Riki · Mid (pos. 2)
Riki Guide
More Riki 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
Riki is a melee Agility hero that Valve tags as Carry, Escape and Disabler. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 39% 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 (silence) with Smoke Screen and mobility with Blink Strike. This patch, Riki wins 52.9% of the 199,831 public matches we measured (A tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable silence: Smoke Screen sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Mobility: Blink Strike gets Riki in and out of fights.
- Strong this patch: wins 52.9% of measured public matches.
Weaknesses
- Melee: has to walk up to its target, which makes the lane harder against ranged heroes.
- Low base armor (0): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
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 Riki players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Diffusal Blade and Battle Fury — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Riki players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Manta Style and Aghanim's Scepter. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Riki players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Battle Fury and Phylactery. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Riki 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 Riki players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
316%239%145%- Safe laneMain45% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- MidPriority 239% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 316% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Diffusal Blade
- 2Manta Style
- 3Aghanim's Shard
- 4Aghanim's Scepter
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Blink Strike›Tricks of the…›Smoke Screen
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
 | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- +500 Blink Strike Cast Range-4s Tricks of the Trade Cooldown25
- +0.3 Backstab Multiplier-1s Blink Strike Cooldown20
- -3s Smoke Screen Cooldown15% of Riki's Base damage added to Tricks of the Trade15
- +50 Smoke Screen Radius+10% Cloak and Dagger Movement Speed10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Diffusal Blade and Battle Fury — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Riki players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
316%239%145%- Safe laneMain45% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- MidPriority 239% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 316% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Diffusal Blade+15 Agility, +10 Intelligence. Active: Inhibit.
- 2Battle Fury+50 Damage, +7.5 Health Regeneration, +2.75 Mana Regeneration. Active: Chop Tree.
- 3Phylactery+6 All Attributes, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.25 Mana Regeneration.
- 4Disperser+40 Agility, +10 Intelligence. Active: Suppress.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Blink Strike›Tricks of the…›Smoke Screen
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- +500 Blink Strike Cast Range-4s Tricks of the Trade Cooldown25
- +0.3 Backstab Multiplier-1s Blink Strike Cooldown20
- -3s Smoke Screen Cooldown15% of Riki's Base damage added to Tricks of the Trade15
- +50 Smoke Screen Radius+10% Cloak and Dagger Movement Speed10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Manta Style and Aghanim's Scepter. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Riki players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
316%239%145%- Safe laneMain45% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- MidPriority 239% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 316% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Manta Style+10 Strength, +26 Agility, +10 Intelligence. Active: Mirror Image.
- 2Aghanim's Scepter+10 All Attributes, +175 Health, +175 Mana.
- 3Battle Fury+50 Damage, +7.5 Health Regeneration, +2.75 Mana Regeneration. Active: Chop Tree.
- 4Phylactery+6 All Attributes, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.25 Mana Regeneration.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Blink Strike›Tricks of the…›Smoke Screen
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- +500 Blink Strike Cast Range-4s Tricks of the Trade Cooldown25
- +0.3 Backstab Multiplier-1s Blink Strike Cooldown20
- -3s Smoke Screen Cooldown15% of Riki's Base damage added to Tricks of the Trade15
- +50 Smoke Screen Radius+10% Cloak and Dagger Movement Speed10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Battle Fury and Phylactery. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Riki players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
316%239%145%- Safe laneMain45% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- MidPriority 239% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 316% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Battle Fury+50 Damage, +7.5 Health Regeneration, +2.75 Mana Regeneration. Active: Chop Tree.
- 2Phylactery+6 All Attributes, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.25 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Disperser+40 Agility, +10 Intelligence. Active: Suppress.
- 4Mage Slayer+18% Magic Resistance, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.5 Mana Regeneration.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Blink Strike›Tricks of the…›Smoke Screen
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- +500 Blink Strike Cast Range-4s Tricks of the Trade Cooldown25
- +0.3 Backstab Multiplier-1s Blink Strike Cooldown20
- -3s Smoke Screen Cooldown15% of Riki's Base damage added to Tricks of the Trade15
- +50 Smoke Screen Radius+10% Cloak and Dagger Movement Speed10
Abilities
- Smoke Screen15 / 14 / 13 / 12s75 mpThrows down a smoke bomb, silencing enemies and causing them to miss attacks.
- Radius
- 425
- Miss rate
- 40%·50%·60%·70%
- Blink Strike13 / 10 / 7 / 4s50 / 55 / 60 / 65 mpTeleports behind the target unit, momentarily slowing them by 100% and attacking them with bonus damage if it is an enemy.
- Bonus damage
- 25·35·45·55
- Slow duration
- 0.75
- Tricks of the Trade21 / 18 / 15 / 12s65 mpCHANNELED - Riki phases out of the world and periodically strikes 2 random enemy units from behind in an area around him. He has fixed attack damage while phased out.
- Radius
- 425
- Attack intervals
- 4
- Attack damage
- 25·50·75·100
- Agility bonus
- 0
- Duration
- 2
BackstabPassiveEvery time Riki strikes his enemy from behind, he deals additional bonus damage equal to a multiple of his Agility.- Agility multiplier
- 0.55
- Bonus xp hero kill
- 0
- Bonus xp assist
- 0
- Bonus xp ward/courier kill
- 0
- Cloak and DaggerPassiveRiki fades into the shadows, becoming invisible until he attacks. Hero kills and assists grant additional experience.
- Fade delay
- 4·3·2
- Bonus xp hero kill
- 130·260·390
- Bonus xp assist
- 100
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 11 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Blink Strike›Tricks of the…›Smoke Screen
| 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: Wraith Band and Orb of Corrosion.
2Mid game
With Diffusal Blade, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are your core items: Diffusal Blade and then Manta Style.
- Core items: Diffusal Blade, Manta Style and Aghanim's Shard.
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: Disperser and Skull Basher.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Diffusal Blade 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.
- Keep Blink Strike for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
Smoke Screen silences Legion Commander, whose damage comes from abilities.
Smoke Screen silences Pudge, whose damage comes from abilities.
Smoke Screen silences Anti-Mage, whose damage comes from abilities.
Weak against
Howl (fear) lets Lycan pin Riki down before Blink Strike gets them out.
Starbreaker (stun) lets Dawnbreaker pin Riki down before Blink Strike gets them out.
Nightmare (sleep) lets Bane pin Riki down before Blink Strike gets them out.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
Was this helpful?
Your vote helps other players find the best guides.