Dota 2 - Shiva's Guard vs Assault Cuirass

Introduction

Generally speaking, there are not that many heroes in Dota 2 that have to make a choice between these two items. In most cases, most carry or offline heroes prefer to buy an Assault because it's the "safer pick". However, whenever you're playing an intelligence hero, making the proper decision can be a bit tricky because both of these items have their ups and downs.

So, let's take a look and see the advantages and disadvantages of these two items.

When should we go for Shiva's instead of Assault?

Choosing one item over the other can be easier said than done, especially in some situations. While it's true that AC provides more armor, Shiva has one very important advantage - it's active. This means that you can use it whenever you want and do damage, while also slowing down your enemies. Even though this might not seem as much, it can be very strong sometimes, especially when you're playing against enemies that are fast.

When should we go for Assault instead of Shiva's?

If you are trying to find an item that gives tons of armor, you should definitely go for Assault. In fact, this might just be one of the best late-game items in Dota 2 because it scales very well and as you know, armor is one of the most important stat in late-game Dota.  Apart from providing armor, you also reduce the armor of your enemy and you also get a lot of attack speed, which is great in some situations.

Final Verdict

If you're in a situation where you have to choose just one of the two items, it will all come down to what kind of hero you're playing with. However, unless your intelligence, there is no reason for you to go for Shiva's Guard because AC providers more armor, attack speed, and overall better stat.