dota 2 guide

BIO
Born in the Bleeding Hills, Rhasta was just a starving youngling when picked up by a travelling con-man. For two pins of copper, the old con-man would tell your fortune. For three, he'd castrate your pig, for five, he'd circumcise your sons. For a good meal, he'd don his shaman garb, read from his ancient books, and lay a curse upon your enemies. His strange new youngling, part hill trowle, part...something else, worked as assistant and lent an air of the exotic to the con-man's trade.

Always one step ahead of cheated customers, one town ahead of a pursuing patronage, the two trekked across the blighted lands until one day the con-man realized that the little youngling could actually do what he only pretended at. His ward had a gift-a gift that customers valued. And so the youngling Rhasta was thrust before the crowds, and the trade-name Shadow Shaman was born. The two continued from town to town, conjuring for money as Shadow Shaman's reputation grew. Eventually, the pair's duplicitous past caught up with them, and they were ambushed by a mob of swindled ex-clients. The con-man was slain, and for the first time, Rhasta used his powers for darkness, massacring the attackers. He buried his beloved master, and now uses his powers to destroy any who would seek to do him harm.

INTRODUCTION
Shadow Shaman is one of the best support hero in Dota. With 2 disables, 1 nuke, and his ultimate (Multiple Wards), Rhasta become a very strong support to disable enemy in the teamfight also one of the best hero in pushing-counterpushing with his Multiple Wards and Lightning nuke.

STATS

ABILITIES
1. Ether Shock
Creates a cone of ethereal energy that strikes multiple enemy units.
Originally used to open shows with the travelling con-man, Rhasta's lightning display shocks adversaries in more ways than one.
This skill is Rhasta's underrated skill. Actually, I think this skill is pretty good skill with a decent damage and a multiple targetted spell.
A very good speel for harassing the enemy and can also destroy a wave of creep. 320 damage on early game will ensure a god damn damage on your foes and can easily kills the enemy.

2. Hex
Transforms an enemy unit into a harmless creature, disabling their attacks and abilities.
Rhasta often ended performances by turning himself into a chicken - now, the humiliation is shared.
Hex is one of the best Dota's disable. Your target become a chicken and can't do anything in the duration so your team can harass the target and kill him.

3. Shackles
CHANNELED - Magically binds an enemy unit so that it cannot move or attack, while dealing damage over time.
A self-defense incantation, Rhasta developed shackles after his master was slain in the Bleeding Hills.
A long disable while you must stand still while shackling the target. This skill will make your team have the time to harass and kill the shackled target.

4. Mass Serpent Ward
Summons 8 serpent wards to attack enemy units and structures. The wards are immune to magic, and have a small area of splash damage that increases per level. Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter.
Snake charming was a big part of the Shadow Shaman's act; now Rhasta can empower the snakes to do his bidding.
This wards is very useful for pushing or counter pushing. With the massive damage output from the wards, you can:
1. Destroys enemy's tower quickly
2. Defend your tower from the enemy's push
3. Give some damage in the teamfight.
But unfortunately, your wards gives some bounty to the enemy who destroy it.

SKILLBUILD
Level 1: Ether Shock
Level 2: Shackles
Level 3: Ether Shock
Level 4: Hex
Level 5: Ether Shock
Level 6: Mass Serpent Ward
Level 7: Ether Shock
Level 8: Shackles
Level 9 : Hex
Level 10: Shackles
Level 11: Mass Serpent Ward
Level 12: Hex
Level 13: Shackles
Level 14: Hex
Level 15: Stats
Level 16: Mass Serpent Ward
Level 17-25: Stats

Why maxed Ether Shock first?  With the high damage on early game, you need this to get some early kills.

And then you need to increase Shackle and Hex.
Those 2 skills is your main disables and very useful in the teamfight and ganking,
It's up to you whether you prefer Hex or Shackle, or balance between Hex and Shackle.

STRATEGY
Early Game
Rhasta is one of the best support hero in the game, I think it will be wise if you save your money for courier and wards. Courier and wards will benefit the whole team and make sure your team can survive through the whole game because you can get your item delivered by courier and because you can watch the fogged map via Observer Wards so your team can be save from enemy's gank.
On early game, if you are the solo-mid hero, you should fight with the enemy's solo-mid. Be careful and keep focusing on the last hits. If you increse the Ether Shock first, you can harass your opponent and make him more careful about you and he cannot savely get the farms. Once you get your ultimate, you can roam and gank enemies.
You can also play Rhasta as a supportive non-mid hero which you should support your partner to make sure he can farm in your lane. maybe you can help him by denying the creeps, don't last hits too often because it will delay your friend's farm. You can also initiate a gank by using Shackle of the Hex so your partner can easily harass your target.

Mid Game
Mid game is your time to shine, with the maximum damage of Ether Shock you can harass all enemies in the teamfight with maximum damage, or with your Shackle and Hex you can initiate a gank or can disable enemy target in a teamfight And because Shackles requires you to channel the skill for several second, this skill order is the last skill to cast of your 4 skills.. And with your wards you can deal tons of damage in the teamfight.

If you fight enemies near their tower, place the wards in the place that it can attack the tower after you win the teamfight, remember that ward deal tons of damage to the tower. Wards can also be used to trap 1 target inside it, it will be painful to the target because he can't run for a long time and constantly harassed by the wards.

Also remember to buy the Observer Wards to support the team. You can place the ward in the uphill near the rune.

And because you have 2 disables, you can be a roamer to help your friend all around the map, gank enemies and get many kills.
Late Game
In the late game, your presence become more crucial for the team, you have 2 disables, so you become the initiator for your team. You can do it by jumping using  a dagger and then hex a target so your partners can come and dominate the teamfight. In Dota, the one that initiate a teamfight, have the higher chance to win the teamfight. Be careful and watch closely where your target it, press the hex button quickly and win the teamfight by initiating the teamfight,

Double Hex?
Because you already have a natural hex skill, if you buy a Sheepstick or a Refresher Orb, you can double the hex and have more disables in the teamfight.

Double all the skills
With the Refresher Orb, you can use all your skill twice. And the most of it, is a double Serpent Wards, it will deal a massive damage to the tower or in the teamfight.

ITEMS BUILD