Dota 2 - Sniper Build Guide

BIO
Kardel Sharpeye was born deep in the mountainous valleys of Knollen where, since time immemorial, the folk have survived by hunting the strange, cliff-dwelling steepstalkers above their village-killing them from a distance and collecting their carcasses where they fell. Sharpeye was among the best of these strange folk for whom projectile weapons are but another appendage, and to shoot is as natural as to touch.
On his day of summoning, when he was to gain full standing in his village, Sharpeye took the ancient test: a single shot from the valley floor to strike a beast down from the cliffs. To miss was to be dishonored. With his entire village standing vigil, Sharpeye took his shot. A steepstalker fell; the crowd cheered. But when the carcass was collected, the village grew silent, for the elders found that the bullet had pierced its glittering central eye then fallen to be clenched in the steepstalker's mandibles. This ominous sign was the literal opening of a dark prophecy, foretelling both greatness and exile for the gunman who made such a shot. Sharpeye the Sniper was thus, by his own skill, condemned to make his way apart from his people-and unwelcome back among them until he has fulfilled the remainder of the prophecy by attaining legendary stature on a field of battle.

INTRODUCTION
Sniper is a decent carry with his damages. But, this hero is very squishy and don't have an escaping skill. He needs backup from his teammates to divert attention of the enemy. He needs some one who will receive the damage from enemy so he can shoot the enemy freely. Dont use this hero to initiate a teamfight. Use this hero from behind the scene and let him kill everyone.

PROS	CONS
Can achieve the longest attack range in Dota (Tower and Fountain can't compete with him.	Squishy
Have a decent damage and attack speed on the late game	Don't have any lock down skill.
Cas assassinate enemy from a very long range.	Hard to escape except with the helps of escaping items like Shadow Blade.
Can ministun the enemy to cancel his TP and with a decent attack speed will slow down enemy's movement.

ROLE
Ranged - Carry

STATS

LEVEL	1	15	25
HIT POINTS	454	906	1,609	SIGHT RANGE	1800 / 1000
MANA	195	668	1,266	ATTACK RANGE	550
DAMAGE	36-42	77-83	126-132	MISSILE SPEED	3000
ARMOR	2	8	14

ABILITIES
1. Shrapnel

Fires a ball of shrapnel that showers the target area in explosive pellets. Enemies are subject to damage and slowed movement. Deals 30% damage to buildings. Reveals the targeted area.

MANA COST: 120 / 120 / 120 / 120	COOLDOWN: 15.0
ABILITY: TARGET POINT	DAMAGE: MAGICAL
DAMAGE: 12 / 24 / 36 / 48	MOVEMENT SPEED: 15% / 20% / 25% / 30%
RADIUS: 360	DURATION: 9

Decent slower and AoE damage. But, this skill is easy to dodge, the eney just needs to walks a little and then he will save from this skill.

2. Headshot

 

Sniper increases his accuracy, giving a chance to deal extra damage and mini-stun. Headshot procs cannot be evaded.

ABILITY: PASSIVE	DAMAGE: PHYSICAL
DAMAGE: 15 / 40 / 65 / 90	CHANCE: 40%

This is a very good skill for a carry because it gives a decent damage and mini stuns. Mini stuns will cancel teleport from enemies.
This skill will become more deadly the longer the game become.

3. Take Aim

Extends the attack range of Sniper's rifle.

ABILITY: PASSIVE	BONUS RANGE: 75 / 150 / 225 / 300

This will make you can shoot enemies from a very long range. On maximum range, this skill will makes tower can't attack you because you are too far from the tower attack range.

 4. Assassinate

Sniper locks onto a target enemy unit, and after 1.7 seconds, fires a devastating shot that deals damage at long range, and mini-stuns the target.

MANA COST: 175 / 275 / 375	COOLDOWN: 20.0 / 15.0 / 10.0
ABILITY: TARGET UNIT	AFFECTS: ENEMY HEROES
DAMAGE: MAGICAL	DAMAGE: 355 / 505 / 655
RANGE: 2000 / 2500 / 3000

Nice skill to last hit enemy hero from far away. This skill have a decent damage. Very good single targetted nuke to make a kill.

SKILLBUILD

Level 1: Headshot
Level 2: Take Aim
Level 3: Headshot
Level 4: Shrapnel
Level 5: Headshot
Level 6: Assassinate
Level 7: Headshot
Level 8: Shrapnel
Level 9 : Shrapnel
Level 10: Shrapnel
Level 11: Assassinate
Level 12: Take Aim
Level 13: Take Aim
Level 14: Take Aim
Level 15: Stats
Level 16: Assassinate
Level 17-25: Stats

Why Headshot on early game?
To make you easier for last hitting and denying.

Why Sharpnell on mid game?
This skill helps you in gank and teamfight, and in this state of the game, is where gank happens.

Why take aim is the last skill to be maxed? Usually, Sniper get a nice back up from his partner, so he should be able to do last hitting from his dafault range on early-mid game. Your ability point is better to be allocated on Sharpnell first because it will help you on a gank / teamfight.

STRATEGY
Early Game
You should try to lasthits every creeps. Denying is not your priority. This is a carry's job,  to farm as much. The more you farm, the faster you will get your items, the faster you get your item, the stronger you are. The stronger you are, the more capacity you will have to carry your team into victory.

On early game, you should be protected by your teammates to be able to farm in a maximum safety. You may ask a supportive hero like Vengeful Spirit or Shadow Demon to helps you. A support can protect you from death by their stun.

And also don't forget to ask the Support to always buys the wards to be able to get vision on a certain area where enemy may comes to gank you.
Remember: Safety is the key of a successful team.

Mid Game
Keep farming. This is your job. Change lane if there is an empty lane. Or you can participate in a teamfight once in a while if the sitiation is good for you. You have Sharpnel and Assassinate to helps you getting enemy kills.

Or if your team decided to push, you can easily  right click the tower, the advantage of being Sniper is that towers can't hit you because you attack range is long.

Late Game
This is the stage you will contribute the most because in this stage  you should already acquired high damages to carry the enemy.

Wait until your initiator started a teamfight. Just right click the enemy one by one. Believe me that your damage is very high so you just right click the enemy to kill them all.

You can use Assassinate once in a while, like when there is an enemy escape from you. Assassinate damage is high, so you can kill squishy heroes like Crystal maiden or KoTL easily

Usually in this stage of the game you already have some good items like Manta Style or Daedlus. I believe that you always can outdamage the enemy, so keep calm and right click. Recommended to kill squishy heroes first and then later you can kill the tanky heroes.

ITEM BUILD
1.  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 gives you attack speed, thats what you need, attack speed and damages.

2. Ring of Aquila
Total Cost: 985
Recipe: Wraith Band + Ring of Basillus

Passive: Aquila Aura - Grants mana regeneration and armor in a 900 AoE. Active: Toggle whether the aura affects other non-hero units. Multiple instances of Aquila Aura do not stack. + 9 Damage    + 3 All Attributes    + 3 Agility    + 1 Armor AURA MANA REGEN: 0.65    AURA BONUS ARMOR: 2

Why Ring of Aquila? It gives you mana regen. You need mana regen to morph, to escape in dangerous situation. This items also gives damage and stats.

3. Shadow Blade
Total cost: 3000
Recipe: Shadow Amulet + Claymore

Active: Shadow Walk - Makes you invisible until the duration ends, or until you attack or cast a spell. While Shadow Walk is active, you move 20% faster and can move through units. If attacking to break the invisibility, you gain 150 bonus damage on that attack. Lasts 12 seconds. + 30 Damage + 30 Attack Speed     Manacost: 75    Cooldown: 18

Why Shadow Blade? You don't have an escaping skills, so this item provide one. This item will give you invisibility when activated. Very Good to keep you alive in certain situation like ganking, or when you are on a low hp.

Alternative 

3. Dagger
Cost: 2150

Active: Blink - Teleport to a target point up to 1200 units away. If damage is taken from an enemy hero, Blink Dagger cannot be used for 3 seconds. Manacost: 75   Cooldown: 14

Blink Dagger is a perfect item for you for initiating purpose. This item will make you can jump and chase your enemy. Also dont't forger that this item is very useful in escape.

4. Manta Style
Total cost:: 5050
Recipe: Yasha, Ultimate Orb, Recipe

Active: Mirror Image - Creates 2 illusions of your hero that last 20 seconds. Melee illusions deal 33% damage and take 250% bonus damage. Ranged illusions deal 28% damage and take 300% bonus damage. Percentage based movement speed bonuses from multiple items do not stack. + 10 Strength + 26 Agility    + 10 Intelligence    + 15 Attack Speed    + 10% Movement Speed Manacost:165    Cooldown:50

Why Manta Style? Creates 2 illusion of yourself to attack the enemy. Because your damage is high, this item will reach its maximum potential beecause your illusion will also deal some high damage. This items also provide a defense mechanism for you because your opponent will be confused and don't know whose to attack, they should guess where is the real you.

5. Daedlus
Total cost:: 5750
Recipe: Crystalis + Demon Edge + Recipe

APassive: Critical Strike - Grants a chance to deal critical damage on an attack. + 81 Damage CRITICAL CHANCE: 25%        CRITICAL DAMAGE: 270%

Why Daedlus?
With this, you become a true moster. This is because you have a very high damage and this item will multiply your damage so everyone can't match you anymore.

6. Maelstorm and upgrade it into Mjolnir
Total cost: Maelstorm; 2700, +2700 = Mjolnir = 5400
Recipe: Maelsorm:  Gloves of Haste + Mythrill Hammer + Recipe
             Mjolnir: Maelstorm + Hyperstone + Recipe.

MAELSTORM

MJOLNIR

Passive: Chain Lightning - Grants a chance on attack to release a Chain Lightning that hits 4 targets, dealing damage. Maelstrom is a Unique Attack Modifier that stacks with other Unique Attack Modifiers, but overrides them when Chain Lightning occurs. + 24 Damage + 25 Attack Speed CHANCE TO CHAIN: 25% CHAIN DAMAGE: 120

Active: Static Charge - Places a charged shield on a target unit Passive: Chain Lightning - Grants a chance to release Chain Lighting on attack, dealing damage to multiple targets. Mjollnir is a Unique Attack Modifier that stacks with other Unique Attack Modifiers, but overrides them when Chain Lightning occurs. + 24 Damage + 80 Attack Speed CHANCE TO CHAIN: 25% CHAIN DAMAGE: 160 Manacost: 50    Cooldown: 35

Makes you a decent carry with it's additional attack speed and lightning ability. Makes you got more lightning and makes you to create a powerful thunderstorm.

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

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

Why Butterfly?
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.

Best Partner

1. Faceless Void

Faceless Void will provide a perfect setup for you. He has an ultimate which will lock down enemies in an area so you can right clik them conveniently.

2. Shadow Shaman

Shadow shaman is a very good supportive hero. he have 2 disables, and maybe even 3 disables with his wards trap (lock someone inside his wards). A perfect partner for you.
You need more lockdown in your team