Shadow Fiend

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Shadow Fiend
19 + 2.7
25 + 3.5
18 + 2.2
Grants the following bonuses per level:
+59.4HP and +0.27HP regeneration
+0.58 armor and 3.5 attack speed
+3.5 Main Attack Damage
+26.4MP and +0.11MP regeneration
+0.1% base magic resistance
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5.17
Armor
(704.89 EHP)
26.8%
Magic Resist
(734.97 EHP)
1200
Projectile Speed
Melee Melee units have their projectile speed set to 900, if they should ever need it.
100 (125)
(1.6 BAT)
Base Attack Time Attacks per Second is defined as
ΣAS / BAT / 100
0.5 + 0.54
Turn Rate This unit takes 0.116s to turn 180°.
This ability component has a different effect during daytime. 1800 / This ability component has a different effect during nighttime. 800
Ethereal
Gib Type
2011-05-26
Released
2005-03-01
Competitive Span
2011-05-26 — Present
Version Control
This article is mostly accurate for 7.38, the last version this hero was changed in.

New interactions that emerged in following patches may have not yet been accounted for.
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Unleashes the souls of fallen enemies for damage.
Capturing Souls from every kill he makes, Shadow Fiend is always gathering his power. Armor fails within the Presence of the Dark Lord, leaving foes no choice but to scramble. Every assault, each carefully aimed Shadowraze kills an enemy, brings him closer to his acme of potency. The Shadow Fiend pauses to charge his demonic energies, then, with a flourish of his lightless wings, unleashes his gathered souls in all directions to obliterate enemies in a howling Requiem of Souls.
Shadowraze (Near)
Shadowraze (Medium)
Shadowraze (Far)
Feast of Souls
Presence of the Dark Lord
Requiem of Souls
Requiem of Souls
Roles:Carry Carry Nuker Nuker
AdjectivesDemon, Flying, Red
Legs ( 0 )

Facets[edit]

Lasting Presence
Necromastery
Increases the max Necromastery stack count per enemy hero kill until Shadow Fiend's death.
Presence of the Dark Lord
Presence of the Dark Lord applies an armor reduction debuff per enemy hero killed within the aura radius.
Shadowmire
Shadowraze
Shadowraze applies a stacking movement speed slow on affected enemy units.

Upgrades[edit]

Aghanim's[edit]

Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter.
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:
Necromastery
Increases max stacks.
Requiem of Souls
The souls returns back to Shadow Fiend once expanding to its max travel radius, dealing lesser damage and heals its master in the process.

Reduces cooldown.
Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:
Shadowraze
Reduces all Shadowrazes' cooldown by a flat amount per hero hit.

Talents[edit]

Shadowraze Instant Attack Instant Attacks25+30% Feast of Souls Cast Animation Speed
+0.2s Requiem of Souls Debuff Duration per Line20+2 Necromastery Attack Damage per Stack
+120 Shadowraze Base Damage15 Presence of the Dark Lord Affects BuildingsBuildings Buildings
+30 Feast of Souls Attack Speed10+30 Shadowraze Stack Damage
▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃
+2 All / / Attributes

Bio[edit]

So, you're curious where I come from? There's one easy way to find out for yourself.
▶️  Nevermore, the Shadow Fiend
Aliases:
SF, Nevermore
It is said that Nevermore the Shadow Fiend has the soul of a poet, and in fact he has thousands of them. Over the ages he has claimed the souls of poets, priests, emperors, beggars, slaves, philosophers, criminals and (naturally) heroes; no sort of soul escapes him. What he does with them is unknown. No one has ever peered into the Abysm whence Nevermore reaches out like an eel from among astral rocks. Does he devour them one after another? Does he mount them along the halls of an eldritch temple, or pickle the souls in necromantic brine? Is he merely a puppet, pushed through the dimensional rift by a demonic puppeteer? Such is his evil, so intense his aura of darkness, that no rational mind may penetrate it. Of course, if you really want to know where the stolen souls go, there's one sure way to find out: Add your soul to his collection. Or just wait for Nevermore.

Innate. Innate[edit]

Necromastery[edit]

Necromastery
Does not pierce Debuff Immunity sources. Partially usable or conditionally bestowed by Illusions. Partially or conditionally disabled by Break.
Ability
Passive
Affects
Self
Grants bonus attack damage per stack from unit kills, and loses a portion of stacks upon death.
Max Stacks: 20 (Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. 25)
Stacks Lost on Death Factor: 0.7
Stack Gain per Kill: 1
Attack Damage Bonus per Stack: 1/2/3/4 (With level 20 Right Talent.With level 20 Right Talent. 3/4/5/6)
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Increases max stacks.
This ability levels up with Requiem of Souls.
Harvested souls swirl in and out of the Abysm, empowering the Shadow Fiend to increase the size of his collection.
  • Details
  • Interactions
  • Status Effects
  • Misc.
  • Show All
Lasting Presence
Increases the max Necromastery stack count per enemy hero kill until Shadow Fiend's death.
Max Stacks Increase per Kill: 1
Bonus Max Stacks Lost on Death Factor: 1
  • Grants stacks from killing any units, regardless of the ability visual effects, including from denies.
  • The current number of stacks is rounded down upon The unit is dead and is ressurected after its respawn time. Certain abilities are dispellable upon death only.The unit is dead and is ressurected after its respawn time. Certain abilities are dispellable upon death only. death and is defined as:
    • EXPR
      ⌊ StackNumber × 0.7 ⌋
    • Hence, Nevermore can never lose all stacks.
    • Does not lose stacks with ReincarnationReincarnation reincarnation sources.
Buff modifier_nevermore_necromasteryUndispellable.
Necromastery: Stored souls granting an additional x bonus damage.
Debuff modifier_nevermore_necromastery_fearDispellable by any Dispel sources.
Necromastery: Feared.
  • The greater the stack, the more red particles fly around Nevermore's chest area.

Hero Model[edit]

Hero Model
Ability
Passive / Channeling
Affects
Self
Nevermore's hero model has the following hidden Innate. innate abilities.

He may only perform or utilize the ability's functions upon a successful channeling.
Details
Hidden Innate Abilities
Watch Tower
Warp
Warp
Lantern of Sight
Tap on the Innate. innate abilities for more details.

Abilities[edit]

Shadowraze[edit]

Shadowraze
Affects
Enemy Units
Damage
Spell / Magical / Instant Attack / Physical
Adds a stacking damage amplifier on the target that causes the enemy to take bonus Shadowraze damage per stack.
Cast Animation: 0.55 + 0
Effect Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 250
Base Damage: 90/160/230/300 (With level 15 Left Talent.With level 15 Left Talent. 210/280/350/420)
Damage Increase per Stack: 35/50/65/80 (With level 10 Right Talent.With level 10 Right Talent. 65/80/95/110)
Stack Duration: 7
Instant Attack Factor: (With level 25 Left Talent.With level 25 Left Talent. 1)
Shadow Fiend razes the ground directly in front of him, dealing damage to enemy units in the area.
Distance: 200
Shadow Fiend razes the ground a short distance away from him, dealing damage to enemy units in the area.
Distance: 450
Shadow Fiend razes the ground a longer distance away from him, dealing damage to enemy units in the area.
Distance: 700
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Reduces all Shadowrazes' cooldown by a flat amount per hero hit.
Cooldown Reduction per Hero Hit: (Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. 2)
9
Mana Cost
75
Nevermore's trademark for harvesting souls.
  • Details
  • Interactions
  • Status Effects
  • Misc.
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Shadowmire
Shadowraze applies a stacking movement speed slow on affected enemy units.
Move Speed Slow Increase per Stack: 3%/6%/9%/12%
  • Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources.
    • Shadowraze (Near)
      • P O Q
      • Affects enemy units 50-distance (PO) behind Nevermore and up to 450-distance (OQ) in front of him.
    • Shadowraze (Medium)
      • O P Q
      • Affects enemy units between 200 (OP) to 700-distance (OQ) in front of him.
    • Shadowraze (Far)
      • O P Q
      • Affects enemy units between 450 (OP) to 950-distance (OQ) in front of him.
  • The affected enemy unit(s).
    • The ability effects are applied as follows:
      1. Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. The cooldown reduction per enemy hero hit.
      2. Debuff shadowraze_debuff
        • Applies a debuff on the affected enemy units that counts the amount of Shadowraze hits within the debuff duration.
        • This either increases the stack count or applies the debuff.
        • Has no stack limit.
      3. The Magical Damage Type magical Spell DamageSpell Damage spell damage.
        • Hence, the first stack applied by the ability does not increases the spell damage.
      4. With level 25 Left Talent.With level 25 Left Talent. The Instant Attack instant attack instance.
    • Does not affect the following units:
  • The flat cooldown reduction component has the following properties:
    • Each Shadowraze ability independently checks for the amount of enemy hero hit upon cast, and does not affect the other Shadowraze's cooldown.
    • Applies the flat reduction bonus before other percentage-based cooldown reduction sources.
    • Considers Clones are identical to the main hero, with certain exceptions. clones and the Spirit Bear as heroes, Illusion Properties. illusions and other creep-heroes as creeps.
Debuff modifier_nevermore_shadowraze_debuffDispellable by any Dispel sources.
Shadowraze: Receiving x bonus damage from each Shadowraze attack.
Debuff modifier_nevermore_shadowraze_counterDispellable by any Dispel sources.
Hidden modifier
  • math distance/area
  • COSMETIC
    • Applies a 3-second Debuff shadowraze_counter debuff on affected enemy heroes to count successful Shadowraze hits.
    • Although only the Demon Eater cosmetic item makes use of it, the counter is always placed.

Feast of Souls[edit]

D
E
Feast of Souls
Affects
Self
Grants self bonus attack speed for an amount of time.
Bonus Attack Speed: 40/55/70/85 (With level 10 Left Talent.With level 10 Left Talent. 70/85/100/115)
Duration: 7.5/8/8.5/9
The frenzy state increases the Necromastery stack limit but consumes some at the end of the process.
Stack Cost: 5
Stack Limit Increase: 5
Talent Upgrade
In time, all Nevermore's abilities will have a shorter cast animation time.
Cast Animation Factor: 0.7
16
Mana Cost
60
  • Details
  • Status Effects
  • Misc.
  • Show All
  • Buff
    • Reapplying the buff refreshes the duration.
    • Reduces the Necromastery stacks upon losing the buff in any way.
  • The cast animation time factor With level 25 Right Talent.With level 25 Right Talent. talent stacks multiplicatively with other cast time reduction sources.
Buff modifier_nevermore_Dispellable by any Dispel sources.
  • The ability effects are applied as follows:
    1. Grants the attack speed buff.
    2. Reduces Necromastery stacks upon buff expiring.

Presence of the Dark Lord[edit]

F
P
Presence of the Dark Lord
Pierces Debuff Immunity sources. This ability can be bestowed by Illusions. Fully disabled by Break.
Ability
Passive / Aura
Affects
Enemy Units
The presence itself reduces the armor of nearby enemies. Every enemy hero killed nearby further eats into the enemies' armor and applying additional reduction.
Aura Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 1200
Armor Reduction: 4/5/6/7
Aura Linger Duration: 0.5
The mere presence of Nevermore now reduces the enemy structures' armor.
Building Armor Factor: (With level 15 Right Talent.With level 15 Right Talent. 1)
Even being near Nevermore eats away at one's soul.
  • Details
  • Interactions
  • Status Effects
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Lasting Presence
Presence of the Dark Lord applies an armor reduction debuff per enemy hero killed within the aura radius.
Stack Gain per Kill: 1
Armor Reduction per Stack: 2
Stack Duration: 60
  • to The affected enemy unit(s).
    • All ability effects are provided by a negative aura centered around Nevermore.
    • Affects the following units:
    • Does not affect the following units:
  • The Lasting Presence stack may be granted to Nevermore's Illusion Properties. illusions within the radius.
Buff modifier_nevermore_presence_aura (x)Undispellable.
Hidden modifier
Debuff modifier_nevermore_presenceOnly dispellable by Death.Only dispellable by Death.
Presence of the Dark Lord: Shadow Fiend's presence reduces your armor by x.

Requiem of Souls[edit]

Ability
No / Passive
Affects
Enemy Units / Self
Damage
Spell / Magical
Gathers his captured souls to release them as lines of demonic energy, units near Shadow Fiend can be damaged by several lines of energy.

Enemy units damaged are feared, and have both its movement speed and magic resistance reduced with a duration based on each line hit.
Cast Animation: 1.67 + 0.9
Max Travel Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 1000
Lines Starting Width: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 125
Lines End Width: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 300
Damage per Line: 80/120/160
Move Speed Slow: 20%/25%/30%
Magic Resist Reduction: 5%/10%/15%
Debuff Duration per Line: 0.6 (With level 20 Left Talent.With level 20 Left Talent. 0.8)
Max Debuff Duration: 2.15 (With level 20 Left Talent.With level 20 Left Talent. 2.6)
These lines of demonic energy are created per captured soul through Necromastery.
Stack to Line Factor: 1
Passively casts Requiem of Souls upon Shadow Fiend's death, regardless of its cooldown.
Proc Chance on Death: 100%
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
The souls returns back to Shadow Fiend once expanding to its max travel radius, dealing lesser damage and heals its master in the process.

Reduces cooldown.
Damage per Return Line: (Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. 48/72/96)
Self-Heal per Return Line: Affected by Heal Manipulation sources. (Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. 48/72/96)
120/110/100 (Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. 90/80/70)
Mana Cost
150/175/200
The captured souls of those past slain are released to ravage their former allies.
  • Details
  • Interactions
  • Status Effects
  • Misc.
  • Show All
  • The damage lines component has the following properties:
    • The total damage is based on the current number of Necromastery stacks.
    • The area of every single damage line is cone-shaped and spaced evenly, with the first line expanding outward and toward Nevermore's east, with the other lines adapting accordingly. The degree per line is defined as:
      • EXPR
        θ = 360° / CurrentNecromasteryStack
      • Hence, all damage lines may hit the affected enemy unit when Nevermore is on the same coordinates as the affected enemy.
    • Each line does not apply its Spell DamageSpell Damage spell damage on the same enemy unit more than once per cast upon expanding and contracting respectively.
  • The contracting lines has the following properties:
    • Contracts at the same speed to Shadow Fiend's current location, not to the original Requiem of Souls cast location.
    • Once the line contracts, their path cannot be further change and do not follow if Nevermore moves.
    • The width of the line is now a reversed cone-shaped, starting out with the maximum width and becomes smaller at its tip.
  • Has the DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_NORMAL_WHEN_STOLEN tag.
    • This ability's cast point is not modified when acquired.
Buff modifier_nevermore_requiem_invis_breakOnly dispellable by Death.Only dispellable by Death.
Hidden modifier
Buff modifier_nevermore_requiem_thinkerUndispellable.
On hidden entity
Debuff modifier_nevermore_requiem_fearDispellable by any Dispel sources.
Requiem of Souls: Feared.
Debuff modifier_nevermore_requiem_slowDispellable by any Dispel sources.
Requiem of Souls: Movement speed reduced by x%.
  • Creates a line on per 18 (Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. 14.4) degrees at max Necromastery stack.
  • line speed math

Recent Matches[edit]

Main Article: Shadow Fiend/Matches
DateTierTournamentPicksScorevs. Picks
Apr 09, 2025 - 12:00 EDTTier 1ESL One Raleigh 2025ESL One Raleigh 2025ESL One Raleigh 2025Jakiro Monkey King Ringmaster Centaur Warrunner Shadow Fiend
Talon EsportsTalon Esports
0 : 1
Team SpiritTeam Spirit
Muerta Bristleback Gyrocopter Silencer Sand King
Apr 09, 2025 - 14:15 CESTTier 3European Pro League Season 25European Pro League Season 25EPL Season 25Jakiro Sand King Slark Wraith King Shadow Fiend
HYDRAHYDRA
0 : 1
Apple City GangApple City Gang
Phantom Assassin Ringmaster Tusk Enigma Ember Spirit
Apr 07, 2025 - 17:30 EDTTier 1ESL One Raleigh 2025ESL One Raleigh 2025ESL One Raleigh 2025Beastmaster Shadow Demon Jakiro Kunkka Shadow Fiend
BetBoom TeamBetBoom Team
0 : 1
Team TideboundTeam Tidebound
Tinker Bristleback Windranger Clinkz Tusk
Apr 05, 2025 - 13:00 CESTTier 2FISSURE SpecialFISSURE SpecialFISSURE SpecialNature's Prophet Bounty Hunter Naga Siren Enigma Shadow Fiend
L1GA TEAML1GA TEAM
1 : 0
Paseka TeamPaseka Team
Enchantress Centaur Warrunner Dragon Knight Ancient Apparition Alchemist
Apr 02, 2025 - 16:00 EDTQualifierDreamLeague Season 26: North America Closed QualifierDreamLeague Season 26: North America Closed QualifierDreamLeague S26 NA CQWeaver Marci Io Shadow Fiend Lycan
4 Zoomers4 Zoomers
0 : 1
5BUGPIGPOLE5BUGPIGPOLE
Ember Spirit Ancient Apparition Techies Magnus Troll Warlord

Recent Changes[edit]

Main Articles: Changelogs, Old Abilities and Hero Lore
Description
7.38
(2025-02-19)
  • Shadowraze Shadowmire
    • No longer applies 5/6/7/8 attack speed slow per stack.
    • Rescaled movement speed slow per stack from 5%/6%/7%/8% to 3%/6%/9%/12%.
  • Feast of Souls
    • Reduced mana cost from 75 to 60.
    • Rescaled attack speed bonus from 30/50/70/90 to 40/55/70/85.
    • Rescaled duration from 8 on each level to 7.5/8/8.5/9.
7.37e
(2024-11-19)
7.37
(2024-07-31)
  • MOVED Necromastery hero kill max stack increase component to Lasting Presence.
  • Shadowraze
    • Reduced stack duration from 8 to 7.
    • Increased mana cost from 75 to 80.
  • Requiem of Souls
    • Reduced lines end width from 350 to 300.
    • Reduced debuff duration per line from 0.7 to 0.6.
  • TalentsTalents Talents:  
    LVL 20  +0.25s/+0.95s Requiem of Souls debuff duration per line/max debuff duration reduced to +0.2s/+0.45s.

Dota Plus Progress[edit]

Main Article: Hero Challenges

Relics track a hero's actions and statistics, and display in-game notifications when a milestone is reached. They are only available to Dota Plus subscribers.

Shadow Fiend's Relics Voice Lines

Medium Shadowraze Kills

Long Shadowraze Kills

3 Shadowraze combo

5 hero Requiem of Souls

Short Shadowraze Kills

Teleports leading to Kills

Eul's Scepter of Divinity leading to Kills

Damage from Invisibility

Kills during Black King Bar

Blink leading to Kills

Triple Kills

Mega Kill Streaks

Kill Assists

Kills
Bronze

Silver

Gold

Platinum

Master

Grandmaster
  • ▶️ It's true, I have the soul of a poet. I just can't remember where I put it.

Equipment[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • The name "Nevermore" likely refers to the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe. This is also referenced in his bio.
  • Shadow Fiend's rare response ▶️ "Never say Nevermore..." is in reference to the James Bond movie "Never say never again".
  • Apart for popular demand by fans, Shadow Fiend's model rework may have also been done to adhere to certain countries' censorship laws, namely the Chinese client.
  • Warcraft 3 similarities:
    • Shadow Fiend uses the model of the Firelord, a neutral ranged hero.
    • The model's tint was set to 0|0|0, turning it completely black, apart from the a few particle effects that ignored the tint.
    • The original model of the Firelord may have been the inspiration for the Demon Eater arcana.
    • Shadow Fiend has a 1/11 chance to spawn in with the name "YaphetS", as tribute to the professional DotA player.

Gallery[edit]

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