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Soul Catcher reworked in 7.20109 lines of changes across 43 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.
27 buffs and 25 nerfs in total: roughly even.
Biggest ability changes
- ▼Soul Catcher Now temporarily gives Shadow Demon 5/7/9/11% Spell Amplification for each hero debuffedadjusted 5 times across 5 patches, net nerf
- ▼Demonic Purge Can no longer target invulnerable unitsadjusted 14 times across 10 patches, net nerf
- ▼Disruption Illusion Duration decreased from 11/12/13/14s to 8/10/12/14sadjusted 14 times across 12 patches, net nerf
- ▲Shadow Poison Damage per additional stack over 5 stacks increased from 50 to 60adjusted 9 times across 8 patches, net buff
- ▼Demonic Cleanse Can no longer target invulnerable unitsadjusted 10 times across 5 patches, net nerf
- ▲Disseminate Shared Damage rescaled from 20/25/30/35% to 16/24/32/40%adjusted 7 times across 7 patches, net buff
- ▲Menace Damage amplification changed from 2.5% to 1.9% + 0.1% per leveladjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net buff
Innate
- ◆Menace Shadow Demon's attacks apply a stacking debuff that amplifies damage taken by the target by 2% per stack. Debuff duration is 8 seconds which is refreshed with every stackadjusted 2 times across 1 patch, roughly even
Aghanim’s upgrades
- ◆Shard Is now granted as a secondary ability with Aghanim's Shard. Repeatedly applies a basic dispel on the target allied unit, removing negative buffs for the duration. At the end of the duration, the unit is healed. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Demonic Cleanse.
- ◆Scepter No longer upgraded with Aghanim's Scepterchanged 5 times, latest shown
Base stats
- ▲Base strength increased from 17 to 19
- ▲Base Strength increased from 19 to 21
- ▲Strength growth increased from 2.2 to 2.4
- ▲Intelligence increased from 21 + 3.3 to 22 + 3.6
- ▲Intelligence gain increased from 3.1 to 3.3
Talents changed
- ◆Lv10 talent Strength decreased from +10 to +8
- ◆Lv15 talent Movement Speed decreased from +25 to +20
- ◆Lv20 talent +150 Demonic Purge Damage replaced with -20s Demonic Purge Cooldown
- ◆Lv25 talent -30s Demonic Purge Cooldown replaced with Demonic Purge Applies Shadow Poison
- ◆Talent 1 stack per second over the debuff duration
Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Shadow Demon had 7 facet changes in between.
Most recent change patch 7.41d, Jun 2026
- ▲Shadow Poison Damage per additional stack over 5 stacks increased from 50 to 60
- ▲Shadow Poison Mana Cost decreased from 45 to 40
Current abilities
DisruptionBanishes the targeted unit from the battlefield for a short duration. Upon returning, two illusions of the banished unit with bonus base damage are created under Shadow Demon's control.
DisseminateWhenever the target takes damage, all enemies, including the target itself if it is an enemy, within 675 range of the target also receive a portion of that damage. Can target enemy and allied units. Effect is paused if the target is hidden by Disruption.
Shadow PoisonDeals damage in a line, and afflicts enemy units with a poison effect. The poison deals 1/2/4/8/16 times the stack damage based on the number of stacks on the target, up to 5 stacks. Additional stacks cause 60 damage each. This deferred damage is dealt when Shadow Poison's duration is expired, or the Release sub-ability is used.
Shadow Poison ReleaseReleases the poison to do damage on all affected enemies. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Shadow Poison.
Demonic CleanseCleanses the target allied unit, removing negative buffs for the duration. At the end of the duration, the unit is healed. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Demonic Cleanse. DISPEL TYPE: Basic Dispel
Demonic PurgePurges the target enemy unit, removing positive buffs, and slowing the target for the duration. The unit slowly regains its speed until the end of the duration, upon which damage is dealt. Units under the effect of Disruption can still be affected by Demonic Purge. DISPEL TYPE: Basic Dispel
Menace innateShadow Demon's Attacks apply a stacking debuff to the enemy for 8 seconds that increases their damage taken.
What players buy on Shadow Demon
Starting items
- Circlet 155g
- Magic Stick 200g
Mid game
Restores mana for you and nearby allies, which suits a support who casts a lot
- Glimmer Cape 2150g
Makes an ally hard to hit and shields magic damage
Late game
- Aghanim's Scepter 4200g
More cast range and mana for a ranged spell user
- Aeon Disk 3000g
- Force Staff 2200g
Pushes you or an ally out of trouble or into reach
- Solar Crest 2575g
Armor shred on an enemy, or a speed-up for an ally
- Guardian Greaves 4450g
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.