Skills
Frost Arrows: An orb skill with a low mana
cost, FA is the very skill that enables Drow to be the unrelenting chaser that
she is. It can be used early-game to harass to almost the same effect as
deadlier laners such as Viper and Huskar, and on a defensive level, can be used
to indefinitely kite melee heroes such as Axe and the Broodmother.
Silence: While a three-second Silence can save you from a nasty gank in
early-game, a six-second silence is more than enough for a skilled Drow to
effortlessly dispatch more than one target towards the end. Silence is a great
skill to take out squishy INT heroes and should be used to disable an enemy's
disables before they fall on Drow. Note that Silence does not stop
the target from using items.
Trueshot Aura: A great skill for significantly increasing your damage (as
well as that of surrounding ranged allies). Note that Trueshot Aura only
consider unit base damage and primary attribute increases - not raw damage
items. For this reason, Drow's build forgoes items that give raw damage in
favor of Agility bonuses - not only for Trueshot Aura, but for the IAS as well.
Marksmanship: Although not the most exciting ultimate, Traxex's
Marksmanship passively increases her damage by 45 (even more with Trueshot
Aura), ASPD by 45%, and even armor by over 6 points as well.
Skill Build1 - Frost Arrows2 - Silence3
- Frost Arrows4 - Stats5 - Frost Arrows6 - Marksmanship7
- Frost Arrows8~10 - Silence / Stats11
- Marksmanship12~15 - Trueshot Aura16 - Marksmanship17~19 - Stats / Silence20~25
- Stats
Justification
One level of Frost Arrows is taken at level one to ensure lane domination right
off the bat. Followed is a level of Silence to escape ganks and to provide even
more offensive capabilities (for an easy first-blood against spellcasters).
Frost Arrows is maxed as soon as possible for ganking and harassing purposes.
In an easy lane, the combination of a 3-second silence as well as a constant
orbwalking harass is more than enough to drive intelligent players back to the
fountain and slay the ones not as bright.
Stats are taken to boost Drow's HP slightly as well as to increase her damage.
After Frost Arrows is maxed, a choice must be made whether to take Silence or
Stats. This choice is situational and up to your judgment. If facing a team
heavy on casters, the choice is obvious and essential. If facing a melee lineup
that is easy food, Stats may be the better route to take.
Trueshot Aura is maxed last just at the time that the bonus damage truly begins
to shine. By the time Drow hits 16, the aura itself should be adding a good
amount of extra damage, further increasing her single target output.
It is a wise choice not to underestimate the fluidity of the Drow Ranger's
skill build; certainly, Trueshot Aura can be skilled earlier on in place of
Stats and Silence if you feel like you need the extra bit of damage that it
offers in the pursuit of controlling your lane. Similarly, Silence can be
skilled up earlier if the necessity arises. Understand that the above build is
not a set rule, but rather a guide to the general idea of what
a vanilla game would require.
Starting Items
Tangoes: For regenerative purposes. With a
nice range of 600, a spammable orb, as well as a 3-second silence, you
shouldn't need many of these except in the more difficult of dual lanes. In the
event that you do, just send your chicken back to pick some more up.
Circlets: A basic stat item - increases HP and damage for an easier time
laning. Circlets are upgraded to Wraith Bands later on.
Slippers of Agility: To improve last-hitting and harassing, as well as to
be turned into Wraith Bands later on.
Grab these items and head off to your lane. Although Drow Ranger is a decent
soloer, she works well in a dual-lane too, with a constant harass and spammable
slow.
Core Items
Wraith Bands: Wraiths help boost your HP and
mana pool, as well as add a cheap source of damage and ASPD. Stack them as
needed.
Power Treads (STR): Give movespeed, HP, and IAS.
Manta Style: The interaction between Drow and the new Manta Style is
fantastic. Not only does it give movespeed, much needed HP, damage, IAS, and
mana, but Mirror Images adds additional survivability and gives Drow even more
pushing power than before and allows her to rax down the enemy base like no
other. Frost Arrows works beautifully with images, as it slows down the target
immensely, allowing your images time to pound on the helpless hero.
Additionally, learning how to dodge stuns (Hellfire Blast, Storm Bolt, etc.)
with Manta Style can save you from a potentially disastrous situation.
TP: Never leave home without one.
Situational & Luxury ItemsBelow is a
list of situational and luxury items that work well on Drow, and excel under
certain circumstances. As the game progresses on, judge carefully what you feel
you are lacking in and need. While the following are all good items on Traxex,
some work better than others against the enemy lineup - it is up for you to
gauge what you need the most.
