Dark Willow · Soft Support (pos. 4)
Dark Willow Items: What to Buy and When
More Dark Willow guides
This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
This guide explains every item in Dark Willow's builds and when to buy it. Your spikes are level 6, when Terrorize comes online, and your core items: Essence Distiller and then Eul's Scepter of Divinity.
Strengths
- Reliable root: Bramble Maze sets up kills.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
- Terrorize can swing team fights: it hits several enemies at once.
Weaknesses
- Low base armor (0): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- Plays on little gold: expensive items arrive late.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Dark Willow players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Veil of Discord and Vladmir's Offering — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Dark Willow players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Essence Distiller and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Dark Willow players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Dark Willow players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
228%167%- OfflaneMain67% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 228% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Essence Distiller+1.5 Mana Regeneration, +3 All Attributes, +6 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
- 2Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 3Blink DaggerActive: Blink.
- 4Aghanim's Shard
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Bramble Maze›Shadow Realm›Cursed Crown
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 | · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
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 | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- 500 Terrorize Impact Damage+2 Bedlam Attack Targets25
- +1.5s Shadow Realm Duration-7s Bramble Maze CD20
- -20s Terrorize Cooldown+30 Bedlam Damage15
- +12 Intelligence+1.0s Bedlam Duration10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Veil of Discord and Vladmir's Offering — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Dark Willow players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
228%167%- OfflaneMain67% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 228% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Veil of Discord+175 Health, +10 Intelligence, +18% Spell Lifesteal. Active: Spell Weakness.
- 2Vladmir's Offering+1 Armor, +0.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Essence Distiller+1.5 Mana Regeneration, +3 All Attributes, +6 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
- 4Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Bramble Maze›Shadow Realm›Cursed Crown
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- 500 Terrorize Impact Damage+2 Bedlam Attack Targets25
- +1.5s Shadow Realm Duration-7s Bramble Maze CD20
- -20s Terrorize Cooldown+30 Bedlam Damage15
- +12 Intelligence+1.0s Bedlam Duration10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Essence Distiller and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Dark Willow players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
228%167%- OfflaneMain67% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 228% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Essence Distiller+1.5 Mana Regeneration, +3 All Attributes, +6 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
- 2Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 3Force Staff+10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- 4Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Bramble Maze›Shadow Realm›Cursed Crown
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- 500 Terrorize Impact Damage+2 Bedlam Attack Targets25
- +1.5s Shadow Realm Duration-7s Bramble Maze CD20
- -20s Terrorize Cooldown+30 Bedlam Damage15
- +12 Intelligence+1.0s Bedlam Duration10
Abilities
- Bramble Maze22s100 / 120 / 140 / 160 mpDark Willow creates a 500 AoE maze of 8 brambles that grow in the target area after 0.3 seconds. Enemies that walk into a bramble are rooted and take damage over time. Lasts 12 seconds.
- Latch root duration
- 1·1.5·2·2.5
- Bramble latch radius
- 90
- Damage per tick
- 50·55·60·65
- Shadow Realm21 / 19 / 17 / 15s80 / 90 / 100 / 110 mpDark Willow recedes into the shadows, becoming untargetable. Her next attack has 600 bonus attack range and deals bonus magic damage, and will end Shadow Realm. Damage scales based on how long she remains under the effects of Shadow Realm, the maximum being reached after 3 seconds.
- Duration
- 5
- Max damage
- 120·200·280·360
- Cursed Crown17 / 15 / 13 / 11s80 / 90 / 100 / 110 mpDark Willow casts an ancient fae curse on the target. After a delay, the target and nearby enemies are stunned.
- Delay
- 4
- Stun duration
- 1.5·1.8·2.1·2.4
- Effect radius
- 360
Bedlam30s100 / 150 / 200 mpDark Willow sends her pet wisp to roam around herself for the duration, rapidly attacking nearby enemies. Bedlam cannot be used while Terrorize is active.- Attack damage
- 70·120·170
- Attack interval
- 0.25
- Attack radius
- 300
- Roaming duration
- 5.5
Pixie DustPassiveDark Willow gains 20% bonus Health and Mana Regeneration, increased to 100% while she is untargetable or invulnerable.- Terrorize100 / 90 / 80s150 mpDark Willow releases her pet wisp to terrorize her enemies. After a short delay, all enemies in the target area become fearful and run toward their home fountain. Terrorize cannot be used while Bedlam is active.
- Radius
- 450·500·550
- Fear duration
- 2.8·3·3.2
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 100 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Bramble Maze›Shadow Realm›Cursed Crown
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Strategy
1Starting items
What to buy before leaving the base, and what each item gives:
- Iron Branch — +1 All Attributes.
- Tango
- Blood Grenade — +50 Health.
- Faerie Fire — +2 Damage.
- Observer and Sentry Wards — 1600 Observer vision range, 6 Observer duration, 8 Sentry duration.
- Sentry Ward
2Core items
Your spikes are level 6, when Terrorize comes online, and your core items: Essence Distiller and then Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Buy them in this order; each one is a power spike:
- Tranquil Boots — +65 Movement Speed, +14 Health Regeneration.
- Essence Distiller — +1.5 Mana Regeneration, +3 All Attributes, +6 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
- Eul's Scepter of Divinity — +10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- Blink Dagger — Active: Blink.
- Aghanim's Shard
3Late-game items
What players finish with once the core is done:
- Force Staff — +10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- Scythe of Vyse — +30 Intelligence, +8.5 Mana Regeneration. Active: Hex.
- Aeon Disk — +250 Health, +300 Mana, 105.0 / 125.0 / 145.0 / 165.0 Cooldown.
- Wind Waker — +30 Movement Speed, +3.0 Mana Regeneration, +35 Intelligence. Active: Cyclone.
4Adapting to the game
The damage build moves the offensive items forward when you're ahead; the defensive one adds survival when the enemy focuses you. The situational builds in the matchups guide answer specific threats.
Tips
- Buy Essence Distiller as early as you can: it's your first real spike.
- Complete one item before starting the next: half-built items give less than one finished one.
- Look at the enemy team at every back and adjust the situational items.
- Don't sit on gold: spend it when you go back.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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