(GotFrag) - This is another installment of Pro Focus, where three competitive DotA players share their thoughts regarding a popular hero. This time around, we have Xali of Storm Games Clan, Drayich of mousesports and wtfmate of x6 with their opinions on Nevermore, the Shadow Fiend. The article contains 7 questions, ranging from strategy to item builds for the particular hero.

1. What's the first thing that goes through your head about Nevermore?

Xali: Raze

Drayich: Armor

wtfmate: That he is one of the most fun heroes in DotA to play, but also, when used properly, can really dominate games. And, "the night beckons!!!!"

2. How different is playing Nevermore in competitive and friendly games?

Xali: The main difference in my fun games with Shadow Fiend is the item build, often going without Blink Dagger and trying to get huge damage items early. Power Treads are also welcome. In competitive games, you need to fit with the team, your item build is sometimes different depending on enemy heroes. Shadow Fiend's ultimate skill is often the key of winning team fights that's why im always trying to not miss any teamfight with this soul machine. :)

Drayich: In fun games you might not have anyone to set up your ultimates, you have to find your own situations to get your kills. In competitive games, i'ts more about whos setting up your kills, however, now you got a complete team against you who will do anything in their power to stop you!

wtfmate: In competitive games, you need to be really careful since he is a bit fragile early. Blink is a must, as it allows for easy escape and good follow up (especially if you have a Magnataur on your team), and generally you would get Black King Bar due to the other team having a good amount of stuns/disables. It is easy to farm a blink with Nevermore once you reach Level 5+ because you can easily pull neutrals and just nuke creep waves. In friendly games, as far as I'm concerned you can do whatever you want. Sometimes I even go Guinsoo first, but I typically go Lothar's Edge and Sange and Yasha in friendly games.

3. What are Nevermore's strengths and weaknesses?

Nevermore casting his ultimate.

Xali: Strengths -- Razes, last hitting, escape mechanism (dagger hero) and his ultimate.
Weakness -- I think the most weak thing of Shadow Fiend is to solo him mid@scourge side against heroes such as Leshrac, Viper, Tinker or Tiny. It's always hard to win/farm that lane.

Drayich: He can deal an enormous amount of damage, both with normal hit and with spells. But he's very very weak, and in the new version he can't dodge as well with the Dagger change.

wtfmate: His two main strengths would be his first two skills, Raze and Necromastery. Shadowraze is obvious, you get 3 nukes that can do major damage early in terms of killing heroes, harassing, and farming at the same time. It's also useful for pushing and to help stop pushes. Necromastery is great for the extra damage, especially early if you need to dominate a lane, but you really need it so that you can use his ultimate more effectively. His ultimate is great if you can hit it uninterrupted, and his aura is great for pushing and fighting as well.

Being very fragile early game is one of his main weaknesses. For example, Tiny is one of those heroes that can completely shut down SF early. If he is against a dominant dual lane like a Leshrac + Sandking, Lina + Sven, or other heavy nukers, it'll be hard for him to level up and get last hits at all. Also, later on he becomes quite item dependent. Without any major items, Nevermore dies relatively fast when he gets stunned/disabled.

4. What makes Nevermore stand out/different from other heroes?

Xali: Got high damage and also nuke for low mana cost.

Drayich: Hes negative armor aura is the absolute best thing, makes everyone in your team deal more damage!

wtfmate: His skills alone make him stand out, although typically to be effective it's best for him to solo. The faster he levels up, the easier it becomes to gank other lanes because you'll have a strong raze while the other heroes are still around level 3-4. If you're playing him well, Nevermore is one of those heroes that doesn't lose his effectiveness as the game goes on.