FACELESS VOID - GUIDE

1. Introduction
2. Spell analysis
3. Skill builds
4. Item builds
5. Strategies
6. Friends and Foes
7. Conclusion

First of all, i want to apologize for all grammar mistakes which will occur further in this guide. Darkterror is praised by many as one of the strongest late game heroes and thus, it is targeted and harassed primarily in early game. All in all, thanks to very good escape skills, this hero isn't that difficult to master. Ok now, let's see what this hero has to offer.

PROS

+Good escape mechanism, meaning not that easy to kill early game
+Monster late game if properly played
+Has one of the best passives in the game
+Aoe ultimate, it synergies very well with most of the aoe heroes

CONS

-Fragile early game, like almost every other agility hero
-Item dependant
-No nukes


Time to take some deeper view of Voids spells. This is just to put out some tips and tricks about his spells.

TIME WALK

Quickly moves to a target location and slows the movement and attack of all units at the end of its path for 3 seconds. Our very own initiation and escape skill

Level 1 - 120 Mana, 19 sec cd, Casting range 700, 25% slow
Level 2 - 120 Mana, 17 sec cd, Casting range 900, 30% slow
Level 3 - 120 Mana, 15 sec cd, Casting range 1100, 35% slow
Level 4 - 120 Mana, 13 sec cd, Casting range 1300, 40% slow
Slow Aoe is same at all levels - 300.

*Notes*
-It has about ~0.3 sec casting time
-Void is invulnerable during time walking but he can get tossed, hooked, etc.
-Using Manta Style while time walking will prolong the time walk for the time walk distance, depends on what level is your time walk.
-Using time walk will cancel all commands, meaning you can't use "shift" combo with ulti.
-You can click on a targeted hero for more accurate time walking (very useful against juking and if you lack confidence).

BACKTRACK
Whenever damage is received, Faceless Void moves a moment back in time to try to dodge that damage. Can backtrack both physical and magical attacks.

Level 1 - 10% chance to dodge damage
Level 2 - 15% chance to dodge damage
Level 3 - 20% chance to dodge damage
Level 4 - 25% chance to dodge damage


*Notes*
-Stacks with evasion respectively.
-Dodges only damage. Stun, doom, poison, hex and other effects can't be evaded.
Culling Blade can't be backtracked since backtrack heals the unit the same amount of damage done. As a unit cannot heal more than its max hp, void cannot be healed under the fatal blow of culling blade(which deals 1000000000dmg).

TIME LOCK
Gives a chance that an attack will do bonus damage and lock a unit in time.

Level 1 - 10% chance, 40 bonus damage
Level 2 - 15% chance, 50 bonus damage
Level 3 - 20% chance, 60 bonus damage
Level 4 - 25% chance, 70 bonus damage
Time lock time is same at all levels - 1 sec on heroes, 2 secs on creeps.

*Notes*
-Damage type: magical
-Stun works on magic immune units.
-Does not stack with Cranium Basher.

CHRONOSPHERE
Faceless Void creates a rip in spacetime causing all units in that area to become trapped for its duration. Faceless Void has a mysterious connection with spacetime that causes him to be unaffected by the sphere. Casting range increases per level.

Level 1 - 150 Mana, 120 sec cd, Casting range 500, 3 sec duration
Level 2 - 175 Mana, 110 sec cd, Casting range 550, 4 sec duration
Level 3 - 200 Mana, 100 sec cd, Casting range 600, 5 sec duration
slow

Aoe is same at all levels - 400

*Notes*
-Stops both units and buildings, friend or foe.
-Couriers are unnaffected.
-Does not affect units owned by the Faceless Void (Illusions, Summons).
-Does not affect enemy fountain.
-Has about ~0.5 sec casting time.
-Does not reveal invisible units.
-Does not stop Omnislash, Exorcism, Mines.


There are 2 builds which i discovered that proved very viable. First one is traditional one, defensive:

1. Time Walk
2. Backtrack
3. Time Walk
4. Backtrack
5. Time Walk
6. Chronosphere
7. Time Walk
8. Backtrack
9. Backtrack
10. Time Lock
11. Chronosphere
12. Time Lock
13. Time Lock
14. Time Lock
15. Stats
16. Chronosphere

Explanation - Time Walk learned at level 1 is a no brainer - to avoid possible first blood and ganks. Backtrack is taken second for similar reasons. We take chrono as soon as it becomes available. Last but not least, time lock serves for our offensive purposes only (d'uh)

Second build i found a bit more challenging and daredevilish is offensive build:

1. Time Walk
2. Time Lock
3. Time Lock
4. Time Walk
5. Time Lock
6. Chronosphere
7. Time Lock
8. Time Walk
9. Time Walk
10. Backtrack
11. Chronosphere
12. Backtrack
13. Backtrack
14. Backtrack
15. Stats
16. Chronosphere

Explanation - Basically, this is a build that allows you to harass melee opponents and last hit much more easier. Time walk at level 1 for same reasons as in previous build. Time lock is then maxed out asap because it gives very huge damage at such low level (try to to be in a lane against 2 melee heroes if possible). It is debatable issue what is better between the two builds but imo, both were proven viable.


Item builds depend on who your opponents are, really. For example, it's silly to go for Mask of Madness if enemy team has 3+ heavy nukers.

-STARTING ITEMS-

and

After that, stack a couple of these http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/thumbfn.jpg/, finish up http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/bootsb.jpg/ http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/146/stit.jpg/ and you are good to go. These are your core items. You can eventually get Magic Wand instead 1 Wraith Band. As i said, MoM doesn't fit here as it's situational item.

-ORB ITEMS-

- Our cheapest, bestest form of increased effectiveness in a team clash. DO NOT get this if you are facing 3 or more Zeus', Tinkers and other heavy nukers. Strongly recommended.
- A bit "more" expensive but also very effective. Especially, if enemy team has tanks or high hp heroes with low armor... MoM isn't going to help if you are scratching them with miserable damage at high speed. But -armor will. Very good item against all enemies, but be ready to farm your ass off as you will need item that gives attack speed, something that this item doesn't have. Strongly recommended.
- Bunch of spell-that-uses-mana-dependent heroes? Unless your team doesn't have Magina, Lancer or Siren, go for it! Strongly recommended.

Other orbs aren't that useful because of their high price (Skadi, Maelstrom) or just plain retarded (S&Y).

-LUXURY ITEMS-

Any items listed below are very good choice after you core and/or orb items are finished. Butterfly as your first luxury item is strongly recommended.



Reasoning:
Butterfly - Well, this item suits you best of all heroes, imo. Grants attack speed (that you desperately need), synergy with Back Track.
MKB - Very good against following heroes - Mortred, Troll Warlord, Wind Runner and other Butterfly users.
Buriza - Gives decent amount of damage and good synergy with Battlefury.
Battlefury - Good against paper hp heroes and excellent form of farming. Can be potentially gotten before Butterfly if you have problems with farming since items to finish up BFury aren't that expensive. Very good synergy with Buriza.
Orchid - Effective against Blinkers and Invisible/Windwalk fuckers. Get this and you will have no trouble pounding their asses.
Divine Rapier - Another item that fits you the best of all heroes. Advice, go for Roshan before you get this. And only get it when you are confident about your play and team. Risky item but i can't say it's no fun.
Assault Cuirass - Attack speed is always welcome. Armor buffs also! Good synergy with Deso and Butterfly.

-ITEMS TO AVOID-

Can't be arsed putting their pictures as i don't want their images to carve in to your skulls. Instead, i will write in BIG letters:
BASHER - NO, NO AND NO. Doesn't stack with Time Lock. Wasted gold.
KELLEN'S DAGGER - You already have a form of blink.
SUPPORTIVE ITEMS (Vladmir's, Pipe, Mekanism etc.) - You are not a support hero nor do you have mana to support it.
AGHANIM'S SCEPTER - Although not that sucky, there are far more better items you can get. Bonus that provides to your ultimate is just pathetic.
SPELL ORIENTED ITEMS (Dagon, Necronomicon) - You are heavy carry and not a nuker. Yes, your chrono can support necronomicon but it's just not that good.. leave it to heroes that actually needs it (Bane, Rhasta, Panda).

Other items that i didn't mention can be put in SITUATIONAL section but are just too many items that differs on players playstyle and hero setup. Few items that are worth mentioning are: Vanguard, Heart of Tarrasque, Boots of Travel, Manta - You can get them if you want, it's all up to you.


-Coming soon-


-Coming soon-


A few sections are yet to be written. I didn't have time to explain in details since i work and had to finish off my exams. This is my first guide, please have mercy .