makeitjazzy
09-30-2009, 11:39 PM
I'm not necessarily a good player, but I think I've played Swiftblade enough to give this a shot. I love this hero, so if you have anything else you think I can improve on, let me know.
Disclaimer: This is only meant to give new or struggling Swiftblade players a starting base. This is not the be-all, end-all. It's always smart to adapt; just because this guide says something, doesn't mean you necessarily have to do it.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/111/swiftblade.png
Swiftblade
My take: Swifblade is easily one of the best heroes for dealing big hits. His entire skill set is designed for taking out enemy heroes in a heartbeat, but the key with Swiftblade is knowing when to pull the trigger. If you time it well, it should be easy to dominate your enemies.
Key Attribute: Agility
Strength - 20
Agility - 20
Intelligence - 14
Some tips:
- When building large items, it can be helpful to get some of the parts you need right now, then finish it up when you have enough gold. I'll be restating this often.
Skills:
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3422/bladefrenzy.png
Blade Frenzy
Description: Deals 80/100/120/140 Magic damage per second to targets units in radius. Applies Blade Frenzy to self for duration of activation. Lasts 5 seconds. (If active, removes Tablet of Haste on use.
This is going to be your staple skill as Swiftblade. It deals nasty damage, and it also provides Magic Immunity. This is also your ticket to early kills. A level one Blade Frenzy deals massive damage. If you manage to keep your enemy within your Blade Frenzy for five seconds, it can deal 80 x 5 = 400 damage for level one, 100 x 5 = 500 damage for level two, 120 x 5 = 600 damage for level three, and 140 x 5 = 700 damage for level four. Because it grants Swiftblade Magic Immunity, Blade Frenzy can be used to either render mages completely useless against you or it can be used to escape magic heroes. You should always max out Blade Frenzy before anything else.
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9488/counterattack.png
Counter Attack
Description: Extensive training in melee combat has allowed Swiftblade to perfect the art of countering enemy attacks, granting a chance that he will retaliate every time an enemy hero attacks him. 15 / 20 / 25 / 30% chance to counter-attack if attacker is an enemy hero.
Level 1: 15% chance, Level 2: 20% chance, Level 3: 25% chance, Level 4: 30%
Since you shouldn't autoattack enemy heroes often, this skill shouldn't be a high priority on your list. Simply put, Counter Attack gives a chance that when you are attacked by an enemy hero, you will deal some damage to them. This skill is less important than the rest of Swiftblade's skillset, as even though dealing damage back when you are attacked sounds good, it's not something that should be relied on.
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9592/wayofthesword.png
Way of the Sword
Swiftblade's unsurpassed skill at the sword has made him a master of hitting where it hurts, giving him a chance to critically strike opponents with each attack.
This skill is very useful for last-hitting and denying. However, you shouldn't rely on this to kill your enemy heroes; this is primarily your way of taking chunks of health out of creeps and towers. Maxed out, you can take out creeps at a pretty good rate. and all that last-hitting and denying should go a long way to helping you get the items you need.
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/911/swiftslashes.png
Swift Slashes
Swiftblade attacks random nearby targets with such speed that he appears to teleport to them. Targets are randomly chosen, yet it is possible to teleport to the same target multiple times. Teleports self to random targets 3 / 5 / 8 times, dealing 150 to 250 Physical damage to each target. Applies Swift Slashes to self for duration of activation. Staff of the Master can boost this ability.
Level 1: 3 slashes, Level 2: 5 slashes, Level 3: 8 slashes
This skill alone will make you a force to be reckoned with in any 1v1 fight. If you catch an enemy hero alone in the forest, do note that all 3 - 8 slashes damage that one hero. Using this on a hero close to creeps is wasteful; save this for encounters that do not include creeps. The best thing about Swift Slashes is that it essentially disables your victim. Even certain blink skills like Valkyrie's do not warrant an escape from this skill. Like any ultimate, this skill should be learned immediately upon reaching level 6.
My skill build:
1. Blade Frenzy
2. Way of the Sword
3. Blade Frenzy
4. Way of the Sword
5. Blade Frenzy
6. Swift Slashes
7. Blade Frenzy
8. Way of The Sword
9. Attribute Boost
10. Way of The Sword
11. Swift Slashes
12. Counter Attack
13. Counter Attack
14. Counter Attack
15. Counter Attack
16. Swift Slashes
17. Attribute Boost
18. Attribute Boost
19. Attribute Boost
20. Attribute Boost
21. Attribute Boost
22. Attribute Boost
23. Attribute Boost
24. Attribute Boost
25. Attribute Boost
I personally like to get most of the skills down before I go all out with the Attribute Boost, but again, this probably isn't the best build out there. This is just a guideline to show you how I would go around distributing Swiftblade's skill points.
Items:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2347/runesofblightx6.pnghttp://img39.imageshack.us/img39/7058/pretenderscrownx2.pnghttp://img39.imageshack.us/img39/193/minortotem.png
Starting Items:
x6 Runes of Blight (2 sets of 3) - 180 gold
x2 Pretender's Crown - 185 x 2 = 370 gold
x1 Minor Totem - 53 gold
Total: 603 gold
This is not only the starting item set I use with Swiftblade, but also the starting item set I use for some other Agility-based heroes. The Runes of Blight will give you some staying power, but do not use them way too quickly; if you can lane smart enough, you might not even need to use all six. The two Pretender's Crowns not only provide stat boosts, but they also give you a headstart on building Fortified Bracelets and Soulscream Rings. The Minor Totem also gives minor stat boosts. Although insignificant alone, the Crowns and Totem should give you a useful push early on.
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9361/fortifiedbraceletsx2.png
OR
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6507/soulscreamring.pnghttp://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5382/fortifiedbracelet.png
Phase 2:
x2 Fortified Bracelets - 2(510 - 185) = 650 gold
Total: 650 gold
OR
1x Soulscream Ring - 460 - 185 = 275 gold
1x Fortified Bracelet - 510 - 185 = 325 gold
Total: 600 gold
You should be able to get to Phase 2 very early. I usually go for one of the two sets above. 2 Fortified Bracelets give you a pretty good Strength boost, meaning higher health. 1 Fortified Bracelet and 1 Soulscream Ring give similar effects, but the Soulscream Ring amplifies Agility, so it's more of a balance-out between autoattack damage and survivability. If you are following the guide, getting these Phase 2 items should be much easier than building them from scratch, since you already have your 2 Pretender's Crowns at hand.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7528/enhancedmarchers.png
Phase 3:
Enhanced Marchers - 1500 gold
Total: 1500 gold
It is best that you get to Phase 3 as quickly as possible. These Enhanced Marchers are your best friend; they'll let you get out of tight spots, and they'll let you chase down weakened enemy heroes. Remember that there is a "Phased" ability which you can activate (by pressing the hotkey for the Enhanced Marchers' item slot), which grants the user a temporary speed boost. This is a very useful item for Swiftblade, and it is a MUST. Additionally, the "Phased" ability can be used in conjunction with Blade Frenzy. Need I say more?
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4120/helmofblacklegion.png
OR
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9233/sustainer.png
Phase 4:
Helm of Black Legion - 2225 gold
OR
Sustainer - 1750 gold
Once again, Phase 4 is focused on increasing your survivability. The Helm of Black Legion can block a significant amount of damage from creeps, so your health will be better saved for hero fights. The helm also gives some Health Regeneration and adds 300 Hit Points.
Complete Newbie Tip: Since the Helm of Black Legion requires 2 items from the Secret Shop, you would optimally want to lose as little items as possible. The best way to do this is take the buckler, then drop your Bracelets/Soulscream Rings next to you at the Secret Shop. Complete the helm, and put back your bracelets/rings.
If you can't get the 2225 gold for the Helm of Black Legion, the Sustainer will suffice, as it will give you Health and Mana regeneration. Another alternative is simply getting the Buckler, and saving up your gold until you can get your Lifetube and Beastheart.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/901/runedaxe.pnghttp://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8045/shieldbreaker.png
Phase 5:
Runed Axe - 4350 gold
Shielbreaker - 4400 gold
Total: 8750 gold
Okay, if you're new, Phase 5 might seem daunting. 8750 gold? Sometimes I can't even earn that much gold. This should be your mid-to-late game phase. You don't need both, but it would be a nice incentive. The Runed Axe gives splash damage; the Shieldbreaker lowers your victim's armor. If you went with the Sustainer in Phase 4, it would be cheaper to buy a Runed Axe. For the Shieldbreaker, I recommend slowly building it. It requires 2 Warhammers (1600 gold each) and the Shieldbreaker Recipe. The Warhammers alone give you a nice little damage boost already, so keeping one of those at hand, then completing the Shieldbreaker when you have enough gold helps. Same goes with the Runed Axe; if you can't afford all 3 ingredients right away, get parts that you need most.
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1714/staffofthemaster.png
Phase 6:
Staff of the Master - 4300 gold
Apparently Swift Slashes can be amplified by the Staff of the Master. If it doesn't, please ignore this phase completely, and tell me too so I can make the change.
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7371/hellflower.pnghttp://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9320/flayer.pnghttp://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3460/wingbow.pnghttp://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3494/symbolofrage.png
Luxury Items:
Hellflower - 5025 gold
Flayer - 5800 gold
Wingbow - 6000 gold
Symbol of Rage - 6150 gold
Total: 22975 gold
These are luxury items, and therefore optional. The Hellflower can cast a Silence spell on your opponent. The Flayer lets you pack a punch, but probably is the least special of the luxury items. For 200 more gold, the Wingbow would probably give you much more lethality. The Symbol of Rage is good if you need Lifesteal. It has a base 25% lifesteal attribute, and when activated, the Symbol grants you 150% lifesteal for 3.5 seconds. These Luxury Items are outlandishly expensive, so if you can't afford them, you can choose to take parts of them.
Keep in mind that you should always adapt to what your situation calls for.
Lane-Buddies:
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3065/pollywog.png
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/3065/pollywog.pnghttp://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6248/pestilence.pnghttp://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3075/andromeda.png
Pollywog Priest, Pestilence, or Andromeda
Pollywog's Magic Bindings are a great setup to your Blade Frenzy. When Pollywog holds an enemy, you can activate Blade Frenzy on him, and most of the time you'll either force them back to base or kill them outright.
Pestilence's Imaple stuns enemies around him and also slows them afterwards. Like Magic Bindings, Impale is the perfect setup for your Blade Frenzy.
Andromeda is a pure support hero. Her Comet stuns the enemy, then she can use Aurora to lower their armor, setting you up perfectly. She can even use Void Rip to bring victims back to you.
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8103/arachna.pnghttp://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2025/electrician.pnghttp://img30.imageshack.us/img30/7938/blacksmith.png
Arachna, Electrician, or Blacksmith
Arachna's Webbed Shot is what makes her such a good compliment to Swiftblade. A Level 3 Webbed Shot has 0 cooldown, so Arachna can use it to keep opponents slowed, while Swiftblade goes in with his spin.
Electrician's Static Grip makes him a good compliment to Swiftblade. Static Grip completely disables its target, so Swiftblade can attack whoever is being gripped without fear of retaliation.
Blacksmith has both a stun and a slow. His Fireball stuns its target, and with his "ultimate," Blacksmith can deal lots of damage to his enemies. His Hammer Throw slows the enemy. These two skills used in conjunction with Swiftblade's Blade Frenzy or Swift Slashes will kill many heroes easily.
Note: If you guys have any other good allies for Swiftblade, let me know, so I can add them.
Conclusion:
Swiftblade is a hero that is fun, but it takes time to fully utilize his abilities. The key nice of Swiftblade is the fact that he can deal gobs of damage.
Thanks for reading my guide! If you have things you think I should add or change, please let me know! I'm trying to keep an up-to-date resource for all aspiring Swiftblade players, so if you guys have ANY criticisms, don't be afraid to comment!
To be cont. (Critique Welcome)
Disclaimer: This is only meant to give new or struggling Swiftblade players a starting base. This is not the be-all, end-all. It's always smart to adapt; just because this guide says something, doesn't mean you necessarily have to do it.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/111/swiftblade.png
Swiftblade
My take: Swifblade is easily one of the best heroes for dealing big hits. His entire skill set is designed for taking out enemy heroes in a heartbeat, but the key with Swiftblade is knowing when to pull the trigger. If you time it well, it should be easy to dominate your enemies.
Key Attribute: Agility
Strength - 20
Agility - 20
Intelligence - 14
Some tips:
- When building large items, it can be helpful to get some of the parts you need right now, then finish it up when you have enough gold. I'll be restating this often.
Skills:
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3422/bladefrenzy.png
Blade Frenzy
Description: Deals 80/100/120/140 Magic damage per second to targets units in radius. Applies Blade Frenzy to self for duration of activation. Lasts 5 seconds. (If active, removes Tablet of Haste on use.
This is going to be your staple skill as Swiftblade. It deals nasty damage, and it also provides Magic Immunity. This is also your ticket to early kills. A level one Blade Frenzy deals massive damage. If you manage to keep your enemy within your Blade Frenzy for five seconds, it can deal 80 x 5 = 400 damage for level one, 100 x 5 = 500 damage for level two, 120 x 5 = 600 damage for level three, and 140 x 5 = 700 damage for level four. Because it grants Swiftblade Magic Immunity, Blade Frenzy can be used to either render mages completely useless against you or it can be used to escape magic heroes. You should always max out Blade Frenzy before anything else.
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9488/counterattack.png
Counter Attack
Description: Extensive training in melee combat has allowed Swiftblade to perfect the art of countering enemy attacks, granting a chance that he will retaliate every time an enemy hero attacks him. 15 / 20 / 25 / 30% chance to counter-attack if attacker is an enemy hero.
Level 1: 15% chance, Level 2: 20% chance, Level 3: 25% chance, Level 4: 30%
Since you shouldn't autoattack enemy heroes often, this skill shouldn't be a high priority on your list. Simply put, Counter Attack gives a chance that when you are attacked by an enemy hero, you will deal some damage to them. This skill is less important than the rest of Swiftblade's skillset, as even though dealing damage back when you are attacked sounds good, it's not something that should be relied on.
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9592/wayofthesword.png
Way of the Sword
Swiftblade's unsurpassed skill at the sword has made him a master of hitting where it hurts, giving him a chance to critically strike opponents with each attack.
This skill is very useful for last-hitting and denying. However, you shouldn't rely on this to kill your enemy heroes; this is primarily your way of taking chunks of health out of creeps and towers. Maxed out, you can take out creeps at a pretty good rate. and all that last-hitting and denying should go a long way to helping you get the items you need.
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/911/swiftslashes.png
Swift Slashes
Swiftblade attacks random nearby targets with such speed that he appears to teleport to them. Targets are randomly chosen, yet it is possible to teleport to the same target multiple times. Teleports self to random targets 3 / 5 / 8 times, dealing 150 to 250 Physical damage to each target. Applies Swift Slashes to self for duration of activation. Staff of the Master can boost this ability.
Level 1: 3 slashes, Level 2: 5 slashes, Level 3: 8 slashes
This skill alone will make you a force to be reckoned with in any 1v1 fight. If you catch an enemy hero alone in the forest, do note that all 3 - 8 slashes damage that one hero. Using this on a hero close to creeps is wasteful; save this for encounters that do not include creeps. The best thing about Swift Slashes is that it essentially disables your victim. Even certain blink skills like Valkyrie's do not warrant an escape from this skill. Like any ultimate, this skill should be learned immediately upon reaching level 6.
My skill build:
1. Blade Frenzy
2. Way of the Sword
3. Blade Frenzy
4. Way of the Sword
5. Blade Frenzy
6. Swift Slashes
7. Blade Frenzy
8. Way of The Sword
9. Attribute Boost
10. Way of The Sword
11. Swift Slashes
12. Counter Attack
13. Counter Attack
14. Counter Attack
15. Counter Attack
16. Swift Slashes
17. Attribute Boost
18. Attribute Boost
19. Attribute Boost
20. Attribute Boost
21. Attribute Boost
22. Attribute Boost
23. Attribute Boost
24. Attribute Boost
25. Attribute Boost
I personally like to get most of the skills down before I go all out with the Attribute Boost, but again, this probably isn't the best build out there. This is just a guideline to show you how I would go around distributing Swiftblade's skill points.
Items:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2347/runesofblightx6.pnghttp://img39.imageshack.us/img39/7058/pretenderscrownx2.pnghttp://img39.imageshack.us/img39/193/minortotem.png
Starting Items:
x6 Runes of Blight (2 sets of 3) - 180 gold
x2 Pretender's Crown - 185 x 2 = 370 gold
x1 Minor Totem - 53 gold
Total: 603 gold
This is not only the starting item set I use with Swiftblade, but also the starting item set I use for some other Agility-based heroes. The Runes of Blight will give you some staying power, but do not use them way too quickly; if you can lane smart enough, you might not even need to use all six. The two Pretender's Crowns not only provide stat boosts, but they also give you a headstart on building Fortified Bracelets and Soulscream Rings. The Minor Totem also gives minor stat boosts. Although insignificant alone, the Crowns and Totem should give you a useful push early on.
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9361/fortifiedbraceletsx2.png
OR
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6507/soulscreamring.pnghttp://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5382/fortifiedbracelet.png
Phase 2:
x2 Fortified Bracelets - 2(510 - 185) = 650 gold
Total: 650 gold
OR
1x Soulscream Ring - 460 - 185 = 275 gold
1x Fortified Bracelet - 510 - 185 = 325 gold
Total: 600 gold
You should be able to get to Phase 2 very early. I usually go for one of the two sets above. 2 Fortified Bracelets give you a pretty good Strength boost, meaning higher health. 1 Fortified Bracelet and 1 Soulscream Ring give similar effects, but the Soulscream Ring amplifies Agility, so it's more of a balance-out between autoattack damage and survivability. If you are following the guide, getting these Phase 2 items should be much easier than building them from scratch, since you already have your 2 Pretender's Crowns at hand.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7528/enhancedmarchers.png
Phase 3:
Enhanced Marchers - 1500 gold
Total: 1500 gold
It is best that you get to Phase 3 as quickly as possible. These Enhanced Marchers are your best friend; they'll let you get out of tight spots, and they'll let you chase down weakened enemy heroes. Remember that there is a "Phased" ability which you can activate (by pressing the hotkey for the Enhanced Marchers' item slot), which grants the user a temporary speed boost. This is a very useful item for Swiftblade, and it is a MUST. Additionally, the "Phased" ability can be used in conjunction with Blade Frenzy. Need I say more?
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4120/helmofblacklegion.png
OR
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9233/sustainer.png
Phase 4:
Helm of Black Legion - 2225 gold
OR
Sustainer - 1750 gold
Once again, Phase 4 is focused on increasing your survivability. The Helm of Black Legion can block a significant amount of damage from creeps, so your health will be better saved for hero fights. The helm also gives some Health Regeneration and adds 300 Hit Points.
Complete Newbie Tip: Since the Helm of Black Legion requires 2 items from the Secret Shop, you would optimally want to lose as little items as possible. The best way to do this is take the buckler, then drop your Bracelets/Soulscream Rings next to you at the Secret Shop. Complete the helm, and put back your bracelets/rings.
If you can't get the 2225 gold for the Helm of Black Legion, the Sustainer will suffice, as it will give you Health and Mana regeneration. Another alternative is simply getting the Buckler, and saving up your gold until you can get your Lifetube and Beastheart.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/901/runedaxe.pnghttp://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8045/shieldbreaker.png
Phase 5:
Runed Axe - 4350 gold
Shielbreaker - 4400 gold
Total: 8750 gold
Okay, if you're new, Phase 5 might seem daunting. 8750 gold? Sometimes I can't even earn that much gold. This should be your mid-to-late game phase. You don't need both, but it would be a nice incentive. The Runed Axe gives splash damage; the Shieldbreaker lowers your victim's armor. If you went with the Sustainer in Phase 4, it would be cheaper to buy a Runed Axe. For the Shieldbreaker, I recommend slowly building it. It requires 2 Warhammers (1600 gold each) and the Shieldbreaker Recipe. The Warhammers alone give you a nice little damage boost already, so keeping one of those at hand, then completing the Shieldbreaker when you have enough gold helps. Same goes with the Runed Axe; if you can't afford all 3 ingredients right away, get parts that you need most.
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1714/staffofthemaster.png
Phase 6:
Staff of the Master - 4300 gold
Apparently Swift Slashes can be amplified by the Staff of the Master. If it doesn't, please ignore this phase completely, and tell me too so I can make the change.
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7371/hellflower.pnghttp://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9320/flayer.pnghttp://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3460/wingbow.pnghttp://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3494/symbolofrage.png
Luxury Items:
Hellflower - 5025 gold
Flayer - 5800 gold
Wingbow - 6000 gold
Symbol of Rage - 6150 gold
Total: 22975 gold
These are luxury items, and therefore optional. The Hellflower can cast a Silence spell on your opponent. The Flayer lets you pack a punch, but probably is the least special of the luxury items. For 200 more gold, the Wingbow would probably give you much more lethality. The Symbol of Rage is good if you need Lifesteal. It has a base 25% lifesteal attribute, and when activated, the Symbol grants you 150% lifesteal for 3.5 seconds. These Luxury Items are outlandishly expensive, so if you can't afford them, you can choose to take parts of them.
Keep in mind that you should always adapt to what your situation calls for.
Lane-Buddies:
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3065/pollywog.png
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/3065/pollywog.pnghttp://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6248/pestilence.pnghttp://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3075/andromeda.png
Pollywog Priest, Pestilence, or Andromeda
Pollywog's Magic Bindings are a great setup to your Blade Frenzy. When Pollywog holds an enemy, you can activate Blade Frenzy on him, and most of the time you'll either force them back to base or kill them outright.
Pestilence's Imaple stuns enemies around him and also slows them afterwards. Like Magic Bindings, Impale is the perfect setup for your Blade Frenzy.
Andromeda is a pure support hero. Her Comet stuns the enemy, then she can use Aurora to lower their armor, setting you up perfectly. She can even use Void Rip to bring victims back to you.
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8103/arachna.pnghttp://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2025/electrician.pnghttp://img30.imageshack.us/img30/7938/blacksmith.png
Arachna, Electrician, or Blacksmith
Arachna's Webbed Shot is what makes her such a good compliment to Swiftblade. A Level 3 Webbed Shot has 0 cooldown, so Arachna can use it to keep opponents slowed, while Swiftblade goes in with his spin.
Electrician's Static Grip makes him a good compliment to Swiftblade. Static Grip completely disables its target, so Swiftblade can attack whoever is being gripped without fear of retaliation.
Blacksmith has both a stun and a slow. His Fireball stuns its target, and with his "ultimate," Blacksmith can deal lots of damage to his enemies. His Hammer Throw slows the enemy. These two skills used in conjunction with Swiftblade's Blade Frenzy or Swift Slashes will kill many heroes easily.
Note: If you guys have any other good allies for Swiftblade, let me know, so I can add them.
Conclusion:
Swiftblade is a hero that is fun, but it takes time to fully utilize his abilities. The key nice of Swiftblade is the fact that he can deal gobs of damage.
Thanks for reading my guide! If you have things you think I should add or change, please let me know! I'm trying to keep an up-to-date resource for all aspiring Swiftblade players, so if you guys have ANY criticisms, don't be afraid to comment!
To be cont. (Critique Welcome)