Although unpopular in standard matchmaking, Shadow Demon has been a consistently frequent support pick-up in competitive Dota, where his ability to save allies is almost unmatched and his Soul Catcher ability enables him to significantly augment his team’s damage output.
Skills
Disruption is always skilled first but usually maxed either second or last.
Soul Catcher is usually skilled second but maxed first.
Shadow Poison tends to be skilled and maxed last, although some prefer to prioritise it.
Demonic Purge is always skilled (levels 6, 11 and 16).
Items
Starting Items: Courier and/or Observer Wards, Tangos, Healing Salve, 3x Iron Branches, Clarity.
Early Game: Flying Courier, Observer Wards, Boots of Speed, Magic Wand, Bracer.
Core Items: Arcane Boots, Mekanism.
Luxury Items: Force Staff, Drums of Endurance, Heaven's Halberd, Necronomicon, Eul's Scepter of Dibvinity, Ghost Scepter, Scythe of Vyse.
Situational Items: Sentry Wards, Dust of Appearance, Gem of True Sight, Smoke of Deceit, Vladmir's Offering, Pipe of Insight, Medallion of Courage.
