Hero Discussion of this Day: Dazzle (22 December 2012)

Dazzle, the Shadow Priest

The Shadow Priest is an unusual support spellcaster, who focuses entirely on physical damage rather than magical attacks. Hence, he is extremely effective backing up allies with strong physical attacks. Poison Touch doesn't deal much damage, but it is a very effective slow and stun with a ridiculously short cooldown. Escaping from a Shadow Priest with a high level Poison Touch is nearly impossible. Shadow Wave doubles as a good heal and damage ability. Similar to Poison Touch, this ability may seem weak at first, but due to the extremely low cooldown it can be cast constantly, and with some clever placement can cause a lot of damage. Shallow Grave is an essential ability. When cast on a nearly dead ally, it can prolong life for several crucial seconds, allowing them to escape or cause even more damage before they go down. Often enemies will chase a hero who is under the effect of this spell, believing them to be an easy kill. This is can be a fatal mistake. Finally, the Weave spell gives the Shadow Priest a method for boosting the power of his own spells and also giving his team a significant advantage in any battle. Due to the low cost and cooldown of Weave, Dazzle can cast it at practically every fight with great effect.

Lore

Each young acolyte to the Dezun order must complete a series of rites before becoming a shadow priest. The final rite, the rite of shades, is a harrowing spiritual journey through the Nothl Realm, an unpredictable domain from which not all visitants return. Of those who do, some return mad. Others return with strange aptitudes. But all who go there are changed by their experiences. Driven by the need for enlightenment, Dazzle was the youngest of his tribe ever to request the sacred ritual. At first the order refused him, saying he was too young. But Dazzle was not to be dissuaded. Sensing something special in the headstrong young acolyte, the elders relented. Dazzle drank down the sacred potion and sat by the fire while the rest of his tribe danced through the night. In this ethereal dimension of the Nothl Realm, the properties of light and dark are inverted. Thus his brilliant healing light, beautiful to our eye, is actually a sinister kind of evil; and the darkest deeds are done in a dazzling glow. The elders' intuition was prophetic: Dazzle returned to his people as a Shadow Priest like none seen before, with the power to heal as well as to destroy. Now he uses his gift to fight his enemies and help his friends.

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Roles: Support, Lane Support, Semi-Carry

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Strength: 16 + 1.85

Agility: 21 + 1.7

Intelligence: 27 + 3.4

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Damage: 41-59

Armour: 1.94

Movement Speed: 305

Attack Range: 500

Missile Speed: 1200

Base Attack Time: 1.7

Sight Range: 1800 (Day) / 800 (Night)

Turn Rate: 0.6

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Spells

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Poison Touch

Casts a poisonous spell on an enemy unit, causing damage and slowness over time, and eventual paralysis. At level 2, the slow increases after 1 second, and at levels 3 and 4, the target is stunned for 1 second after the slow.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	100	15	600	N/A	7	Puts a negative buff on a target, slowing them and dealing 8 damage per second. It takes 1 second to set in, after 1 second the slow is removed
2	115	13	600	N/A	7	Puts a negative buff on a target, slowing them and dealing 16 damage per second. It takes 2 seconds to set in, after 2 seconds the slow is removed
3	130	11	600	N/A	7	Puts a negative buff on a target, slowing them and dealing 24 damage per second. It takes 3 seconds to set in. On the third second the target is stunned for 1 second. After 3 seconds the slow is removed
4	145	7	600	N/A	7	Puts a negative buff on a target, slowing them and dealing 32 damage per second. It takes 3 seconds to set in. On the third second the target is stunned for 1 second. After 3 seconds the slow is removed

• Physical damage

• This damage is not reduced by damage block abilities (such as Vanguard, Kraken Shell, etc)

• At level 1 slows target by 33% for 1 second

• At level 2 slows target by 33% for 1 second and then 66% for another second

• At levels 3 and 4 slows target by 33% for 1 second, 66% for another second and then completely disables target for 1 second

• This skill has a ministun on impact that interrupts channelling skills

One of the few Dezun rites used for offensive purposes, the paralytic enchantment often proves useful.

==

Shallow Grave

An ally blessed with Shallow Grave, no matter how close to death, cannot die while under its protection.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	140	60	550	N/A	5	While under the Shallow Grave buff, the unit cannot die and will be left it 1hp
2	130	45	700	N/A	5	While under the Shallow Grave buff, the unit cannot die and will be left it 1hp
3	120	30	850	N/A	5	While under the Shallow Grave buff, the unit cannot die and will be left it 1hp
4	110	15	1000	N/A	5	While under the Shallow Grave buff, the unit cannot die and will be left it 1hp

• Targeted hero's HP won't go lower than 1 for spell duration

• Shallow Grave will not prevent Axe's Culling Blade ability from killing a hero

• If the Goblin Techies use Suicide Squad, Attack! while under the effect of Shallow Grave, they will still die

Only a seasoned acolyte of the Shadow can properly perform the rite of preventing death.

==

Shadow Wave

Shadow Wave heals several allies, which in turn cause damage equal to their healing in a small area around them. Dazzle is always healed by Shadow Wave, and it does not count toward the number of targets.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	80	12	900	475 (bounce radius) 185 (damage aoe)	N/A	Heals a target and nearby allies by 80 and damaged enemies surrounding healed targets by 80. Max allies for heal is 3
2	90	10	900	475 (bounce radius) 185 (damage aoe)	N/A	Heals a target and nearby allies by 100 and damaged enemies surrounding healed targets by 80. Max allies for heal is 3
3	100	8	900	475 (bounce radius) 185 (damage aoe)	N/A	Heals a target and nearby allies by 120 and damaged enemies surrounding healed targets by 80. Max allies for heal is 4
4	110	6	900	475 (bounce radius) 185 (damage aoe)	N/A	Heals a target and nearby allies by 140 and damaged enemies surrounding healed targets by 80. Max allies for heal is 5

• Physical damage

• Will always heal Dazzle, regardless of target. Dazzle does not count toward number of bounces

• Will heal you without counting against the targets limit before bouncing to the target

• If targeted on self, you will not count against the targets limit, then the spell continues bouncing normally

• Allied heroes are primary target for heal

While it is a simplistic and routine rite among Shadow Priests, the Shadow Wave is also the most critical for success.

==

Weave

Ultimate

Applies a buff that increases allied hero armor or decreases enemy hero armor in the target area, changing armor by 1 every second.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	120	40	2000	575 (775*)	12 (18*)	Every ally hero affected by this buff has their armour increased by 1 per second, and every enemy hero has their armour reduced by 1 per second for the duration
2	160	40	2000	575 (775*)	18 (24*)	Every ally hero affected by this buff has their armour increased by 1 per second, and every enemy hero has their armour reduced by 1 per second for the duration
3	200	40	2000	575 (775*)	24 (30*)	Every ally hero affected by this buff has their armour increased by 1 per second, and every enemy hero has their armour reduced by 1 per second for the duration

• This ultimate can be upgraded by Sceptre, (*) shows the upgraded effects

• Places buffs on heroes, so entering or leaving the initial area after the cast won't have any effect

• Unobstructed sight (800 range day and night) is provided for a short time

• If cast on a hero with magic immunity, Weave will have no effect, but if magic immunity is enabled after Weave is cast, it will remain in effect

His ethereal journey into the Nothl realm has allowed Dazzle to mend together the powers of light and dark, creating shifting waves of enchantments.

==

Recent Changes from 6.77

• Shallow Grave cast range rescaled from 400/600/800/1000 to 550/700/850/1000

Recent Changes from 6.76/6.76b/6.76c

• None

Recent Changes from 6.75/6.75b

• Poison Touch level 4 cooldown decreased from 9 to 7

• Shadow Wave AoE increased from 170 to 185

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Findings (not-factual information as above):

I find Dazzle to be a great support. He can also transition into a semi-carry if required, and items aid this. Remember to always use Weave at the start or before a teamfight (so full effects are achieved during the teamfight). Remember that Shadow Wave can deal a HEAP of damage to surrounding enemies, it's good to cast it when enemies are around lots of allied units. For Shallow Grave, use it on the most important person that ensures the teamfights (a carry or a certain support for example) or another easy way to decide who to cast it on is to cast it on whoever is being aimed first.

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Galactic comments on Dazzle's viability in high skill level play

A mini-writeup on Dazzle's skills by GIROG from a previous discussion

Wilco- has a tl;dr on Dazzle

A carry dazzle build thread by Sm3agolol. Thebighead also has some tips.

Purge has a suggestion on playing mid dazzle.

One of the common skill builds on Dazzle by Hunkyy

elfonzi explains why which skill build you go is completely dependant on the match. Sometimes you need wave more, sometimes you need touch more, sometimes grave

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If you guys want a specific hero to be discussed next, please feel free to post (or message as people have for Meepo, Lina, Krobelus, Sylla, Puck, Brood and Omni).

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Important Earthshaker tip of last thread by imabustya: "A common problem with earth shaker players is they max Fissure way too early. They need to manage their mana better and get extra stun time and damage from his passive. Don't max your Q until you have mana boots or another form of mana regeneration."