Dota 2 - Rikimaru Build Guide

BIO
Riki was born middle child to the great dynasty of Tahlin. With an older brother groomed for the throne, and a younger brother coddled and kept, Riki, the small middle son, seemed born for the art of invisibility. It was an art he cultivated, and one which ultimately saved his life on the night that his people were betrayed and his family slaughtered. Of all the royal line, he alone escaped-small and agile, unassuming, using smoke as cover. He cut his way out of the royal grounds, using the advantage of surprise, quietly slitting the throats of one enemy warrior after another. Now free of his royal responsibilities, Riki uses his talents in service to a new trade: Stealth Assassin. He silences his enemies, sharpening his skills, hoping to one day take revenge on those who killed his family and robbed him of his birthright.

INTRODUCTION
Rikimaru is an invisible hero that can only visible when doing some action. He is considered a carry hero that will shine on a late game teamfight. On early game, he is very weak and just should farm. He will deal more damage if he attack enemy from behind, that's a bit unfair, but it's ok for Riki, cause Riki doesn't afraid of dirty business. Riki will sneak attack his target and make his target a piece of crap because can;t do skills in the fog of Riki. Riki, the smallest Assassin that never visible from anybody's eyes.

PROS	CONS
Permanent Invisibility	Does't have a nuke
Small, hard to click	Low HP
Become strong carry on late game
Make enemy buys sighting items if they are don't have a true sight skill

ROLE

Melee - Carry - Escape

STATS

LEVEL	1	15	25
HIT POINTS	473	1,005	1,765	SIGHT RANGE	1800 / 800
MANA	182	419	848	ATTACK RANGE	128
DAMAGE	48-52	89-93	138-142	MISSILE SPEED	N/A
ARMOR	6	11	18

ABILITIES
1. Smoke Screen

Throws down a smoke bomb, silencing and slowing enemy units in an area while causing them to miss on most attacks. Lasts 6 seconds.

MANA COST: 75/80/85/90	COOLDOWN: 13
ABILITY: POINT TARGET	RADIUS: 250 / 275 / 300 / 325
MISS RATE: 40% / 50% / 60% / 70%	SLOW: 25% / 25% / 25% / 25%

Since his escape during the night of his betrayal, Riki has valued the use of a simple smoke screen to confuse his opponents.
This skill will give your enemy with a missing attacks. This will destroys their physical attacker. Not just that, this skill will also provide Silence for your enemy, your enemy can't use skills while can't use physical attack. That's bad for them. Good for you.
Stun enemy in the Smoke, or Slow them in the smoke for maximum potential of this skill. Usually, Riki player use Diffusal or Abyssal to make his enemy cannot move in the Smoke.

2. Blink Strike

Teleports behind the target unit, striking for bonus damage if it is an enemy.

MANA COST: 50/50/50/50	COOLDOWN: 20/15/10/5
ABILITY: UNIT TARGET	DAMAGE: MAGICAL
DAMAGE: 30 / 60 / 90 / 120	RANGE: 700

The Stealth Assassin's agile movement makes him impossible to escape.
Jump into a unit. And damaging if it is an enemy. This skill also instant position yourself behind the enemy, that means you will have a bonus Backstab damage from your 3rd skill. A nice chasing skill for an assassin like you. This will make you will haunt the enemy that tries to run from you because you wll be always can jump to him in rhe interval of 5 seconds (lvl4)

3. Backstab

If Riki attacks from behind, bonus damage is applied based on his current agility.

ABILITY: PASSIVE	DAMAGE: PHYSICAL
AGI DAMAGE MULT: 0.5 / 0.75 / 1 / 1.25

The Stealth Assassin is not afraid to fight dirty, and specializes in attacking his opponents from behind.
Riki deal more damage if you attack enemy from behind. This will become your carrying skill. The bonus damage is based on your Agility. So if you have more Agility, the more painful your attack are. So in late game, where your AGI stas is already reach it's ceiling, you will be a monster that deal tons of damage.
Blink Strike, your 2nd skill will give you with auto Backstab. It will be useful to kill kill the enemy.
It is recommended for you to buy some +Agility items to increase this skill's damage and become the true carry.
I almost forget, that you should use this to for farming the creeps. Attack them from behind for easier last hits.

4. Permanent Invisibility

Riki fades into the shadows, staying permanently invisible except while attacking or using abilities. While silenced, Riki will be visible.

ABILITY: PASSIVE

FADE DELAY: 3 / 2.25 / 1.5

Rikimaru comes for you.
This skill is what makes you called Rkimaru. This is your Trademark. With this skill, enemy cannot see you if you are not doing some action. Like if you just walk and scouting them, and they won't notice the presence of you.
A good skill that makes enemy to be always not pleasant to do activity because they afraid of your surprise gank.
And also, your enemy should buy the True Sight items like Gem, Sentry, or Dust.
Remember that there are some heroes that can track you using their skill. They are Gondar and Slardar. And also Bloodseeker if you are on a low HP.
Always check enemy's inventory if they have TrueSight item or not. If they have one, that means you should not come near them.
And also always check your status. Check if you are being Tracked by Slardar or Gondar or not.

SKILLBUILD

Level 1: Blink Strike

Level 2: Backstab

Level 3: Backstab

Level 4:  Smoke Screen

Level 5: Backstab

Level 6: Permanent Invisibility

Level 7: Backstab

Level 8: Blink Strike

Level 9: Blink Strike

Level 10: Blink Strike

Level 11: Permanent Invisibility

Level 12:  Smoke Screen

Level 13: Smoke Screen

Level 14: Smoke Screen

Level 15: Stats

Level 16: Permanent Invisibility

Level 17-25: Stats

Why take Blink Strike for level 1? You need this for the anticipation if your enemy try to get firstblood from you. Defend yourself! This skill makes you can jump to a unit for your safety.

Why maxed Backstab first? This is your main source of damage for harassing and farming on early-mid game. Max this first for more painful harassing.

Why maxed Blink Strike before Smoke Screen? Smoke Screen level 1 is enough for ganking, because the duration is the same for each level. And usually, you just gank 1 target for early-mid game, so the radius is enough on level 1 Smoke for a target. 

And Blink Strike, will needed to deal continuous chase for enemy you are ganking. 5 seconds cooldown will makes you can jump anytime, whether it is for killing or for escaping.

STRATEGY

Early Game

On early game, you need to last hits as many creeps as you can. Don't even think about Blink Strike to the enemy and try to kill them, because you will become a fool man that think he is strong. Farming is your priority here, get items and become a powerful hero in the late game. Use backstab to last hits the creeps. Position yourself behind your enemy and get the bonus damage for easier last hits. 

Mid Game

If you already have Power Threads and Mask of Madness, that's the time for you to have fun. To gank your target, ask your friend to help you. Ask your friend to a target, here for example Crystal Maiden. You may say like this: Hey Rhasta, let's gank this noob Crystal Maiden at the top. Then you two come to top, several minutes later you arrive at the top. Rhasta immediately use Shackle on CM, You attack CM from behind and deal lots of BackStab damage, and then you use Smoke Screen and CM can't use her skill. CM tries to run but  then Rhasta use Hex, CM death quickly from your Blink Strike.

Repeat that ganking method until you do a lots of kills and become rich and can carry your team in your late game.

Late Game

On late game your job is to carry your team. You should already have tons of Backstab damage because you already have high amount of Agility here. 

Wait for the initiator of your team to open a teamfight, and then after then, jump to a target and use Smoke Screen to the enemy crowds. With that, your enemy in the smoke will have a hard time in the teamfight. They can't use skills, and cannot attack if doesn't have true strike ability. So you can comfortably attack them.

Keep focusing on a single Target, and if he already dead or become too far, the you should chane your target. The key of a successful carry is to can click ok enemy while in crowds, and not clicking the creeps.

After winning a teamfight your team have 2 options, to push or to Rosh. Thaose 2 options is both good choice. Just need to choose it base on your leader or based on vote.

ITEMBUILD

1. Quelling Blade
Cost: 225

Active: Destroy Tree - Destroy a target tree. Passive: Quell - Gives bonus attack damage against non-hero units, depending on the type of hero you are.   MELEE BONUS: 32%     RANGED BONUS: 12%      Cooldown: 5

Why Quelling Blade? Makes you easier to lasthit every creeps.

2.  Power Threads
Total cost: 1400
Recipe: Gloves of Haste, Boots of Speed, Belt og Giant Strength/ Robe of Magi/ Band of Elvenskin

Active: Switch Attribute - Changes selected attribute between Strength, Agility and Intelligence. Flat movement speed bonuses from multiple pairs of boots do not stack. + 55 Movement Speed + 8 Selected Attribute   + 30 Attack Speed

Why Power Threads? It will gives you attack speed, thats what you need, attack speed and damages. Power threads is laso a flexible shoes, you can change it to STR, AGI, or INT for what you need.
STR for Survivability, AGI for damage and attack speed, and INT for mana.

3. Mask of Madness
Total Cost: 1900
Recipe: Morbid Mask/Mask of Death(Dota1) +Recipe

Active: Berserk - Gives 100 attack speed and 30% movement speed but causes you to take extra 30% damage. Lasts 12 seconds. Passive: Lifesteal - Grants lifesteal on attacks. Mask of Madness is a Unique Attack Modifier, and does not stack with other Unique Attack Modifiers. LIFESTEAL: 17%     Cooldown:25     Manacost: 25

Why Mask of Madness? It will gives you + Attack Speed to destroys enemies quickly. This is what you need as a carry, attack speed. This will also gives you movement speed and lifesteal.

4. Then usually Riki players choose between these items

Basher Total cost:: 2950 Recipe: Javelin + Belt of Giant Strength + Recipe	Diffusal Blade Total Cost: 3300 Recipe: 2x Blade of Alacrity + Robe of the Magi + Recipe	Yasha Total cost:: 2050 Recipe: Blade of Alacrity + Boots of Elfenskin + Recipe
+ 40 Damage + 6 Strength MELEE CHANCE: 25% RANGED CHANCE: 10% Cooldown: 2	Active: Purge - Purges a  target unit, removing buffs, slowing, and dealing damage if it is a summoned unit. Passive: Feedback - Your attacks burn 20/36 mana and deal the same amount in damage. Upgradable. Diffusal Blade is a Unique Attack Modifier, and does not stack with other Unique Attack Modifiers. + 22/26 Agility + 6/10 Intelligence Cooldown: 12	Percentage based movement speed bonuses from multiple items do not stack. + 16 Agility + 15 Attack Speed + 10% Movement Speed
Why Basher? Gives you the ability to give stun status to your enemy. Imagine that your enemy is stunned while backs you. you will get easy kill because of your high Backstab damage. And also better if he is stuuned in your Smoke Screen. Upgrade this on late game into Abyssal Blade. With Abyssal Blade it is more powerful because you will have an active 2 seconds skill to disale your foe.	Why Diffusal? This item gives you lots of Agility and that's makes your Backstab damage become high. Your backstab damage is your main source of damage, and with your high Back Stab damage you can become a decent carry. Also imagine if your enemy is Purged and slowed in your Smoke while you are on his back. You will kill him easily.	Why Yasha? This items gives you advantages because of the additional Agility that makes your Backstab damage become so powerful. And also this item will increase your movement speed so that you can chase your enemy easily. All carry need movement speed to chase his target. Upgrade into SnY or Manta.

As a melee carry hero, don't forget this:
5. Battlefury
Total Cost: 225
Recipe: Broadsword, Claymore, Preserverance

Passive: Cleave - Deals a percent of attack damage in a 225 AoE around the target. Does not work on ranged heroes. Cleave damage on non-primary targets is not reduced by armor values. + 65 Damage + 6 HP Regeneration     + 150% Mana Regeneration      CLEAVE DAMAGE: 35%

Why Battlefury? It is your job to deal a damage to all of the enemy. This items gives you an AoE attack that will deal damage to all the enemy.

And for Survivability, you may need this
6. Black King Bar
Total cost:: 3900
Recipe: Ogre Axe, Mithril Hammer, Recipe

Active: Avatar - Grants magic immunity. Duration and cooldown decrease with each use. Some Ultimate abilities are able to disable through Black King Bar. + 10 Strength + 24 Damage     DURATION: 10/9/8/7/6/5     Cooldown: 80

Why Black King Bar? It gives you survivability in a teamfight because you will get magic immunity during teamfight.

And for late game
7. You can increase your DPS more. Choose your own DPS items.As a carry, damage is your priority.

	DAEDLUS	MKB	ABYSSAL	DIVINE RAPIER
DAMAGE	81	88	100	300
ABILITY	CRITICAL 2.4	100% HITS	STUN	NONE
CHANCE	25%	MINIBASH 35% DAMAGE: 100	MELEE: 25 % RANGE: 10%	NONE
OTHER	NONE	+15 ATK SPEED	+10 STRENGTH 2 SEC STUN	NONE

DAEDLUS: Daedlus will provide you with a powerful Critical Strike.

MKB: 100% HITRATE will helps you to fight some evasion heroes like Mortred or Rikimaru.

ABYSSAL: A decent +100 damage and makes you become a Stunner

RAPIER: Be careful if you choose to hold this. 1 hit kill is a sure. 2-3 hits is the worst. Need protection from your support. Must come if the situation is clear safe for you to come inside the teamfight. Need some disabler friends.

8. Butterfly
Total cost:: 6000
Recipe: Talisman of Evasion, Eaglesong, Quarterstaff

+ 30 Agility            + 30 Damage + 35% Evasion      + 30 Attack Speed

Why Butterfly?
The agility will increase your backstab damage more. and also: It gives you more damage and more attack speed that makes you become much more powerful. It also gives evasion to helps you survive in teamfight. Butterfly is always a good item for a carry.

And don't forget this for the late game
9. Boots of Travel
Total cost: 2450
Recipe: Boots of Speed + Recipe

Active: Teleport - Teleports you to an allied non-hero unit or structure. Flat movement speed bonuses from multiple pairs of boots do not stack. + 100 Movement Speed Manacost: 75   Cooldown60

Why Boots of Travel? With the creeps becoming more powerful in pushing your base, you need fast teleport to save your Ancient.
Also, this item will give you 1 free slot that is saved for Teleport Scroll if you don't have this Boots

GOOD ALLIES

1. Supportive Heroes
(Example: Shadow Shaman, Crystal Maiden, Vengeful Spirit)

Supportive heroes have disables and nice skill to helps carries and makes a teamfight easier for the team.

Shadow shaman: Have hex, shackles, and wards to helps you disables enemy

Crystal Maiden: Have 1 lockdown, 1 slower, and have +mana regeneration

Vengeful Spirit: Have stun, swap, and +damage aura

BAD ENEMIES
1. True Sight Heroes
(Slardar, Gondar)

 Slardar and Gondar have a true sight ability that makes your team to be visible, beware of these two heroes.

2. Gem of Tur Sight, Sentry Ward or Dust of Appearance

 Those items can reveal your team, so be careful with the holder of those items.

FANART