Strategy Guide for Rikimaru, the Stealth Assassin By DiDiKoNG

As of v6.59

http://planetdota.blogspot.com/

Born as the heir to the satyr dominion, Rikimaru was trained by the mightiest warriors of his race. However, the power of the Burning Legion managed to corrupt many of his kind, leaving them as mindless beasts in the forest. Vowing revenge against the Scourge, he sharpened his

skills for battle. Using his small size to his advantage, he can render himself invisible, enabling him to stab his enemies in the back. He can also use thick smoke as a cover, to silence his

enemies and become nearly untouchable.

You should play Rikimaru, The Stealth Assassin only if :

-You like to take risks-You like to chase people-You want to own pubs

-Having to look at enemies inventory doesn't screw you up-You don't care to change line or always move

QUOTEFrom 6.54 to 6.56

They directly buffed SA by having Backstab always occuring on Blink Strike.They directly buffed SA by making Blink Strike and Backstab magical damage instead of physical.They indirectly buffed SA with Magic Stick, which is a nice item on him. While you are invisible, you don't know how many charges they will give you.They indirectly buffed SA with Sange and Yasha buff. It is now cheaper, and Sange alone is better.They indirectly buffed SA with Diffusal Blade buff. It is now only 300 gold more expensive, but provides 25 agility and burns 20 mana on hit. Manta is buffed as well.They indirectly nerfed SA with Sange and Yasha not stacking MS anymore with Yasha.

STATS

Strength : 17 + 2.0Agility : 24 + 2.9Intelligence : 14 + 1.3Movement Speed : 300Armor : 6.4HP : 473MP : 182

SKILLSET

Smoke ScreenThrows a smoke bomb down in the area, silencing opponents and causing them to miss on most of their attacks. Also slows by 25% at all levels. Lasts 6 seconds.

Level 1 - 250 AoE, 40% miss.Level 2 - 275 AoE, 50% miss.Level 3 - 300 AoE, 60% miss.Level 4 - 325 AoE, 70% miss.

Cooldown: 15 seconds.

Level 1: 75 mana, 15 sec cooldown.Level 2: 80 mana, 15 sec cooldown.Level 3: 85 mana, 15 sec cooldown.Level 4: 90 mana, 15 sec cooldown.

This skill is rather really powerful. When well landed, it can determines either if a fight will be won or lost, as it completly silences and provides a big chance to miss. Your goal is to keep the enemy under this Smoke Screen.

Blink StrikeTeleports to a unit and strikes it if it is a foe, dealing bonus damage.Costs 50 mana.

Level 1 - deals 30 extra damage. Level 2 - deals 60 extra damage.

Level 3 - deals 90 extra damage.Level 4 - deals 120 extra damage.

Cooldown: 30/20/10/5 seconds.

Level 1: 50 mana, 30 sec cooldown.Level 2: 50 mana, 20 sec cooldown.Level 3: 50 mana, 10 sec cooldown.Level 4: 50 mana, 5 sec cooldown.

This is an excellent skill for chasing. However, take in count that the cooldown is rather high at level 1 and 2. It is really useful in landing a good Smoke Screen. Also, note that it teleports behind the unit, having Backstab activating everytime you use that skill.

BackstabThe Stealth Assassin is not afraid to fight dirty, and specializes in attacking his opponents from behind.

Level 1 - Deals .25x the Agility of Rikimaru to the target.Level 2 - Deals .5x the Agility of Rikimaru to the target.Level 3 - Deals .75x the Agility of Rikimaru to the target.Level 4 - Deals 1x the Agility of Rikimaru to the target.

Passive

It provides to Rikimaru all the chasing power he deserves. It increases its damage severally.

Permanent InvisibilityRikimaru becomes permanently invisible when not attacking.

Level 1 - 3 second fade time.Level 2 - 2.25 second fade time. Level 3 - 1.5 second fade time.

Passive

This skill is what makes Rikimaru ''the Stealth Assassin''. You will have to take care of true sight. It completly nullifies the power of that skill. Your gameplay will be influenced by that skill

a lot. Also note that silence reveals Rikimaru.

SKILL BUILD

Level 1 - Smoke ScreenLevel 2 - Blink StrikeLevel 3 - Smoke ScreenLevel 4 - Blink StrikeLevel 5 - Blink StrikeLevel 6 - Permanent InvisibilityLevel 7 - Blink StrikeLevel 8 - BackstabLevel 9 - BackstabLevel 10 - BackstabLevel 11 - Permanent Invisibility/Smoke ScreenLevel 12 - BackstabLevel 13 - Smoke ScreenLevel 14 - Smoke Screen/Permanent InvisibilityLevel 16-24 - StatsLevel 25 - Permanent Invisibility

You will nearly be always tower hugging. So on, you will always use Smoke Screen near the tower to make creeps miss their attacks, or having tower going down slower.

Blink Strike isn't taken level 1-3 because it is simply useless as their cooldown is too high. However, you max it out first as it becomes really handy to have a short cooldown.

You max out Permanent Invisibility as it helps you survive. However, the last level of it is completly useless in my opinion. Also, it makes it harder to use, as after attacking 1 unit, rikimaru won't attack another unit as he will be invisible. If you are not facing problem facing the fading time of Permanent Invisibility, don'T bother leveling it, just keep leveling Backstab.

However, if you are facing only melee heroes and you are pretty much sure you will not have to tower hug, here is another build you can use for a better last-hitting.

Level 1 - Smoke ScreenLevel 2 - Blink StrikeLevel 3 - BackstabLevel 4 - Blink StrikeLevel 5 - Blink StrikeLevel 6 - Permanent InvisibilityLevel 7 - Blink StrikeLevel 8-10 - BackstabLevel 11 - Permanent Invisibility/Smoke ScreenLevel 12 - Smoke ScreenLevel 13 - Smoke Screen

Level 14 - Smoke Screen/Permanent InvisibilityLevel 16-24 - StatsLevel 25 - Permanent Invisibility

Backstab is taken over Smoke Screen for a better last hitting. Smoke Screen is taken level 1 because it can still be effective.

However choose wisely your build. Don't say : Smoke Screen isn't worth leveling, it's already silencing + a big chance to miss. Have you ever seen some1 with butterfly dying? I'm pretty much sure. So on, 40% chance to miss is a bit more, but it won't garantee you invincibility in your screen. However, with a level 4 screen, I can beat anybody who has 3 times my hit point no problem, except if I would normally get owned.

I never use it for the slow only (Someone is running after you, screen so you can have an advantage), but I take my place near my tower for good protection. This way, even revealed, nobody can do shit against you. If ever it's a ranged hero, place the screen in front of the tower, and go behind it. If he wants to evade it, he'll be making a detour, or taking more damage from the tower.

ITEM BUILD

You start out with 2 circlets, 2 set of tangoes and 1 clarity potion. The circlets are for the stats, which help surviving, final hit and cast Smoke Screen.

However, if nobody on your team gets a courier or wants to share it, take a courier, 1 circlet, 1 tango and 2 clarity potion. You absolutly need that courier. It's excellent for a blink strike target. Morph him into a flying courier later on. It can help you to blink strike over cliffs, and you are safe.

Alternative Build

Introducing the Magic Stick from 6.55. I love this new item... it's cheap and always useful. It's comparable to Bottle in term of rescue. Bottle needs at least 1 second to become effective, this

item requires none

Note : Magic Stick is more than enough on Stealth Assassin. Some numbers.

About the mana : In a battle, it will normally fully replenish, so you will be left with MINIMUM 150 mana, which is enough to blink in and smoke screen.

About the hit point : You will be left with minimum 151 hit point, normally about 200. This is enough to land MINIMUM 2 hits because of your armor. Under Smoke Screen, they have 30% chance to hit, so they have 9% chance to hit twice in a row. Note that you will have bash and maybe maim if you use the sange and yasha build.

THE SANGE AND YASHA BUILD

The treads are always needed. Set on strength for more survivability. Only change into agility once it becomes late-game and you can survive nukes. Wraith are good for the agility. However, change for Bracers if your having difficulties to survive, because the enemy got wards and everything. Sange and Yasha simply fits Rikimaru way too well. Maim is excellent to keep anyone in the cloud, however relies a bit on luck. It provides nice hit points, nice MS to never lose sight of enemies, and nice agility. It should cost you 7470 gold + tangoes and clarities.

The gem? You buy it after Sange, because you will have all the strength you need to survive. If you are doing quite great and you finish hold that gem at level 14, you will already have 1613 hp and 14 armor, or 2967 EHP. EHP is defined as the real damage you need to take down the hero. But if you finish it after, you will have even more than 1600 hp. That gem is damn useful. You will be able to destroy all observer and sentry wards. The only thing that can risk your death if your playing well is another gem, which is also risky for them. NOTE : Never buy a damn gem whenever the enemy team already has one! If you already have one, bring it back to town. You

are susceptible to die. And if ever you destroy the danger, you have another one

This is the perfect build you could hope for. You must get a basher first. A basher?!? You will probly think I'm kidding, but it is really useful for chasing and keeping someone in Smoke Screen. Note that Stealth Assassin is maybe the best hero that can hold a basher, and I'm really

not kidding . Even void and troll can't do better than him. He is nearly invincible to nukes, and will own any permabasher (Thanks to Screen). I will try to find a replay and show you how it owns.

After comes butterfly. I don't see why I should explain that.

THE DIFFUSAL BLADE BUILD

The starting build is always the same. If you want to look at it, it's a bit upper

A bit more expensive, but note that basher is only needed once purge charges are gone. So on, you can start owning once you hit diffusal blade. What's good about this is you have a much better damage output, but have less slowing potential after you used all charges of purge. With the buff, diffusal blade now provides 25 agility, and burns 20 mana. It is pain for the enemy as

they get out of the screen with normally no mana and sometimes no life

This build rock on against a Skeleton King However, note that backstab and basher animation occur on images, but they do NOT have any effect. So on, they don't gain anything from backstab and bash. However, they really gain permanent invisibility as well as feedback. It litterally increases damage of Rikimaru by 80%, which is a lot. If you are able to keep the enemy in the cloud with the basher, it's destructive.

Why a second diffusal blade?!? 25 bonus agility still rocks, and you will not need anymore purges.

No more gem?!? If ever your still scared by wards once you reached that part of the game, GET OUT OF HERE! Simply because you own anybody, either they see you first or you see them first.

POSSIBLE ITEMS

tp://www.dota-allstars.com/images/lists/BTNGem.gifI am from those who like this item. Also, it is excellent for Stealth Assassin, as he will maybe always be in the jungle when it'll be cooled down. Don't bother getting a big creep, get the first one you find. Also, the IAS is good for permabashing until you get that eaglehorn. If ever you got difficulties farming that eaglehorn and you are about 1k away from it, don't bother keeping hand of midas. Sell it right now!

It can be good if you need some hit points and regeneration, but doesn't need the mana regeneration. It can be good to tower dive, as you will pretty much nullify 65% of creeps damage. However, I recommend to sell it for eaglehorn later on.

Note that it is a really nice item to have with rikimaru, as he moves a lot. It can solve all your mana as well as hit point problems.

With the recent buff to it, I believe it's now viable on Rikimaru. If the enemy has a gem, you only need to nuke THIS guy and others will block him and everything. Until they find you, you will have tp'ed. It does a nice combo with Helm of the Dominator. Global teleportation. However, not quite recommended to waste orb effect on Helm of the Dominator.

Note that the following list of items are there to fill the missing slot in the inventory.

They increase pretty well the damage output from Rikimaru, but they don't help it's survivability. Note that Bashes stacks. Look for guides if you don't trust me. Chances that bash number 2 will not diminish. However, the chances that at least 1 of the 2 bashes occurs dinimishes, simply because of logical. So on, if both bashes occur at the same time, it will deal the full damage of both bashes. So on, MKB is still an option.

Only make sure you can rape the enemy if you want to carry this item It can really be game-breaking, as pretty much anybody will die to it. However, note that enemies will surely come for you, so making sure you destroyed all wards before going somewhere is a good idea.

--->

I will leave the choice to you. I used to put it in my Core Build, but I agree it is highly situational. Note that it can be really handy as it can easily save your life, as most people will try to disable you, and set a ward. If ever they can't disable you, you are safe.

You can also take this instead of Linken's Sphere. You will mess up the regeneration as well as the stats, but it is cheaper and does the anti-magic job much better.

--->

It doesn't stack anymore with SnY. So on, you are paying 2050 gold for 16 agility and 15% attack speed bonus... Not worth it anymore. However, it is a MUST if you take an orb effect other than Sange and Yasha. However, I recommend Skadi only in non-serious game, maybe even only in -em games or games where you are already owning and farming it is no longer a problem. Sange and Yasha simply output it in every aspect with the recent buff.

REJECTED ITEMS

It might slow and help to keep someone in the screen, but it is much more expensive from sange and yasha. SY might slow only by 5% more and it doesn't always proccess, but you'll lose the high mobility it provides, so I have to say no to it. As said before, Sange and Yasha simply output it in every aspect with the recent buff. You can buy it, but you'll have MUCH better results with Sange and Yasha.

Some people might think I'm kidding having to call this item, but I've seen it severally. Even

thought it might work it pubs (Oh yea it does... I even tried it ), it only reveals your position,

and the enemy can simply land a ward and kill you, leaving you without any escape.

It's not because it reveals you, because it doesnt. That's the problem. There are much better vlad carrier than you, as your allies will only have the effect from vlad when you'll be visible, or revealed and vulnerable.

GAMEPLAY

Here are a few tips you got to always remember.

1st - Always look at wards and gem in enemy inventory. If there is one ward missing, don't play too agressively except if you can see it with a gem and you know where it is. If the enemy carry a gem, don't risk your gem only for that, patience is the key.

2st - Always go Sentinel - Bottom line / Scourge - Top Lane. As you will nearly always tower hug, you want creeps run near your tower.

3rd - Always creep block. As said before, the closer to your tower, the safer you are.

4th - Enemy in your screen, you are invincible. You are free to last hit/deny as much as you want. However, notice that enemies will be likely to back, so going for more than 1 deny/last hit is risky.

5th - Only use clarities once invisible. You shouldn't be playing too safe only because you got a clarity. It's nearly only a waste. I believe Rikimaru should wait for level 6 to use clarities. If you miss mana before level 6, it's because you spam screen to hard. If you miss mana after level 6, it's because you didn't use your clarities. Otherwise, you need more clarities or finish your perseverence.

6th - You will get owned in a solo lane. So on, never ask for it. It will require you to spam smoke screen, and you will miss mana and lose your tower extremly fast.

7th - Try to isolate the enemy. If there are 2 enemy heroes, one has low hit point and you want to finish him, set the cloud between the 2. It will require one of them to follow a longer path, or leaving you more time to finish him off.

Early Game - Level 1-7

Early game, all you are doing is tower hugging. If the enemy gets too agressive, you can hit him with blink strike. It could take him out of the line to heal, and you will farm at ease. Spam Smoke Screen on every big Creep Wave, or every single wave if your able to afford the mana

cost.

Small trick : Use your courier as a rescue. Morph him in a flying if really needed. You can pass over cliffs, and be as annoying as a blinking AM.

Your goal is to simply farm and don't let the enemy push too far away.

Mid-Late Game - Level 8-15

Mid-Late game, you will be helding a gem. So on, you will have to move a lot, as people will try to catch you. You will sometime have to jungle, change line and gank. This high mobility will not only give let you survive, but also destroy every single ward. It will force them to place wards at strategic places for you to don't see them. Also, always look at enemy's inventory. If you see they got either and ODD number of wards or you saw the number of ward going down, care and pay attention. You gotta destroy the number of wards you estimated he landed. You can try to take a risk, but use your logical. Don't tell yourself that because you destroyed 1 ward, there is no others.

Your goal is to annoy the enemy team as much as possible. Run into both jungle, and harass enemies. If they want to get rid of you, they will either need a true sight ability, a silence or a gem, which can be at their risk. Your high mobility provided by sange and yasha should make them unable to kill you. DESTROY EVERY SINGLE WARD!!! THat's the key

Late Game - Level 16-25

Late game, you will be constantly ganking/fighting.

Your goal is to kill every single glass cannon. Nobody can do the job better than you. With a basher and sange and yasha, as they can't do shit in your Smoke Screen, you will be able to kill them even before they can exit it.

Also, as you will push and fight alot of teambattles, you should NEVER engage fight. You are way too weak compared to other heroes. You need to blink strike in and use Smoke Screen the better you can, and kill damn weak heroes. If anybody is running away, it's your job to finish him off, as you got basher/sange and yasha and they can't do shit against you.

Note that with the introduction of magic stick, you can now have at least 200 hit point after a fight. You might say : WTF will you do with 200 hit point! You'll die in 2 hits, maybe 3 if your lucky. Blink in, cloud, and the enemy can't escape. If he's lucky, he'll land 1 hit. If your unlucky, your bash and maim will never process, and you got 27.75% chance to process anything on one hit. Also, if you're even more unlucky, your enemy will hit 2 hits in a row, which has a 9% chance to arrive. Good...

Use Smoke Screen wisely. If you can hit all heroes at once, it is pretty nice. However, if you can isolate all enemy casters, it's normally a good idea. You can maybe kill one or two before they can launch their spells, which is a huge bonus to your team. After, killing dpsers shouldn't be a

problem if you could get rid of casters, as you will pretty much be owning them.

also, a little trick when trying to escaping against an enemy that might be faster than you. Use your chicken as a blink strike target on top of a hill (your base). You gain a big terrain advantage + the enemy lost your sight.

RUNES

Runes are really important for Rikimaru. Not only can they completly trick the enemy, but it can completly destroy them. Let's set them in order of power on Rikimaru.

Double Damage - Nobody can complain about that. You cloud, and kill anything before it ever gets out. Also, what's nice with this is you can find anybody that has low hit point, and you simply blink strike/kill.

Illusion - Illusions get Permanent Invisibility. It can actually be really nice. You find a weak caster that is bored of getting owned by you. He will surely waste all its spells on the illusion, and boom, he hates you even more!

Haste - It is a lot more useful late-game when you are sure nobody can outrun you. However, it can still be pain for the enemy early-game against low-hp enemies, but still less effective than double damage.

Regeneration - I love to see this rune early-game. However, late-game, it's a lot less useful, less

than a double damage

Invisibility - You don't wanna see that rune ever... Leave it to an ally except if you bottle whore.

GOOD/BAD ALLIES/ENEMIES

Bad Enemies

Anybody that can screw up your invisibility will be a bad enemies. Here are a couple of exemples.

Track and Fairie fire are your worst enemies. Try to never go near them. Whenever you reveal near them, make sure your linken's sphere isn't in cooldown or you at least have it. Otherwise, run as far as possible!

Any silence will also screw you up. You can't Smoke Screen, which makes you unable to own anybody when there are a lot of people. Also, you are revealed, so you gotta escape. Your best issue against fairie dragon and drow ranger are trying to anticipate where they will be. Against Silencer, you must stay far away, and get ready to blink on A UNIT NEAR HIM and smoke screen. Why a unit near him? Otherwise you are in the aoe of Last word, and you will be silenced, being unable to finish your combo and you'll be vulnerable.

Theyre ultimate makes you being still revealed even invisible. They are the best one to screw up your early game.

Repel = No blink strike, no smoke screen.Guardian Angel : No backstab.Degen Aura : MS from SnY nullified.

GOOD ENEMIES

Any weak hero without any real burst damage will be a joke for you. It's your job to feed off them.

It's not they are both easy to kill, but you completly destroy the utility of Watcher and Eye of the forest. Note that Smoke Screen does destroy trees.

Hmm, they might be bad enemies early game, but enemies you'll laugh at with your linken's sphere, as they are extremly weak heroes. However, Zeus can still cast a damn arc lightning first. So on, you will own them and they won't be able to do much against you.

GOOD ALLIES

Anybody agrees that some heroes such as disablers are always good allies to everybody, so I will skip them.

Nobody will be able to silence you with repel, so it eliminates a way to reveal you.

Purge can remove track, fairie fire and silence. What the hell do you want more?

Well, who's better than him to keep someone into the smoke screen?

REPLAY

Ok. I'm not able to find good ones, but these are the best I've found.

 Stealth_Assassin_2.w3g ( 780.43k ) Number of downloads: 318

This game was great. I buy hand of midas to counter chen. By doing so, I also grant 30% IAS, which helps me processing Bash a lot. They tried getting gems, but we were always able to kill the gem carrier. I make lots of early mistakes, but we end up winning it as nobody can stand

against me later on

 Stealth_Assassin.w3g ( 535.13k ) Number of downloads: 120

This replay is worse, but it's the 2nd best replay I could find. There is only 1 feeder (OMG NEW RECORD!!!), which leads me to get fed, and be able to get fed of 3 players (OMG!!!). I highly recommend the one on top of it, but if you have nothing to do, this replay can still do it.

I don't understand... I have no technical problems when I copy paste my text. So, the following text is NOT TO BE READ

Born as the heir to the satyr dominion, Rikimaru was trained by the mightiest warriors of his race. However, the power of the Burning Legion managed to corrupt many of his kind, leaving them as mindless beasts in the forest. Vowing revenge against the Scourge, he sharpened his skills for battle. Using his small size to his advantage, he can render himself invisible, enabling him to stab his enemies in the back. He can also use thick smoke as a cover, to silence his enemies and become nearly untouchable.

You should play Rikimaru, The Stealth Assassin only if :

-You like to take risks-You like to chase people-You want to own pubs-Having to look at enemies inventory doesn't screw you up-You don't care to change line or always move

QUOTEFrom 6.54 to 6.55

They directly buffed SA by having Backstab always occuring on Blink Strike.They indirectly buffed SA with Magic Stick, which is a nice item on him. While you are invisible, you don't know how many charges they will give you.They indirectly buffed SA with Sange and Yasha buff. It is now cheaper, and Sange alone is better.They indirectly nerfed SA with Sange and Yasha not stacking MS anymore with Yasha.

STATS

Strength : 17 + 2.0Agility : 24 + 2.9

Intelligence : 14 + 1.3Movement Speed : 300Armor : 6.4HP : 473MP : 182

SKILLSET

Smoke ScreenThrows a smoke bomb down in the area, silencing opponents and causing them to miss on most of their attacks. Also slows by 25% at all levels. Lasts 6 seconds.

Level 1 - 250 AoE, 40% miss.Level 2 - 275 AoE, 50% miss.Level 3 - 300 AoE, 60% miss.Level 4 - 325 AoE, 70% miss.

Cooldown: 15 seconds.

Level 1: 75 mana, 15 sec cooldown.Level 2: 80 mana, 15 sec cooldown.Level 3: 85 mana, 15 sec cooldown.Level 4: 90 mana, 15 sec cooldown.

This skill is rather really powerful. When well landed, it can determines either if a fight will be won or lost, as it completly silences and provides a big chance to miss. Your goal is to keep the enemy under this Smoke Screen.

Blink StrikeTeleports to a unit and strikes it if it is a foe, dealing bonus damage.Costs 50 mana.

Level 1 - deals 30 extra damage. Level 2 - deals 60 extra damage.Level 3 - deals 90 extra damage.Level 4 - deals 120 extra damage.

Cooldown: 30/20/10/5 seconds.

Level 1: 50 mana, 30 sec cooldown.Level 2: 50 mana, 20 sec cooldown.Level 3: 50 mana, 10 sec cooldown.Level 4: 50 mana, 5 sec cooldown.

This is an excellent skill for chasing. However, take in count that the cooldown is rather high at level 1 and 2. It is really useful in landing a good Smoke Screen. Also, note that it teleports behind the unit, having Backstab activating everytime you use that skill.

BackstabThe Stealth Assassin is not afraid to fight dirty, and specializes in attacking his opponents from behind.

Level 1 - Deals .25x the Agility of Rikimaru to the target.Level 2 - Deals .5x the Agility of Rikimaru to the target.Level 3 - Deals .75x the Agility of Rikimaru to the target.Level 4 - Deals 1x the Agility of Rikimaru to the target.

Passive

It provides to Rikimaru all the chasing power he deserves. It increases its damage severally.

Permanent InvisibilityRikimaru becomes permanently invisible when not attacking.

Level 1 - 3 second fade time.Level 2 - 2.25 second fade time. Level 3 - 1.5 second fade time.

Passive

This skill is what makes Rikimaru ''the Stealth Assassin''. You will have to take care of true sight. It completly nullifies the power of that skill. Your gameplay will be influenced by that skill a lot. Also note that silence reveals Rikimaru.

SKILL BUILD

Level 1 - Smoke ScreenLevel 2 - Blink StrikeLevel 3 - Smoke ScreenLevel 4 - Blink StrikeLevel 5 - Blink StrikeLevel 6 - Permanent InvisibilityLevel 7 - Blink StrikeLevel 8 - BackstabLevel 9 - BackstabLevel 10 - BackstabLevel 11 - Permanent Invisibility/Smoke ScreenLevel 12 - BackstabLevel 13 - Smoke ScreenLevel 14 - Smoke Screen/Permanent InvisibilityLevel 16-24 - StatsLevel 25 - Permanent Invisibility

You will nearly be always tower hugging. So on, you will always use Smoke Screen near the tower to make creeps miss their attacks, or having tower going down slower.

Blink Strike isn't taken level 1-3 because it is simply useless as their cooldown is too high. However, you max it out first as it becomes really handy to have a short cooldown.

You max out Permanent Invisibility as it helps you survive. However, the last level of it is completly useless in my opinion. Also, it makes it harder to use, as after attacking 1 unit, rikimaru won't attack another unit as he will be invisible. If you are not facing problem facing the fading time of Permanent Invisibility, don'T bother leveling it, just keep leveling Backstab.

However, if you are facing only melee heroes and you are pretty much sure you will not have to tower hug, here is another build you can use for a better last-hitting.

Level 1 - Smoke ScreenLevel 2 - Blink StrikeLevel 3 - BackstabLevel 4 - Blink StrikeLevel 5 - Blink StrikeLevel 6 - Permanent InvisibilityLevel 7 - Blink StrikeLevel 8-10 - BackstabLevel 11 - Permanent Invisibility/Smoke ScreenLevel 12 - Smoke ScreenLevel 13 - Smoke ScreenLevel 14 - Smoke Screen/Permanent InvisibilityLevel 16-24 - StatsLevel 25 - Permanent Invisibility

Backstab is taken over Smoke Screen for a better last hitting. Smoke Screen is taken level 1 because it can still be effective.

However choose wisely your build. Don't say : Smoke Screen isn't worth leveling, it's already silencing + a big chance to miss. Have you ever seen some1 with butterfly dying? I'm pretty much sure. So on, 40% chance to miss is a bit more, but it won't garantee you invincibility in your screen. However, with a level 4 screen, I can beat anybody who has 3 times my hit point no problem, except if I would normally get owned.

I never use it for the slow only (Someone is running after you, screen so you can have an advantage), but I take my place near my tower for good protection. This way, even revealed, nobody can do shit against you. If ever it's a ranged hero, place the screen in front of the tower, and go behind it. If he wants to evade it, he'll be making a detour, or taking more damage from the tower.

ITEM BUILD

You start out with 2 circlets, 2 set of tangoes and 1 clarity potion. The circlets are for the stats, which help surviving, final hit and cast Smoke Screen.

However, if nobody on your team gets a courier or wants to share it, take a courier, 1 circlet, 1 tango and 2 clarity potion. You absolutly need that courier. It's excellent for a blink strike target. Morph him into a flying courier later on. It can help you to blink strike over cliffs, and you are safe.

Alternative Build

Introducing the Magic Stick from 6.55. I love this new item... it's cheap and always useful. It's comparable to Bottle in term of rescue. Bottle needs at least 1 second to become effective, this

item requires none

The treads are always needed. Set on strength for more survivability. Only change into agility once it becomes late-game and you can survive nukes. Wraith are good for the agility. However, change for Bracers if your having difficulties to survive, because the enemy got wards and everything. Sange and Yasha simply fits Rikimaru way too well. Maim is excellent to keep anyone in the cloud, however relies a bit on luck. It provides nice hit points, nice MS to never lose sight of enemies, and nice agility. It should cost you 7470 gold + tangoes and clarities.

The gem? You buy it after Sange, because you will have all the strength you need to survive. If you are doing quite great and you finish hold that gem at level 14, you will already have 1613 hp and 14 armor, or 2967 EHP. EHP is defined as the real damage you need to take down the hero. But if you finish it after, you will have even more than 1600 hp. That gem is damn useful. You will be able to destroy all observer and sentry wards. The only thing that can risk your death if your playing well is another gem, which is also risky for them. NOTE : Never buy a damn gem whenever the enemy team already has one! If you already have one, bring it back to town. You

are susceptible to die. And if ever you destroy the danger, you have another one

This is the perfect build you could hope for. You must get a basher first. A basher?!? You will probly think I'm kidding, but it is really useful for chasing and keeping someone in Smoke Screen. Note that Stealth Assassin is maybe the best hero that can hold a basher, and I'm really

not kidding . Even void and troll can't do better than him. He is nearly invincible to nukes, and will own any permabasher (Thanks to Screen). I will try to find a replay and show you how it owns.

After comes butterfly. I don't see why I should explain that.

POSSIBLE ITEMS

[color=#CC9933]I am from those who like this item. Also, it is excellent for Stealth Assassin, as he will maybe always be in the jungle when it'll be cooled down. Don't bother getting a big creep, get the first one you find. Also, the IAS is good for permabashing until you get that eaglehorn. If ever you got difficulties farming that eaglehorn and you are about 1k away from it, don't bother keeping hand of midas. Sell it right now!

It can be good if you need some hit points and regeneration, but doesn't need the mana regeneration. It can be good to tower dive, as you will pretty much nullify 65% of creeps damage. However, I recommend to sell it for eaglehorn later on.

Note that it is a really nice item to have with rikimaru, as he moves a lot. It can solve all your mana as well as hit point problems.

With the recent buff to it, I believe it's now viable on Rikimaru. If the enemy has a gem, you only need to nuke THIS guy and others will block him and everything. Until they find you, you will have tp'ed. It does a nice combo with Helm of the Dominator. Global teleportation. However, not quite recommended to waste orb effect on Helm of the Dominator.

Note that the following list of items are there to fill the missing slot in the inventory.

They increase pretty well the damage output from Rikimaru, but they don't help it's survivability. Note that Bashes stacks. Look for guides if you don't trust me. Chances that bash number 2 will not diminish. However, the chances that at least 1 of the 2 bashes occurs dinimishes, simply because of logical. So on, if both bashes occur at the same time, it will deal the full damage of both bashes. So on, MKB is still an option.

Only make sure you can rape the enemy if you want to carry this item It can really be game-breaking, as pretty much anybody will die to it. However, note that enemies will surely come for you, so making sure you destroyed all wards before going somewhere is a good idea.

I always make this item when facing skeleton king. Early-game, the purge can be a replacement to maim. However, late-game, you might miss the movement speed bonus and everything else. Also, you can trick the enemy. Illusions get permanent invisibility, so you can fake having an illusion rune and sending an illusion to the enemy. He will just kill the illusion. Then you send the second, he thinks its you, he wastes all its spells and you kill him.

I don't recommend it in really serious game, but it can be a funny item to try, except if you are

really facing skeleton king and you want to be annoying .

However, note that you must not get SnY in this case.

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I will leave the choice to you. I used to put it in my Core Build, but I agree it is highly situational. Note that it can be really handy as it can easily save your life, as most people will try to disable you, and set a ward. If ever they can't disable you, you are safe.

You can also take this instead of Linken's Sphere. You will mess up the regeneration as well as the stats, but it is cheaper and does the anti-magic job much better.

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It doesn't stack anymore with SnY

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