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In-depth guide to Rylai Crestfall, the Crystal Maiden

CM for newbies and advanced players


~ Fanart made by Eyue

Foreword
Welcome to my guide on Rylai Crestfall, the Crystal Maiden.This guide is for newbies and for advanced players, I hope you like it! To fully understand this guide basic knowledge of DotA, its Gameplay Mechanics, Items, Heroes, etc. is required. By the way, you can click on the titles in the Table of Contents to get to that part. Things, especially items, which I mention often (such as Bracers or Observer Wards) are colored.
Please PM me (n!ght) if you found a mistake. Thanks!
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Table of Contents
1. Informations about the hero
a) Attributes
b) Miscellaneous
c) Pros & Cons
d) Skills
2. Skillorder & Variations
a) Skillorder
b) Variations

3. Items
a) Early to Late Game
b) Coreitems (Summary)+ Variations
4. General play style
a) General
b) Warding
5. Friends & Foes, playing against Crystal Maiden
a) Friends (Combos)
b) Foes
c) Playing against Crystal Maiden
6. Replays

7. Credits

8. Changelog

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Alt-tab Miniguide:
Skillorder:
[1]: Frostbite, [2&3]: Brilliance Aura, [4]: Crystal Nova, [5]: Brilliance Aura,
[6]: Frostbite, [7]: Brilliance Aura, [8&9]: Frostbite, [10&11]: Freezing Field, [12-14]: Crystal Nova, [15]: Stats, [16]: Freezing Field, [17-25]: Stats;

Startitems:
Chicken, 2x Tangoes of Essifation, 4x Ironwood Branches
Items: Observer Wards, 1-2 Bracers, Mekansm, try to get a Kelen's Dagger+ Black King Bar. Get Vladimir's Offering if needed. Get Necronomicon if needed. Get Power treads. Don't forget to buy Scrolls of Town Portal. Your normal equipment in a competitive game (at the 35 minute mark for example): Boots of Speed (Or Power treads if you farmed well) 1-2 Bracers, maybe Parts of Mekansm or Vladimir's Offering.

Your role/ What to do:
Use Dagger to get in, then use BKB to make yourself immune to their stuns/ disables, then use your Ultimate, Freezing Field. Use Crystal Nova and Frostbite to stop heroes that survived.

This is only an alt-tab guide, use it if you forgot something and want to look it up fast.

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1. Informations about the hero
1.a) Attributes




Advanced Statistics
Affiliation: Sentinel
Attack Animation: 0.55 / 0
Casting Animation: 0.3 / 2.4
Base Attack Time: 1.7
Missile Speed: 900
Sight Range: 1800/800
Damage: 38-44
Armor: 1.3
Movespeed: 280
Attack Range: 600

1.b) Miscellaneous
Back to Table of Contents

Other names for Crystal Maiden
CM, crystal, rylai, maiden, manafountain, et cetera et cetera.

Crystal Maiden is located in the Sentinel's Light Tavern.


Background Story
Adept in the manipulation of frost and ice, Rylai is the very image of elegeance and grace. Trained by a renegade wizard deep in the heart of Winterspring, Rylai brings to the Sentinel her prowess in the arts of magic. With a vast arsenal of spells, she wreaks havoc upon her foes - be it with powerful blasts of frost to send them fleeing in panic, or be it by rendering them immobile in ice. Her foes tremble in fear as the ground beneath implodes in mighty novas of frost in a dazzling array, obliterating all who dare oppose her.




1.c) Pros & Cons
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Pros
[ + ] Ranged
[ + ] Very powerful ultimate
[ + ] The best passive ability in DotA
[ + ] Not really item dependent (except for Freezing Field)
[ + ] 1 semi- disable and 1 (2) powerful slows

Cons
[ - ] Bad Attackdamage
[ - ] Very Fragile
[ - ] Items needed to use the ultimate fully
[ - ] Very slow, only techies are slower
[ - ] Can't farm that good, only 1 (bad) farming spell
[ - ] No real disable




1.d) Skills
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Crystal Nova:
Blasts enemy units around a target point with a wave of damaging frost that slows movement speed and attack rate for 5 seconds.

This spell is mainly used to slow the enemies in a big radius (Got buffed in 6.60). You may use it too for farming and laning, because Crystal Nova slows also the Attack rate.

[Level 1] - 80 Damage, 15 seconds cooldown, uses 100 Manapoints, applies chill Effect to the targets
[Level 2] - 130 Damage, 15 seconds cooldown, uses 120 Manapoints, applies chill Effect to the targets
[Level 3] - 180 Damage, 15 seconds cooldown, uses 140 Manapoints, applies chill Effect to the targets
[Level 4] - 230 Damage, 15 seconds cooldown, uses 160 Manapoints, applies chill Effect to the targets

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Frostbite:
Freezes the target in a case of ice, prohibiting movement and attacking. Deals 70 damage per second.
We use this spell to keep enemies from running away. It helps us to use our ultimate, but the Hero inside the iceblock is still able to cast spells!
To damage the bitten enemy you should cancel your animation. (After you used Frostbite click fast on the ground to cancel your animation, then again fast on the bitten enemy)

[Level 1] - 1.5 seconds Duration, 10 seconds cooldown, uses 115 Manapoints (70 damage every second)
[Level 2] - 2 seconds Duration, 10 seconds cooldown, uses 125 Manapoints (70 damage every second)
[Level 3] - 2.5 Second Duration, 10 seconds cooldown, uses 140 Manapoints (70 damage every second)
[Level 4] - 3 Second Duration, 10 seconds cooldown, uses 150 Manapoints (70 damage every second)

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Brilliance Aura:
Gives additional mana regeneration to all friendly units on the entire map. Since this ability was made 6.49 to a global effect, CM was banned (or picked, when not banned of course!) nearly always in competitive matches. This spell is very strong, it helps your whole team and it's still active when CM left the game (when she's frozen in her circle). Heroes like Zeus or Storm Spirit can spam their spells early, this is a big advantage on every lane (take a look at point 6.a).

[Level 1] - Adds 0.5 Mana Regeneration
[Level 2] - Adds 1 Mana Regeneration
[Level 3] - Adds 1.5 Mana Regeneration
[Level 4] - Adds 2.0 Mana Regeneration




Freezing Field:
Causes many random icy explosions in an area surrounding Rylai. Enemy units in the Freezing Field are slowed. Can be improved by Aghanim's Scepter.
[Level 1] - Each explosion deals 105 (170*) damage, 150 seconds cooldown, uses 300 Manapoints, 4 seconds Duration
[Level 2] - Each explosion deals 170 (250*) damage, 120 seconds cooldown, uses 400 Manapoints, 4 seconds Duration
[Level 3] - Each explosion deals 250 (310*) damage, 90 seconds cooldown, uses 600 Manapoints, 4 seconds Duration

This spell is incredibly strong, but has also a very high Manacost. With this ultimate you can easily win teamclashes, but normally it gets cancelled very fast. You will need Black King Bar & maybe a dagger to position Freezing Field right. More to that in the items section. Freezing Field hits also invisible Heroes and slows them, you can use this ability to finish invisible heroes with low health off.

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2. Skillorder & Variations
2.a) Skillorder
Back to Table of Contents
Normally you should skill like this:
[Level 1] Frostbite
[Level 2] Brilliance Aura
[Level 3] Brilliance Aura
[Level 4] Crystal Nova
[Level 5] Brilliance Aura
[Level 6] Frostbite
[Level 7] Brilliance Aura
[Level 8] Frostbite
[Level 9] Frostbite
[Level 10] Freezing Field
[Level 11] Freezing Field
[Level 12] Crystal Nova
[Level 13] Crystal Nova
[Level 14] Crystal Nova
[Level 15] Stats
[Level 16] Freezing Field
[Level 17- 25] Stats
A little Q&A to this Skillorder:
Q: "Why do we skill Frostbite on Level 1 and not Brilliance Aura?"
A: We don't need Brilliance Aura on Level 1. Normally you are level 2 after 30 seconds on the lane. We also use it for early clashs (rune clashs, early 5on1/ 5on2 gangs etc.).
Q: "Why do we skill Crystal Nova on Level 4/ Level 12-14 and not Stats?"
A: => Variatons
Q: "Why don't we skill Freezing Field on Level 6?"
A: We won't need it that early. We just don't have the manapool, and we won't use it because clashes aren't that early.
Q: "Why do we max Brilliance Aura first?"
A: Brilliance Aura is our main spell to assist our teammates, 2.0 Mana regeneration is a lot.


2.b) Variations
Back to Table of Contents

Many people skill Crystal Nova on Level 1. As requested, here is another Skillbuild.
[Level 1] Crystal Nova
[Level 2] Brilliance Aura
[Level 3] Brilliance Aura
[Level 4] Frostbite
[Level 5] Brilliance Aura
[Level 6] Frostbite
[Level 7] Frostbite
[Level 8] Brilliance Aura
[Level 9] Frostbite
[Level 10] Freezing Field
[Level 11] Freezing Field
[Level 12] Crystal Nova
[Level 13] Crystal Nova
[Level 14] Crystal Nova
[Level 15] Stats
[Level 16] Freezing Field
[Level 17- 25] Stats
I prefer going on Crystal Nova on Level 1, Frostbite on Level 2 and then the normal way.

That's completely situational, if you think you can kill your lane enemies early with your mate, you should go on Frostbite Level 2.


3. Items
3.a) Early to Late Game

Obviously you won't have that much gold to spent in a competitive game. But that's not the point, you should always focus on getting the best items fast.
You can find anything about Items here.

Startitems:

First we get 4 Ironwood Branches.

/
Then we buy 1 stack Tangoes of Essifation & 1x Healing Salve to regenerate our HP on the Lane.


Most of the time you buy the Chicken, so buy it for your team and dont forget to write -courier and share it with your teammates.
Example of a good startinventory


Again a little Q&A to this startitem build:
Q: "Why Ironwood Branches and not Circlets of Nobility? Won't we need them later for Bracers?"
A: That's right, we need them later for Bracers. But the cost/ performance ratio of Ironwood Branches is much better. Plus you may need the Ironwood Branches too, if you'd like to build Mekansm. Ironwood Branch: 19 Gold per stat point, Circlet of Nobility: 31 Gold per stat point. (If you are german you can read this topic on dotasource.de)



Earlygame Items to Midgame Items


You should buy 1-2 Bracers, Crystal Maiden is a Low-HP Hero.
Keep 2 of the Ironwood Branches if you want to build Mekansm!


+
/

Get Observer Wards (you will probably need 3-4 stacks if you are alone with warding, this depends on the game length and the necessity). The guide in the Warding section shows you where to place them.

Get either Dust of Appearance or Sentry Wards to counter invisible heroes. Buy a Magic Wand.



You should have atleast one Bracer and Boots of Speed. Don't buy Boots of Travel, they cost to much, better get Kelen's Dagger if you managed to get 2150 Gold!
I suggest that you just buy some Boots of Speed. If you want to upgrade those, buy Power Treads.


+ =
You should get Mekansm, due to it's high support it's a high priority item for Crystal Maiden!



Get Vladimir's Offering if your carry/ carries skip it. (Ring of Basilius' Aura and Vladimir's Offering Aura stack with Brilliance Aura)


You get killed by those scary Carries within 2 seconds? Get a Ghost scepter!


Late game

+/
In long games you can try to get Black King Bar & Kelen's Dagger or Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse.


You may also buy Necronomicon to counter heroes like Rikimaru (Invisible heroes) or Enigma (strong AoE spells).
More to Necronomicon:
Necronomicon Warrior & Necronomicon Archer





3.b) Coreitems (Summary)+ Variations
Back to Table of Contents

Power Treads


Mekansm


Kelen's Dagger + Black King Bar


Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse



Optional:

Necronomicon


Vladimir's Offering


Linken's Sphere


Hood of Defiance / Khadgar's Pipe of Insight
/



Sidenote:


Your teammates can push you with the Force Staff while you're channeling Freezing Field. But care! That doesn't mean that you can push yourself, the channling will break then.

Variations (or: Items to buy in pubs)

There are no real variations, it depends all on your team and your enemies.
So I'll give you some examples for possible public builds:

Aghanim's Scepter


Shiva's Guard


Force Staff


Eye of Skadi





4. General play style
4.a) General
Back to Table of Contents

Most of the time you are in a double lane with a hero like N'aix, Yurnero or Tidehunter. Try to get the lower lane on Sentinel side or the Upper on scourge side. Let your carry block the creeps and go to the rune Spawnpoint, you can see the runes from this ledge in the sentinel's forest. The first rune spawns at 0:00, they respawn every 2 minutes.

Let your carry always get the lasthits, and don't waste your manaregeneration by not using your mana to harass the enemy. Of course you may also harass with normal hits. Always try to denie and protect your carry.
Use Frostbite and Crystal Nova to disable your enemy and slow their movement speed. If you are Level 10+ use your ultimate to deal great damage with a big slow. You can easily kill high Level Creeps with Frostbite, like the Centaur Khan. Level 1 Frostbite and a few hits are enough to kill him.
Use this rotation if you got Kelen's Dagger & Black King Bar, or just skip the Kelen's Dagger & Black King Bar part.
Dagger in the enemies, activate Black King Bar, use Crystal Nova a single time, (use Khadgar's Pipe & Necronomicon too if you got them) and use Freezing Field. When anyone gets out of thise deadly combination (when the duration is finished, for example) try to finish him with another Crystal Nova and/ or Frostbite. If everything goes well you may win a clash very easily with this rotation. Without Black King Bar you normally die very fast, Crystal Maiden is just to fragile. Don't be ashamed when you have a bad score in the end, that's normal, just be happy if your team wins!
This video shows some great ultimates:


made by ShUp & rCarr0w


Animation Cancelling

Taken from the Learn 'Dota- Animations' section

After you casted a spell, such as Frostbite, just give your hero the command to move. Right click a bit next to your hero to do so, then cast your next spell or attack the enemy.

"Tower Targeting Cycle Trick":


made by Niss3



Runes


4.b) Warding
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This guide explains everything about warding very well. Impossible to add anything to this.
I can only give you a tip: Fking buy wards for your team! You don't need those ImbaWTFBBQ Items, seriously. Just let your carries get all gold and support like hell. That's your role, that's what you should do.




5. Friends & Foes
5.a) Friends (Combos)

Heroes with a high mana consumption

Those heroes profit a lot from your Brilliance Aura.

Yurnero

Perfect synergy with your slowing & disable spells!

Heroes with big AoE Disables

With their AoE Disables you can cast your ultimate without getting damaged.

General stunners/ slowers

Doubleslowed/ permadisabled heroes are an easy target for your team.

Carries

Crystal Maiden isn't really item dependant, so your Carry may get every lasthit on the lane.



5.b) Foes
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1 Hitkiller

You have no chance to survive if you are alone.

Harasser

They kill you easily, it's hard to stay in the EXP range with a harasser on your lane.

Permadisabler

You are an easy target if you're disabled.



5.c) Playing against Crystal Maiden

Crystal Maiden is a low HP & Low MS hero. You can kill her easily when Frostbite & Crystal Nova are on Cooldown. Chasing is the best way to kill her, or just nuke her down. Getting stunned is a deadly moment for Crystal Maiden. Normally she dies very fast, so try to gang her very often before she gets Kelen's Dagger and/ or Black King Bar. If Crystal Maiden activates her Ultimate, Freezing Field, try to get fast out of the area. Don't forget that Freezing Field is a channeling spell, you can easily break it by stunning her.

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6. Replays

Got 2 replays. Both are high quality competitive games, patch 1.24/b. Although CM isn't an interesting hero like Nerubian Assassin, those replays are still worth watching.



Dendi vs kenz0, Crystal Maiden played by EG.DeMoN.

Dendi, Sentinel:
RAZER.CGC.GK^K
Kebap-
SuperSani
razer.Miracle
DTS|Dendi^

kenz0, Scourge:
dignitas.kenz0
Apteka|Zhanis
Apteka|Slavik
FoloW
EG.DeMoN

Patch 1.24- 1.24b, dota V6.61c
download here (click on "Download REP")

or here.

kenz0, Scourge




EVOPLAY vs Wolk3r Gaming, Crystal Maiden played by TR^teNsA.

EVOPLAY, Sentinel:
EVO!DeMeNt
EVO!Papashka
EVO!XoYnoZnU
EVO!ThePlaymatE
EVO!syndereN

Wolk3r Gaming, Scourge:
Platinum^pgg
IllidanSTR
TR^blowurbrain
AmsiTheBEST
TR^teNsA

Patch 1.24-1.24b, dota v6.61c
download here.

EVOPLAY, Sentinel




7. Credits
First I would like to thank some friends who helped me: d00m_sh33p, Infrisios, Sonny, Argama, skorbYen, Super-sheep, KryptoniX-_-, and some others (Sorry if I forgot someone).
Thanks to Ramomar, real and Midna, I borrowed some things from you
And a special thanks to Lycan for his reviews, you helped ma a lot!
And last but not least, the playdota Staff & of course the community!

Thanks for reading my guide!



8. Changelog
Back to Table of Contents
8/20/09: Began to write the guide
8/21/09: Deleted the parts for newbies within the spoiler tags (we dont need this, there are several other guides for that, or just go to => Learn Dota)
8/21/09: Fixed the list- command problem. (only forum post)
8/21/09: Added additional screenshots (freezing field with radius for example)
8/22/09: Added anchors
8/22/09: Added the alt-tab guide
8/27/09: Decided to change the big item icons to their thumb icons.
8/29/09: Finished the guide!
9/16/09: Added another Skillbuild

source