Shadow Fiend can win the lane with a series of Shadowrazes, quickly build up gold, and destroy targets with both magic and physical damage. Let’s look at who can pressure Nevermore before he gets his items and how to avoid giving him an easy Requiem of Souls.

Hero Overview

Strengths: Nevermore gains bonus damage from collected souls, quickly clears waves and the jungle, and Presence of the Dark Lord reduces enemy armor. His three Shadowrazes are dangerous because repeated hits deal more damage. Requiem of Souls can turn a fight around, especially after a surprise initiation.

Weaknesses: The hero’s weaknesses are a small health pool, no built-in escape, and a strong reliance on tempo. Deaths cost him souls and delay his key items.

Best Heroes Against Shadow Fiend

Shadow Fiend usually plays in the mid lane, though he is sometimes picked as a carry. Strong laners and mobile heroes who won’t let him comfortably maintain the ideal distance for Shadowrazes are good against him.

Carry

  • Riki Quickly closes to melee range, where it’s difficult for Nevermore to land Shadowrazes, while Smoke Screen prevents him from casting his spells.
  • Ursa Closes the gap and quickly stacks Fury Swipes. Enrage helps him survive Requiem of Souls and continue the chase.

Mid

  • Viper Stronger in a direct trade, he constantly slows Nevermore and won’t let him comfortably choose his distance. Corrosive Skin reduces magic damage.
  • Templar Assassin Refraction absorbs individual hits, while Meld and Psi Blades punish low armor and careless positioning.

Offlaner

  • Clockwerk Hookshot and Power Cogs trap Nevermore at close range, making it difficult for him to land Shadowrazes accurately or prepare Requiem.
  • Legion Commander Blink Dagger into Duel leaves no time to defend, while Press the Attack helps her survive the fear and continue attacking.

Support

  • Spirit Breaker Constantly threatens to gank a hero with no escape and interrupts his ultimate setup with a series of stuns.
  • Nyx Assassin Approaches unseen and catches Shadowrazes with Spiked Carapace. Fragile Nevermore doesn’t handle his burst damage well.

Hard Support

  • Silencer Global Silence interrupts Requiem of Souls and prevents Nevermore from responding to an initiation with spells.
  • Disruptor Glimpse sends the hero back after he tries to get into a comfortable position, while Static Storm shuts down his entire spell combo.

What to Buy Against Shadow Fiend

  • Black King Bar Protects against Shadowraze and most of the effects of Requiem of Souls.
  • Blade Mail On a durable hero, it makes Nevermore more cautious about using area damage.
  • Orchid Malevolence Prevents him from casting spells and helps quickly kill a target with no escape.
  • Ghost Scepter Saves a support from a physical-damage build on Nevermore.
  • Force Staff Changes the distance and helps dodge the next Shadowraze.
  • Assault Cuirass Offsets the armor reduction and strengthens the team against physical attacks.

How to Play Against Shadow Fiend at Different Stages

Laning

Keep track of Shadowraze hits: a repeated hit is significantly more dangerous, so after the first one, it’s better to change your distance rather than continue trading. Nevermore is vulnerable to early ganks. A support approaching from two sides prevents him from keeping both opponents in a favorable area at the same time.

Midgame

Don’t leave Nevermore alone to quickly farm the jungle and lanes. Place vision around his camps and attack before his defensive item is ready. If he disappears before a fight, account for a possible Blink Dagger initiation and don’t group up tightly.

Don’t let Nevermore freely take both a wave and the nearby jungle at once. Deep vision and blocking camps slow his farm more than occasional gank attempts without disables.

Late Game

In the late game, identify his damage type from his items. Against a physical build, you need armor and protection for supports; against a magic build, you need status resistance and spread-out positioning. Don’t start a fight until you know where Nevermore is preparing Requiem from.

If Requiem of Souls is being prepared from invisibility or after a Blink Dagger, spread out immediately. One hero can take part of the effect, but the whole team must not stand in the center.