IntelligenceSince you last played
Heavily adjusted132 lines of changes across 44 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.
30 buffs and 27 nerfs in total: roughly even.
Biggest ability changes
- ▼Hex Mana Cost rescaled from 110/140/170/200 to 130/150/170/190adjusted 13 times across 7 patches, net nerf
- ▼Shackles Total Damage/Heal increased from 70/140/210/280 to 100/160/220/280adjusted 14 times across 11 patches, net nerf
- ▲Mass Serpent Ward Gold Bounty decreased from 22-30 to 20-26adjusted 14 times across 11 patches, net buff
- ◆Fowl Play Now also provides bonus movement speed equal to 5% + 5% per 5 levelsadjusted 6 times across 5 patches, roughly even
- ▲Ether Shock Damage decreased from 140/200/260/320 to 125/190/255/320adjusted 7 times across 7 patches, net buff
- ▼Urnaconda Mana Cost increased from 115 to 140adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net nerf
Innate
- ▲Fowl Play Whenever Shadow Shaman takes lethal damage, he survives as a 1 HP chicken with movement speed increased by 10%. Applies Strong Dispel upon transformation and provides 0.75s protection from all damage. Hex Duration: 3s. Cooldown: 90s. Cooldown is reset upon dyingadjusted 2 times across 1 patch, net buff
Aghanim’s upgrades
- ▼Shard New ability granted by Aghanim's Shardchanged 10 times, latest shown
- ▼Scepter No longer upgraded with Aghanim's Scepterchanged 3 times, latest shown
Base stats
- ▲Base intelligence increased from 19 to 25 (base damage unchanged)adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net buff
- ▲Base Health Regen increased from 0.25 to 1
- ▲Base armor increased by 1adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net buff
- ◆Base Armor decreased by 1adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
- ▼Intelligence gain decreased from 3.5 to 3.3
- ▼Base Strength decreased from 23 to 20
- ▼Base attack speed reduced from 100 to 90
- ▲Base Attack Speed increased from 90 to 100
- ▼Base Damage decreased from 71-78 to 65-72
- ▼Base Intelligence decreased from 25 to 23
Talents changed
- ◆Lv10 talent +10% Hex Damage Amplification replaced with +1.75 Mana Regen
- ◆Lv15 talent Serpent Wards Attack Range increased from +140 to +160
- ◆Lv20 talent Hex Breaks replaced with +1.5s Shackles Duration
- ◆Lv25 talent Ether Shock Damage decreased from +400 to +250
Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Shadow Shaman had 12 facet changes in between.
Most recent change patch 7.41d, Jun 2026
- ▼Urnaconda Mana Cost increased from 115 to 140
- ▼Mass Serpent Ward Gold Bounty decreased from 22-30 to 20-26
Current abilities
Ether ShockCreates a cone of ethereal energy that strikes multiple enemy units.
HexTransforms an enemy unit into a harmless creature, disabling their attacks and abilities.
ShacklesCHANNELED - Magically binds an enemy unit so that it cannot move or attack, absorbing their life energy over time.
Fowl Play innateWhen taking lethal damage, Shadow Shaman receives a strong dispel and survives as a 1 HP chicken with increased movement speed. Incoming damage is reduced to zero for a short duration and additional chickens are created to confuse the enemy. Cooldown resets when Shadow Shaman respawns. DISPEL TYPE: Strong Dispel
UrnacondaThrow a snake jar at the target location, damaging all enemies in the AoE and creating a Massive Serpent Ward that has 4x the base Serpent Ward damage and health there that lasts 15s.
Mass Serpent WardSummons 10 Serpent Wards to attack enemy units and structures. The Wards are immune to magic. Creeps deal half damage to the Serpent Ward.
What players buy on Shadow Shaman
Starting items
- Magic Stick 200g
Early game
- Tranquil Boots 900g
Regeneration and speed for moving around the map between fights
Mid game
Restores mana for you and nearby allies, which suits a support who casts a lot
More cast range and mana for a ranged spell user
Late game
- Glimmer Cape 2150g
Makes an ally hard to hit and shields magic damage
- Force Staff 2200g
Pushes you or an ally out of trouble or into reach
Debuff immunity, to act in a fight without being disabled
- Refresher Orb 5000g
Casts the strongest spell twice
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.