Hero Discussion: Slark

I play Slark and I can say that he is better as a ganker than as a farmer.
If you play him mid, play passively till lvl 6, try not to die etc. After 6-go to gank. Even without a SB, Slark can set up good ganks vs squishy heroes with no escapes at level 6. Ofc if the lanes are going too good, don't go only to steal.. instead try to kill your midlane opponent(if you know you can do it).

He may have mana problems but I see myself never building Bottle or Ring of Aquila. I am still good without them somehow. Before Silver Edge, I was always building SnY, and well... I sucked. Rarely I build SnY and don't suck. Power Treads>> Silver Edge etc. IMO is the best build for him.

I always max Pounce over Dark Pact. The lower cooldown always helps at chasing people. Also, Pounce damage is more reliable(if u know how to land it lel) as it does not have a delay like Dark Pact.
One level in Dark Pact is enough to purge debuffs.

I agree with most of the things being said here. One of the things about slark is that you have to have a strong mid-laner that scales well into the late game (think Shadow Fiend, Templar Assassin, Queen of Pain).

If you use Dark Pact to farm and for damage, max Dark Pact.
If you use Dark Pact to purge debuffs, max Pounce.

Also, I don't think that going straight for Silver Edge is that great. In my opinion a BKB is almost always necessary after your Shadow Blade, since AOE disables and silences still wreck you (unless you're a absolute beast with Dark Pact).

Ofc BKB can be built when you feel like you need it. Silver Edge can be delayed for it.

The reason slark is kinda bad in pro games now is because there is a lit more stuff flying around that skark cant deal with. His stats are naturally **** so he has much trouble surviving, and apart from that a lot of counters are pretty popular.
Queen of pain destroys him, PL eats him, shaker eats him. Disruptor HARD counters him. He cant lock down storm. Bloodseeker isnt THE END ALL counter that some people think but hes still very strong. Dazzle is good against him. Solar crest kinda screws with him, and glimmer cape is a moderate counter, but slark often becomes a gem carrier so he can deal with that ok.

Bananaslamjamma made a VERY long and detailed guide about the hero explaining why hes so mediocre in pro games now.
And explained with examples why shadow blade first doesnt work there anymore, and showed his build with treads, wand, aquilia, drums, S&Y. And the occasional shadow blade thrown in there.
He did say though that if you dont play at a very high mmr that you should still go shadow blade most of the time because obviously lower mmr players deal worse with shadow blade.

So for skillbuild pounce max is probably ok if you are in a chaotic 2-1-2 pub game with davai skirmishes all the time, but in a bit more organised games, like our inhouses or even a lit of games above 3k you ALWAYS go dark pact max. With freefarm you max pact, because you farm faster that way, against a difficult lane you go pact, because you use it to get scraps of farm and killing the creeps to prevent them diving, against a brood you go pact. Always pact.

As for silver edge you really shouldnt get it early, especially in this patch where you often need BKB. The item is just so expensive, even against a PA i would get items that make sure i survive first, and then worry about her. Most games you really dont have to upgrade it at all unless you have the cash and dont need something else.

He is a really easy hero once u know how to punce. I personally prefer to max pounce as I usually gank with him. Combined with the disable he can pwn anyone. And with the right items u can pwn most carries late game just cause of ur freaking OP ult.