 2 criticals. There you go, green health bar again yay! |
 | What is more luxurious than a Satanic? A Divine Rapier! You will be Godlike if you get 1 or 2 of these, really (who doesn't?). Just make sure to don't die if you are bearing it... that is the stupidest thing you can ever do and I don't need to say why... |
 | Heart of Terrasque is pure luxury and a good item on any hero, providing precious HP for survival. But only get this if you really have the money and you are being focused a lot. |
 | Monkey King Bar is a good choice if you are facing heroes with evasion. As an example it is a good counter against Troll or Rikimaru. Great counter against Butterfly too! |
 | Only buy this if you really need a different orb effect rather than lifesteal. However, you benefit more if this is being held by your teammates. |
 | If your team lacks stuns or any kind of disable, this is not a bad option. Get this after your main damage item. |
 | This is an item that every team should have. One bearer though since its effect doesn't stack. I strongly don't recommend Mortred to buy this since that for almost the same price she can get a Buttlefury. But if you got Vladmir's Offering and your team doesn't have this item this is not a bad idea at all. |
 | This is an alternative to HoT, giving Mortred more survivability. Once again I have to say that only get this kind of item if you already have your damage items. |
 | It is hard for PA to farm at her very first levels. If you have problems with that this item is a great choice. But if you know that you will be facing ranged heroes in your lane then you better go with her normal starting items. |
 | This is a good alternative for Poor Man's Shield. Only get this if your lane partner didn't get one and you think you will use a few Phantom Strikes trying to get a First Blood with your ally. |
 | It is an awesome option if you got a Divine Rapier. This is a must whenever you think you are the strong carry of your team already. |
 | Bracers are a fair choice if you are having HP problems at your first levels. One or 2 will help you a lot, just don't forget to sell them later to get room for your main core items. |
 | Why you want to carry this? You are a Butterfly already... Now seriously, Don't get it since the evasion doesn't stack. And for 60 damage if you add its agility you can get a better weapon on her for a lower price. You don't need that attack speed either. |
 | Absolutely don't get this. This is worst than your ultimate and its effects overrides your Coup de Grāce |
 | Why you shouldn't get this one? Simply because there are better orbs effect than this one on Mortred. If you don't believe me just try it out by yourself... that's a no-no! |
 | Some people might disagree with me on this but, Mjollnir is not as good on PA as it is on other heroes. Mainly because around 90% of Mortred's kills are gotten from chasing. First because Static Charge won't be triggered often, therefore if you are doing it right nobody with a good sense will turn back and attack you. Second because Chain Lightning won't hit more than one hero (the one you are chasing). So that is a bad usage of an item that could offer much more to other heroes. |
How to behave with Phantom Assassin
After getting your starting items you should head to the long dual lanes (bottom if Sentinel or top if Scourge). Creep blocking is important because it will pull the enemy's creeps closer to your tower thusly making it harder for them to deny your vital experience at the first few levels. Avoid engaging with your enemies, remember that you are a hard carry, you shouldn't play around!
Start last hitting with your Stifling Dagger once you hit level 2. It requires a lot of hard training for being able to last hit at its level 1. Make sure to always keep distance from your enemy heroes. Especially if they are ranged. Your distance range should be the limit for getting experience, throwing your dagger usually from that distance too. When you get used with it, your gold incoming from creeps will be around every 8~9 seconds. I know it is not much compared to ranged heroes but for an extremely fragile hero like Mortred on early game it is profit.
Let your lane partner knowing that you will avoid harassing or having that much physical contact due to the fact you will focus on last hitting. Denying should be done by your partner (preferably ranged), and if you get complaints that you should use your dagger to harass the enemy heroes then this person doesn't know much about Mortred.
Of course you can cast your Stifling Dagger when you notice that your enemy hero is out of creeps or if your ally used a skill. Knowledge figuring out whether it will work out or not is gained with playing experience. If your allied hero is almost dying you can slow down whoever is chasing him, thanks to your multi functional dagger on its best ninja style ever!
This play style can be considered corny or "gay" but this is what will save your ass in most of the cases and if you do it correctly this is what will boost your chances of wrecking havoc later on.
Mid game starts usually when you reach level 11. It's important to have at least Magic Wand, Poor Man's Shield, Power Treads and with at least 1 or 2 items to build your Buttlefury. This is when you change your attention to ganking. Your slow is a big help to kill any distracted hero but if it is gonna be a team clash then you should stay behind, out of range, supporting with your slow and then you use your Phantom Strike to blink in whenever you think you can kill and leave the fight without dying. Why? Well, if PA enters in a team clash she will be disable/nuked most of the time since she is an easy target, and that will kill you 80% of the times.
Yes, you should still take care.
Avoid roaming looking for ganks all the time though, that is not your role. Just keep a TP with you in case you think your foes are coming after you in the forest or you need to teleport to a tower to defend or get an easy kill. Also if you are jungling remember to avoid using your Stifling Dagger on neutral creeps because you might need it to flee from a possible gank and having it on cooldown is a headache.
Now that you finished your high damage item (Buttlefury) you should get your Helm of the Dominator. Since mana won't be a problem due to your Magic Wand you can use Phantom Strike to to kill neutrals faster. Just watch to don't overuse it or else your mana pool will go down to zero. Also farm on lanes where creeps got closer to your town (using Stifling Dagger here is still viable).
Remember to show up when you are least expected on ganking, get a kill and go away. You don't only play Mortred, you need to be Mortred herself. You are some kind of stealthy hero. Throw your dagger hidden from the fog of war... Murder the poor soul with your sublime Phantom Strike... Disappear in the shadows...
When you have your BKB you can do better and participate more in team fights.
This is what you have been waiting for all the time. The late game that usually starts when you and your enemy heroes are around level 16 and forward. If you followed this guide, you really should have farmed at least your core items meaning your critical reached the forth digits. Congrats!
But the game is just starting for PA. If you have a competent team with a good amount of disables you can kill a lot. And killing with Mortred was never so easy like it is now! Ganking should be a rare thing now since people will stick together more often and you should do the same and tag along with your allies.
Now that you have this insane damage you can easily farm a Sacred Relic to turn it into a Divine Rapier later, of course. If you feel that it is safe to kill Roshan, then go and do it. Don't forget to ask one of your allies to place Observer Wards protecting the entrance to Roshan from your enemie's territories. You shall get the Aegis of Immortal!
Don't play around when you get your Divine Rapier. Try to finish the game as sooner as you can. There's fun in being so serious. And if you are carrying a Divine Rapier, dying with it is basically the same as losing the match. GG!
- Poor Man's Shield should get sold around mid game. That extra slot in your inventory will allow you to build your other items easily besides you don't need this item anymore.
- Selling Magic Wand is viable at your last levels. This room it will provide is a good help for getting another Divine Rapier or other item.
- Never push a lane when alone at early or mid game, always do the opposite by denying your own creeps whenever you can start denying them. That should safely keep you farming near your tower.
Good Allies & Worst Enemies
These guys are known as "babysitters" and will be a great aid if you have any of them in your lane. They will provide heal so you can farm more freely. Some have good disables that will assist you to get that kills on early levels that is so hard for PA to achieve.
 | Omniknight is your best allied to assist you so far. He will heal you when you need; Repel when a team clash is going to start and make you immune to anykind fo attacks for a few seconds. Mortred is very deadly with him. |
Having those in your team means that you will have your damage/AS/MS pumped up! And that will only transform you into a great killing machine, no big deal... | Magnus is a wonderful hero to boost your status. His Empower has a great synergy with with your Buttlefury plus you will gain even more damage. Have him casting this on you and watch yourself raping the whole enemy team. |
These heroes will harass you through the entire game. And they are very deadly in close combat.
If these heroes use their combo, you are dead. Simple like that.- I just mentioned a few heroes who always work really well with and against Mortred. But of course, the list is way bigger than this and if well played, any hero can be a good ally or a scary threat.
- Knowing what your allied hero or your enemy can do, how is their play style and what their skills can do is the key to victory. Always try and study strategies with and against them.
- As I said before, playing with Mortred requires patience.
One sided game against PA. Sentinel side made a lot of minor mistakes through the early and mid game. This Mortred also made a few minor mistakes like not getting rid of her Quelling Blade after getting HotD at all, and those early deaths really seemed to be going to a bad end. Thanks to PA's power late game this ended up being a good match overall. There was Magnus Empowering her too!
Note that I'm still looking for good replays and I'll be glad to post one that follows my guide style. :]
- Thanks to my bhe for always helping me with my lame english [aikz];
- To cylyn for helping with grammar reviewing;
- To gwho for his awesome guide that helped me a lot on creating this one;
- To IceFrog and all Playdota's staff for making such a nice forum website;
- To everybody who commented and helped me through the guide development;
- And specially to you for reading and enjoying this!
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