Shadow Demon · Soft Support (pos. 4)
Shadow Demon 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
Shadow Demon is a ranged Intelligence hero that Valve tags as Support, Disabler and Nuker. It is played mainly as Soft Support (pos. 4): 52% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Soft Support (pos. 4): your job is to help your offlaner win the hard lane, rotate for kills and make space with your spells. The kit brings crowd control (disable) with Disruption and sustain with Demonic Cleanse. Its ultimate is Demonic Purge. This patch, Shadow Demon wins 45.3% of the 71,913 public matches we measured (D tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable disable: Disruption sets up kills.
- Keeps allies alive with Demonic Cleanse.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
Weaknesses
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Shadow Demon is easy to catch.
- 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 Shadow Demon players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Glimmer Cape and Pavise. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Shadow Demon players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Glimmer Cape and Pavise. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Shadow Demon 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 Shadow Demon players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
247%148%- Safe laneMain48% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 247% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Blink Dagger
- 2Aghanim's Shard
- 3Glimmer Cape
- 4Pavise
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shadow Poison›Disseminate›Disruption
| 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 Charges of DisruptionDemonic Purge Applies Shadow Poison25
- +15% Disseminate Shared Damage-20s Demonic Purge Cooldown20
- -1s Shadow Poison Cooldown+25 Movement Speed15
- +8 Strength+15% Shadow Poison Damage10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Glimmer Cape and Pavise. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Shadow Demon players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
247%148%- Safe laneMain48% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 247% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- 2Pavise+3 Armor, +175 Mana, +175 Health. Active: Protect.
- 3Solar Crest+7 Armor, +25 Movement Speed, +200 Mana. Active: Shine.
- 4Essence Distiller+1.5 Mana Regeneration, +3 All Attributes, +6 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shadow Poison›Disseminate›Disruption
| 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 Charges of DisruptionDemonic Purge Applies Shadow Poison25
- +15% Disseminate Shared Damage-20s Demonic Purge Cooldown20
- -1s Shadow Poison Cooldown+25 Movement Speed15
- +8 Strength+15% Shadow Poison Damage10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Glimmer Cape and Pavise. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Shadow Demon players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
247%148%- Safe laneMain48% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 247% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- 2Pavise+3 Armor, +175 Mana, +175 Health. Active: Protect.
- 3Solar Crest+7 Armor, +25 Movement Speed, +200 Mana. Active: Shine.
- 4Essence Distiller+1.5 Mana Regeneration, +3 All Attributes, +6 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shadow Poison›Disseminate›Disruption
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- 2 Charges of DisruptionDemonic Purge Applies Shadow Poison25
- +15% Disseminate Shared Damage-20s Demonic Purge Cooldown20
- -1s Shadow Poison Cooldown+25 Movement Speed15
- +8 Strength+15% Shadow Poison Damage10
Abilities
- Disruption26 / 24 / 22 / 20s120 mpBanishes the targeted unit from the battlefield for a short duration. Upon returning, two illusions of the banished unit with bonus base damage are created under Shadow Demon's control.
- Banish duration
- 2.75
- Illusion duration
- 8·10·12·14
- Illusion damage
- 20%·30%·40%·50%
- Bonus base damage
- 20·35·50·65
- Illusion damage taken
- 300%
- Disseminate26 / 22 / 18 / 14s100 mpWhenever the target takes damage, all enemies, including the target itself if it is an enemy, within 675 range of the target also receive a portion of that damage. Can target enemy and allied units. Effect is paused if the target is hidden by Disruption.
- Duration
- 6
- Shared damage
- 16%·24%·32%·40%
- Shadow Poison2.5s40 mpDeals damage in a line, and afflicts enemy units with a poison effect. The poison deals 1/2/4/8/16 times the stack damage based on the number of stacks on the target, up to 5 stacks. Additional stacks cause 60 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
- Stack damage
- 24·36·48·60
- Max stacks to multiply
- 5
- Radius
- 200
- Hit damage
- 24·36·48·60
- Debuff duration
- 10
Shadow Poison Release1sReleases the poison to do damage on all affected enemies. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Shadow Poison.
Demonic Cleanse60s150 mpCleanses the target allied unit, removing negative buffs for the duration. At the end of the duration, the unit is healed. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Demonic Cleanse.
DISPEL TYPE: Basic Dispel- Cleanse heal
- 450
- Duration
- 5
- Demonic Purge70 / 65 / 60s150 / 175 / 200 mpPurges the target enemy unit, removing positive buffs, and slowing the target for the duration. The unit slowly regains its speed until the end of the duration, upon which damage is dealt. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Demonic Purge.
DISPEL TYPE: Basic Dispel
- Purge damage
- 300·450·600
- Duration
- 5
MenacePassiveShadow Demon's Attacks apply a stacking debuff to the enemy for 8 seconds that increases their damage taken.- Damage amp
- 1.9%
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:Shadow Poison›Disseminate›Disruption
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Strategy
1Early game
Position 4 starts in the off lane with your offlaner: harass the enemy carry, block or pull their camp when it helps and look for the first rotation to mid once the runes spawn. Harass when the enemy core walks up to last hit: every hit you land is gold your carry keeps.
- Early items: Urn of Shadows.
2Mid game
Rotate to the lanes where you can get kills, smoke with your cores to catch heroes out of position and keep vision around the next objective. Your spikes are level 6, when Demonic Purge comes online, and your core items: Blink Dagger and then Aghanim's Shard.
- Core items: Blink Dagger, Aghanim's Shard and Glimmer Cape.
3Late game
Late, your death costs little gold but your spells are worth a lot: stay behind the team, keep your save items ready and ward before the fight, not during it.
- Late items: Aghanim's Scepter and Aether Lens.
4Team fights
Stay behind your cores, use Disruption on whoever jumps on your carry and keep Demonic Cleanse for the moment the enemy commits. Use Demonic Purge where it hits the most enemies or catches the key target.
Tips
- Land Disruption on the enemy core first: a disabled carry doesn't hit back.
- Keep Demonic Cleanse for the moment the enemy commits, not to top up health.
- Buy and place wards every time they are available: vision is your first job.
- Your key purchases are Blink Dagger and Aghanim's Shard: they give your team the saves it needs.
- Plan fights around Demonic Purge: without it, Shadow Demon is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Weaver62.9%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon wins 62.9% of the 170 games measured against Weaver this patch.
170 matches
- Gyrocopter60.6%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon wins 60.6% of the 193 games measured against Gyrocopter this patch.
193 matches
- Warlock59.9%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon wins 59.9% of the 274 games measured against Warlock this patch.
274 matches
- Clockwerk59.4%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon wins 59.4% of the 101 games measured against Clockwerk this patch.
101 matches
- Disruptor59.1%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon wins 59.1% of the 328 games measured against Disruptor this patch.
328 matches
Weak against
- Beastmaster45.3%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon only wins 45.3% of the 137 games measured against Beastmaster this patch.
137 matches
- Pangolier45.5%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon only wins 45.5% of the 189 games measured against Pangolier this patch.
189 matches
- Phoenix45.7%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon only wins 45.7% of the 188 games measured against Phoenix this patch.
188 matches
- Juggernaut47.1%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon only wins 47.1% of the 121 games measured against Juggernaut this patch.
121 matches
- Rubick47.5%win rate in the matchup
Shadow Demon only wins 47.5% of the 236 games measured against Rubick this patch.
236 matches
Works well with
Demonic Cleanse from Shadow Demon keeps Abaddon alive, and Abaddon is the damage the team needs to protect.
Demonic Cleanse from Shadow Demon keeps Shadow Fiend alive, and Shadow Fiend is the damage the team needs to protect.
Demonic Cleanse from Shadow Demon keeps Kez alive, and Kez is the damage the team needs to protect.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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