UNDERMAJOR RECONSTRUCTION <3 TO ICEFROG FOR SAVING IT


Table of Contents

I. - Forward
In no way am I a competitive player, but I do consider myself a fairly competent player. Sven has always been one of my favorite heroes, and his play style hasn't changed much over the versions. Have fun reading and maybe you'll learn something.
II. - Mini Guide

III. - Pros and Cons

Pros
Good Ganker
Reliable Fallback/Semi Carry
AoE Stun
AoE Presence
AoE supporting skill

Cons
Low int and int gain
Movement Speed
No AS increasing skill
IV. - Hero Details

V. - Spell Details and Build

Spell Details-

Storm Bolt-
Very versatile skill that can be used to farm, kill, and disable. The CD is a little long at 14 seconds, and the mana cost is very expensive early in the game. Very useful in team fights because of the 250 AoE.

Great Cleave-
This is the skill that gives Sven AoE presence, he splashes 50% of his damage in pure damage in a 175 AoE. Very useful in team fights and for farming, but more than useless early game.

Warcry-
Very low mana cost and decent CD at higher levels. One level is taken early to chase or to juke. Later in the game the +12 armor is a great boost in team fights. Animation canceling is a necessity.

God's Strength-
Sven's ultimate. It's taken whenever possible because of the huge increase in damage at every level. This is the skill that makes enemies piss their pants when they see you.

Skill Build-
Storm Bolt
Stats
Storm Bolt
Warcry
Storm Bolt
God's Strength
Storm Bolt
Stats
Stats
Warcry
God's Strength
Warcry
Warcry
Great Cleave
Great Cleave
God's Strength
Great Cleave
Great Cleave
Stats
Stats
Stats
Stats
Stats
Stats
Stats
VI. - Item Build
Starting-

Gauntlets of Ogre Strength
For a little boost in HP and last hitting power.

Ironwood Branch x3
For a little boost in HP, last hitting power, armor, mana, and buildup to Magic Wand.

Ancient Tango of Essifation x2
Regenerative purposes.

Healing Slave
Helps you stay in the lane if you just barely survive a gank or combo.

Core-

Magic Wand
The most imba item in the game. The burst regeneration is useful in so many circumstances such as escaping a gank, turning the tide of a battle, or gaining back just enough mana to to kill somebody.

Boots of Speed
Everyone needs boots, and Sven is no exception. Low MS and melee attack range force Sven to grab boots early, even with Warcry.

Empty Bottle
Great item for rune whoring and ganking, very important to Sven.

Urn of Shadows
Upgrade for gauntlet that gives everything you need, health, damage, mana regen, and the nifty heal.

Scroll of Town Portal
Not constantly carrying one of these around is the dumbest thing you can do.

Core Extension-

Phase Boots or Treads
Treads gives the versatility of switching between stats when necessary and more damage, God's Strength only increases +stat damage not raw damage, but Phase Boots gives the invaluable ability to walk through creeps, take your pick.

Black King Bar
The stats are great and the avatar ability is insane. Without BKB you run the risk of being chain disabled, nuked to death, or simply having your buffs purged off with a diffusual blade. Get BKB right after core.

Kelen's Dagger
Blink is invaluable, seriously consider getting this item if your team lacks initiation.

Mask of Death
Who doesn't want to steal life? It upgrades into either MoM or Satanic, either of which are very good for Sven.

Late Game Extension-



Alternatives-



Rejected-


VII. - Game Breakdown
Early Game-

Just farm the best that you can, maybe even try for firstblood if you have an ally with a disable help you. Try not to die and just last hit/deny those creeps. Don't push the lane unnecessarily.

Late Early Game-

You should have most of your core by now and maybe a kill or two. You can leave your lane and start hardcore ganking, or if your the carry for your team you can try to get in a little more farm. This is the point in the game when you make the decision on whether to make dagger or BKB.

Mid Game-

Go around ganking, participate in all the team fights, and farm whenever you have time, this is the stage of the game where TP scrolls really shine so make sure you always have 2 on you. Try to get together a few kills and farm your core extension as quickly as possible.

Late Game-

Push with your team, and make sure your there for every single one of the team fights, pick off farming heroes with your allies and kill Roshan. Most important phase of the game, you should be done with your core and extension and working on one of your late game extensions.

Ultra Late Game-

If you can't win by now chances are you can't win. Try backdooring or pushing multiple lanes.
VIII. - Skill Usage

Storm Bolt-

Here stun is used to set up a gank on enchantress by Storm Spirit (who is seen rofling in).


Storm Bolt is used to stall time for allies to arrive, followed up by blocking with your hero your team gets the kill no problem.


Storm Bolt is used to finish off a Lothar'd Sniper.

Great Cleave-

This picture shows the AoE of Great Cleave. Credits go to Robzor (e00E).
Warcry-
Use before or after team battles for the armor or for the extra ms to chase down fleeing heroes. Be sure to animation cancel!


God's Strength-
Makes Sven superman giving him lots of extra damage. Be sure to animation cancel!

IX. - Counters and Helpful Allies

Counters
Diffusual Blade and any Diffusual Blade carriers will purge off God's Strength and Warcry if you don't have BKB. Any disables and burst damage will wreck you until you have BKB. See why BKB is so necessary now? Medusa's survivability and capacity to out carry you along with her Ultimate (which purges off your buffs) can really destroy any but the best Sven players.
Helpful Allies-
Crystal Maiden gets special mention because of her mana giving aura, and her 2 disables. Lion also has 2 disables and will help to pin down the enemy while your whacking away. Witchdocotor's Maledcit and Paralyzing Casks together with Sven make for a deadly combination. Ogre Magi's Bloodlust gives you huge IAS, and Magnataur's Empower will amplify your damage even more. Vengeful has a single target stun, armor reduction, a Command Aura, which gives you extra damage, and Nether Swap, making her a great supporter for Sven. Magnus and Darkseer's spells which pull enemies together help for Sven's cleave to take full effect.
X. - Replays

MYM Vs PI(Old)-
Bans: (Sentinel First) , , , , , , ,

Picks: (Sentinel First) , + , + , + , + ,

The Sentinel
MYM|KuroKy(Top)
MYM|miGGel(Top)
MYM|AngeL(Mid)
MYM|PusHer(Bot)
MYM|MaNia-(Bot)

The Scourge
XsK_Samurai(Top)
JohnnyUtah(Mid)
AMXZaku(Bot)
PS.AK(Bot)
wtfguineapirate(Jungle)

DMZ Vs Dips-

Bans: (Scourge First) , , , , , , ,

Picks: (Scourge First) , + , + , + , + ,

The Sentinel
dmZ^Black^(Top)
dmZ^hexOr(Mid)
nfinity.Wolfi(Bot)
:levi: diamondZ^rmN(Bot)
dmZ^Kebap-(Jungle)
The Scourge
DIPS|kuronity(Top)
DIPS|Sword_777(Top)
DIPS|BeNTZER(Mid)
DIPS|pepp3(Bot)
DIPS|MaTrim(Bot)

Pub Game-

The Sentinel
StaR_(Top)
You[Must]Die(Top)
c.meli(Mid)
Kikas(Bot)
KickThatBass(Bot)

The Scourge
TtVbff(Roam)<Me
woots(Top)
nak(Mid)
Enter_The_Rift(Bot)
ChaperonNoir(Bot)

XI. - Closing Words
I hope you learned something, and enjoy raping it up with Sven.

XII. - Credits
Credits to me for writing the guide, Icefrog for making the game, and KuroKy/miGGel for playing such good Svens. If you support this guide you can put this image into your signature.