Gyrocopter Guide | Aurel Vlaicu Guide, Strategy & Build

Aurel Vlaicu the Gyrocopter Guide, Strategy & Build. Aurel Vlaicu is a unique hero from Sentinel which has many active skills as an Agility hero. This post will provide you with the Gyrocopter Skill Description, the Gyrocopter Guide, the Gyrocopter Strategy, the Gyrocopter Item Build and the Gyrocopter Skill Build.

Raised amongst the dwarven mining clan, Aurel grew up with a fascination for making things explode. Such tendencies were considered healthy in the mining society as a dwarf's skill with explosives determined his pay, his rank and of course, his popularity amongst the females. Unlike the rest of the clan however, Aurel sought to use his skills for more than just blowing up rocks. By combining controlled detonations with thick metal to direct their force, Aurel is able to create everything from engines to missles. Excited to be able to put his inventions to the test, Aurel's presence on the battlefield promises to be a blast!


Aurel Vlaicu the Gyrocopter Skill Descriptions



Hero Class: Gyrocopter
Hero Name: Aurel Vlaicu
Affilation: Sentinel

Strength: 18 + 1.8
Agility: 24 + 2.4 (Primary)
Intelligence: 23 + 2.1

Attack Range: 375
Movement Speed: 305
Starting Armor: 2
Starting Damage: 41-51

Rocket Barrage



Gyrocopter unleashes a massive salvo of rockets, striking random units in a 400 aoe. Fires 30 rockets over 3 seconds.

Damage per rocket: 10/13/16/19
Duration: 3 seconds
Cooldown: 6.5
Manacost: 90

Note: The rockets can only hit units you have vision over.

This skill looks awesome, multiple rocket is launched from you. However, the damage is pretty small if you got many enemies around you. If you wanna kill enemy hero with this skill, make sure he is alone. Also a good skill for push/farm.

Homing Missile



The Gyrocopter launches a homing missile that will follow the target until it impacts. The missile is inactive for 3 seconds upon launch and then begins slowly accelerating towards the target. Stuns the target for 2.5 seconds and deals damage based on how much it traveled. The missile can be destroyed by 3 attacks from a hero or tower.

Maximum damage is dealt at 2000 distance traveled (doesn't increase beyond that distance)

Maximum Damage: 100/200/300/400
Stun Duration: 2.5
Cast Range: 1050

Cooldown: 20/17/14/11
Manacost: 120/130/140/150

Note: Towers do half damage. Enemy has vision over the rocket once it starts moving.

Pretty tricky skill. Make sure you cast this from behind a forest so your target won't notice it until they got hit. The stun is always 2.5 seconds, but the damage is depends from how far the missile traveled.

Flak Cannon



The Gyrocopter enables all of its cannons, allowing its attacks to strike all enemies in a 800 aoe. Lasts for a limited number of attacks or 15 seconds. Does not work with illusions.

Your attack range is still limited to 375 range.

Attacks: 3/4/5/6
Manacost: 50
Cooldown: 20

Maybe this is the only skill that suggest Gyrocopter as a carry hero. You should take this only when you got enough already damage items. This skill is really great for farming and pushing. Take it on mid/late game.


Call Down



The Gyrocopter launches two missiles at the targeted area. The first missile strikes in 2 seconds, followed by the second missile at 4 seconds. Enemies in the area when a missile strikes are damaged and slowed.

Primary Missile Damage: 250/300/350
Primary Missile Slow: 20%
Primary Missile Slow Duration: 2

Secondary Missile Damage: 100/150/200
Secondary Missile Slow: 50%
Secondary Missile Slow Duration: 3

Cast Range: 1000
AOE: 400
Cooldown: 55/50/45
Manacost: 125

Note: The visual warning indicator is visible for allies only. The enemies can see the rockets fly out of you though.

Pretty neat ulti, maybe work well if you can hold the enemies with Black Hole or other skill so the enemies will got hit with the second missile.

Aurel Vlaicu the Gyrocopter Skill Build

Level 1: Homing Missile
Level 2: Rocket Barrage
Level 3: Homing Missile
Level 4: Flak Cannon
Level 5: Homing Missile
Level 6: Call Down
Level 7: Homing Missile
Level 8: Rocket Barrage
Level 9: Rocket Barrage
Level 10: Rocket Barrage
Level 11: Call Down
Level 12: Flak Cannon
Level 13: Flak Cannon
Level 14: Flak Cannon
Level 15: Stats
Level 16: Call Down
Level 17-25: Stats

Here is my initial skill build for the Gyrocopter. Homing Missile is taken and maximize first because it will be your nuke and stunner at the same time. Rocket Barrage will be the next skill because it offers you area nuke which can work well if the enemy alone.

Call Down is every time you can because it gives you area damage as well as slow. Flak Cannon is taken last because you will need some items to boost your damage to make it useful. This skill is really great for farming, pushing and giving area damage.

Feel free to contribute in the comment section :)

Aurel Vlaicu the Gyrocopter Item Build

1. Buy an Empty Bottle

2. Get Boots of Speed

3. Buy a Wraith Band

4. Finish Arcane boots

5. Helm of the Dominator

Aurel's core item should be like this:

Empty Bottle - a must have item for ganker like aurel. It's fast-regen HP and mana really helpful to get him ready for gank everytime you want.

Arcane Boots - Boost your movement speed as well as your mana pool. Good for solving his mana problem for entire game. Help your friend to spam their skills too.

Wraith Band - Bonus stats means bonus HP, mana, and damage.

Helm of the Dominator - Survivability is one of Aurel's lack. It's +5 armor and 15% lifesteal will cover it up. And +20 damage for the bonus.

Power Treads - An alternative to arcane boots. Give some stats, MS, and AS. Good for increasing your dps but will reduce your spell usage cause your limited mana. But its not a problem cause you can change it onto int Treads.

Poor Man's Shield - Add some agl stats. Plus damage block for aurel's survivability.

Magic Wand - Useful when there are some spell spammers on enemy's side. You get some attributes too.

Lothar's Edge - You can add this to your core items. Use windwalk to surprise your target until they die. Cast Homing Missile, sneak behind them, stun, attack while you're invisible will add +125 bonus damage, and show the rest of your skills to them. You can use it to escape too.

Kelen's Dagger - Same strategy with windwalk. Also can be an escape mechanism.

Luxury late game items for Aurel:

Linken's Sphere - For counter the massive damage of enemy's single spell. Like Laguna Blade or Finger of Death.

The Butterfly - Agl stat, damage, AS, and evasion. The best item suited for Agl hero like Aurel to be more dangerous for the last phase of the game.

Manta Style - Your Mirror Image will confuse your opponent and will add bonus damage as well. The other good things about this item are stats, AS, and MS.

Ethereal Blade - A situational item. When you realize that your stun is no longer enough to slow down your fast target.

Black King Bar - Anti Spell item. Cast Avatar to show your bigger ass to opponent's magic users.

Aurel Vlaicu the Gyrocopter Strategy

You can pick this hero when you want to be ganker or carry.

You need to be supported by:

- Disabler:

You need their skill to stun or disable the movement of your target so you can land your 550 damage ulti.

- DPS Hero:

Your homing missile will make them happy to land their hits as much as they want.

Beware of his counter:

- Disabler + mass damager:

They will make you crash to the ground easily.

- DPS Hero:

You ganked, you die. That's why you really need Lothar or Dagger.

Playstyle

When the battle begin, you must choose to go mid alone. So you can get your level higher than everyone who laning with partner. Try to harass your opposing hero and dominate the lane. With boots and bottle in your pocket, you can try to gank the lower level hero. Use the combo to get the kill. If you can, target hero with no escape mechanism, it will increase your chance to kill. You need to own this phase of the game. So gank and kill as many as you can.

Mid phase of the game is rather hard for Gyrocopter. But if you can own the previous phase, you will have enough money to buy some useful item. You are semi-carry in this game, so you will depend on items. Remember not to die, play safe with stick to your friend, and always gank with them. It's okay if you don't get the kill as long as you can survive. Don't forget to farm and push the lanes between gank. On this point, your Flak Cannon should get some levels for easy farming.

If late game start, it only means your team not fast enough to push and get Frozen Throne/ Tree of Life. Your skills are not as effective as they were. It will hard to gank anymore. Always follow your team, cause without your team you're only a flying creep. At this phase, your job is stun and slow when the teams clash, and push the lanes using your Flak Cannon. You are very very fragile and weak in this phase, so if you still want to own the game, finish this game before late game happen.

Based on: Playdota Guide

This post contain Aurel Vlaicu Guide & Build - The Gyrocopter Strategy. If you have different build or strategy, you can give your comments or make your own guide on the Gyrocopter forums.

Eredar Guide | Shadow Demon Guide, Strategy & Build

Eredar the Shadow Demon Guide, Strategy & Build. Eredar is a help for the Intelligence heroes on the Scourge. This post will provide you with the Shadow Demon Skill Description, the Eredar Guide, the Shadow Demon Strategy, Eredar Item Build and Eredar the Shadow Demon Skill Build.



Long before the war of the Scourge and the Sentinel, an ancient demon named Eredar waged war on all creation. No champion of Light could match him, but he was betrayed and killed by his own underlings. However, the faintest sliver of his shadow survived; over the millenia Eredar regained a portion of his former being and grows stronger each day, but in a twist of fate his new form was that of a gnoll. Eredar's new form is not well suited to direct confrontation, but he knows a number of objurations and tricks to deal with his foes; his skills include banishment, poison, curses, and darker demonic arts.




Hero Class: Shadow Demon
Hero Name: Eredar

Alliance: Scourge

Strength: 17 + 1.9
Agility: 18 + 2.2
Intelligence: 26 + 2.7 (Primary)

Base Damage: 53-57
Starting Armor: 3
Movement Speed: 295
Attack Range: 500

Eredar the Shadow Demon Skill Descriptions

Disruption



Eredar banishes the target to a dimensional pocket for 2.5 seconds, removing it from play for the duration. Upon return two images of the target are created under Eredar's control which last for 6 seconds.

Displacement duration: 2.5 seconds
Illusion Outgoing Damage: 30/40/50/60%
Illusion Incoming Damage: 150%
Illusion Duration: 6 seconds

Cast Range: 700
Manacost: 75
Cooldown: 16

Note: Can target enemy, ally or self.

Useful skill for confuse the enemies, start a gank, avoid skill like Epicenter and projectile like stun of Venge and skeleton king. Even for chasing enemies, just treat it as Eul :)

Soul Catcher



Eredar lays a curse on an area; one random enemy unit in the area is afflicted with the curse, causing it to take increased damage for 12 seconds.

Damage Amplification: 20/30/40/50%
AOE of Spell: 500

Cast Range: 600
Manacost: 50
Cooldown: 13

Similar to Chen Penitence, but with random target. If the enemy is alone, a sure hit is guaranteed. Cheap mana cost but a little useless if there's a lot of creeps.

Shadow Poison



Eredar casts forth a shadowy poison which deals 50 damage and afflicts all it touches for 10 seconds. If a unit is affected again in this duration, the toxin will be renewed and amplified exponentially. At the end of the duration, the shadow poison deals extra damage for each time it affected the victim. You have small vision over affected heroes.

Each stack increases the damage it would deal exponentially, up to 4 stacks.

Examples:
Level 1 Per stack: 20/40/80/160 + 50 each further stacks
Level 2 Per stack: 35/70/140/280 + 50 each further stacks
Level 3 Per stack: 50/100/200/400 + 50 each further stacks
Level 4 Per stack: 65/130/260/520 + 50 each further stacks

AOE: 150
Travel Distance: 1500

Cooldown: 3
Manacost: 50

Note: This has a sub ability to let you release the poison at any time.

This is what makes Eredar so scary. This skill is similar to Bristleback Quill Spray, it will stack the damage and you can released for instant damage. You can even stack the damage until 2000 if the enemy didn't know what happen with him.

Demonic Purge



Eredar casts a powerful demonic purge on a target enemy, removing all positive buffs. The purged target slowly regains its movement speed over 4 seconds. At the end of the purge the target takes damage.

Damage: 200/300/400

Cooldown: 50
Manacost: 200

Just a regular Purge but with damage at the end of duration. Nothing special here.


Eredar the Shadow Demon Skill Build

Level 1: Disruption/Shadow Poison
Level 2: Shadow Poison/Disruption
Level 3: Shadow Poison
Level 4: Soul Catcher
Level 5: Shadow Poison
Level 6: Demonic Purge
Level 7: Shadow Poison
Level 8: Soul Catcher
Level 9: Soul Catcher
Level 10: Soul Catcher
Level 11: Demonic Purge
Level 12: Disruption
Level 13: Disruption
Level 14: Disruption
Level 15: Stats
Level 16: Demonic Purge
Level 17-25: Stats

Here is my initial skill build for Eredar the Shadow Demon. Take Disruption first to help you safe from level 1 first blood attempt. But if you feel confident, feel free to take Shadow Poison first. Shadow Poison without a doubt is maxed first because it's your main weapon. With it, you can take a hold from two enemies alone.

Soul Catcher will your next skill. The damage amplification is really great, especially if you catch them alone. Demonic Purge without a doubt is always taken due to targetable damage and the Purge. And the last skill to maximize is the Disruption. Disruption will come handy on the late game when heroes already got their items and the attack damage is high. Until then, one level is as a tool for chasing and escaping.

You can also can contribute in the comment section :)


Eredar the Shadow Demon Item Build

1. 3x Ironwood Branch, Magic Stick, a set of Tango, and Animal Courier
2. Finish Magic Wand
3. Empty Bottle
4. Boots of Speed
5. Finish Power Treads

Eredar's core item should be like this:


Magic wand - Add some attributes and healing tool

Empty Bottle - fast mana regen for spell spammer like eredar and HP regen for survivability on early game

Power Treads - More damage, more HP or Mana, and more AS for fast killing. My recommended boots.

Arcane Boots - An alternative for Treads. It only provide you with mana and mana replenisher which already provided by Magic Wand and Empty Bottle. Choose this boots if you want to all out supporter.

Mekanism - When you want to be supporter hero you should get this. Its Aoe HP restore and additional armor are really helpful when the team clashes.

Necronomicon - Used to add your mana and EHP. Its Demonic Summoning is really hard to use. But if you can manage to control them, they must be very annoying to other team.

Ancient Janggo of Endurance - It has aura of AS and MS. Sure can effect your illusions of your Disruption and your allies as well. Consider to buy necronomicon because you can use it to boost up your Demonic Summoning.

Force Staff - Its a very useful when you know how to use it. For Eredar it can be used to land your soul catcher more accurately cause it can Force enemy to go out from bunch of creeps.

Here is core late game item for him:


Luxury late game items:


Orchid Malevolence - this item provide you with +20 int, +30% AS, +45 damage, +225% mana regen, and soul burn (silence spell). Your active silence will shut your opponent from casting spells while they trapped by your ulti. And your increased dps will kill him faster.

Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse - The additional attributes are nice, mana regen, and HEX. Using Hex will make an enemy take damage longer than before. Use after 4 seconds of demonic purge.

Stygian Desolator - DPS booster. It will be perfect when combined with your demonic purge. Kill as fast as possible during 4 seconds effect of your ulti. But this item provide you with no EHP at all.

Manta Style - An alternative to Stygian Desolator. Also a DPS booster. Plus illusions to add your damage or distract your opponents.

Assault Cuirass - Increase EHP for survivability cause its armor. Very useful when comes to team clashes due to IAS and armor reducer.

Shiva's guard - An alternative to Cuirass. Aoe nuke and slow are this item specialities. Solve Eredar's armor problem too.


Eredar the Shadow Demon Strategy
You can pick this hero if your team needs anti-carry. Later He also can be a semi-carry or support hero.

You need to be supported by:
- Disabler:
If you want to stack your Shadow poison more accurately, ask their help.

Beware of his counter:
- Manaburner:
Make Eredar hard to cast his skills (anub'arak, medusa)
- Silencer:
No Disruption or Demonic Purge means no escape meka (lucifer, silencer)
- Magic-immune caster:
Resistant to all your skills (jaggernaut, Slark)
- Dps hero:
Once you caught unguarded by this kind of hero, especially when they have silence skill, youre deadmeat (Traxex, Stygwyr)
- Invulnerable caster:
When they cast on the right timing, your shadow poison and demonic purge damage will be screwed (morphling, puck)
- Hero with illusions and friends:
It's rather hard to kill them due to their skills. Illusions make you confuse to target the real one and hero's mate will screw you cause your skill only effective when theres only 1 hero targeted (Slytice, Nessaj, Syllabear, Meepo)

Playstyle

It's recomended to choose solo lane than dual lane, because eredar's skill will be more effective when it comes to 1 on 1 battle. So you can start buying items and move to your lane. On early level, play safe until you get lvl 2 Shadow Poison. Time to harass the opponent. Throw Shadow Poison on him and keep throwing whenever you get the chance, while you last hitting and denying creeps. When your Shadow Poison get the 4th stack, release the poison. It will make him hurt enough to backs off or even back to his fountain if his healing tool is depleted. Try to dominate the lane and get your level higher than your opponent.
If you get behind and the only option is dual-laning, be a babysitter and support your partner. It's rather hard to get the damage of shadow poison maximized because you face 2 hero at a time. Still you have to dominate the lane if you want to win this phase of the game.
When you get some level on you (lvl 6+), you can start to kill your enemy. Throw Shadow poison 2 times on same target. Use Disruption on him. Move forward to get a better vision. Throw Shadow poison again when he gets back. Follow with Demonic Purge and some normal attack. Shadow poisoning him again and when the Demonic Purge effect finishes, cast to release your Shadow poison. It will hurt him badly or even kill him. Ofcourse your teammate aid is always welcomed for better result.

You are made of glass, so better not wander around alone during mid game where ganks always happen. Keep safe while farming and stick your eyes to the map. You can try ganking, but always remember to do it with your friends for better efficiency. Gank your enemies by using disruption on an unguarded hero. Then let your partner take apart with their skills when he gets back. Demonic Purge to disable him.
Between ganks you should farm the lane to get more experience and gold by last hitting every creep as much as possible.
As a supporter, you can help your carry hero to gank the enemies using Disruption and Demonic Purge or even save her ass when she get ganked. Remember that Disruption's role same as Eul's.

Late game will change your role as semi-carry to anti-carry. Using Disruption which spawns 2 illusions of the strong enemy's late-carry hero should be a pain in their asses. Soul Catcher's damage amplification will make your team kill him faster. If there is a hero who manage to survive use Demonic Purge to disable him.
Still, you can be a supporter to your team by gives vision to some suspected places which the other team wander around before the team clashes begin. By doing this, your team will be more confident to land their combos and increase the probability of winning every battle.

Based on: Playdota guide

This post contain Eredar Guide & Build - the Shadow Demon Strategy. If you have different build or strategy, you can give your comments or make your own guide on the Shadow Demon forums.

Io Guardian Wisp Guide, Strategy & Build

Io The Guardian Wisp Guide, Strategy & Build. Io is a Strength hero which belong to the Sentinel since Dota 6.68. This post will provide you with the Guardian Wisp Skill Description, the Guardian Wisp Guide, the Io Strategy, the Io Item Build and the Io The Guardian Wisp Skill Build. If you are playing Dota 2, check also Dota 2 Wisp.



Originally nothing more than a lowly spirit of the trees, Io dwelt peacefully amongst his kind in the Great Forest. As the Great War spread across the land the creatures of the forest were forced to defend their home. The desire to protect his kin awoke power in Io he had not known he possessed. He discovered he was able to connect his life force to another creature to strengthen them or help them flee by instantly transporting them out of harm. Io became known amongst his people as the Guardian Wisp, a protector of the Spirits. All other spirits swore to assist him and can be summoned to his side to aid him in his battle. Uninterested in the battle between the Sentinel and the Scourge, Io fights only to protect his people.

Guardian Wisp Skill Descriptions



Hero Class: Guardian Wisp
Hero Name: Io

Alliance: Sentinel

Strength: 17 + 1.9 (Primary)
Agility: 14 + 1.6
Intelligence: 23 + 1.7

Base Damage: 33-42
Starting Armor: 0
Movement Speed: 295
Attack Range: 525


Tether



Io tethers himself to an allied unit, granting both units bonus movement speed. Any enemy units that contact the tether will be stunned. The tether will break if it stretches beyond 900 units. Lasts 12 seconds.

Movement Bonus: 20/25/30/35%
Stun Duration: 1.25/1.5/1.75/2.0

Cooldown: 12
Manacost: 40

If you try to tether a unit that is a outside its range (by up to 900) Io will latch on and pull himself closer to the unit.

Tether transfers other states on the hero to the allied unit. This includes Overcharge, Relocate and any time you regenerate hp/mp.

Note: Has a sub ability that lets you break the tether.

This skill is what makes Io such a scary supporter. Combine him with Ursa and say goodbye to your target. However, this skill won't do much if you don't wanna be a support hero.

Spirits



Io summons 5 ancient Spirits over the course of 6 seconds; the Spirits dance around Io in a circle to protect him. If an enemy hero moves close enough to touch a Spirit, the Spirit releases its life energy in a burst, damaging and slowing all enemies in a 300 area of effect. Non hero units only take minor damage upon touching a spirit and do not cause them to explode.

Spirits duration: 6 seconds
Min damage per spirit: 8/14/20/26
Max damage per Spirit: 25/50/75/100 (explode damage)

Min/max spread range: 100/875
Slow: 30% (only works on heroes)
Area of Effect: 300
Slow duration: 3 seconds

Cooldown: 20/18/16/14
Manacost: 120/130/140/150

Note: You have two sub abilities. One to move them outwards and one to call them back in. You can stop them at any distance by toggling the ability order.
Its primary use is for slowing and scouting. It can spread up to 875 range and each spirit has a sight range 300 Aoe. So you can scout around 1175 range Aoe from wherever you are.


Overcharge



Io draws on more energy than he can safely handle, granting him bonus attack speed, but draining 2.5% of his current HP and MP per second. If Io is tethered to an ally the bonus attack speed is also granted to that ally.

This is a toggle ability.

Attack Speed: 60/80/100/120

Note: This bonus affects a tethered unit as well.

Another support skill which should be combined with Tether for maximum benefits.

Relocate



Io temporary relocates himself, along with any tethered hero, to the target location for 12 seconds.

There is a casting delay and the enemy has visual indicators on the minimap and the world of the teleport before it happens.

Cast Delay: 2.5/2.25/2.0
Cooldown: 90/75/60
Manacost: 100

Note: If an allied hero is Tethered, that hero will teleported along with you. You can break the tether at any time to prevent that hero from returning back with you. -disablehelp is available for this ability.

An instant gank skill. Tether Ursa or Sven, kill your enemy quickly and you going back to your place before. Need some coordination with your partner to maximize the gank. Also useful during line phase to refill Bottle and buy something in your base with ease.


Io The Guardian Wisp Skill Build

Level 1: Tether
Level 2: Spirits
Level 3: Spirits/ Tether
Level 4: Tether/ Overcharge
Level 5: Spirits/ Tether
Level 6: Relocate
Level 7: Spirits
Level 8: Tether
Level 9: Tether
Level 10: Overcharge/ Tether
Level 11: Relocate
Level 12: Overcharge
Level 13: Overcharge
Level 14: Overcharge
Level 15: Stats
Level 16: Relocate
Level 17-21: Stats
Level 22-25: Stats

Here is my initial skill build for Io The Guardian Wisp. Tether is taken first as it will help you initiate or escape from first blood attempt. Spirits without a doubt is maximized first. It's your only nuke and give quite much damage if you manage to hit the enemy with all your spirit. The only exception is if you got Ursa/Slark on your line. You might want maximize Tether first. You can pick overcharge early to help your partner with +IAS for early kill.

Take Relocate whenever you can. This skill is like a global ganking tool. For maximum performance, get a ward on the enemies jungle and grab a friend to gank them. Don't forget that you can also recharge on the fountain with this skill.

Overcharge is maximize on the late game as on that time, attack speed hold important factor.


Io The Guardian Wisp Item Build

1. Gauntlets of Strength, Magic stick, some of Tangos or Healing salves
2. Get Sobi Mask and finish Magic Wand
3. Boots of Speed
4. Finish Urn of Shadows
5. Finish Power Treads
6. Get Mekanism after you get all core items

Io's core item should be like this:


Magic Wand - Very useful when the enemy has spell spammers. Don't need time to get healed and has some stats too. Combine with Tether to give your ally free healing.

Urn of Shadows - Pick this first if the other team doesn't have good spell users. Urn will give you strength for survivability and charges for healing ally or damaging enemy. You can using this with tether to heal your tethered ally.

Power Treads - Movement speed and 10+ strength stats which you badly need for gain more survivability or 10+ intel for mana stock.

Mekanism - Good support item for support hero like Io. Especially when you using Tether, your ally get not only 250hp healed but also additional 250hp. Total will be 500hp. It's really awesome. The other positive buffs will be useful when the teams clashes.

Bracer - An optional. Gives you good stats for early game. HP, armor, mana, and damage. Get this if you feel difficult dominating your lane.

Arcane Boots - Buy this for helping your nuker friends or spammers. A situational item.

Vanguard - Situational item for Io. You will need to survive when you or your partner get ganked by other team or gank the opposite team. It means you have the responsibility to save or help your partner's ass when the gank happens. Dont get this item if you still able to gank the enemies well.

Luxury late game items:


Heart of Tarrasque - Good item for survivability during battle because it gives huge amount of HP and HP regen. When it active you can share your 2% hp regen to your tethered ally.

Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse - You are a support hero and need a good ability to disable enemies. Use hex and your target will do nothing in 3.5 sec. It's +35 intel stats dont do much for Io but it will help you using your Overcharge freely anytime you want. But still the other additional stats will be useful for survivability.

Kelen's Dagger of Escape - It can be used for escaping, ganking or chasing enemies. When you are tethering your ally, you can jump close to your target for stunning him.

Black King Bar - A survivability item and an anti-nuke ability will almost help you around. Especially when the opposite team has disabler or nuker units.

Eye of Skadi - Very expensive but will be very useful when you manage to buy this item. It can slow your enemy and add your survivability to survive in late game. Get this item if you have a lot of money to spent.

Io The Guardian Wisp Strategy

You can pick this hero when your team has a lot of gankers and needs supporter.

You need to support:
- Carries : You can speed up them, both their movement speed and attack speed. Tether them and use your Overcharge. They will be more deadly with you on their side. Such as mortred, traxex, na'ix or hero with stun and critical hit such as bara, skeleton king.
- Blinkers : Good positioning while Tethered is their ability. So your Tether's stun will absolutely land on your target. Gank with them will be easy if you do it right. Darkterror, magina, and rikimaru for example.
- Battle Initiator : Usually have mass disable skill. Relocate them in the middle of battle can change the tide or just give them a free kelen's dagger for initiate or gank. Such as Raigor, Bradwarden, and Magnus.

Beware of his counter:
- Nukers : They can blow you up in one combo. Especially in early game when you has little HP pool. Play safe and stay away from them. When their mana drained and you can try to kill them. Such as Lina, or Lion.
- Silencers and mana burners: Without your skill you cant do anything. Just stick to your partner to prevent enemies to get easy gold from killing you.

Playstyle

You need partner when it comes to laning. Usually players have the middle lane for solo hero. So you will choose up or bottom depend on your partner's hero. It will be good if you can support a carry hero which have a disable skill or slow skill. Always give priority to your partner so he can get his core item as fast as possible. Support him when he want to kill. But not forget to try harass and dominate your lane. Remember to get your target, as much as possible, killed by your partner. They need to lvl up and get more gold than you do.
Roam in early game will get you overleveled by your opponents. But your carry partners can get the advantage if you roam with him. Get tether and overcharge first if you want to do that.
Tri-laning using Io is possible. Prefer to lane with stuner or slower hero. When your partner initiate by stun or slow, tether your carry and overcharge for more easy kill the target.

Mid game will let the teams always ready to gank or be ganked. Relocate is very useful when it comes to this. But always bring your partner when you do that. Do as fast as possible to kill your target before you come back to your previous place. Give all the kill to your partner. Between ganking, you can help him farms faster. You should get your core items on this phase. Scouting is important in this phase of the game. Use your Spirits effectively to prevent being ganked.

The last phase of the game. Get your core items and at least 1 luxury item in your pocket. Support your team in when the battle occurs. Tether and overcharge a hard carry hero for letting him be more deadly with your additional AS and MS. Use tether and heal combination to give your partner more survivability while he continue to rapes enemy units. Its very possible your enemies target you first, but all you can do is support as much as you can before get killed.

Based on: Playdota Guide

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