[Top 5] Dota 2: Best Phantom Assassin Builds For Godlike Rampage (Used By Pros)

Updated:

06 Sep 2022

We all know when a Phantom Assassin pops off, there are just no ways of stopping her. The lethal Assassin dominates the matchup by giving enemies no chance to escape, her high physical damage is quite uncontested. She farms quickly and obliterates her foes within no time. There are various builds you can opt for, making her a very flexible carry hero in recent times.

We bring you the Best 4 Phantom Assassin Builds which ensure you a rampage or at least a sweet and easy victory. All of these builds are tried and tested in the current meta, all the biggies love these builds.

5. Arteezy Build

NA’s last hope, Arteezy is a huge fan of his build. This build is a deviation from the standard item and skill builds that you see these days. In this build, Arteezy loves buying stat items like Wraith Band, and Orb of Corrosion, and then following them up by Battlefury. The item is quite usual on the lethal Assassin but after all, it is Arteezy who is playing and we know better than to question his item choices! The lighting-quick Battlefury ensures he fights well in teamfights, following it up by Black King Bar which grants him magic immunity and saves him from enemy onslaught.

Rapier and Satanic, followed by Abyssal Blade after further built, which grant him immense lockdown potential, slow, stats, and overall ensures he does not falter during teamfights. Satanic can be the cherry on top in this build, as it will ensure he sustains well even if he is found by multiple heroes in the late game.

Use This Build If:

You want to fight right from the get-go
You want to be involved in more skirmishes from the early game
You want a self-sustainable build

Skill Points

Level 1: Stifling Dagger - The standard level 1 ability, allows you to harass and secure last hits from a distance
Level 2: Phantom Strike - This ability allows you to leap on targetted units, both allies, and enemies while offering attack speed if it’s an enemy.
Level 3: Stifling Dagger
Level 4: Blur - Allows PA to evade enemy attacks, can be cast to be invisible even while attacking unless enemies are nearby
Level 5: Stifling Dagger
Level 6: Coup De Grace - Ultimate ability, allows PA to deal critical damage, even her Stifling Dagger can deal the same amount of critical damage.
Level 7: Phantom Strike
Level 8: Stifling Dagger
Level 9: Blur
Level 10: Phantom Strike
Level 11: Blur
Level 12: Coup De Grace

Items to buy for this build (Early to Late Game)

Orb of Corrosion - Bought at around 6 minutes, it reduces armor and slows the attacked enemy, also dealing DPS, great item for early game damage
Power Treads - Bought at around 9 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping PA in all stages of the game
Battlefury - Bought at around 14 minutes. The goal of this build is to farm towards the Aghanim’s quickly, Battlefury is quite essential as it is the gateway to acquiring other items quickly. It deals AoE damage on physical attacks, allowing PA to farm fast.
Black King Bar - Bought at around 21 minutes. Provides Spell immunity which is quite important as a second item, as you’re fresh out of the jungle with just a Battlefury and are vulnerable to magic damage and spells.
Aghanim’s Scepter - Bought at around 26 minutes. This item is the focal point of the build, it refreshes all of PA’s spells after getting a kill, making her use Phantom Strike to jump on other targets or fall back using Blur, this item allows for very fast-paced gameplay.
Divine Rapier - Bought at the 31-minute mark. It grants 350 physical damage, which is lethal right off the bat as enemies do not have enough damage to counter it this early on.
Satanic - Bought at around 34 minutes. Can lifesteal on physical attacks upon activation, and also provides basic dispel from the latter. Great to sustain in the ultra-late game as you can be surrounded by multiple enemies at once.
Skull Basher - Bought at around 40 minutes Can be used to quickly bash down enemies after getting on top of them, also prevents them from using TP. Can be upgraded into Abyssal Blade.

4. Aghanim’s Ganking Build

Why is this build good?

Allows Phantom Assassin to retain her tempo and fight nonstop.
Can be a big menace in the late game with a 3x Dagger Strike talent tree
More of a fight-oriented build does damage right from the early game

Skill Points

Level 1: Stifling Dagger - The standard level 1 ability, allows you to harass and secure last hits from a distance
Level 2: Blur - This ability allows PA to evade enemy attacks and can be cast to be invisible even while attacking unless enemies are nearby, since this is Aghanim’s build, it’s advised to max this ability after Dagger.
Level 3: Phantom Strike - This ability allows you to leap on targetted units, both allies, and enemies while offering attack speed if it’s an enemy.
Level 4: Stifling Dagger
Level 5: Blur
Level 6: Coup De Grace - Ultimate ability, allows PA to deal critical damage, even her Stifling Dagger can deal the same amount of critical damage.
Level 7: Blur
Level 8: Stifling Dagger
Level 9: Phantom Strike
Level 10: Blur
Level 11: Phantom Strike
Level 12: Coup De Grace

Items to buy for this build

Wraith Band - Bought at around 3 minutes. It provides all 3 Basic attributes along with 4 armor and 10 attack speed
Battlefury - Bought at around 14 minutes. As the Prominent focus of this build is to farm towards the Aghanim’s quickly, Battlefury is quite essential as it is the gateway to acquiring other items quickly. It deals AoE damage on physical attacks, allowing PA to farm fast.
Power Treads - Bought at around 15 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping PA in all stages of the game. The reason why this item is bought later is that some people find it ideal to rush the Battlefury first.
Sange and Yasha - Bought at around 20 minutes. Provide decent HP along with increased agility and strength, increasing regen and lifesteal amplification by a significant amount.
Desolator - Bought at around 24 minutes. Provides her with increased damage and armor corruption, essential in teamfights and also to push towers. Desolator is extremely powerful with the level 25 3x Dagger Talent Tree.
Aghanim’s Scepter - Bought at around 29 minutes. This item is the focal point of the build, it refreshes all of PA’s spells after getting a kill, making her use Phantom Strike to jump on other targets or fall back using Blur, this item allows for very fast-paced gameplay.
Skull Basher - Bought at around 32 minutes Can be used to quickly bash down enemies after getting on top of them, also prevents them from using TP. Can be upgraded into Abyssal Blade.
Satanic - Bought at around 39 minutes. Allows Phantom Assassin to lifesteal on physical attacks upon activation, and also provides basic dispel from the latter. Great to sustain in the ultra-late game as you can be surrounded by multiple enemies at once.

3. YOLO Rapier Build

Is it just us or does the late-game feel boring? If you’re a Phantom Assassin in the late game and are having trouble closing out the game, the best strategy is to just hoard 6000 gold and buy a Divine Rapier, grating you an instant 350 damage! You may think this is a recipe for disaster, which it is in most scenarios but generally, a Rapier can prove to be great if you can’t close out a game or in some cases lack damage or are behind in the game.

This item is a double-edged sword (no pun intended), if you lose it then the game just may be over for you. But if you play your cards right, you can essentially 1v5 with the right items that supplement the Rapier. We do not recommend rushing this item in the early game, it’s only to be considered in the 60+ minute mark.

Why is this build good?

Immense physical damage dished out with the Rapier.
Allows her to close out the game.
She can also 1v5 with Rapier and other items that supplement it.

Skill Points

Level 1: Stifling Dagger - The standard level 1 ability, allows you to harass and secure last hits from a distance
Level 2: Phantom Strike - This ability allows you to leap on targetted units, both allies, and enemies while offering attack speed if it’s an enemy.
Level 3: Stifling Dagger
Level 4: Blur - Allows PA to evade enemy attacks, can be cast to be invisible even while attacking unless enemies are nearby
Level 5: Stifling Dagger
Level 6: Coup De Grace - Ultimate ability, allows PA to deal critical damage, even her Stifling Dagger can deal the same amount of critical damage.
Level 7: Phantom Strike
Level 8: Stifling Dagger
Level 9: Blur
Level 10: Phantom Strike
Level 11: Blur
Level 12: Coup De Grace

Items to buy for this build

Power Treads - Bought at around 14 minutes. Power Treads provide 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping PA in all stages of the game.
Orb of Corrosion - Bought at around 16 minutes, it reduces armor and slows the attacked enemy, also dealing DPS, great item for early game damage. Can be used in tandem with Desolator.
Battlefury - Bought at around 14 minutes. Allows PA to deal AoE damage on physical attacks in a small radius. Battlefury is quite essential as it is the gateway to acquiring other items quickly.
Manta Style - Bought at around 19 minutes. Provides decent attributes and movement speed. Can be used to dodge enemy spells or to split push.
Black King Bar - Bought at around 24 minutes. Spell immunity completely is quite essential in the game as you’re extremely prone to getting nuked or locked down without any ways to escape.
Skull Basher - Bought at around 28 minutes Can be used to quickly bash down enemies after getting on top of them, also prevents them from using TP. Can be upgraded into Abyssal Blade.
2x Divine Rapier - Bought at the 35 and the 50-minute mark respectively. It is the prominent focus of the build and grants 350 physical damage, which is lethal in the early game as it can't be negated or countered very easily. Neutral item Apex helps immensely in this.
Boots of Travel - Bought at the around 40-minute mark. This allows PA to have a global presence and teleport to her allies whenever she can. Also provides an immense movement speed boost.

2. Fighting Desolator Build (Yatoro Build)

Why is this build good?

Allows Phantom Assassin to fight early on, essentially outpacing her carry counterpart.
High tempo build, which is essential in the current meta
Allows her to push buildings and take towers easily due to armor corruption

Skill Points

Level 1: Stifling Dagger - The standard level 1 ability, allows you to harass and secure last hits from a distance
Level 2: Phantom Strike - This ability allows you to leap on targetted units, both allies, and enemies while offering attack speed if it’s an enemy.
Level 3: Stifling Dagger
Level 4: Blur - Allows PA to evade enemy attacks, can be cast to be invisible even while attacking unless enemies are nearby
Level 5: Stifling Dagger
Level 6: Coup De Grace - Ultimate ability, allows PA to deal critical damage, even her Stifling Dagger can deal the same amount of critical damage.
Level 7: Phantom Strike
Level 8: Stifling Dagger
Level 9: Blur
Level 10: Phantom Strike
Level 11: Blur
Level 12: Coup De Grace

Items to buy for this build

Orb of Corrosion - Bought at around 3 minutes, it reduces armor and slows the attacked enemy, also dealing DPS, great item for early game damage. Can be used in tandem with Desolator further on.
Power Treads - Bought at around 7 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping PA in all stages of the game
Battlefury - Bought at around 13 minutes. As the Prominent focus of this build is to split push and farm quickly, which pays off in the late game, Battlefury is quite essential as it is the gateway to acquiring other items quickly
Black King Bar - Bought at around 19 minutes. Spell immunity completely is quite essential in the game as you’re fresh out of the jungle with just a Battlefury, leaving you vulnerable to magic damage.
Desolator - Bought at around 24 minutes. Provides her with increased damage and armor corruption, essential in teamfights and also to push towers. Desolator is extremely powerful with the level 25 3x Dagger Talent Tree.
Eye of Skadi - Bought at around 28 minutes. It reduces the enemy’s regen on physical attacks while also providing stats, it also slows their movement as well as attack speed. This is essential to disable heroes that heal up quickly or have lifesteal.
Aghanim’s Scepter - Bought at around 32 minutes. This item is the focal point of the build, it refreshes all of PA’s spells after getting a kill, making her use Phantom Strike to jump on other targets or fall back using Blur, this item allows for very fast-paced gameplay.
Skull Basher - Bought at around 35 minutes Can be used to quickly bash down enemies after getting on top of them, also prevents them from using TP. Can be upgraded into Abyssal Blade.
Satanic - Bought at around 39 minutes. It is the final component of the build. allows PA to lifesteal on physical attacks upon activation, and also provides basic dispel from the latter. Great to sustain in the ultra-late game as you can be surrounded by multiple enemies at once.

1. Battlefury Rush Build (Most common build used by Pros)

Battlefury is one of the most built items on Phantom Assassin. It is no secret that the stealthy Assassin lacks farming potential in the early game due to the lack of wave clearing abilities. Rushing or prioritizing a Battlefury ensures she has no problem farming, pushing out lanes quickly, and can also work wonders against AoE heroes such as Chaos Knight, Meepo, Naga Siren, and many more. This build, however, can be a massive gamble as the enemy carry can come online way before the PA gets her Fury at around 15 minutes, anything exceeding this limit can be fatal to the entire team.

As a Battlefury PA, you will have to prioritize farming over fighting in the early stages as you are frankly powerless. There is a drastic change in the power dynamics of the game as PA acquires more items quite quickly, credit to the cleave of the Battlefury. Items such as Black King Bar, Abyssal Blade, and Satanic can further be built fast due to the quick farming speed of the Assassin.

Why is this build good?

Prioritizes farming over excess fighting in the early game
Pays off extremely well in the later stages of the game as it assists in acquiring more items.
Useful for wave clear or against AoE enemy heroes

Skill Points

Level 1: Stifling Dagger - The standard level 1 ability, allows you to harass and secure last hits from a distance
Level 2: Phantom Strike - This ability allows you to leap on targetted units, both allies, and enemies while offering attack speed if it’s an enemy.
Level 3: Stifling Dagger
Level 4: Blur - Allows PA to evade enemy attacks, can be cast to be invisible even while attacking unless enemies are nearby
Level 5: Stifling Dagger
Level 6: Coup De Grace - Ultimate ability, allows PA to deal critical damage, even her Stifling Dagger can deal the same amount of critical damage.
Level 7: Phantom Strike
Level 8: Stifling Dagger
Level 9: Blur
Level 10: Phantom Strike
Level 11: Blur
Level 12: Coup De Grace

Items to buy for this build

Orb of Corrosion - Bought at around 4 minutes, it reduces armor and slows the attacked enemy, also dealing DPS, great item for early game damage. Can be used in tandem with Desolator further on.
Power Treads - Bought at around 8 minutes. It provides 45 movement speed and 25 attack speed along with toggleable attributes, which offer everything from increased mana pool to armor and even strength, helping PA in all stages of the game
Battlefury - Bought at around 15 minutes. As the prominent focus of this build is to split push and farm quickly, which pays off in the late game, Battlefury is quite essential as it is the gateway to acquiring other items quickly. It is acquired late due to the fighting style of this build.
Black King Bar - Bought at around 20 minutes. Spell immunity completely is quite essential in the game as you’re fresh out of the jungle with just a Battlefury, leaving you vulnerable to magic damage.
Aghanim’s Shard - Bought at around 22 minutes. Provides Fan of Knives ability which applies break on usage which disables passive abilities of enemy heroes for a short duration, allowing PA to mow down heroes with powerful passive spells.
Skull Basher - Bought at around 26 minutes Can be used to quickly bash down enemies after getting on top of them, also prevents them from using TP. It is further upgraded into Abyssal Blade at around 31 minutes into the game.
Nullifier - Bought at around 29 minutes. It applies a debuff that actively purges any spell or effect as well as muting enemy items. It also provides decent attack damage and armor.
Sange and Yasha - Bought at around 34 minutes. Provide decent HP along with increased agility and strength, increasing regen and lifesteal amplification by a significant amount.

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