Shiv Build

Shiv is a close-combat fighter whose strengths lie in high mobility, bleed effects, and sustained damage over time. Here’s an optimal item build for early, mid, and late game stages, along with a detailed breakdown of Shiv’s abilities and tips for using them effectively.

Shiv

Optimal Itemization by Game Stage

• Early Game
• Mid Game
• Late Game

ItemsWeapon

Close Quarters

Characteristics +20% melee damage, +15% bullet resistance. Cost: 650 points. Description Increases melee damage and increases bullet resistance. Usage recommendations Suitable forRead More

ItemsSpirit

Extra Charge

Characteristics Cost: 3000 Description Extra Charge adds extra charges to abilities. Use recommendations Useful for heroes with powerful active abilities.

ItemsVitality

Extra Health

Characteristics +150 health. Cost: 2500 points. Description Increases the hero’s overall health, making him more resistant to damage. Use recommendations Useful forRead More

ItemsVitality

Extra Regen

Characteristics +15% to health regeneration. Cost: 2500 points. Description Increases health regeneration, allowing you to recover from damage faster. Usage recommendations RecommendedRead More

ItemsVitality

Extra Stamina

Characteristics +20% stamina. Cost: 3000 points. Description Increases overall stamina, allowing you to use abilities longer. Usage recommendations Best choice for heroesRead More

ItemsWeapon

Headshot Booster

Characteristics +40% headshot damage. Cost: 600 points. Description Increases headshot damage, significantly increasing damage potential. Usage recommendations Great for heroes with precisionRead More

ItemsWeapon

High-Velocity Mag

Characteristics +30% bullet speed, +15% weapon damage. Cost: 700 points. Description Increases bullet speed, making it easier to hit moving targets andRead More

ItemsVitality

Sprint Boots

Characteristics +30% movement speed. Cost: 2500 points. Description Increases movement speed, which is useful for quickly moving around the battlefield. Usage recommendationsRead More

ItemsSpirit

Decay

Characteristics Cost: 4000 Description Decay causes enemies’ health to gradually decrease. Use Recommendations Suitable for heroes who prefer to deal damage overRead More

ItemsSpirit

Duration Extender

Characteristics Cost: 3500 Description Duration Extender increases the duration of positive effects. Usage recommendations Effective for heroes with buffs.

ItemsVitality

Healbane

Characteristics Decreases enemy healing. Cost: 3000 points. Description Decreases enemy healing, making them vulnerable to sustained attacks. Usage recommendations Ideal against heroesRead More

ItemsSpirit

Mystic Vulnerability

Characteristics Cost: 4100 Description Mystic Vulnerability increases enemies’ vulnerability to magical attacks. Use recommendations Recommended for mages.

ItemsWeapon

Slowing Bullets

Characteristics +16% damage, slow enemies. Cost: 650 points. Description Slows enemies, making them easier to hit, and increases damage. Usage recommendations RecommendedRead More

ItemsVitality

Spirit Armor

Characteristics +30% to Spirit Armor. Cost: 3000 points. Description Increases Spirit Armor, improving resistance to magical attacks. Use Recommendations Recommended for magesRead More

ItemsSpirit

Escalating Exposure

Characteristics Cost: 4500 Description Escalating Exposure increases damage to enemies over time if they are under the influence of magic. Use recommendationsRead More

ItemsVitality

Improved Bullet Armor

Characteristics +30% bullet resistance. Cost: 3200 points. Description Increases bullet resistance, reducing damage taken from shells. Use recommendations Recommended for tanks supportRead More

ItemsVitality

Improved Spirit Armor

Characteristics +25% to Spirit Armor. Cost: 3200 points. Description Boosts Spirit Armor, reducing damage from magical and spiritual attacks. Use Recommendations UsefulRead More

ItemsVitality

Leech

Characteristics Cost: 4000 Description Leech restores health when dealing damage to enemies. Usage recommendations Effective for heroes that rely on health restoration.

ItemsSpirit

Rapid Recharge

Characteristics Cost: 3000 Description Rapid Recharge speeds up the recharge of weapons and skills. Use recommendations Useful for heroes who rely onRead More

ItemsWeapon

Soul Shredder Bullets

Characteristics +6% damage, spirit absorption and health drain. Cost: 850 points. Description Absorbs the spirit of enemies, increasing spirit vampirism. Usage recommendationsRead More

ItemsSpirit

Superior Cooldown

Characteristics Cost: 4500 Description Superior Cooldown significantly reduces skill cooldown. Usage Recommendations Effective for mages and heroes with active abilities.

ItemsWeapon

Toxic Bullets

Characteristics Inflicts bleeding and reduces enemy healing by 65%. Cost: 3000 points. Description Inflicts bleeding and reduces enemy healing. Usage recommendations EffectiveRead More

Early Game

In the early game, Shiv benefits from items that boost melee damage and sustain on the lane. The following items are recommended:

1. Extra Charge – Increases the number of thrown knives, helping Shiv to maximize early damage.
2. Close Quarters – Boosts melee damage, especially beneficial since Shiv frequently engages enemies up close.
3. Headshot Booster – Adds bonus damage on precision hits, increasing burst potential in close encounters.
4. High-Velocity Mag – Provides shield and extra damage, enhancing Shiv’s survivability.
5. Extra Regen and Extra Health – Support passive health regeneration and overall durability.
6. Sprint Boots or Extra Stamina – Increase movement speed and mobility, allowing Shiv to evade or initiate fights as needed​.

Mid Game

In the mid-game, Shiv shifts towards amplifying bleed damage and enhancing his crowd control.

1. Decay – Amplifies bleed damage over time, quickly stacking rage for more impactful attacks.
2. Mystic Vulnerability – Boosts bleed effects, making Shiv’s knives even more deadly.
3. Slowing Bullets – Slows enemy movement, improving Shiv’s ability to chase and control opponents.
4. Spirit Armor and Spirit Lifesteal – Offer increased resistance and health restoration, ideal for Shiv’s sustained close-quarters fights.
5. Duration Extender – Lengthens bleed effect duration, helpful for extended skirmishes.
6. Healbane – Reduces enemy healing, which is crucial against heroes relying on regeneration​.

Late Game

In the late game, Shiv needs items that enhance his durability and burst damage.

1. Toxic Bullets – Significantly increases bleed and knife damage, ideal for prolonged engagements.
2. Soul Shredder Bullets – Enhances health sustain and boosts Shiv’s overall damage output.
3. Superior Cooldown and Rapid Recharge – Reduce cooldowns, allowing Shiv to use his skills more frequently in extended fights.
4. Escalating Exposure – Raises sustained damage in long engagements, complementing Shiv’s bleed mechanics.
5. Improved Spirit Armor and Improved Bullet Armor – Boost defenses, crucial for surviving late-game clashes.
6. Leech – Restores health on each hit, increasing Shiv’s sustainability and durability​.

Detailed Breakdown of Shiv’s Abilities

1. Serrated Knives – Throws knives that deal damage and slow enemies. With full rage, the knives ricochet, inflicting a powerful bleed effect on multiple enemies. Perfect for whittling down targets before diving in.
2. Slice and Dice – Dashes forward, damaging enemies along the path. When at full rage, Shiv repeats the dash, providing an additional damage layer and excellent mobility to initiate or escape.
3. Bloodletting – Defers part of incoming damage over time, which can be activated to clear a portion of this deferred damage. At full rage, more damage is deferred, making it a vital tool for survival in prolonged engagements.
4. Killing Blow – Instantly executes enemies below a health threshold, gaining extra rage. At full rage, Shiv gains increased damage and a cooldown reset if an enemy is finished off, making this skill deadly in team fights and skirmishes​.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

• High Burst Damage and Control: Shiv can lock down enemies with slows and bleed effects.
• Versatile Build Options: Shiv can adjust his build to fit team needs, whether for survivability or damage.
• Effective Against Regeneration: His bleed effects and healing reduction make him particularly effective against heroes who rely on health regeneration.

Disadvantages:

• Vulnerability to Ranged Attacks: Shiv excels in melee but struggles against long-range opponents.
• Rage Management: To use his abilities effectively, Shiv requires consistent rage management.
• Limited Crowd Control: Besides slowing effects, Shiv lacks strong crowd-control abilities, which can make him vulnerable when surrounded​.

Shiv is a powerful melee combatant who thrives when used skillfully and with the right build. With the itemization and tactics outlined above, Shiv can maintain high impact throughout every stage of the game.