Guide to Shandelzare Silkwood - The Vengeful Spirit

Table of contents

Section A- The Introduction
1. Preface
2. Featuring Shandelzare Silkwood, Vengeful Spirit
   -Hero overview
3. Strengths and Weaknesses
4. Skills Descriptions
5. Main Items overview
   -Alternative Items overview
   Section B- Builds, Tips and Strategies
6. Preferred Skill build
   -Explanation
7. Alternative Skill build
   -Explanation
8. Item build
9. Gameplay walkthroughs and Tips
10. Strategies
11. Clearing your doubts
12. Mini guide on Nether Swap
13. My role as Vengeful Spirit
    Section C- Other information, Guide closure
14. Best allies
15. Worst enemies
16. Conclusion
17. Changes log
18. Credits

Section A - The Introduction

1. Preface
This is my second guide in the forums. I chose to write a Vengeful spirit guide because it plays a very important role in team clashes. Vengeful spirit starts the battle by swapping heroes into her group of teammates and she has the best ranged stun. Playing vengeful spirit is not really difficult, you just have to keep some points in mind and you can play smoothly with her. Throughout the whole game, Vengeful spirit almost never dies and she’s very dangerous in 1 versus 1 situation as she wins most of the time.
As many of you would like to play her as a solo-type hero killing hero,I find play her more of a support type.You can don’t follow my guide and stick to your own way of hero-killing vengeful spirit,but I tell you my vengeful spirit kills just as well as yours does and at the same time,she supports well too.


2. Featuring Shandelzare Silkwood,Vengeful Spirit

Summon Shandelzare Silkwood, Vengeful Spirit
250 5


Shandelzare was a Warden, betrayed and killed by Motred who she trusted in. With her dying breathe, she prayed Elune to grant her a chance to avenge her death. Though her body died, her relentless spirit lives on. Her presence is an example for her allies, while her enemies fear her determination. Using powers of the spirit words, she can blast her enemies with a pure magical energy and reverse positions with others.
Learns Magic Missile, Terror, Command Aura and Nether Swap

- Hero overview
Name - Shandelzare Silkwood
Sub name - Vengeful Spirit
Team - Sentinel
Tavern - Morning Tavern
Range - 400
Speed - 295 [ average ]
Strength - 16+1.8
Agility - 22+2.35
Intelligence - 15+1.75
Hit Points - 454
Primary Attribute - Agility
Basic damage - 34 to 48
Mana - 195
Amour - 4.1 [16% damage reduction]

Vengeful Spirit level 1 to 25 without items and skills

3. Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Has the best ranged stun in the game
• Has 3 skills which helps in escaping
• Has an aura which helps allies and creeps
• Fast attack speed
• High amour
• Good harasser

Weaknesses

• Low hit points
• Vulnerable to massive damage skills; nukes

4. Skills Descriptions
Magic Missile [C]
A magic missile is thrown at an enemy unit, causing damage. Stuns for 1.75 seconds.

Level 1 - Deals 100 damage | 95 mana cost
Level 2 - Deals 175 damage | 110 mana cost
Level 3 - Deals 250 damage | 125 mana cost
Level 4 - Deals 325 damage | 140 mana cost
Cool down duration - 9 second at all levels
Effect - Single target

Author's Remarks-
Storm bolt's evil twin. Its the best ranged stun in the game as it deals damage and stun to your target while you hit it constantly without having the trouble to move forward and attack.It consumes average mana and has a low cool down so you could use it again and again when attacking.

Terror [T]
Shandelzare lets loose a wicked cry, terrorizing nearby enemy units. Their armor and damage is reduced.

Level 1 - Reduces base armor by 2 and damage by 5% | 40 mana cost
Level 2 - Reduces base armor by 3 and damage by 10% | 40 mana cost
Level 3 - Reduces base armor by 4 and damage by 15% | 40 mana cost
Level 4 - Reduces base armor by 5 and damage by 20% | 40 mana cost
Cool down duration - 15 seconds at all levels
Effect - Area of effect of about 500 range

Author's Remarks-
A very useful skill in team clashes as it not only reduces your enemies’ amour, it also reduces their damage by 20% which helps a lot in surviving. Although not frequently used, its very important middle to late game whereby pushes and gangbangs occurs. Very useful for pushes as it your creeps will have a greater advantage against your enemy's creeps. Not suitable for early game as you need the mana for magic missile and early game you don't push that well.

Command Aura [D]
Increases nearby alliess' damage.

Level 1 - 12% damage.
Level 2 - 20% damage.
Level 3 - 28% damage.
Level 4 - 36% damage.
Cool down duration - none
Effect - Passive, area of effect

Author's Remarks-
A lot of people is confused whether to learn command aura or stats early game as in early game command aura doesn't really add a lot of damage and stats could be a better choice. But I’ll explain later in the guide that command aura is a better choice for vengeful than stats. Command aura is one of the best aura middle to late game where you and your allies go for a certain push together and they will definitely benefit for your allies and creeps. Together with other auras such as trueshot aura to bring a better effect.


Nether Swap [W]
Instantaneously swaps positions with a target unit.

Level 1 - 600 range | 100 mana cost
Level 2 - 900 range | 150 mana cost
Level 3- 1200 range | 200 mana cost
Cool down duration - 45 seconds at all levels
Effect - Single target

Author's Remarks-
This skill changes you and your target's location when used, it may looked as nothing special but it actually possesses a very important purpose in offense. There will be a mini guide on how to use this skill properly in the later part of my guide.

5. Main Items overview


Wraith Band | 510 gold
Shop: Level 1 (Human) Recipes
Description:
+3 to All Attributes
+3 Agility
Requires:
Circlet of nobility
Slippers of Agility
Wraith Band recipe


Power Treads | 1530 gold
Shop: Level 1 (Human) Recipes
Description:
+60 Run Speed
+30% Attack Speed
Requires:
Gloves of haste
Boots of speed
Power threads recipe scroll


Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse | 5175 gold
Shop: Level 4 (Undead) Recipe
Description:
+150% Mana Regeneration
+25 Intellegence
+35 Damage
Activate: Polymorph
600 Range 3.5 Second Duration
15 Second Cooldown 100 Mana Cost
Requires:
Oblivion staff
Eul’s Scepter of Divinity


Buriza-do Kyanon | 6200 gold
Shop: Level 4 (Undead) Recipe
Description:
+75 Damage
Passive: Critical Strike
20% Chance 2.2x Damage Multiplier
Requires:
Crystalys
Demonedge
Burize do-kyanon Recipe Scroll


Eye of Skadi | 7050 gold
Shop: Level 4 (Undead) Recipe
Description:
+150 Hit Points, +200 Mana
+25 to All Attributes
Passive: Frost Attack
-20% Attack Speed
-30% Run Speed
2 Second Duration
Orb effects do not stack
Requires:
Ultimate orb
Ultimate orb
Point Booster
Eye of Skadi recipe scroll


- Alternative Items Overview


Monkey King Bar | 5400 gold
Shop: Level 4 (Undead) Recipe
Description:
+75 Damage
+15% Attack Speed
Passive: Bonus Damage
100 Damage to Target 0.01 Second Stun 30% Chance
Requires:
Quarterstaff
Demon edge
Monkey King Bar recipe scroll


The Butterfly | 6000 gold
Shop: Level 4 (Undead) Recipe
Description:
+25% Chance to Evade
+20 Damage
+25% Attack Speed
+25 Agility
Requires:
Eaglehorn
Quarterstaff
The butterfly recipe scroll


Linken's Sphere | 5700 gold
Shop: Level 3 (Night Elf) Recipe
Description:
+15 all stats
+6 hp/sec regen
+150% mana regen
Effect (120 sec cooldown): Disentangle (negates a targeted spell).
Requires:
Perserverance
Ultimate Orb
Linken's sphere recipe scroll

Section B - Builds, Tips and Strategies

6. Preferred Skill build

level 01 - Magic missile
level 02 - Command aura
level 03 - Magic missile
level 04 - Command aura
level 05 - Magic missile
level 06 - Nether swap [Get your First Blood here]
level 07 - Magic missile
level 08 - Command aura
level 09 - Command aura
level 10 - Terror
level 11 - Nether swap
level 12 - Terror
level 13 - Terror
level 14 - Terror
level 15 - Attribute Bonus
level 16 - Nether swap
level 17 - Attribute Bonus
level 18 - Attribute Bonus
level 19 - Attribute Bonus
level 20 - Attribute Bonus
level 21 - Attribute Bonus
level 23 - Attribute Bonus
level 22 - Attribute Bonus
level 24 - Attribute Bonus
level 25 - Attribute Bonus

- Explanation

Magic missile is a must learn skill for Vengeful Spirit and therefore you must learn it as soon as possible. Why terror at level 10 onwards? It is not as useful in early game because you need the mana for magic missile and you don't push that well in early game, so save terror for middle game onwards. Terror at middle game as team pushes should start occurring and terror is a great boost to clashes and pushes. ax out command aura as soon as possible as it provides damage for you and your creeps for early game kills. The issue about Magic missile and attribute bonus will be clarified later in the guide, so don’t worry.

7. Alternative skill build

level 01 - Magic missile
level 02 - Command aura
level 03 - Magic missile
level 04 - Command aura
level 05 - Magic missile
level 06 - Nether swap
level 07 - Magic missile
level 08 - Command aura
level 09 - Command aura
level 10 - Attribute Bonus
level 11 - Nether swap
level 12 - Attribute Bonus
level 13 - Attribute Bonus
level 14 - Attribute Bonus
level 15 - Attribute Bonus
level 16 - Nether swap
level 17 - Attribute Bonus
level 18 - Attribute Bonus
level 19 - Attribute Bonus
level 20 - Attribute Bonus
level 21 - Attribute Bonus
level 23 - Terror
level 22 - Terror
level 24 - Terror
level 25 – Terror

- Explanation

This build is for a solo playing but I don't use it as DotA is a team game,not really a game where you solo and win the game. I only recommend this if you're playing public games and in clan matches or in-houses its better to follow skill build 1. Terror at the end of the game as Attribute Bonus serves a much better purpose in solo-ing.

8. Item build

---Early game level 1 to 9---
Ring of Regeneration | 375 gold
---Next---
Slippers of Agility | 150 gold
Slippers of Agility | 150 gold
Circlet of Nobility | 171 gold
Circlet of Nobility | 171 gold
Wraith Band Recipe scroll | 185 gold
Wraith Band Recipe scroll | 185 gold
[Completes Wraith Band]
[Completes Wraith Band]
---Next---
Boots of speed | 500 gold
Gloves of Haste | 610 gold
Power threads recipe scroll | 420 gold
[Completes Power treads]

---Middle game level 10 to 16---
Void Stone | 900 gold
Robe of the Magi | 450 gold
Staff of Wizardry | 1000 gold
[Completes Eul's Scepter of Divinity]
---Next---
Quarterstaff | 1150 gold
Sobi Mask | 325 gold
Robe of the Magi | 450 gold
[Completes Oblivion Staff]
---Next---
Eul’s scepter of Divinity | 2350 gold
Oblivion Staff | 1925 gold
Guinsoo's Scythe Of Vyse Recipe Scroll | 900 gold
[Completes Guinsoo's Scythe Of Vyse]
---Next---
Broad sword | 1200 gold
Blades of Attack | 650 gold
Crystalys Recipe Scroll | 1000 gold
[Completes Crystalys]

---Late game level 17 to 25---
Demonedge | 2600 gold
Burize do-kyanon Recipe scroll | 750 gold
[Completes Burize do-kyanon]
---Next---
Ultimate orb | 2300 gold
Ultimate orb | 2300 gold
Point Booster | 1100 gold
Eye of Skadi recipe Scroll | 1250
[Completes Eye of Skadi]

9. Gameplay walkthrough and Tips
I will use my first skill build throughout this section of gameplay walkthrough and you can substitute it with the other skill build if you want.

From levels 1 to 9
Skills to choose from -

• Magic Missile
• Command aura
• Nether Swap

Items to get -

• Ring of Regeneration
• Circlet of Nobility
• Circlet of Nobility
• Slippers of Agility
• Slippers of Agility
• Wraith Band Recipe Scroll [Wraith Band]
• Wraith Band Recipe Scroll [Wraith Band]
• Sobi Mask
• Boots of Speed
• Gloves of Haste
• Power treads recipe Scroll [Power treads]

Once you pick Vengeful Spirit, straight away buy a ring of regeneration because you will always need it throughout the game until late game as you can't afford to spend time walking back to the fountain to heal. After that buy some clarity potions and get to your lane, I would prefer the side lanes as usually the mid lanes contain some nukers and try to solo if you're playing a pubbie. If you randomed Vengeful Spirit I suggest you to buy a Sobi mask and a ring of regeneration as you’ll need the Sobi mask for guinsoo later on.
Try not to get back to the fountain unless you're dying with less than 100 health left, even so, spam all your mana on your creeps and head towards your fountain. If everything goes on smoothly, you’ll get around 2 to 3k gold at level 9 and you can complete 2 wraith bands and your power treads there.

Farming -
Farm wisely and always hold on to the alt button to monitor both your enemy creeps and your own creeps’ health. If you see a red life creep on your enemy's side, aim for the kill. This applies to your own creeps, if you see them with red health, try to kill them before your enemy kills them and get the gold and experience. But take note that killing your enemy's creep is more important than killing your own creep.

Harassing -
Since you’re a ranged hero, you can harass the opponent hero pretty easily. Stand with the enemy necromancer and always try to get a few hits on the enemy hero if he tries to get near to leech experience or farm. If there’s only about a enemy creep left with the hero, you can magic missile and start attacking it .Your own creeps will kill the last creep left in no time so you don’t need to worry about it attacking you. The enemy hero will start to run, or at least disable or stun you if he can before he runs. If he’s dying, swap him with nether swap and try to get your kill.
Do not continue to hit the hero if there’s more than 1 creep attacking you as you’ll suffer a lot of damage unless you’re sure you can kill the enemy hero.

From levels 10 to 16
Skills to choose from -

• Terror
• Nether Swap
• Attribute Bonus

Items to get-

• Void Stone
• Staff of Wizardry
• Robe of the Magi [Eul's Scepter of Divinity]
• Quarterstaff
• Robe of the Magi [Oblivion Staff]
• Eul's Scepter of Divinity
• Oblivion Staff [Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse]
• Broad sword
• Blades of Attack
• Crystalys Recipe Scroll [Crystalys]

After your power treads, head for your Eul's scepter immediately. Eul's Scepter provides you the mana and mana regeneration for your terror and Magic missile on you can spam terror on every creep wave and have enough mana to use multiple times of magic missile when hero chasing. After Eul's scepter of divinity, do not complete oblivion staff until you've used the entire cyclone charges as they are very important in the pushes and gangbangs. Head on for monkey king bar first. Once you complete your Guinsoo’s scythe of Vyse, you can start to kill almost all heroes in 1 on 1 situations. For a bit more information on killing strategies you can refer to the section on strategies where I will include all about killing. Here is where many pushes occur in the game but the center lane is a more common push, if there's trouble in the middle lane, go help, your presence will boost the morale of your teammates by a lot as your magic missile, nether swap, polymorph is very important for gangbangs and your terror is needed for pushes.

If there's no need for your help, you can just stay back in your lane, push and farm slowly which will benefit you even more than pushing in the center lane. If there's more than 2 heroes in your lane, call for help, you're not a Crystal maiden or Sandking who can handle multiple heroes at one time easily, use your Eul's scepter if you think you can get a double kill, if not just call for aid or just stay back.

After your guinsoo,go for burize do-kyanon for your damage by conpleting crystalys first since you already have 2 good disables.

Tips on using Eul's Scepter of Divinity -
Use it when you suffer a gangbang, stun the stunner or disabler, or if there is another stunner, use your cyclone and escape with nether swap. If there's two heroes, terror and cyclone the stunner, leave the other hero behind. You must kill the hero quickly and that shouldn't be much of a problem as he is under the status of terror and your magic missile and attacks could have killed him in no time. When the stunner has dropped down, he will definitely attack you unless he's too afraid of you. Attack him unless you're under the orange life zone, he will stun or disable you can continue to attack you, you attack back and magic missile him and get the double kill. I won't advise cycloning the hero two times, it's quite wasteful as cyclone could be used for other more important purposes.

Pushing -
Vengeful Spirit servers an important role in pushing as the terror really helps a lot, you and your allies will be clearing waves and waves of creeps in no time. Besides, you have your Eul’s scepter of divinity to provide essential mana and mana regeneration for the spamming of terror. Still, it’s always difficult to farm and push at the same time but try to get some creep kills per wave, at least a creep kill.

From levels 17 to 25
Skills to choose -

• Attribute Bonus

Items to get -

• Demonedge
• Burize do-kyanon recipe scroll [Burize Do-kyanon]
• Ultimate Orb
• Ultimate Orb
• Point Booster
• Eye of Skadi recipe Scroll [Eye of Skadi]

The game should end soon with a vengeful spirit on the team, always try to stick with at least one or if you can, two teammates to help pushing in the various lanes and this is the critical moment to see which side will win the game. If your team continues to push and defend well, you’ll win the game eventually. Never put yourself into a situation where you get stuck in gangbangs, a 2 to 3 second stun or disable with a few heroes whacking you will definitely result in your death and bring unhappiness in yourself and your teammates. So, try to co-ordinate well with your teammates and the victory is all yours.Complete your burize do-kyanon and you'll be wiping out 400+ damage criticals and with your fast attack speed you clear creeps fast and kill other heroes fast.Eye of skadi should be your last choice or either that go for butterfly or if you need,a linken's sphere would help alot.

10. Strategies

Points to note -
- Polymorph from Guinsoo’s Scythe of Vyse has no casting time, meaning you will cast it on your target instantly.
- Magic missile has a 0.5 second casting time and you’ve to wait for the bolt to hit the target before he gets the effect of magic missile.
- Terror and nether swap has no casting time, same as polymorph, they will be cast instantly.
- The area of effect range of terror and command aura is the same, 450 AOE.

If you’re facing only 1 hero -
If you’re facing heroes who uses skill which have a mini cast time, always use your polymorph first as it has no cast time at all. I’m sure you’ve seen heroes who deal stun or disable while you magic missile together, this will result in wasting your magic missile so therefore you must polymorph first. Roughly estimate after hitting a couple of time at the enemy and magic missile on the 2.5 or 3 second mark of polymorph, this will result in stunning the enemy and therefore he cannot have enough time to retaliate.

Strategy against 1 hero -
Always use your terror first as it has no casting time and after pressing on terror, use polymorph on the enemy hero immediately; you will be able to do this in less than a second. When the hero is under polymorph status, whack him continuously about 3 seconds or so and click your magic missile on him, this will result in stunning him at the time when he recovers from polymorph so it’s a good timing.
If he survives from the combo and tries to stun you, you dodge it by nether swapping with him and you dodge the stun! Then on seeing his death, he will try to escape. Follow him closely but try not to attack him and lose track as you’re slowing yourself down when you’re attacking and chasing the hero at the same time. After awhile, your magic missile has cool down and magic missile the enemy straight away, although you might have to move forward a bit because of the cast time, you still should be able to get a couple of hits. Now if he survives again, look again, your polymorph is ready and boom there he turns into a critter again! You move beside the hero can attack him, by now he should be dead.

Against two or more heroes -
If you’re with an allied hero and both of you faces two incoming heroes, you might want to use this tactic. Follow behind your creep with your ally and when they appears, trying to defend or push, you swap with one of the enemy heroes. Which hero you might want to swap? Swap the hero who has stuns and disables and a health to high for you to take, so you’re swapping him to your ally. Your ally should be a hero who can deal with stunners or disables so you can finish the other hero off when you swap places if your enemy hero.

Alright let’s make it simpler -
Let’s say your ally is N’aix while you face off Dragon knight and Queen of Plain. You and N’aix stay behind your creep wave and now DK and QoP appears in from of your wave, trying to defend or push. You, Vengeful spirit, nether swap with dragon knight, placing you with queen of plain. Now you leave N’aix to fight Dragon Knight, which should be no kick as N’aix should have activated his Rage. You face off QoP, now you don’t terror before polymorph, you polymorph first as a queen of plain would have shadow strike or wave both of you before trying to get away with blink. You polymorph, terror, attack and then magic missile later when she has almost recovered from polymorph. A few attacks would have killed QoP as she has low life and very few QoP would have gotten an aganim’s scepter nowadays. IF she’s got polymorph too, you should be prepared to have a quicker reaction to polymorph before she does. After killing Queen of Plain, N’aix could also have killed Dragon Knight as DK won’t be able to get away from N’aix on rage.
If really Queen of Plain survives from you and blinked away and DK turns into a lvl3 dragon and flew away, you and N’aix continue to push and don’t waste time on killing them. For a moment, you can push with ease without any hero harassing.
That’s one tactic which you can use when you have an ally by your side and you’re facing two heroes.

Other than that,if you’re facing two heroes all by yourself, you can call for help or use your cyclone[if you haven complete guinsoo] tactic against the two heroes.

11. Clearing your doubts
There’s always a discussion between adding attribute bonus or Command aura for Vengeful Spirit early game. I’ve tried to do some research and came out with these findings.People always say Command aura at level 1 and 2 is useless while attribute bonus gives better increment but without level 1 command aura tell me how do you get to level 4 command aura?Everything comes from a start.

Command Aura instead of Attribute Bonus
VS = Vengeful Spirit

Level 1 - Magic Missile
VS : 34 - 48 +0 damage | Creeps: +0 damage

Level 2 - [Command Aura]
VS : 36 - 50 +5 damage | Creeps: +2/+3 damage

Level 3 - Magic Missile
VS : 39 - 53 +6 damage | Creeps: +2/+3 damage

Level 4 - [Command Aura]
VS : 41 - 55 +10 damage | Creeps: +4/+5 damage

Level 5 - Magic Missile
VS : 44 - 58 +10 damage | Creeps: +4/+5 damage

Level 6 - Nether Swap
VS : 47 - 61 +11 damage | Creeps: +4/+5 damage

Level 7 - Magic Missile
VS : 49 - 63 +11 damage | Creeps: +4/+5 damage

Level 8 - [Command Aura]
VS : 52 - 66 +17 damage | Creeps: +6/+7 damage

Level 9 - [Command Aura]
VS : 55 - 69 +22 damage | Creeps: +8/+9 damage

From here, you can see that command aura not only does add your own damage, it also provides additional damage for your creeps.+9 damage at level 4 command aura is very helpful in pushing.

Attribute Bonus instead of Command aura
VS = Vengeful Spirit

Level 1 - Magic Missile
VS : 34 - 48 | Creeps: +0 damage
AGI: 22 | STR: 16 | INT: 15
HP: 454 | Mana: 195 | Armor: 4

Level 2 - [Attribute Bonus]
VS : 36 - 50 +2 damage | Creeps: +0 damage
AGI: 24 +2 | STR: 17 +2 | INT: 16 +2
HP: 473 +38 | Mana: 208 +26 | Armor: 5 +0.3

Level 3 - Magic Missile
VS : 39 - 53 +2 damage | Creeps: +0 damage
AGI: 27 +2 | STR: 19 +2 | INT: 18 +2
HP: 511 +38 | Mana: 234 +26| Armor: 5 +0.3

Level 4 - [Attribute Bonus]
VS : 41 - 55 +4 damage | Creeps: +0 damage
AGI: 29 +4 | STR: 21 +4 | INT: 20 +4
HP: 549 +76 | Mana: 260 +52 | Armor: 5 +0.6

Level 5 - Magic Missile
VS : 44 - 58 +4 damage | Creeps: +0 damage
AGI: 32 +4 | STR: 23 +4 | INT: 22 +4
HP: 587 +76 | Mana: 283 +52 | Armor: 5 +0.6

Level 6 - Nether Swap
VS : 47 - 61 +4 damage | Creeps: +0 damage
AGI: 35 +4 | STR: 24 +4 | INT: 23 +4
HP: 606 +76 | Mana: 299 +52 | Armor: 6 +0.6

Level 7 - Magic Missile
VS : 49 + 63 +4 damage | Creeps: +0 damage
AGI: 37 +4 | STR: 26 +4 | INT: 25 +4
HP: 644 +76 | Mana: 325 +52 | Armor: 6 +0.6

Level 8 - Command Aura
VS : 52 - 66 +12 damage | Creeps: +2/+3 damage
AGI: 40 +4 | STR: 28 +4 | INT: 27 +4
HP: 682 +76 | Mana: 351 +52 | Armor: 7 +0.6

Level 9 - Command Aura
VS : 55 - 69 +17 damage | Creeps: +4/+5 damage
AGI: 43 +4 | STR: 30 +4 | INT: 29 +4
HP: 720 +76 | Mana: 377 +52 | Armor: 7 +0.6

Now you can see which one is better. Is it a couple of stats earlier better or command aura better? In my opinion, I would always take command aura regardless of which hero I am facing. If I’m with an ally, command aura will indeed be a much better choice as both of you will have additional 20+ damage by level 9.You might think a+ 76 health bonus and + 52 mana is good, but that isn’t going to help a lot early game. Get two ironwood branches for the two stats if you want but I don’t recommend that. You see, command aura also adds creep damage by + 8 for necromancers and +9 for treants/ghouls at level 4.It is a lot, your creep wave will defiantly have an upper edge when against another creep wave.

Therefore, I always chooses command aura as my earlier choice, I hope after analyzing with you guys, you can really see the difference in between them. Thanks.


12. Mini guide on Nether Swap

Dos
Preventing your target from escaping in a 1 v 1 situation -
Before you get your Guinsoo’s scythe of Vyse,there will always be problems where your target escapes even with a couple of magic missiles.You can always use Nether Swap in these situations,change the position with him and you can hit him at least 5 times before he dies or if he’s really lucky,escapes. This is basically how people use this to attack as you won’t mind using nether swap because of the low mana consumption and low cool down.

Placing your target for your tower to attack -
This is a very evil act by Vengeful spirit’s nether swap, one of the most unscrupulous methods in getting your kill. But who cares, if you’re able to kill you won’t care if you’re evil or not. People often hits the tower until there’s a last creep taking the tower’s damage before he backs away. Now you can use the advantage and swap him before he gets away, the tower will hit him in no time, in early game, tower can kill a hero in less than 5 hits, so predict properly, if he’s dying, use your magic missile and end his life so the tower won’t kill steal you. But if the hero is a blinker, you should magic missile immediately or else he will just get away with a red health left if he blinks.

Placing yourself beside the hero -
Another usage can be to give your opponent a surprise attack. When you’re enemy hero is defending or pushing and when there’s less than 2 creeps left, you can nether swap with a creep beside him. You switched positions and you’re right beside the enemy hero. You will be able to launch two or more attacks before he starts to react, and when he reacts, magic missile him and stun him. Attack a few more times and he should be dead or he will escape and retreat back to the fountain.

Luring into a group of heroes -
When you’re pushing with a hero ally or two, and you see an enemy hero, you can nether swap with him and places him into your group of allies, this will definitely end his life unless he’s a windwalker or blinker. I don’t really recommend it as you won’t want to waste 200 mana at level 3 even if the cool down is short. A magic missile could already end his life.

To dodge an attack -
This is one of the craftiest moves what a nether swap can do. If a lich is casting a chain frost, you nether swap with his creep or nether swap with the lich. The chain frost will then bounce off to other places and you’ve just dodge the killer move. Another example is to dodge sandking’s or crystal maiden’s ultimate, just switch places with one of your creep so you’ll be able to get away. Actually you don’t need to nether swap, you just magic missile and their ultimate will be over, saving your allies as well.

To escape a trap –
You know what; Vengeful spirit is furion’s worst counter. If furion tries to sprout you, you can nether swap, trapping him instead and you just gain a free 6 seconds disable, in 6 seconds, a low life furion will be dead. If naga siren tries to trap you with her images, you terror and nether swap with one of her images or one of your creep and you’ll be able to get away as the nether swap at level 3 has a long range. But be careful, most naga siren gets a diffusal blade which can zap off your mana in seconds or even worst, manta style so your reaction must be quick to escape.

To cook your enemy [literally] -
A very despicable move by vengeful spirit. When really, if your team is losing and your enemies are attacking the throne or the towers in front of the throne, you can nether swap the enemy from your fountain. This allows the fire bush to burn and kill him alive, no heroes can survive a fire bush unless it’s a big tank with 5k health. In addition to that, you terror then magic missile and stun him, letting the fire bush rip him apart with reduced armor.

Saving your allies -
Nether swap can be used either offensively or defensively and to save your ally, it is a defensive move. When your ally is dying to a hero or two, try to nether swap with your ally and save him from the other heroes, you should then terror immediately to reduce their attack damage. You stun 1 with magic missile and polymorphs the stunner then you escape with your ally. Under all circumstances, do not try to nether swap when 4 heroes is chasing after your ally, you will get yourself killed and maybe if unlucky, your ally will be dead if they catch up with him. That will be a great lost.

Don’ts
Kill steal your ally -
The wickedest act of any player is to kill steal. I hate this kind of act, people just nether swap with your ally when the enemy hero is dying and kill steals with magic missile. Your whole team will be scolding you and your opponent team will be laughing at your clownish act even if you’ve got the frag and money. Therefore, this is not recommended.

Killing your ally -
When you’re suffering a gangbang do not under any circumstances swap with your ally and result in killing him, if you’re dying, save yourself by swapping with a creep, not your ally. If it’s a leaver then maybe I’ll do that, if not then don’t. Your ally will be screaming at you and you might force him to leave the game. Of course just now I taught on how to dodge a massive spell such as sandking’s epicenter of cm’s freezing field, but don’t you be a nasty spirit and swap with your ally into the trap, killing your ally while you save yourself. This is immoral.

Trap enemy heroes or your allies -
Of course Vengeful Spirit is famous for tree trapping,everyone should know what i am saying.Tree trapping work when you have an ally blinker and he blinks into a tree,you swap with him and wait for your prey to come.When the enemy comes,you swap him into the tree and oyu come out.Then he'll be stuck in the tree,which often leads to a series of swearings by the player.I know he can -unstuck but its a stupid way to get yourself shitlisted in TDA.Yes,some Vengeful spirit traps his own teammates instead of trapping her enemies and that's seriously not funny at all.

13. My role as Vengeful Spirit

Attacking -
The role of Vengeful spirit lies in attacking. To start a battle without having any aoe stunners as an ally, swap with one of the creeps into the group of enemy heroes who are pushing. Terror immediately, magic missile and polymorph the stunners. Of course you must have good teamwork with your allies; they must quickly get into the battle when you’ve start swapping. If they neglect you and leave you behind, don’t try to do that anymore. If not, it will work pretty well.
Vengeful spirit is a front line hero for me; it always goes well with a centaur, slardar, magnus, the aoe stunning heroes. They start the stun, you terror and your allies attack together, if they try to escape, you polymorph one. Stun the other one and lastly nether swap if they need any more help in chasing escaping heroes. In such situations you DON’T care about being ksed or what, just co-operate with your allies well. Also, don’t kill steal by magic missile, save it for chasing.

Pushing -
In pushing, you need to stay beside your allies and creeps as they will be under the effect of command aura, which is very useful in all situations. Whenever an enemy creep waves come, terror and attack, the wave will be destroyed in less than a few seconds.