Morphling Item Build DotA

Friday, July 15, 2011 Item Build Master


VI. ITEM BUILDS

Morphling Item Build
I have four core builds, all extremely different from each other to emphasize Morphling's flexibiliy as an asset. Let me list down some of their qualities below. Their respective build progressions are noted underneath their justifications to save space.

Manta CoreNot to be confused with the mythical creature Manticore, this build is focused on maximum dps output as early as possible. Manta Style is the centerpiece of this build, and it involves making full use of the illusions to deal damage as the prime cooie cutter build.
Ethereal CoreEthereal Blade is the sniper rifle of Morphling in this build, equipped magical Adaptive Strike ammunition to slay his enemies from afar. This build focuses on instant kills over fragile support/disabler Heroes instead of achieving a widespread dps like Manta Core.
SnY-Diffusal CoreThe first Orb Effect build proposed, SnY-Diffusal Core is the build to get for ganker Morphlings who intend to maximize AGI use instead of raw damage output. The Maim and Purge is there to chase when needed.
Skadi RushSkadi Rush is a proposed build for experienced players who are keen with their farming at early stages. It involves rushing Eye of Skadi as their first item right after getting their basic needs. There is very little room for error in this one.

WHICH BOOTS?

Morphling Item Build
Boots of Travel is the best choice, but it is not the best by too much. It excels only very little above Power Treads, but because of the map control and farming power it gives, it is generally suited for a hard carry such as Morphling. Do not mind my putting Boots of Travel as a core item for three of my builds because I chose it for simplicity. Power Treads is still an option every time.
Power Treads is the second best boots but it doesn't stray far from the above. The general questions you should be asking yourself before you get this instead should be: Am I dying too much? Do I need to focus on survivability rather than farming? Do I need to adjust to the enemy's gameplay? And finally, can I use Power Treads better than Boots of Travel in this situation? If you answer yes to at least two of those, then by all means, get this item.


Morphling Item Build

Manta Core



Justification: Boots of Travel as discussed above.

Manta Style is still a decent item on Morphling, despite the recent nerf on it with ranged Heroes, and the fact that Morphling cannot Replicate his own illusions. Why?

Manta Style is just the DPS item to get when you want to own in clashes in general. The DPS is quite good even after the nerf, and it's the item to get when you want to dish out a whole lot of DPS, rather than burst damage. You can still have the best of both worlds, but in the end, Manta Style is still the preferable build.

Linken's Sphere is always there as an option. You can get Manta Style first and then Linken's Sphere. But almost always, if you're going for this type of Morphling, Linken's Sphere will be gotten first. It solves mana problems and gives you a good boost for stats, not to mention the Spell Block ability.

Magic Wand is, of course, part of the core build. I'll discuss the other items to get along with the core later on.
Morphling Item Build
BUILD PROGRESSION


Farmer/Rusher
  1. Ultimate Orb
  2. Perseverance
  3. Linken's Sphere
  4. Ultimate Orb
  5. Yasha
  6. Manta Style

Ganker/Average
  1. Perseverance
  2. Yasha
  3. Ultimate Orb
  4. Linken's Sphere
  5. Ultimate Orb
  6. Manta Style
Morphling Item Build
Ethereal Blade Core



Justification: Not much difference with the first build, yes? Boots of Travel is still present as a farming amplifier, as well as Linken's Sphere as a mana-giver and spell-blocker. Magic Wand is present for ganking styles.

The main difference is obviously the Ethereal Blade. Before, this item was not gotten due to the fact that Adaptive Strike dealt Physical damage.

Ethereal Blade is now one of the better items, if not one of the best, on Morphling. This is the main fight between the builds. Adaptive Strike deals Magical damage, amplified by the Ethereal form of the enemy. The Eaglehorn that is part of the item build only gives more damage. However, in 6.71, the multiplier was significantly reduced from 3.0x to 2.0x, so it's become less effective.

You might argue that the items still retain the DPS that Manta Style gives (40 AGI is not something you can ignore). But the downside to this that Ghost Scepter,a part of the build, does nothing for Morphling for the cost (aside from stats, obviously). Eaglehorn is not that easy to farm either. Manta Style comes in manageable parts that give you what you need when you need it.

As a full summary, if you can farm the items while still being useful, get Ethereal Blade. It can take out support Heroes in a relatively short time. It looks good on paper; the damage dealt is superb. Except that fights don't go the way you want them to. It's good to note that you might want to focus on a carry, but that carry will always build BKB in order to be useful. I'm not saying enemy carries are in a perma-BKB state, but it's something to keep in mind.

The burst damage is the reason for this item. If you prefer more clash usefulness, get Manta Style. If you want to take out a significant support Hero (maybe as significant as a carry Hero), get this item. I hope I discussed everything about the two builds.
Morphling Item Build
BUILD PROGRESSION


Farmer/Rusher
  1. Eaglehorn
  2. Ghost Scepter
  3. Ethereal Blade

Ganker/Average
  1. Ghost Scepter
  2. Eaglehorn
  3. Ethereal Blade
Morphling Item Build
SnY-Diffusal Core



Justification: Again, the type of boots don't differ much from the two builds. The odd combination of items might look weird, but it's more for a cookie cutter Morphling.

Sange and Yasha's Greater Maim (nor Yasha's Lesser Maim) is not an Orb Effect anymore, which makes it awesome when paired with an existing Orb Effect that I chose to be a Diffusal Blade. Sange and Yasha boosts up your tanking and hitting capabilities decently, with a passive chance to slow to boot.

Diffusal Blade can be upgraded cheaply, which makes it all the more powerful should you even run out of charges. The combination of Maims and Purges will make it quite tough for even those with escape mechanisms to get away from you. Not only that, Purge can also solve other problems that can be eliminated by it. Feedback as your Orb Effect will also allows you to significantly increase your DPS.

Magic Wand is there as always, because I trust it, and so should you. You'll see.
Morphling Item Build
BUILD PROGRESSION


Farmer/Rusher
  1. 2x Blade of Alacrity
  2. Robe of the Magi
  3. Diffusal Blade
  4. Yasha
  5. Sange
  6. Sange and Yasha

Ganker/Average
  1. Yasha
  2. Sange
  3. Sange and Yasha
  4. 2x Blade of Alacrity
  5. Robe of the Magi
  6. Diffusal Blade
Morphling Item Build
Skadi Rush



Justification: This type Power Treads is gotten to cut costs, but feel free to replace it with Boots of Travel if the game is going to last longer than expected.

Eye of Skadi's Frost Attack is key to this build. In fact, it's the inspiration. Then again, the damage is likened to something like The Butterfly, which makes it a strong first item, albeit the differences aren't very strong. It suits all Morphling's key points, and it is best coupled with lifesteal. Players who aren't focused on farming should try another build.

Satanic is a suitable follow-up, but that's up to you.

Magic Wand is there for good measure. You should get this first before you try rushing Eye of Skadi. You'll be naked when you do it, so it's best to get something to cover the important parts.

Scroll of Town Portal is to be gotten mainly to avoid deaths, but also because you no longer have teleports via Boots of Travel.
Morphling Item Build
BUILD PROGRESSION


Farmer/Rusher
  1. Point Booster
  2. 2x Ultimate Orb
  3. Orb of Venom
  4. Eye of Skadi

Ganker/Average
  1. Orb of Venom
  2. Point Booster
  3. 2x Ultimate Orb
  4. Eye of Skadi


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