Changelog:

15 August: Finished skill and item build. Added changelog. Reworked links for all images to make them bigger.



Hello, PD community. I am mmmKACAMAk. That is actually only my sig here, i have multiple names: PobesneliKacamak, XxDuSaNxX, D-Master, but that is not important. The important things are:

1. This is my first guide, so please critize as much as you can, because I need to know what is wrong, so that i can change it, and also use it for my future guides.

2. This guide is in early beta, and it is still FAR FAR away from being put on the wait list for publishing. It is updated daily, slowly adding one part at a time. Still, based on whats displayed, you can post comments and criticize. I will surely take your opinion into account and, if you have a good suggestion, I will implement it. After all, I am doing this for you, not for myself!

3. English is not my native language, so expect many mistakes.

And now, onto the guide, YAY

I Stats/Hero Overview


Name: Azwraith, The Phantom Lancer

Background Story: Although his true name is unknown to his allies, Azwraith's assigned name tells you enough. Like the Angel of Death, Azrael, he fights to rid the world of those who choose to embrace undeath. He is able to appear and disappear at will like a wraith, often appearing in many places at once. Azwraith is more than capable of dispatching the undead using his lance, each blow sending them closer to the spirit-realm. This lance is the source of his astounding ability to duplicate himself; whenever it draws blood he can use their life to create weaker copies of himself.

Icefrog's opinion on him: The Phantom Lancer causes chaos and confusion by creating weaker clones of himself. All of his abilities allow him to summon more illusions. His Spirit Lance deals damage and slows an enemy, while also spawning an image at the target. Doppelwalk renders the Lancer invisible, but an image is immediately created to hide the fact that he disappeared. Juxtapose grants a chance to summon an image whenever he attacks, while Phantom Edge grants images a chance to do the same along with providing him and his copies spell resistance. These illusions make Azwraith a fearsome enemy, and a devastating pusher.

Stats:

Strength: 18+2
Agility(Primary Attribute): 23+2.8
Inteligence: 21+2

Advanced Stats:

Affiliation: Sentinel
Attack Animation: 0.5 / 0.5
Damage: 45 - 67
Casting Animation: 0.3 / 0.51
Armor: 3.3
Base Attack Time: 1.7
Movespeed: 290
Missile Speed: Instant
Attack Range: 100 (melee)
Sight Range: 1800 / 800

Skillset:

-Throws a magical spirit from his lance at a target damaging it(100/150/200/250) and slowing it down (10%/20%/30%/40%) for 3 seconds. An illusion (25%/400%) is created attacking the target.

-The Phantom Lancer becomes invisble, creating an illusion to take his place. Lvling the skill reduces the cooldown.

-Whenever Phantom Lancer attacks, he will have a chance (3%/6%/9%/12%) to create an illusion of himself. Limit of 5 images. The images last 15 seconds.

-Gives The Phantom Lancer an edge in combat, increasing his image generation (2%/4%/6%), giving him spell resistance (10%/15%/20%), and gives images a chance to create images of their own (3%/5%/7%).



II Intro

So, from the above info, Phantom Lancer is a melee hero who is adept at creating multiple illusions of himself. Judging by his skillset, he clearly a dps hero who protects himself from harm by spamming illusions.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:
-Can create havoc with his illusions (there's 10 Phantom Lancers, who are you going to attack?)
-Fights awesome both in one on one and teamclashes
-Capable of great mindgames
-great damage output
-Easy to get first blood
-has an escape mechanism

Cons:
-1 aoe spell means gg for his illusions
-melee hero
-mana dependant


III The Build

1. Skill Build

1. Doppelwalk
2. Spirit Lance
3. Spirit Lance
4. Doppelwalk
5. Spirit Lance
6. Doppelwalk
7. Spirit Lance
8. Doppelwalk
9. Juxtapose
10. Phantom Edge
11. Juxtapose
12. Juxtapose
13. Juxtapose
14. Phantom Edge
15. Stats
16. Phantom Edge
17-25. Stats

The typical build. lvl 1 doppelwalk to escape a fb gank. From then, Spirit Lance is maxed first for an easy first blood and kills in general. Most n00bs just skip Doppelwalk and move right onto Juxtapose. However, Doppelwalk can be used in so many situations, that it simply cannot be skipped. As you may have already noticed, there is a tight bond between Juxtapose and Phantom Edge. Phantom Edge without a maxed Juxtapose is useless. That is why I moved the typical build around a bit. Imo, Juxtapose should be maxed first, and then Phantom Edge at 13, 14, 16. But, for some reason, I think its better to have 1 lvl of ult just in case.

ITEM BUILD:

The core:

There are 2 ways to start off. One is with a chicken, and the other one without a chicken. When you spawn, wait for about 10-15 secs. If no one buys a chicken, you get one. Dont share with anyone. Only with a verified team-mate who you know in real life. I personally like to get the chicken, but nvm.

If you didnt get the chicken, take:

Dps starter:


Alternative dps/defense build:



If you got the chicken:

The Stout/defensive build


The band/all-around stat build



Why i love gg branches:

Once again here is some simple mathcraft:
A gauntlet of ogre strength provides you with 3 str. A slipper of agility provides you with 3 agi. A mantle of intelligence provides you with 3 int. Every one of these items costs 150 gold. A single gg branch provides you with 1 to all stats. It costs 53 gold. If I bought a gauntlet, slipper and a mantle, I would get 3 to all stats. This pleasure would cost me 3x150=450 gold and would take up 3 item slots. However, if i bought 3 gg branches, i would also get 3 to all stats. This would also take up 3 item slots. The one but extremely important difference is: IT WOULD COST 159 GOLD. So, if i got 3 branches instead of a gauntlet, a slipper, and a mantle, I would get 3 to all stats and save up 450-159=291 gold. Yes, 291 gold. That would be enough for a set of tangoes a courier aka. primary usables. Now do you see the importance of branches?


After the game begging farm up, and buy either with your courier or from the side shop:


-Icefrog sat down one night and started thinking: Hmmm, what heroes need items crafted specifically for them? Well, PL certainly has a wide range of viable items, but none which he MUST buy. Ill make an item for him. And since then, everyone has been buying the poor mans shield for PL. LOL. That was a joke. PMS is an absolute must-have on pl. The little damage that goes by your high armor will be blocked by this. Harassers will cry as their damage does no effect whatsoever.

-1 or 2 wraith bands should be gotten for stats early, while you farm your way up to the luxury.

-early-mid game ganker/carry item. Does it remind you of someone? Maybe someone who this guide is devoted to?

-No explanation needed. If you need one, stop reading this guide right now.

-blade of alacrity first please. Needed for Manta.

-Diffusal Blade is got primarily got for mana burn. Yes. Images DO mana burn. Can you imagine 10 PL's burning mana? Whole mana pool will be gone in mere seconds. Plus purge for slowing the enemy if you have no mana.

-THE item for PL. All stats, ms, ias, illusions. What more could you need?

Great. Now that you have your core, what you should do is judge the situation and select the order of your luxury items:

-Allaround tank item, grants approximately 1k hp and 1% hp regen, which is a lot. Also a suggested item if you are having troubles with nukers.

-This item will make into a dps monster. +60 damage, +30 ias. Thats just plain ownage. Not to mention the evasion.

-tank/pusher item. This will also be very useful in team battles.


Situational & After-luxury items:

-Get it against channelers (i dont know how to spell it). Also owns all those evasion bitches. Also great overall choice after luxury.

-Nice after-luxury item for PL. Since he has above average damage, he benefits from the critical. Definetly consider Buying it if you dont need true strike or ministun.

/-if you are having problems with nukers, consider HoD or Pipe before you farm a HoT, because if you getting constantly killed by a series of nukes, you will never farm a HoT. Its better to delay it instead of not getting it at all.


Utterly Rejected Items:

and all its upgrades-Yes, It is viable, can be upgraded to linken to counter nukers. However, BF on PL is just plain stupid, or the synonym, pub. The only thing is: It just delays your core, and you would benefit way more from HoD or Pipe.

-Its like taking PMS and HoT, nerfing them, and fusing them into one item. This is not what we want.

-The name of the item is sange & yasha, or as PL calls them-dumb and dumber. Sange is dumb because orbs dont stack. Also, it delays your core. And finally, you will benefit much more from a HoT. Yasha is even dumber because on PL manta over S&Y every time. Also, dont even think about getting manta AND sny, Once again,it would delay your core, and 1 yasha is more than enough.

-Orb effect.
Diffusal Blade is so much more useful because your images benefit from it.


Strategy:


Before the beginning of the game:

Ok, so you picked PL. Thats a good start. Buy your items and head to your lane. I suggest the safe lane (bot for sentinel, top for scourge). I would prefer you didnt solo, but if there is no one else to do it, you can. If you are playing all random, or someone from the opponent team randomed, go to the goblin shop and hide there. Wait to see if someone will buy ring of health.