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Shadow Fiend

From Liquipedia Dota 2 Wiki
Shadow Fiend
19 + 2.7
25 + 3.6
18 + 2.2
Grants the following bonuses per level:
+59.4HP and +0.27HP regeneration
+0.6 armor and 3.6 attack speed
+3.6 Main Attack Damage
+26.4MP and +0.11MP regeneration
+0.1% base magic resistance
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4.17
Armor
(672.61 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 7.41c, 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.
Necromastery
Necromastery
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 )

Bio

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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.

Upgrades

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Aghanim's

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Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter.
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:
Requiem of Souls
The souls returns back to Nevermore once expanding to its max travel radius, damages all affected enemy units again, and heals its master in the process.

Reduces cooldown.
Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:
Shadowraze
Applies a stacking movement speed debuff on all affected enemy units.

Reduces all Shadowrazes' cooldown by a flat amount per hero hit.

Talents

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Shadowraze Instant Attack Instant Attacks25+30% Feast of Souls Cast Animation Speed
+0.2s Requiem of Souls Debuff Duration per Line20+5 Necromastery Max Stacks
+2 Feast of Souls Necromastery Stack per Hero15+2 Presence of the Dark Lord Armor Reduction
+30 Feast of Souls Attack Speed10+30 Shadowraze Stack Damage
▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃
+2 All / / Attributes

Necromastery

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Necromastery
Does not pierce Debuff Immunity sources. Partially usable or conditionally bestowed by Illusions. Partially or conditionally disabled by Break.
Passive
Affects
Self
Grants bonus attack damage per stack from unit kills, and loses a portion of stacks upon death.
Max Stacks: 20 (With level 20 Right Talent.With level 20 Right Talent. 25)
Stacks Lost on Death Factor: 0.7
Stack Gain per Kill: 1
Attack Damage Bonus per Stack: 1.35
Hero kills are more effective and grants a greater stack.
Stack Gain per Hero Kill: 4
Hero Innate Ability
Innate Properties
The higher Nevermore's level, the greater the attack damage bonus per stack granted.
Attack Damage Bonus Increase: +This ability component scales with Hero Levels. 0.15
Hero Innate Ability
Innate Properties
Increases the damage for all Shadowrazes per Necromastery stack.
Spell Damage Bonus per Stack: 3
Hero Innate Ability
Innate Properties
The Requiem of Souls create a damaging line projectile per Necromastery stack, with a number of stack limit.
Max Stacks Limit: 20
Min Degree per Line: 18°
Harvested souls swirl in and out of the Abysm, empowering the Shadow Fiend to increase the size of his collection.

Hero Model

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Hero Model
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

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Shadowraze

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Shadowraze
Affects
Enemy Units
Spell / Magical / Instant Attack / Physical
Adds a stacking damage amplifier on the target that causes the enemy to take bonus Shadowraze damage per stack.

Has no stack limit.
Cast Animation: 0.55 + 0
Effect Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 250
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
Hero Innate Ability
Innate Properties
Increases the damage for all Shadowrazes per Necromastery stack.
Spell Damage Increase per Stack: 3
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Applies a stacking movement speed debuff on all affected enemy units.
Move Speed Slow Increase per Stack: (Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. 12%)
Debuff Duration: (Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. 7)
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.

Feast of Souls

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D
E
Feast of Souls
Affects
Self
Grants self bonus movement speed and bonus attack speed upon cast.
Move Speed Bonus: 4%/6%/8%/10%
Attack Speed Bonus: 35/50/65/80 (With level 10 Left Talent.With level 10 Left Talent. 65/80/95/110)
Buff Duration: 8
Cast Animation Factor: (With level 25 Right Talent.With level 25 Right Talent. 0.7)
Grants Necromastery stacks from enemy units within the radius per interval.

The same enemy units can only increase the stack gain once per cast.
Effect Radius: 600
Stack Gain Interval: 0.5
Max Stack Gain: 4/6/8/10
Max Stack Increase: 4/6/8/10
Number of Valid Units per Interval: 2
Stack per Enemy Hero: 3 (With level 15 Left Talent.With level 15 Left Talent. 5)
Creeps grants a lesser stack value.
Stack per Enemy Creep: 1
After the buff duration, Nevermore loses the Necromastery stack corresponding to the enemy units who are still alive.

For a duration, Nevermore retains the remaining stacks of units that died while the buff is active.
Buff Linger Duration: 8
21
Mana Cost
60/65/70/75
For Nevermore, there's as much delight in the harvest as there is in the feast.

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.
Passive / Aura
Affects
Enemy Units
Reduces the armor of enemy units within the radius.
Aura Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 1200
Armor Reduction: 2.5/4/5.5/7 (With level 15 Right Talent.With level 15 Right Talent. 4.5/6/7.5/9)
Aura Linger Duration: 0.5
Does not affect buildings.
Even being near Nevermore eats away at one's soul.

Requiem of Souls

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No / Passive
Affects
Enemy Units / Self
Spell / Magical
Gathers his captured souls to release them as lines of demonic energy, units near Nevermore 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 Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 300
Damage per Line: 80/120/160
Move Speed Slow: 20%/25%/30%
Magic Resist Reduction: 10%
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)
Hero Innate Ability
Innate Properties
Creates a damaging line projectile per Necromastery stack.

Nevermore loses a portion of stacks upon death.
Max Lines: 20
Min Degree per Line: 18°
Hero Innate Ability
Innate Properties
Passively casts Requiem of Souls upon Nevermore's death, regardless of its cooldown.
Proc Chance on Death: 100%
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
The souls returns back to Nevermore once expanding to its max travel radius, damages all affected enemy units again, and heals its master in the process.

Reduces cooldown.
Self-Heal per Return Line: Affected by Heal Manipulation sources. (Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. 80/120/160)
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.

Recent Matches

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Main Article: Shadow Fiend/Matches
DateTierTournamentPicksScorevs. PicksPatch
June 8, 2026 - 20:10 CESTTier 3EPL Season 38 - June 8EPL Season 38 - June 8EPL Season 38 - June 8
Shadow Fiend
Techies
Tusk
Timbersaw
Void Spirit
1 : 0
Kez
Winter Wyvern
Ringmaster
Dawnbreaker
Primal Beast
7.41c
June 8, 2026 - 20:10 CESTTier 3EPL Season 38 - June 8EPL Season 38 - June 8EPL Season 38 - June 8
Shadow Fiend
Techies
Ember Spirit
Tusk
Largo
1 : 0
Treant Protector
Lion
Dawnbreaker
Storm Spirit
Windranger
7.41c
June 8, 2026 - 14:00 CESTTier 3EPL Season 38 - June 8EPL Season 38 - June 8EPL Season 38 - June 8
Snapfire
Bane
Shadow Fiend
Lycan
Ember Spirit
1 : 0
Clockwerk
Timbersaw
Silencer
Tiny
Primal Beast
7.41c
June 8, 2026 - 11:00 CESTTier 3EPL Season 38 - June 8EPL Season 38 - June 8EPL Season 38 - June 8
Shadow Fiend
Tusk
Pangolier
Techies
Ember Spirit
1 : 0
Lone Druid
Windranger
Bane
Zeus
Undying
7.41c
June 7, 2026 - 20:00 CESTTier 3EPL Season 38 - June 7EPL Season 38 - June 7EPL Season 38 - June 7
Techies
Shadow Fiend
Omniknight
Void Spirit
Slardar
0 : 1
Axe
Puck
Tiny
Hoodwink
Ogre Magi
7.41c

Recent Changes

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Main Articles: Changelogs, Old Abilities and Hero Lore
Description
7.41
(2026-03-24)
  • Necromastery
    • REMOVED the Lasting Presence ability component.
    • This ability no longer levels up with Requiem of Souls .
    • Reduced max stacks from 20/22/24/26 to 20 on each level.
    • Increased damage per soul from 1/2/3/4 to 1.35 + (0.15 * HeroLvl) .
  • Shadowraze
    • REMOVED the Shadowraze Shadowmire ability component.
    • Now increases damage by 3 per Necromastery stack.
    • Reduced base damage from 90/160/230/300 to 85/150/215/280.
  • CHANGED Feast of Souls ability operations:
    • OLD Requires a min 5 Necromastery stacks to cast.
    • NEW
      • Shadow Fiend gains stacks from enemy units within 600 radius, prioritizing enemy heroes.
      • Each enemy unit within the search radius can affect the Necromastery stack once per cast, and can collect stacks from up to 4/6/8/10 independent enemy units.
        • Affected enemy creeps granting 1 stack, and affected enemy heroes granting 3 stacks
      • Once the duration is over, Shadow Fiend loses the Necromastery stack corresponding to the enemy units who are still alive, while retaining the rest of the stacks for 8 seconds.
    • Reduced movement speed bonus from 5%/7%/9%/11% to 4%/6%/8%/10%.
    • Reduced attack speed bonus from 40/55/70/85 to 35/50/65/80.
  • Requiem of Souls now has a 20-max stacks limit.
  • Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
    • Shadowraze
      • Now applies a 6-second 12% movement speed slow to all affected enemy units.
      • Reapplying the debuff refreshes its duration and increases the movement speed slow values.
  • Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. Aghanim's Scepter upgrade:
7.40b
(2025-12-23)
7.40
(2025-12-15)
  • Increased Agility agility gain from 3.5 to 3.6.
  • Increased Necromastery stack gain per hero kill from 3 to 4.

Dota Plus Progress

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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

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

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Trivia

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  • 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.
    • Since particle effects were not affected by the tint, the fire particles on his head and base were still colored.
    • Shadow Fiend's animation for Requiem of Souls is inspired by the channel animation of the Firelord.
    • Shadow Fiend has a 1/11 chance to spawn in with the name "YaphetS", as tribute to the professional DotA player.
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