Standard

1. Silence
2. Frost Arrows
3. Frost Arrows
4. Stats
5. Frost Arrows
6. Marksmanship
7. Frost Arrows
8. Silence
9. Silence
10. Silence
11. Marksmanship
12. Trueshot Aura
13. Trueshot Aura
14. Trueshot Aura
15. Trueshot Aura
16. Marksmanship

Aura Drow

1. Silence
2. Frost Arrows
3. Frost Arrows
4. Trueshot Aura
5. Frost Arrows
6. Marksmanship
7. Frost Arrows
8. Trueshot Aura
9. Trueshot Aura
10. Trueshot Aura
11. Marksmanship
12. Silence
13. Silence
14. Silence
15. Stats
16. Marksmanship

HoTD Build


1. Silence
2. Trueshot Aura
3. Trueshot Aura
4. Frost Arrows
5. Trueshot Aura
6. Marksmanship
7. Trueshot Aura
8. Silence
9. Silence
10. Silence
11. Marksmanship
12. Frost Arrows/Stats
13. Frost Arrows/Stats
14. Frost Arrows/Stats
15. Stats/Frost Arrows
16. Marksmanship


Justification (Standard): Silence is the skill that will keep drow rapists at bay during those annoyingly expected tri-lane first blood attempts. I always take it as my first skill, but only because a 10% movement speed slow for one person is not going to make any difference. It's like Venomancer's Poison Attack. Ahh, so now you remember how shitbrix the slow is by itself.

What happens next is we completely forget about it until we reach Level 8, where we can prolong the duration of the silence during those vital team fights. Nifty.

Frost Arrows is taken second but maxed out first. This is one helluva slow considering not all people feel the need to buy a Boots of Speed when everybody's Level 7 but you do, and well, a 40% movement slow (not implying that we are ignoring the 20% attack speed slow) and chasing becomes much more efficient. Not only are you going to force them to at least consider buying BoS when they can't escape from you and your supposed lane partner, but... okay, that's pretty much all you're doing.

I'll discuss Orb Walking with this skill later on in General Strategy. Just remember that Frost Arrows overrides every other orb you give Drow Ranger. Which means that you do not slow when you add Lifesteal. I'll be talking about this also on General Strategy.

Trueshot Aura is taken at Level 12 when you can actually feel the difference between an aura-infused drow-arrow and an arrow. This is because you just leveled Marksmanship twice and it bordering on late game now, where percentage-based damage buffers begin to make their presence known.

Marksmanship gives you the biggest boost in AGI in the game from just one skill. It makes no sense not to take it. You'll particularly feel it the most during Level 6, when you have piss-poor AGI at the beginning.

Keep in mind, 1 point of AGI gives Drow Ranger: +1 attack speed, +1 damage, and 0.14 Armor. 7 points of AGI gives her a full 1 point of Armor.

Stats is taken at Level 4. OMGWTFBBQ? Let's see, you might underestimate the power of a level of Stats. Consider which skills you might want to take at the time. Level 2 Silence, for four seconds? The basic core of Silence is working at Level 1, no thanks. Level 1 Trueshot Aura? Nope, this skill's going to be leveled too far off. Level 3 Frost Arrows? You can't level this skill at Level 4! Stats it is!


Justification (Aura Drow Build): The main difference is the presence of Trueshot Aura early over Silence, to the point that we substitute Stats for it at Level 4.

You will only follow this build, and its variations, when there is not much threat coming from spellcasters, and you are the only carry they are relying on. This is highly unlikely in an organized game. Why? The enemy will always prioritize early gamers over late carries. Also, the skill build relies on your farming skills so bad, that you must have some tier item by the end of Level 11 just to make use of this build.

Take it at your own risk and pleasure.


Justification (HotD Build): Trueshot Aura is taken after one safety level of Silence. It is your main damage source early on. The idea is to forget much of Frost Arrows and focus on a much more damage-oriented Drow Ranger. This gives up most of your chasing capabilities in favor for more damage. This is the Ultimate carry build.

Frost Arrows is taken at Level 4 to orb-walk. That's pretty much it. If necessary, you can take it again to max it at Level 12 and beyond, but as you can see, it is easily replaced by Stats instead.

Silence is taken at Level 1, as stated before, and maxed out by Level 10 to ensure clash functionality and no retaliation from spellcasters when you need it.

Stats may be taken starting from Level 12 as a single point or as continuous points throughout the later levels. If you took it as a single point at 12, you will max out Frost Arrows at Level 15.

Proceed below for Item Build:



Traxex Item Build