Necrophos · Mid (pos. 2)
Necrophos Guide
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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
Necrophos is a ranged Intelligence hero that Valve tags as Nuker, Carry and Disabler. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 44% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Mid (pos. 2): your job is to win the solo lane, control the runes and create pressure on the other lanes. The kit brings crowd control (stun) with Reaper's Scythe and sustain with Death Pulse. Its ultimate is Reaper's Scythe. This patch, Necrophos wins 51.0% of the 547,337 public matches we measured (A tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable stun: Reaper's Scythe sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Sustain from Death Pulse to stay in lane and in fights.
- Valve tags Necrophos as Durable: it stays in fights longer than most heroes.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
Weaknesses
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Necrophos is easy to catch.
- The enemy jungle and supports will target you for ganks.
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 Necrophos players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Radiance and Skull Basher — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Necrophos players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Lotus Orb and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Necrophos 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 Necrophos players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
327%230%144%- MidMain44% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- Safe lanePriority 230% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- OfflanePriority 327% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Radiance
- 2Aghanim's Shard
- 3Manta Style
- 4Consecrated Wraps
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Death Pulse›Heartstopper …›Ghost Shroud
| 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
- -2.5s Death Pulse Cooldown+0.3 Reaper's Scythe Damage Per Missing HP25
- +75 Spell Area of Effect+20% Heartstopper Regen Reduction20
- +60 Death Pulse Heal+15% Ghost Shroud Movement Slow15
- -2.5s Ghost Shroud Cooldown+2s Sadist Stack Duration10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Radiance and Skull Basher — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Necrophos players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
327%230%144%- MidMain44% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- Safe lanePriority 230% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- OfflanePriority 327% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Radiance+55 Damage, +25% Evasion.
- 2Skull Basher+30 Damage, +10 Strength.
- 3Desolator+55 Damage.
- 4Aghanim's Shard
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Death Pulse›Heartstopper …›Ghost Shroud
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
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Talents by level
- -2.5s Death Pulse Cooldown+0.3 Reaper's Scythe Damage Per Missing HP25
- +75 Spell Area of Effect+20% Heartstopper Regen Reduction20
- +60 Death Pulse Heal+15% Ghost Shroud Movement Slow15
- -2.5s Ghost Shroud Cooldown+2s Sadist Stack Duration10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Lotus Orb and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Necrophos players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
327%230%144%- MidMain44% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- Safe lanePriority 230% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- OfflanePriority 327% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Lotus Orb+10 Armor, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.0 Mana Regeneration. Active: Echo Shell.
- 2Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 3Linken's Sphere+16 All Attributes, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.25 Mana Regeneration. Active: Transfer Spellblock.
- 4Spirit Vessel+1.75 Mana Regeneration, +10 All Attributes, +2 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Death Pulse›Heartstopper …›Ghost Shroud
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- -2.5s Death Pulse Cooldown+0.3 Reaper's Scythe Damage Per Missing HP25
- +75 Spell Area of Effect+20% Heartstopper Regen Reduction20
- +60 Death Pulse Heal+15% Ghost Shroud Movement Slow15
- -2.5s Ghost Shroud Cooldown+2s Sadist Stack Duration10
Abilities
- Death Pulse8 / 7 / 6 / 5s115 / 130 / 145 / 160 mpNecrophos releases a wave of death around him, dealing damage to enemy units and healing allied units.
- Radius
- 500
- Heal
- 70·90·110·130
- Ghost Shroud28 / 24 / 20 / 16s75 mpNecrophos slips into the realm that separates the living from the dead. Unable to attack or be attacked, he emits an aura that slows enemies around him. He takes additional magic damage in this form, but his restorative powers are amplified.
- Duration
- 3·3.5·4·4.5
- Restoration amplification
- 45%·55%·65%·75%
- Movement slow
- 16%·19%·22%·25%
- Slow radius
- 700
- Increased magic damage
- -20%
- Heartstopper AuraPassiveNecrophos stills the hearts of his opponents, causing nearby enemy units to lose a percentage of their max health over time.
- Radius
- 700
- Health decay
- 0.8%·1.3%·1.8%·2.3%
Death Seeker19s160 mpNecrophos turns into a large Death Pulse towards the target unit's position. Once it arrives to the location, the Death Pulse spreads towards nearby enemies and allies.
SadistPassiveNecrophos gains stacking regen for 8 seconds for each unit he kills. Hero kills multiply the effect.- Hp/mana regen
- 3.8
- Aoe bonus per kill
- 0
- Hero kill multiplier
- 4
- Duration
- 8
- Reaper's Scythe100s250 / 375 / 500 mpStuns the target enemy hero, then deals damage based on how much life it is missing. If Necrophos kills an enemy this way, he'll permanently gain Health and Mana Regen. Any kill under this effect is credited to Necrophos.
- Damage per missing hp
- 0.7·0.8·0.9
- Stun duration
- 1.5
- Hp regen
- 1·2·3
- Mana regen
- 1·2·3
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:Death Pulse›Heartstopper …›Ghost Shroud
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Strategy
1Early game
Mid is a one-on-one: whoever has more last hits and levels usually wins it. Contest the power runes every two minutes and use a good one to gank a side lane. Trade when the enemy mid goes for a last hit and when you are a level ahead: in the solo lane each level is a real edge.
- Early items: Bracer and Null Talisman.
2Mid game
With Radiance, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are level 6, when Reaper's Scythe comes online, and your core items: Radiance and then Aghanim's Shard.
- Core items: Radiance, Aghanim's Shard and Manta Style.
3Late game
Late, choose your fights: you still hit hard, but the enemy carry catches up. Stay with the team and look for picks with vision.
- Late items: Heart of Tarrasque and Shiva's Guard.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position, and use Reaper's Scythe where it hits the most heroes.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Radiance is your first big spike: once you have it, leave the lane and look for kills.
- Push the wave into the enemy tower before you rotate, or the lane punishes you twice.
- Plan fights around Reaper's Scythe: without it, Necrophos is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Ember Spirit55.7%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos wins 55.7% of the 106 games measured against Ember Spirit this patch.
106 matches
- Tiny55.4%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos wins 55.4% of the 112 games measured against Tiny this patch.
112 matches
- Shadow Fiend53.9%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos wins 53.9% of the 178 games measured against Shadow Fiend this patch.
178 matches
- Axe52.8%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos wins 52.8% of the 123 games measured against Axe this patch.
123 matches
- Pudge52.7%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos wins 52.7% of the 110 games measured against Pudge this patch.
110 matches
Weak against
- Windranger38.7%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos only wins 38.7% of the 119 games measured against Windranger this patch.
119 matches
- Tidehunter43.1%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos only wins 43.1% of the 102 games measured against Tidehunter this patch.
102 matches
- Rubick45.5%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos only wins 45.5% of the 198 games measured against Rubick this patch.
198 matches
- Snapfire47.0%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos only wins 47.0% of the 151 games measured against Snapfire this patch.
151 matches
- Lion48.3%win rate in the matchup
Necrophos only wins 48.3% of the 116 games measured against Lion this patch.
116 matches
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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