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4 Votes

an easy phantom lancer

July 12, 2012 by Kyuubi
Comments: 5    |    Views: 21556    |   


we are legion

DotA2 Hero: Phantom Lancer




Hero Skills

Spirit Lance

2 5 6 7

Doppelganger

1 18

Phantom Rush

4 12 14 15

Juxtapose

10 11 16

Talents

3 8 9 13 17


an easy phantom lancer

Kyuubi
July 12, 2012


Introduction

phantom lancer is an increadibly powerful hero who can win an entire teamfight by himself if played well. his illusions add insane dps and make killing him very hard if you lose track of the real one. in this guide ill try show you an easy way to play this awesome hero in a way that anyone can play well.
btw this isw my first guide so please dont be too harsh on me :)

Pros and cons

Pros:

- can win game by himself
- has a good escape
- very difficult to kill late game
- easy to play well
- very very scary
- master of deception
- excellent pusher


Cons:

- squishy
- escape countered by true sight
- will be heavily targeted early game
- item dependent
- countered by aoe and cleave
- completely and utterly destroyed by earthshaker >_<

early game

just a quick mention, if for whatever reason you are in a solo lane then get a quelling blade, seriously its gonna help. also theres a justification section for the skill build, read it if you get confused

walking out of the base you should take a tango or healing salve, 3 iron branches, a circlet and some slippers. these give you good early stats, a nice heal or 3 and that little bit more damage for the last hits. these can also be quickly built into a magic stick and wraith band.

you should try pick the short lane as in early game you cant stand up to much harass, even with your tangos you wont last long in a hard lane and you need every bit of farm you can get.

take one level of doppelwalk to escape any first blood attempts and then leave it. next put a level in spirit lance to help slow any fleeing opponent if your lane partner tries for first blood. a level of stats will help flesh you out a little more before taking juxtapose at level 4, after which max out spirit lance.

at this stage of the game if people are calling for ganks then ignore them, your just not strong enough. feel free to call for them yourself altough people might just ignore you if you didnt help them earlyer

Mid game

by this point you should have at least got boots, magic stick and wraith band and be building your ring.

once your ring is complete buy 2 blades of alacrity before finishing power treads. these should be set to agility and then left alone. finish your diffusal blade as soon as possible as its your main source of damage.

take a few levels of stats until level 10 where you should get 2 levels of your ulti. another level of juxtapose, then stats before maxing juxtapose and your ulti.

this stage of the game you should be in team fights but dont expose yourself unnecessarily, your main priority is farming asap

late game

by this point you should have your diffusal blade level 2 and be part way through manta style.

at this point you need to finish manta style for the extra illusions when you start a battle and then go for a butterfly, although if you've been playing well the game shouldnt last too much longer anyway.

from this point on stats and doppelwalk can be taken at your leisure.

this is where you shine, charge wildly into battle with your illusions and burn mana left right and center. many people will run at the sight of 6-10 phantom lancers charging leaving the way clear for your team to stun and tear at them. feel free to take on towers yourself with illusions tanking damage. go end whenever you feel ready.

Justification

alright lets clear a few things up

Q: why leave dopplewalk? its like the best escape ever
A: yes, it is good. but you shouldnt need it more then once every 30 seconds. if you are facing really heavy harass then stats are more likely too keep you alive. if it feels really necessary then swap a level of stats for another level of doppelwalk.

Q: omg why leave juxtapose? its his signature skill, laaaaaaame.
A: juxtapose is mostly useless early game, your illusions dont do enough damage because you dont have the stats to back them up.

Q: if thats so why get one level of juxtapose early? shouldn't you get stats or spirit lance?
A: honestly? those are both good choices and feel free to mix and match. i get one level of juxtapose because it helps add deception and survivability, you wont be able to count the times your saved by someone targeting your illusion rather then you.

Q: what about his ulti? magic resist is siiiiiick.
A: not really. at level 6 10% magic resist isnt gonna save you if lina have you in her sights. heavy nukers generally have enough firepower to destroy your tiny health pool with or without the magic resist and you dont have the illusions for the extra spawns to be useful, get spirit lance or stats first.

Q: your guide doesn't suit my play style (or) i have a better way of playing phantom lancer.
A: well its hardly a be all end all guide, this guide is to give people a general idea of how phantom lancer should be played and as i said, its my first guide. if you have any suggestions feel free to comment and ill try them or add them in depending on how they sound.

Comments

feel free to add any suggestions or say anything i've missed, it helps to make a better guide =)

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