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Shadow Fiend in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes

Shadow Fiend — Agility, ranged; roles: Carry, Nuker. Public match win rate — 43.5%. In short: Shadow Fiend is strong against Medusa, Night Stalker, Undying but suffers against Enigma, Phoenix, Monkey King.

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Shadow Fiend win rate by rank

public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%

Herald

45.6%

Guardian

45.6%

Crusader

44.7%

Archon

43.7%

Legend

42.3%

Ancient

41.5%

Divine

40.7%

Immortal

—

Shadow Fiend is strong against

hover a hero for a summary

Medusa58.4%118 games

Night Stalker55.8%87 games

Undying55.2%152 games

Razor55.1%203 games

Void Spirit54.8%150 games

Disruptor54.4%444 games

Pugna54.3%91 games

Death Prophet54.1%97 games

Who counters Shadow Fiend

Enigma40.8%65 games

Phoenix42.1%294 games

Monkey King42.8%127 games

Batrider42.9%171 games

Lone Druid43.5%64 games

Mirana43.9%104 games

Troll Warlord44.2%121 games

Venomancer44.2%96 games

How to play Shadow Fiend against counters

items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy

vs EnigmaDon't clump with your team, stay outside Black Hole range and clear eidolons with razes.40.8%

What to build against it

Linken's SphereBlocks Malefice, the unit-target spell Enigma uses to chain-stun you.

Black King BarProtects from Malefice and magic damage, but Black Hole and Midnight Pulse pierce it.

Blink DaggerLets you stay far back and jump in with Requiem only after Enigma has used his ultimate.

Aeon DiskGives you a chance to survive Black Hole plus Midnight Pulse if you get caught.

How to use the spells of Shadow Fiend

ShadowrazeRazes hit an area — clear eidolons before they multiply and deny Enigma's farm.

Requiem of SoulsIf you're outside Black Hole, Requiem Enigma without BKB: the fear can break his channel.

Feast of SoulsThe speed bonus helps you escape Event Horizon's slow when running from Enigma.

Watch out for Enigma

Black HolePierces BKB. Stay back and spread out from allies until the ultimate is used.

Midnight PulsePierces BKB and deals percentage HP damage — leave the area immediately.

vs PhoenixPressure Phoenix with razes, break Supernova with attacks and cut his healing.42.1%

What to build against it

Black King BarBlocks Fire Spirits, Sun Ray and Icarus Dive — all his magic damage and attack speed reduction.

Spirit VesselReduces Sun Ray healing and finishes Phoenix, who spends his own HP.

Mage SlayerReduces his spell damage and gives magic resist against constant DoT.

Hurricane PikeHelps you get out of Sun Ray's beam and Supernova's area.

How to use the spells of Shadow Fiend

Feast of SoulsWhen Phoenix goes Supernova, pop Feast of Souls and break the sun with attacks.

ShadowrazePunish Icarus Dive and Sun Ray with razes — Phoenix spends his own HP.

Requiem of SoulsDon't waste Requiem on the sun — save it for after Supernova explodes.

Watch out for Phoenix

SupernovaThe explosion stuns through BKB. Either break the sun or leave the area.

Fire SpiritsThey heavily cut your attack speed — dodge the spirits or use BKB.

vs Monkey KingDodge Boundless Strike and don't let Monkey King stack Jingu charges.42.8%

What to build against it

Black King BarProtects from Boundless Strike's stun and Primal Spring's slow.

Ghost ScepterNegates Jingu's physical damage and Wukong's Command soldiers.

Hurricane PikePushes Monkey King away and helps you leave the soldier ring.

How to use the spells of Shadow Fiend

ShadowrazeRaze him while he's on the ground: damage puts Tree Dance on cooldown and stops his escape.

Requiem of SoulsRequiem during Wukong's Command: the fear pushes him out of the ring and the soldiers disperse.

ShadowrazeUse the far raze to last-hit from range, don't step close and feed Jingu stacks.

Watch out for Monkey King

Boundless StrikeLine stun with True Strike — don't stand in line, sidestep.

Jingu MasteryAfter 4 hits he lifesteals and hits harder — avoid melee trades.

vs BatriderThe key is avoiding Flaming Lasso: Linken's and careful positioning.42.9%

What to build against it

Linken's SphereBlocks Flaming Lasso, the unit-target ultimate that pierces BKB.

Black King BarProtects from Sticky Napalm, Flamebreak and Firefly, but not Lasso.

Magic WandBatrider spams Sticky Napalm often, so you quickly gain charges to heal.

Blink DaggerLets you stay out of his engage range and initiate Requiem yourself.

How to use the spells of Shadow Fiend

ShadowrazeIn lane punish him with razes when he steps up to throw napalm.

Feast of SoulsThe speed bonus offsets napalm's slow — use it to escape Firefly's fire.

Requiem of SoulsWait for Batrider to spend Lasso on an ally, then go in with Requiem.

Watch out for Batrider

Flaming LassoPierces BKB. Stay close to allies and away from map edges.

Sticky NapalmStacks amplify his damage — don't linger in napalm areas.

vs Lone DruidDon't trade with the bear up close: raze the druid and keep distance.43.5%

What to build against it

Black King BarBlocks Savage Roar's fear, which ruins your positioning in fights.

Ghost ScepterTemporarily negates physical damage from the bear and druid.

Hurricane PikePushes the bear away and lets you keep attacking from range.

How to use the spells of Shadow Fiend

ShadowrazeRaze both at once; the bear's death deals 20% max HP backlash to the druid.

Feast of SoulsAttack speed helps you kill the bear fast while the druid is nearby.

Requiem of SoulsRequiem fears both bear and druid, breaking their push in fights.

Watch out for Lone Druid

EntangleThe root pierces BKB — don't stay near the druid while he stacks it.

Savage RoarThe fear sends you toward base — have BKB or stay out of range.

Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.

Shadow Fiend builds by role

purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an item

Starting items

Faerie Fire29%

Iron Branch24%

Magic Wand13%

Tango12%

Circlet7%

Magic Stick5%

Quelling Blade4%

Early game

Boots of Speed24%

Power Treads23%

Falcon Blade20%

Morbid Mask10%

Broadsword9%

Blade of Alacrity5%

Mask of Madness4%

Mid game

Blade of Alacrity16%

Dragon Lance9%

Yasha8%

Manta Style7%

Diadem7%

Staff of Wizardry6%

Mask of Madness6%

Late game

Demon Edge17%

Crystalys9%

Reaver7%

Satanic7%

Daedalus7%

Black King Bar6%

Eaglesong5%

Situational items on Shadow Fiend: when to buy

red — heroes that counter Shadow Fiend

Linken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Shadow Fiend: Batrider

Heaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carriesEspecially vs heroes that counter Shadow Fiend: Troll Warlord

Blade MailPunishes heroes that commit damage into youEspecially vs heroes that counter Shadow Fiend: Troll Warlord

Shiva's GuardCuts attack speed and healingEspecially vs heroes that counter Shadow Fiend: Troll Warlord

Black King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damage

Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly

Phantom Assassin

Windranger

Brewmaster

Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)

Manta StyleDispels silences and roots

Orchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroes

Why players lose on Shadow Fiend

from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 3

Not enough analyzed Shadow Fiend matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.

FAQ

Who counters Shadow Fiend?

Shadow Fiend loses most often against Enigma, Phoenix, Monkey King. What to build and how to play vs them →

Who is Shadow Fiend good against?

Best matchups: Medusa, Night Stalker, Undying.

What is Shadow Fiend's win rate?

In public matches — 43.5%. It varies by rank, see the table above.

What to build on Shadow Fiend?

In the mid game players most often buy Blade of Alacrity, Dragon Lance, Yasha. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.

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