Question 1

Who counters Shadow Fiend?

Accepted Answer

Bane (+2.9%), Bristleback (+2.4%), and Ursa (+2.3%) are the strongest against Shadow Fiend — they have the biggest advantage over it at this rank.

Question 2

Who is Shadow Fiend strong against?

Accepted Answer

Shadow Fiend does best against Meepo (+6.7%), Chen (+4.7%), and Riki (+2.8%).

Question 3

Who is Shadow Fiend stronger with?

Accepted Answer

The best partners for Shadow Fiend are Chaos Knight (+4.1%), Bane (+2.7%), and Clinkz (+2.6%): together they win more often than expected from each one’s win rate.

Question 4

What to build on Shadow Fiend?

Accepted Answer

“Position 2: Mid Lane”: players usually start with Tango, Iron Branch ×2, Faerie Fire, Enchanted Mango, and Observer Ward, pick Boots of Travel for boots, then build Yasha and Kaya (14 min), Blink Dagger (15 min), Black King Bar (24 min), and Aghanim's Scepter (27 min). Less often it is built for physical damage: Dragon Lance (21 min) and Crystalys (26 min).

Question 5

Which talents to take on Shadow Fiend?

Accepted Answer

Most often players take: at level 10 — “+30 Shadowraze Stack Damage” (73%), at level 15 — “+1.5 Presence Armor Reduction” (100%), at level 20 — “+5 Necromastery Max Souls” (64%), and at level 25 — “Shadowraze Applies Attack Damage” (51%).

Question 6

What position to play Shadow Fiend in?

Accepted Answer

Shadow Fiend is played most often as “Position 2: Mid Lane” — 55% of its matches. Less often: Position 1: Safe Lane (42%).

Hero	Advantage	Win rate	Matches
Bane	+2.9%	61.6%	1,186
Bristleback	+2.4%	58.7%	2,065
Ursa	+2.3%	60.1%	3,159
Vengeful Spirit	+2.3%	62.9%	4,431
Zeus	+2.2%	60.3%	5,227
Chaos Knight	+1.7%	61.4%	1,397
Visage	+1.7%	66.6%	734
Tiny	+1.7%	53.7%	1,933
Primal Beast	+1.6%	58.8%	1,247
Mars	+1.6%	57.0%	2,051
Clockwerk	+1.6%	56.9%	1,229
Venomancer	+1.5%	57.4%	2,380

Hero	Advantage	Win rate	Matches
Meepo	+6.7%	41.0%	651
Chen	+4.7%	50.3%	191
Riki	+2.8%	41.5%	2,106
Leshrac	+2.8%	42.0%	901
Ember Spirit	+2.5%	45.0%	3,370
Io	+2.5%	44.4%	1,881
Weaver	+2.4%	47.1%	2,012
Omniknight	+2.3%	42.5%	930
Morphling	+2.3%	45.4%	1,873
Dazzle	+2.3%	42.5%	2,142
Storm Spirit	+2.2%	47.5%	2,651
Anti-Mage	+2.2%	43.7%	5,449

Hero	Synergy	Win rate	Matches
Chaos Knight	+4.1%	47.0%	1,489
Bane	+2.7%	44.7%	1,359
Clinkz	+2.6%	46.1%	853
Oracle	+2.5%	45.1%	1,706
Shadow Shaman	+2.4%	46.2%	6,979
Tusk	+2.1%	42.4%	3,075
Phantom Assassin	+1.8%	44.4%	2,901
Weaver	+1.7%	40.9%	1,590
Riki	+1.6%	46.7%	1,359
Alchemist	+1.6%	40.6%	812
Abaddon	+1.3%	45.2%	1,221
Omniknight	+1.3%	44.8%	877

Shadow Fiend counters and build in Dota 2

Shadow Fiend build

Strong against Shadow Fiend

Shadow Fiend is strong against

Best allies for Shadow Fiend

Questions about Shadow Fiend