DOTA 2 Riki Guide For September 2023 Rewards And Tricks

In the world of Dota 2, few heroes can match the elusiveness and cunning of Riki, the Stealth Assassin. As the game evolves, so does the meta, and in September 2023, we bring you an updated Riki guide to help you dominate your matches. This guide will delve into Riki’s abilities, itemization, talents, strategies, and place in the current Dota 2 landscape.

Meet Riki: The Shadowy Assassin

Riki is a melee Agility Hero with modest base stats. He starts with 516 HP, 243 Mana, a base movement speed of 315, and an armor rating of 5. His base damage ranges from 57 to 61. Historically, Riki has played roles ranging from support to core, but recent updates have cemented his position as a potent carry or core hero. Though mastering Riki may prove challenging, his potential to turn the tide of battle and eliminate high-priority targets makes him a formidable choice.

Understanding Riki’s Abilities

To harness the power of Riki, one must first grasp his abilities:

Smoke Screen – Riki creates an AOE (Area of Effect) smoke bomb, covering a 375-radius area (which expands to 425 with a level 10 talent). This smoke silences enemies for 6 seconds, causing them to miss up to 75% of their attacks. With the Aghanim’s Shard upgrade, enemies caught within the smoke also suffer a reduction in armor by 5 and cannot be targeted by enemies.

Blink Strike – Riki swiftly teleports behind a target, delivering a bonus attack that deals up to 85 damage and slows the enemy’s movement by up to 100% for 0.4 seconds. Blink Strike possesses two charges and a replenishment time of 13 seconds (reduced to 9 seconds with a level 20 talent).

Tricks of the Trade – Riki momentarily fades from existence, launching a backstabbing assault on random enemy units within a 450-radius. He executes up to 4 attacks per single target, comprising an instant attack dealing 40% damage and additional Agility-based bonus damage (up to 100%, or 140% with a level 15 talent). Aghanim’s Scepter enhances this ability, allowing Riki to hide inside an allied hero and execute 5 attacks, targeting 2 enemies per attack.

Cloak and Dagger – This innate ability bestows permanent invisibility upon Riki. Attacking from behind (backstabbing) grants him bonus damage based on his Agility. Attacking breaks his invisibility, which is subsequently restored after a brief fade delay. Additionally, Riki earns bonus experience (up to 350 per kill and 100 per assist), and his backstab bonus damage contributes to his Hero damage per Agility (with a multiplier of up to 2, or 2.4 with a level 20 talent).

Navigating Riki’s Talents

As Riki levels up, he gains talents that can significantly impact his effectiveness. Here’s an overview of his talents:

• Level 10: Choose between +8% Cloak and Dagger Movement Speed or +50 Smoke Screen Radius.
• Level 15: Decide between -3s Smoke Screen Cooldown or +30% Tricks of the Trade Agility Increase.
• Level 20: Opt for -4s Blink Strike Replenish Time or +0.4 Backstab Multiplier.
• Level 25: Make a strategic choice between Tricks of the Trade Applying a Basic Dispel or -4 Tricks of the Trade Cooldown.

Strategies for Success with Riki

Mastering Riki involves more than understanding his abilities and talents; it requires a nuanced approach to gameplay. Here are some strategies to elevate your Riki game:

1. Embracing Riki’s New Core Role

In recent patches, Riki has transitioned from a support role to a core role due to changes in the meta and the removal of Sleeping Dart. His Aghanim’s Shard upgrade for Smoke Screen has proven to be a game-changing addition, making it impossible for enemies caught within the haze to receive aid from their allies. This forces opponents to watch helplessly as Riki dismantles their teammates. As a core Riki, focus on farming core items while occasionally utilizing Diffusal Blade for swift eliminations.

2. Targeted Elimination in Teamfights

During teamfights, prioritize taking down enemy supports with low armor and HP. Avoid direct confrontations and utilize Blink Strike to escape precarious situations or Tricks of the Trade to evade stuns and nukes. Riki’s core itemization should include Treads, Diffusal Blade, Manta Style, Aghanim’s Shard, and Aghanim’s Scepter to amplify agility and damage output.

3. Pros and Cons of Riki

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Riki is essential for making informed decisions in matches:

Pros:

• Permanent invisibility allows for map control and surprise attacks.
• High base armor, health regeneration, and damage output.
• The ability to use items without breaking invisibility.
• Smoke Screen’s effectiveness against all types of enemies.

Cons:

• Riki possesses low HP, Mana, and Agility gain.
• Limited flash farming capabilities.
• Inadequate wave-clearing abilities.
• Vulnerability to Sentry Wards and true sight.

Playing Riki: Early, Mid, and Late Game Strategies

Success with Riki hinges on adapting to various stages of the game:

Early Game: Focus on farming core items and avoid unnecessary fights. Build up your arsenal with a Diffusal Blade for potential kills or a Yasha for early stats and speed. Maintain vigilance on the map to evade potential ganks. Remember, staying safe and prioritizing greed in the early game is paramount.

Mid Game: As the game progresses, adjust your itemization based on your team composition, the enemy lineup, and your team’s net worth. Transform your Yasha into a Manta Style for increased stats and mobility. Optionally, acquire a Skull Basher for mini-stuns on backstabs or a Crystalys for Critical Strike damage, which can be later upgraded into Daedalus.

Late Game: In the late game, your item choices diversify. Consider upgrading your Crystalys to a Daedalus. With Diffusal Blade or the upgraded Disperser, slow your prey and trap them within your Smoke Screen to secure eliminations. 

Alternatively, utilize Skull Basher or Abyssal Blade to control your foes with brief stuns. Prioritize agility to bolster your damage output; items like Butterfly or Skadi are valuable options. If dispelling debuffs becomes crucial, consider the Nullifier. When facing constant silences, stuns, or burst damage, a Black King Bar (BKB) grants invaluable magic immunity, ensuring your longevity in teamfights while enabling you to deal substantial damage unhindered.

Heroes That Counter Riki

While Riki can be a formidable assassin, certain heroes possess advantages against him:

• Slardar: Slardar’s Corrosive Haze reduces armor and grants true sight, providing constant vision of Riki. This debuff makes Riki an easy target for foes.
• Bounty Hunter: Similar to Slardar’s ultimate ability, Bounty Hunter’s Track provides true sight and constant vision over Riki, all while awarding bonus gold upon his demise.
• Spirit Breaker: Spirit Breaker can target Riki globally as long as he has vision. His Charge of Darkness ability allows for precise warding and swift ganks, making Riki vulnerable to sudden assaults.

Mastering Riki in Dota 2 requires practice, adaptability, and a deep understanding of his abilities and playstyle. With this comprehensive guide, you’re equipped with the knowledge to command Riki effectively in September 2023 and beyond. Unleash your inner stealth assassin, outwit your opponents, and secure victory on the battlefield.

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