N'aix, the Lifestealer


1: Hero Description


N'aix in his current state is a great carry/semi-carry in all levels of play. He is capable of different roles and is a good laner, an anti-tank and a tank-DPS hero. For further information on him such as his hero stats and story, check this link

He has seen a drastic change since his old reincarnation. Then he had 3 passives with a 20 second Avatar and an abysmal strength growth. Now having undergone this remake from IceFrog (in 6.49 if i'm not mistaken), N'aix has since been a powerhouse in competitive play. Despite the fall of AGI heroes and the rise of spell carries in 6.59d, N'aix remained one of the only physical damage based heroes to remain in the top tier.

In the current metagame, N'aix is still as powerful as ever. Items such as Quelling Blade have been added that aided the farming prowess of N'aix. The future of this scourge creep looking thing looks brighter than ever.

2: Skills Descriptions, Builds & Usage

2.1 Skill Descriptions
[click on the icons to see further info on the skills]

Rage

Mechanics:
75 mana cost, 15 seconds cooldown, duration of 2.50/3.25/4.00/4.75 seconds, gives 30%/45%/60%/80% increased attack speed and grants magic immunity. Dispels many buffs on activation and stacks with Frenzy-based spells.
Usage: This is your mini-BKB and is a potent attack speed increaser. Definitely one of your key skills. Use it in conjunction with Open Wounds offensively to deal the maximum amount of damage during the slow period. Defensively, this skill is incredibly useful. Use it to evade AoE spells such as Epicenter, Tauren's Ultimate, etc. Use it to dispel buffs such as Venomancer's Poison Nova. Another common use is to activate it before tp-ing

Additional Information:
  • Activating Rage will cancel out most debuffs that are currently on N'aix.
  • Bash from a melee hero goes through Rage; ranged bash does not.
  • Rupture can be cast on N'aix while Rage is activated but it will not do damage as long as Rage is active.
  • The returned damage from Blademail is considered magical damage so N'aix will not take damage.
  • Mekansm's heal works through Rage but the armor does not.

Here are some notable spells that go through Rage:
  • Doom
  • Ensnare
  • Purge (Only Medusa's Stony Gaze)
  • Entangle (Rage removes it)
  • Overgrowth (Rage removes it)
  • Fiend's Grip (No damage)
  • Sanity's Eclipse (No damage)
  • Echo Slam (Echo damage)
  • Nether Swap
  • Lightning Grapple
  • Omnislash
  • Death Ward
  • Landmines (Not Remote Mines)
  • Wild Axes
  • Toss
  • Counter Helix
  • Exorcism
  • Ravage (No stun or damage, but throws you in the air)
  • Chronosphere
  • Haunt
  • Global Silence
  • Culling Blade
  • Mass Serpent Wards
  • Earthbind
  • Charge of Darkness
  • Track
  • Nether Strike
  • Viper Strike (Slow only)
  • Primal Roar (Stun only)
  • Reaper's Scythe (Stun only)
  • Reverse Polarity (Stun only)
  • Dismember (Stun only)
  • Rot (Slow only)
  • Pit of Malice
  • Passive skills such as Degen Aura, Maim, Poison Sting, even Feast!


Feast

Mechanics:
A passive which lifesteals 4%/5%/6%/7% based off the targets HP, the heal is independent of the damage. It deals physical damage. It works on magic-immune units but not on Roshan.
Usage: attack, lol. This is the skill that makes you the bane of tanks as it deals percentage based damage and is the reason why N'aix is called the Lifestealer.

Skill Mechanics:

Feast is a passive ability based on the enemy's remaining health, not the enemy's max health. When N'aix attacks the enemy, Feast calculates how much health is 4/5/6/7 percent of the enemy's remaining health is. Once it figures it out, it restores N'aix's a number of HP equal to that number. Then when N'aix damages the enemy with his attack, the same number is added to the damage inflicted. Remember this: the less health the enemy has, the less number of HP N'aix will regenerate and the less number of bonus damage will be added.

Example:

N'aix starts a battle with Sven. N'aix has 100 damage and 1,000/2,000 health while Sven has 2,000/3,000 health and 10 armor. Before N'aix's 100 damage is subtracted from Sven, Feast comes into effect. Assuming N'aix has level 4 Feast, it heals N'aix by 7% of 2,000 (or 140 HP), making N'aix health 1,140. Immediately, it also adds 140 to N'aix's damage for a total of 240 damage to Sven. Now 10 armor reduces the 240 damage by 37.5%, making the damage taken by Sven equal 150, since 240 - .375(240) = 150.

Additional Information:
The damage Feast adds to N'aix's attack is physical damage, reducing armor gives you bonus damage.
Golems and siege units are also affected by Feast since they are only immune to magic.
Feast does not work on Roshan or buildings.
Images are unaffected by Feast.
The Lifesteal occurs after armor reduction, so if N'aix had 10%, he will gain 15 health from Sven.


Open Wounds

Mechanics:
110 mana cost, 30/25/20/15 seconds cooldown, 600 casting rage, duration of 8 seconds, marks target for Open Wounds effect of 10%/15%/20%/25% heal-on-attack and slows by 80%/70%/60%/50%/30%/10%/10%/10%, the slow decreasing one step per second. All damage dealt will steal life, including damage from spells. Linken's Sphere does not block the slow.
Usage: Great laning spell as it is a potent slow even at its first level. Also an amazing ganking tool for focusing on a target opponent. Another addition to his arsenal of lifesteal.

Infest

Mechanics:
50 mana cost, 100/60/30 seconds cooldown, 150 casting range and can be used on allied, neutral and enemy creeps. Replenishes hitpoints based on targets. N'aix gains experience from kills made nearby the Infested target while he is traveling with it. If the Infested unit is killed before N'aix uses Consume, he will not be healed.
Usage: An incredibly useful, versatile spell. Use it to hide in allied creeps to surprise an opponent (technique explained in detail later on). Also great to hide in any of Chen/Enchantress creeps. Defensively can be used to hide in opponent creeps (which is better as will not be killed by allies) and in jungling to kill a high level creep faster.

Skill Mechanics:

When N'aix cast Infest on a unit, N'aix enters the body and N'aix is removed from the game (he is invulnerable and everything else in the game does not affect N'aix in anyway). He doesn't have any stats, attack, items or skills except a Consume ability. N'aix freezes in time and uses the unit as a shield almost. The only way N'aix exits the unit is either if the unit dies or N'aix activates the Cosume ability which kills the unit instantly and receives a self-heal. N'aix can only Infest non-Ancient units and N'aix cannot Infest heroes, buildings, or Roshan.

Additional Information:
  • Enemies do not see the green orb on top of the unit you Infested.
  • N'aix's hidden and paused status is similar to that of Astral Imprisonment and Phase Shift.
  • The moment N'aix Infest a unit, all stats, buffs, debuff, regeneration stops until N'aix consumes the unit.
  • Auras of N'aix while he's inside a unit still affects units around the Infested unit, except Radiance.
  • N'aix can still gain experience if the Infested unit is in experience range.

Here are some notable units that N'aix can Infest:
  • All neutral creeps except the Ancients and Roshan
  • Non-Ancients
  • Dominated creeps
  • Persuaded creeps
  • Enchanted creeps
  • Magic Immuned units
  • Non-Resistance skin units
  • Non-Flying units
  • Non-Hero units
  • Eidolons
  • Liberated Souls
  • Treants
  • Rexxar's Quilbeast
  • Spiderlings
  • Weaver's Watchers
  • Zombies
  • Necronomicon summons


Detailed Lifestealer Mechanics

2.2 Skill Build

1. Open Wounds
2. Feast/Rage
3. Feast/Rage
4. Rage/Feast
5. Feast/Rage
6. Infest
7. Feast/Rage
8. Rage/Feast
9. Rage/Feast
10. Rage/Feast
11. Infest
12. Open Wounds
13. Open Wounds
14. Open Wounds
15. Attribute Bonuses
16. Infest

This skill build is generally one that is followed universally. One level of Open Wounds is taken first as the slow is consistent and taken after his other spells because only the lifesteal percentage increases. Feast is then maxed out as it not only gives you a way to harass but also an easier method of last hitting. Rage is maxed next because it is one of the most useful spells in his arsenal and attack speed and duration increase per level. The alternative skill build is getting Rage instead of Feast at the stated levels in case of harder lanes, this is akin to Omniknight getting more levels of Repel. Infest is taken whenever giving N'aix lane stayability and general utility.

3: Item Builds, Alternatives and How to Use Them

3.1 Core Item Build


[STR Treads][Armlet][TP Scroll]

3.2 Items Choices Afterwards


[Desolator]
(common luxury fitting any level of play)


[Heart][Cuirass][BKB]
(tank-DPS build)


[Buriza][MKB]
(pure DPS build)


[S&Y][Phase]
(alternative build based on speed)


[HotD]
(The Houdini Build)

3.3 Details & Justifications

N'aix is one of the least item dependent carry heroes. Quelling Blade to start helps in farming Strength Treads and Armlet as a cheap source of damage that boosts your killing potential massively. Armlet is by far the best item for Strength DPSers and the degen is countered by the constant lifesteal. At least one Scroll should be on your person at all times due to its utility.

Desolator is a common luxury for N'aix in leagues as it helps you kill much faster and kills soft casters amazingly fast. The orb is useful for the team as well. The Corruption just helps the Feast damage so much since it is physical. Great for shutting down certain heroes quickly

Heart is amazing as it not only provides you with damage but also gives great bonuses such as HP and regen. Get this when spells are present on the other team. Cuirass is more DPS oriented due to its armor reduction and is balances your naturally high HP with armor. Get this when constant physical damage is a nuisance.

Buriza is even better now with the decrease in cost of Demon Edge and buffed Crit. A great item for simply boosting DPS. MKB is also great and the mini stun helps in cancelling channeling spells (something Open Wounds did till a recent nerf)

3.4 Alternative/Situational Items

S&Y and Phase - an alternative build focusing on chasing. S&Y has an even cheaper buildup and gives stats in both Strength and Agility while Phase grants great mobility and a bit of armor. Overall a balanced alternative build.

BKB - You already have a mini-BKB, get this to increase your tankishness. At the very least, it grants you 5 seconds extra of immunity to spells.

Blink Dagger - Not a bad idea as demonstrated in the replay below. Great for catching up and initiating on lone heroes. Grants N'aix more mobility that he lacks after Open Wounds wears off. This however is not quite as useful as other items in certain situations where a tank/more damage/etc. is needed and so is a late game luxury

Orchid Malevolence - The attack speed it provides is great and the silence is great against those Houdini-type heroes or casters. This is the primary reason this is taken. The int is a bit wasted so it is a bit situational.

Gauntlets/Bracers - Gauntlets are often taken as starting items so these are a good choice. They provide health along with more damage which is always good. However, the choice to upgrade it into Bracers is situational. You may not need it most of the time since you are a strength hero with numerous escape options. I myself like to focus on getting my Treads/Armlet first. Not to say that it isn't totally uneeded

Helm of the Dominator - Now, I digress to add anymore forms of lifesteal to N'aix's build, with the lifestealer namesake, he has 2 skills that provide this. Among all 3 items that provide lifesteal (HotD, MoM, Vlad's) this is the best option for N'aix. It provides N'aix with a creep to hide in to increase his escape options along with providing a disable of sorts or any skill that the creeps possess. This would be a fun, more pub-oriented item.

4: Hero Specific Strategies and Techniques

Techniques

Surprise Buttsex - If you see an opponent in the lane, Infest in an allied creep on its way to the lane so the opponent doesn't see. When you arrive, Consume and proceed to rape the opponent. Best used in the laning phase with an allied hero or onwards with a soft hero foolish enough to be out in the lane.

Infest Out - Infest in a creep to get a significant boost in health. Best used in high/full HP creeps. Can also be used in full health opponent creeps since they cannot kill it or deny it unless its below a certain level and is a perfect way to stall until allies come. The same principle applies to dominated creeps be it allied or enemy

Infest Jungle - This skill is what allows you to take on the higher level creep camps at low health and basically makes you able to stay in the jungle for longer without neutral suicide or going back to the fountain.

Animation Cancelling - A basic technique used in DotA for nearly every hero. Basically, Open Wounds has a short casting time so N'aix might end up switching targets if you don't animation cancel to catch up. Its all about making the most of your APM.

Rage Defense - This is extremely useful in cases where being hit by continuous damage or AoE spells. A great counter to Epicenter/Freezing Field and basically works like Euls in this situation. Also dispels nasty buffs. Another note, this makes you a GREAT counter to Tauren Chieftain since all his spells have casting time allowing you to prepare.

Rage TP - Basic use of Rage is to use it in conjunction with a teleport so it will probably not get cancelled.

Dagger Initiate - When getting Dagger, use it to initiate on an opponent with Rage and Armlet activated so there is no delay, this should allow you to get in a few hits. Use the slow afterwards to finish off. Alternatively, you can start with the slow than catch up with Blink. With proper warding too, you can manage to blink towards an initiating opponent to prevent him from doing so (Raigor as shown in the replay).

Strategies

Soloing - Not really the best of ideas since you are melee and your slow is really only benefited by ally assist. You aren't half bad as other melee heroes though. Against a harder lane, play defensively and save Rage for defensive purposes. Against a weaker lane, try to harass with your attack since it deals a good amount of damage with Feast (ranged heroes are hell, though).

Laning - One of the better ways to play N'aix. Most of the time taking the long, safe lane (top for Scourge, bottom for Sentinel) is a good rule of thumb. Leave creep pulling to your lane partner though, you need the farm being the carry. Slow is incredibly useful and helps you lane well in conjunction with an ally. Babysitters are great as you still need to farm a certain amount, however little that is. Dazzle is amazing actually as his heal and slow is great offensively as well as defensively. You are the carry hero, try to take all the last hits if possible and let your ally focus on denying.

Jungling - Not a bad choice here due to your innate lifesteal. Get a Quelling Blade, Stout Shield and a tango. If the team has a chicken (as is the case in league caliber games), have it ferry you consumables as needed. This should be an option if you plan on farming fast and quickly since N'aix will otherwise be in a double lane hindering his xp gain. Also, he can help gank the lane and provide an extra solo lane with Jungling which has become a common sight in league games. Pulling and stacking creep camps becomes a great option, usually the pullable camp is the lowest level one. At level 6, don't be afraid to take on the high level camps at low health since you have Infest to give you a huge chunk of HP back. Alternatively, you can lane till level 6 where afterwards you go to jungle because of Infest.

Getting Ganked - This is where things get good. You have a variety of options at your fingertips here. Rage+TP away, Infest in a creep or Open Wounds the nearest hero and run. Alternatively, you can turn a solo gank around by hitting him with everything you've got. Chances are it will take more than one hero to take you down.

Ganking - N'aix makes a great ganker, a benefit for a carry hero. This is second nature to N'aix. Basically use Open Wounds to initiate or to catch up later on and Rage to kill faster. With a Blink Dagger, ganking becomes easier since Open Wounds slow decreases with time making it harder to catch up. Allied help makes everything better. Don't forget to make use of the Surprise Buttsex tip. N'aix can go out of his way to gank if needed unlike other carry heroes that can only do so if in their own lane due to a lack of ganking power or the need to hardcore ricefarm. However, he shouldn't go roaming or basically devote his whole mid game to ganking. A good balance should be achieved.

Team Battles - This is a situation where you are pushing near a tower. You don't want to be in the fray always especially since they have the tower advantage but make sure to cast your spells to help opponents. Infest in a creep so your presence won't be noted. Play conservatively until you have an opening and exploit it. Rage in and focus an opponent along with your allies. If facing heroes with crazy channeling ultimates such as Rylai or Crixalis, Rage+Blink makes a great way of preventing their AoE while killing them.

5: Replays and Videos

F4F Grand Final - Ks.int vs. TeG
Patch: 1.23
Map: 6.59d

Sentinel:
Ks^Swy
Ks.LevenT.tr
Ks^JOKER.de
Ks^Miracle.se
Ks^KuroKy.ir
Scourge:
TeG-ppasarel
TeG-RMP
TeG-Hyperion
TeG-Coco
TeG-Ly0n
Download here!

Despite being a 6.59 replay, it is still applicable to this guide. Great N'aix by Ly0n who farms a Treads/Armlet/Deso at a great pace. Makes great use of Rage+TP at crucial moments. He also gets a Blink dagger to initiate on the squishies in Ks.int and manages to prevent Raigor from initiating by blinking to him and killing him within Rage duration at one point.

Keep track too of the great play of Kuroky and his Kunkka with very precise aiming of skills along with some tricky mindgames. The solo Alchemist too is a great supporter for TeG. Overall a great replay not only for the N'aix.

6: Credits and Conclusion

First and foremost, i'd like to thank Beast_Pete for the guide layout he pioneered that I have "borrowed" from him to use in this guide. Also, Sin_X whose guide at DotA-Allstars.com provided me with Mechanics which I used in this guide.

All those who have helped this guide through your support and help through voting, comments and suggestion. You help improve this guide and keep it at a consistent quality.

N'aix is an amazing hero who shockingly lacks a guide here at PlayDota.com so i felt that I would contribute to the community by making this guide on a very fun hero that never ceases to amaze.

7: Changelogs

7/27-28/09: Added some elaboration on certain finer points of this guide and added a credits

7/29/09: Mechanics madness. Added lots of mechanics to clarify certain things about N'aix's spells.

8/05/09: Elaborated on certain aspects of the strategy and added a new build around Helm of the Dominator

8/07/09 - Added skill icons and hero skill info



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