The Heroes in Dota 2 - An Introductory Guide for Shadow Shaman

Introduction

Dota 2 is a game where you can choose between 120 heroes, each of whom is unique in its own way. Although every single hero in this game is very different in comparison to the rest, they are all suited into two big categories - Supports and Cores. While it's true that the Core heroes are usually more important because they have the uneasy task to carry their team to victory, their job will be absolutely impossible without the support.

In fact, many new players tend to dislike the playstyle of the support heroes. Even though it might seem boring sometimes, once you learn how to play properly, you will have tons of fun in this role. Regardless of what people say, it is as important as the core position.

With that said, let's take a look at one of the best support heroes - Shadow Shaman. 

Basic information about this hero.

Shadow Shaman was also known as Rhasta in DotA and he is a ranged intelligence hero that has one of the best CC chains in Dota 2. Although there are people who tend to play this hero in the mid lane,  this hero will be playing as support in 99% of the cases. He has one of the highest starting damage in the game, which makes him perfect for harassing the enemy.  What's more, once he gets a couple of levels, his abilities can keep every single offlaner in place long enough to score a kill.

With that said, let's take a look at all abilities that this amazing hero has to offer:

• Ether Shock is a simple yet very effective nuke that can be easily used either for scoring kills or just casual farm. It has a low cooldown and fairly low mana cost, which makes it easy to spam. In fact, the only drawback that we can think of is the fact that the range of it s not that big. In other words, you will have to be close to your target in order to use it. Other than that, it's a very well-rounded spell.
• Hex works exactly the same way as Lion's spell - it basically turns the target into a chicken. While under the effect of this ability, the enemy hero won't be able to cast his spells or items. However, he will still be able to move but at a very moderated speed. The good thing about Hex is that you can inflict damage without breaking the effect. In other words, you can easily kill every single hero in just one hex.
  Although the range of it is not that big, once you get a Blink's Dagger, you can always do a Blink-Hex combo and kill every single hero in the game.
• Shackles are by far, one of the best disables in Dota 2. Although it requires Shadow Shaman to actually channel it, it can a target in place for a whopping 5 seconds. Combine this with a Hex, and you get a nearly 10 seconds CC chain, something that can't be found anywhere else.
  Even though Shackles is not really doing that much during the later stages of the game, it can do wonders in the early to mid-game. Combined with heroes such as Ursa, OD, or Templar Assassin, you can kill any single hero on the map with little to no effort.
• Mass Serpent Ward - last, but not least, we have one of the best pushing ultimates in the game. Once used, these snake-looking wards stay in one place and deal damage every second to a target that's near them. They can be used either during a team fight or in order to push towers, depending on the situation.
  Even though they are unable to move, they do so much damage that basically forces the enemies to either run from them or kill them first. Each ward from the stack dies in two attacks from a source.

Items and Counters

Similar to the other support heroes in Dota 2, pretty much every single item for this role will do the job when. Then again, there are a couple of items that are an absolute must for this hero:

• Blink Dagger is an absolute must in every single situation. Although it can be a bit hard to get it early on, you should aim to get it as soon as possible. Once you purchase it, this item will completely enable your powers and allow you to be a lot more aggressive during team fights. After all, there is nothing better than a "good-old" Blink + Hex.
• Aghanim's Scepter is another very strong item that nearly every SS player tends to get. It is kind of expensive for a support player, which definitely makes it a luxury. However, once you actually get it, you can bring down the enemy tower in just a matter of seconds, which is pretty cool.
• Aether Lens is also a must, especially if you are planning on playing aggressively. The range that you get for your spells is welcomed because Shadow Shaman does not have the best spell-range in the game.
• Refresher Orb is the best luxury item you can get with this hero. Having two sets of hexes and Mass Serpent Wards can be a game-changer. If you do end up getting this item, you can easily get a lane of rax on your own in just a matter of seconds.

When it comes down to counters, Shadow Shaman is very weak against every single "pumped" core in the game. Heroes such as Templar Assassin, Slark, and Night Stalker can kill Rhasta in just a matter of seconds. The only way in which you can survive is either via receiving help from your team-mates or if you have a defensive item at your disposal.