Table of content (use CTRL+F)

I. Introduction
II. Skill Build
III. Items discussions
IV. Starting items
V. Heart of the game: fight can start
VI. Late game
VII. Allies & enemies

click to see his features

I. Introduction

Rikimaru is one the most fragile heroes in DotA, that's why he has an imba ult!
Against a real clan you won't be able to play nice (except if you got a pro team). Only pick him in public games for fun.
I'll show you how I play Riki' but I know there are different ways.

These items will ruin your game:

II. Skill Build

Your Smoke. In 99% of cases, opponents don't attack you while they are in. Because silenced, slowed and could miss their attacks. Notice: in Smoke, enemy can cast an active item (like Manta).

Your Blink. It deals bonus damages and don't forget: you can Blink on all units, so you can escape you "easily".

Your Backstab. Always engage enemies from behind. High agility means high bonus damages! Illusions don't benefit from Backstab.

That's why the opponent's team hates you. Be careful, if you are silence, you can't get your invisibility.

1- Smoke Screen
2- Blink Strike
3- Backstab
4- Blink Strike
5- Backstab
6- Permanent Invisibility
7- Blink Strike
8- Backstab
9- Blink Strike
10- Backstab
11- Permanent Invisibility
12- Smoke Screen
13- Smoke Screen
14- Smoke Screen
15- Stats
16- Permanent Invisibility
17-25- Stats

About skills: take your Smoke first then Blink and Backstab. Indeed 1 level Smoke is enough and it can help you and your ally at the beginning, you have to upgrade Blink and Backstab as fast as possible.

III. Items discussions

May be good. Enemies will not spot the auras on your creeps when you are invisible.

Pretty nice on all heroes. I take it all the time.

Acceptable. It gives you HP, HP regen with charges and a small mana regen.

Some guys take it but I prefer more agility than this item. If you wanna rush it, then go to MoM.

Not for you, you are fragile, while MoM is casting, you are more fragile. One stun and you are dead! Moreover it's an orb effect, so you if you got it, don't make Diffusal.

I totally dislike this item on Riki'. Why? Your illusions don't benefit to Backstab. I prefer SnY than Manta (Yasha included in both). You get more HP (+16 str) with SnY than Manta (+10 str)..

Very good. High agility is awesome for Backstab, small HP and Mana are not bad. It's better if you got a nuker mate because you can cast Ether Blast and the ennemy receives more damages from magical attacks but you are not be able to "auto-attack" him.

Imba item on all agility heroes. More damages, armor and IAS. What else?

No! Very expensive and if your opponents are not stupids, they'll cast a dust when they see the Radiance's effect.

IV. Starting Items

Damages: 48 - 52 +8
Armor: 6 +1.1

Str: 17 +5
Agi: 24 +8
Int: 14 +5

Try to get a ranged mate with you. The top lane in Sentinel and bottom lane in Scourge are best for you.
Make Magic Wand, Wraith Band and Power Treads as soon as possible.

It helps you to chase/kill. You must turn the PT in str at the beginning.

You should be very careful until your level 6 especially against stun and nuke.
Then you have to upgrade your starting items :

After that, you are able to farm well, thank's to Backstab, it's easy to last hit/deny creeps.

V. Heart of the game: fight can start

At this time, rush Yasha. It gives you more Agi so more damages with Backstab, movespeed and IAS.

How to kill?

I have a strategy to kill with Riki', I detail you:

You are perma invisible, scout woods or lane (stay away from towers) and spot an enemy or two. Call an ally if you are scared to engage alone.

Example: If they are two on middle and a bit away from their first tower, stay behind them (especially the most fragile hero) and let your mate attack. They think they can harass your mate because he is alone but you are there. ^^
Now attack once behind the target, you'll Backstab him then Smoke fast and Blink even if you are still behind him. Because you will deal more damage with Blink and it has a good cooldown at high level so you will be able to cast again ASAP.
Your enemy will be scared because silenced and slowed, he will back off and now comes your movespeed and Blink to finish him. If it's happening well, you can kill both. Gold may be use to buy Yasha if you didn't get or to make Diffusal Blade.

It's easy to kill with Diffusal because purge is awesome! It's pretty the same steps to kill an enemy: 1 Backstab > Smoke > 1 Diffusal charge > Autoattack > Blink if escape.

It's a sure kill because Smoke + Diffusal make like a stun, it deals high slow and if the opponent resists and go away from Smoke, he doesn't get much mana to stun, Blink or Windwalk. Keep in mind you will be targeted by other enemies during attacking in smoke but most of case, your allies are there (team fights) and you are not an easy to target (hidden and almost the same skin color in smoke ^^).

Don't forget you got 8 charges on Diffusal so use them well. If you think you can kill without use a charge then don't hesitate.

Your current items build could be:

You sold one Wraith Band due to make a slot during farming Diffusal (one slot to a Blade of Alactricity for example). Upgrade Yasha to Sange and Yasha, it could be necessary.

VI. Late game

Now it's time to see if there is a totally pwnage for them.
Two cases:

- You will win soon because it's easy: get an Eaglehorn (to make Butterfly or Etheral Blade). In late, you must kill quickly because you mustn't be targeted, a few seconds is enough to kill a high strength hero with Butterfly (or/and with Etheral Blade).

- You are not good and your team too: try to farm neutral as soon as possible to upgrade your Yasha to Sange and Yasha and make your possible in the team fights. Attention, if maim is activated, your Diffusal will be off.

But remember, in late, you can't kill alone because enemies are stronger and if they are not stupids, they bought your nightmares items (see introduction).
Most of games I played with Riki' I end with the last build what I shown (maybe with an Eaglehorn) but I don't have any time to make Butterfly.

VII. Allies & enemies

Best allies
Heroes with stun or slow are the best for you, able to you to Backstab without any problem. For instance:

Worst enemies
Heroes with stun and nuke are the worst for you. Especially at early game. If you are stunned just try to escape.

I advice to you, don't pick Riki' if there is an opponent with one of them: