Dota 2: How to Build Slark Support 4

Slark is an agility hero with abilities that make him one of the best physical combatants in the game. Against other colors, he's very strong and, if farmed properly, can easily obliterate the enemy team in the late game.

But his abilities don't stop there. Slark is an excellent escape artist and ambusher, and he's also a great disabler with the right build. Each time he kills a hero, Slark permanently steals their agility and can also steal agility temporarily with each hit he lands on an opponent, an agility that strengthens him and makes him more resilient.

With this in mind, we present a build that places this hero in a support role, working alongside the offlaner to disrupt the enemy carry.

Facet and Abilities

Leeching Leash

The recommended facet for this build. With it, Slark can steal agility with his second ability, in addition to the agility steal provided passively when he attacks and the permanent agility steal.

Barracuda

Slark's innate provides bonus speed and health regeneration when Slark is out of enemy vision. (Any source of enemy vision counts towards this ability, including wards.)

Dark Pact

After a short delay upon activating this ability, Slark dispels most debuffs applied to him, in addition to dealing damage to nearby opponents and himself. This ability is perfect for dispelling various annoying effects caused by enemy items and abilities, including stuns, slows, and silences.

Pounce

Allows Slark to leap forward, latching onto the first enemy he reaches as he completes his leap. With the Leeching Leash facet, Slark builds up charges of his passive when he lands his Leash on an enemy hero. This can be used to leap away from ambushes or engage in combat more quickly.

Essence Shift

Slark's main ability allows the hero's blows to steal a percentage of the enemy hero's agility, and if that enemy dies under the effect of this ability, Slark steals their agility permanently.

Shadow Dance

Slark's ultimate allows him to sink into the shadows, becoming invisible and undetectable with truesight, meaning no item or ability can reveal Slark. However, a shadow animation can be seen at his location. With this ability, Slark can attack enemies while healing with his native ability, as he is technically invisible.

Aghanim

Slark's Aghanim's Shard allows him to unlock the skill Depth Shroud, which allows him to cast a smokescreen over a target area, granting Shadow Dance to all allies within the area of effect.

As a support, you'll need to act as such, fulfilling your role and your role in the game. This build is ideal for matches where the enemy carry is an agility-based hero, but it will also work well against most heroes.

Leave the base with Dark Pact enabled and take tangos for you and your lane partner, as well as wards and a grenade. Your first item should be the Tranquil Boots, as it’s a good item to allow you to constantly enter combat, ganking other lanes, in addition to the movement bonus.

Your main items will be the Shadow Blade and Orchid Malevolence, as they’ll allow you to focus on ambushing enemy supports, in addition to giving greater mobility and resources to Slark, who’ll be able to take advantage of the Shadow Blade's invisibility to recover with Barracuda. You'll also be the team's first point of contact, providing vision of the enemy terrain and possibly their positions, as well as clearing wards and securing territory.

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