Introduction to shadow shaman

Shadow Shaman is one of the most iconic intelligence heroes in Dota 2, known for his powerful disables and high impact in both early and late-game team fights. As a support hero, Shadow Shaman excels in crowd control, pushing, and securing kills with his impressive single-target lockdowns. For a more detailed overview of his abilities, strategies, and gameplay tips, visit the dedicated guide on the Shadow Shaman Dota 2 Hero page.

Hero Overview

Shadow Shaman, formerly known as Rhasta, is a ranged intelligence support hero. He shines in both pub and competitive matches due to his ability to disable enemies for extended periods and demolish enemy structures using his ultimate ability. With a combo of hard crowd control and powerful pushing skills, Shadow Shaman can change the course of battles when played effectively.

Base Stats

  1. Primary Attribute: Intelligence
  2. Attack Range: 400
  3. Base Armor: 1.0
  4. Movement Speed: 285
  5. Base Health and Mana: 568 / 315

Abilities

Ether Shock

Ether Shock is Shadow Shaman's main nuke ability. It deals magical damage in a cone, hitting multiple targets. This makes it an excellent spell for both harassing in lane and farming waves later in the game.

Hex

Hex is a powerful instant-cast disable that transforms an enemy into a harmless creature, preventing them from attacking, casting spells, or using items. It is one of the most potent disabling abilities in the game and is a key asset during ganks and team fights.

Shackles

Shackles is a channeled single-target disable that stuns and damages the enemy while keeping them rooted in place. Although it leaves Shadow Shaman vulnerable during the channel, it can be devastating when combined with other disables or when the target is isolated.

Mass Serpent Ward

Shadow Shaman’s ultimate ability summons a circle of serpent wards that automatically attack nearby enemy units and structures. It is ideal for sieging towers, contesting Roshan, or zoning enemies in fights. When properly placed, it offers immense pushing power and can even deal significant damage in team engagements.

Role and Gameplay

Laning Phase

In the early game, Shadow Shaman typically operates as a hard support. His long disables allow him to set up kills for his core heroes. Combining Hex and Shackles often guarantees a kill when paired with another source of damage. He can also use Ether Shock to secure ranged creeps or harass the enemy offlaner.

Mid to Late Game

As the game progresses, Shadow Shaman’s Mass Serpent Ward becomes invaluable for pushing objectives. Vision and positioning are crucial, as he is relatively squishy and can be eliminated quickly if caught out. A Blink Dagger is often recommended to initiate safely with Shackles or Hex.

Key Items

  1. Blink Dagger: Helps with initiation and quick disengage.
  2. Aether Lens: Increases cast range, making your disables safer to use.
  3. Glimmer Cape: Provides both save utility and escape survivability.
  4. Force Staff: Offers mobility and can help peel for allies.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

  1. Two strong disables ideal for locking down dangerous enemy heroes
  2. Excellent pushing power with his ultimate
  3. Can turn fights with well-timed casts

Weaknesses

  1. Low durability makes positioning critical
  2. Vulnerable when channeling Shackles
  3. Mana-hungry in the early game

Conclusion

Shadow Shaman is a versatile and impactful hero when played with strategy and map awareness. His crowd control toolkit and pushing ability make him a valuable asset to any team composition. Whether you are diving into your first match or perfecting your skills, mastering Shadow Shaman can be a game-changing addition to your support hero pool.