3.41 shadow build 1-20 (Nortan)

EDIT: UPDATE; I'm leaving this original post here, but I suggest taking a look at my last posted build that I modified to handle certain levels better and income faster. Hades on level 7 is actually worse than another lord of death

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In my opinion, shadow is one of the strongest races and my build emphasizes the use of hades while incoming. I'll give you the basics of the build and leave positioning to the user. This builds assumes little leak from partners.

lvl 1 Lord of Death (300 value) EASY LVL

-(x1 wisp during the lvl [2/0])

lvl 2 x2 spitters behind LoD (370 value) EASY LVL

-save (note: If you know that they are not sending a furbolg you can make x1 wisp [3/0] during lvl 2 and postpone the extra spitter until lvl 4. The extra spitter a lvl early is to reduce leak from furbolg, Without a hard send you can hold lvl 3 without that spitter and just 480 value)

lvl 3 x1 nightcrawler + x1 spitter (515 value) HARD LVL

-(x2 wisp during the lvl [4/0] or x1 wisp if you made 1 during lvl 2 instead of adding the 'furbolg' spitter)

lvl 4 No build EASY LVL

-save

lvl 5 x1 lord of death (815 value) EASY LVL

-(60g/60L upgrade during the lvl [4/1])

lvl 6 No build HARD LVL (Note: This isn't a strong hold but people rarely send on 6 and only a furbolg/chariot is a maor leak threat.)

-save

lvl 7 x1 hades (1165 value) HARD LVL (Note: A furbolg will leak this build so if you suspect a furbog postpone the 60g/60L until after lvl 7 and instead make the x1 nightcrawler in from lvl 8 ahead of time. Furbolgs are evil creature with large hit boxes that like to run in the back and smack your medium armored units with hard hitting normal damage -_-)

-save

lvl 8 x1 nightcrawler (1275) EASY LVL

Note: You will want to build a farm during this lvl and if you haven't leaked yet you should have enough for x1 wisp [5/1] after you upgrade your farm. If sends made you leak 5 or 7 then this provides a slight 'buffer' for the build.

lvl 9 x1 Hades (1625 value) EASY LVL

-(x2 wisp + 80g/80L upgrade during the lvl [7/2])

lvl 10 x1 nightcrawler (1735 value) EASY LVL Altogether 2 hades and 3 nightcrawlers for lvl 10 and you should have an income of 40 - 55 after lvl 10

-( 100g/100L upgrade during the lvl and 120g/120L upgrade after [7/4] )

notes: It's near impossible to leak this build on lvl 10 which often allows you to catch teammates leak and possibly get 7/5 or even 7/6 after lvl 10. If you leaked at all then you can stay 6/2 and make the last wisp after lvl 10 since there is normally a bit of excess gold after you get [7/4] after lvl 10 anyways.

lvl 11 No build

-save

lvl 12 x1 lord of death (2035+ value) MEDIUM LVL If you have the money for it and expect a lot of sends then add a overseer/nightmare. Can hold even a ballista with just 2035 however.

-save

lvl 13 x1 hades (2385+ value) EASY LVL

-save

lvl 14 You can be creative here depending on how much money you have. The best you can do is x1 lord of death + upgrade to hades. That probably requires some leak from allies though so more likely you will make (1.) x2 lord of death (2.) x1 lord of death + nightmare (3.) x2 nightmares (4.) lord of death and upgrade an existing nightmare you snuck in on lvl 12/13. (2815 - 3025 value+) MEDIUM LVL

-(+ 2 lumber upgrades during/after the lvl [7/6] - [7/8]) You should have ~115 - 140 income now.

lvl 15 x1 overseer for imp lifesteal. It's cheap magic damage as well. (~3100+ value) MEDIUM LVL

From here save and build hades until after lvl 17 (4300 - 4700 value for 17 EASY LVL). After lvl 17 you can confortably push your lumber up a lot. [7/9] - [7/12] before lvl 20. with 5500 - 6000 value. 300 - 380 income. level 20 is easy. If you incomed really well and got some leak + win arenas 7/15 is fine, but I often stop around 7/12 after 20 to avoid injuring my value. 7/15 @ 20 with ~5000+ value should be possible depending on the game

Final note: You want to switch builders between lvl 20 and lvl 25. The reason is lvl 25 - 27 are melee levels that hades don't handle them well. Hades need support through auras and ranged damage. Hades are good tanks, but they don't put out much overall damage. Ghost is the best option with merdians, but mech tanks and elemental fenix are acceptable, otherwise grab other range/siege damage and get auras. Perhaps some melee tanks if you are overly concerned about getting sent a ton on 27. I usually switch after building for 24. For 28 you should have 13500 - 15000+ value.

Sounds like a really good build. I try it out later and give you some feedback how its worked to me

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This is my current build and I erased some previous posts to not distract people from this

For lvl 7 use 3 LoD with 2 nightcrawlers (1190 value) [4/1] Even with a furbolg or blood orc it shouldn't leak. level 8 is cake, I just add 35 value from a spitter (1225 value). Upgrade a LoD to hades for level 9. I often sneak in [7/3] before lvl 10 with 1575 (2 Lords 1 hades 2 nightcrawlers and 1 spitter) value because lvl 10 is a joke for shadow. This allows me to get [7/5] after level 10. I only take 1575 value to arena, but shadow summons tank so well that it is not a big issue. If my team wins arena i upgrade my remaining spitter to nightcrawler.

This is what I've currently been using in 3.41 and the 3.5 beta (slightly altered with hero use...beta is very similar. Ask if you have questions) and it incomes better while holding lvl 7 and lvl 6 with hard sends. I use 2 lords and 2 nightcrawlers for lvl 6 so the leak risk disappears. lvl 3 is doable against all but furbolgs...Pay attention to level 1 and 2 to see if anyone didn't send. Usually no one will save for a furbolg and if they do save you hopefully won't get it or can build more for it.

lvl 1 Lord of Death (300 value)

-(x1 wisp during the level [2/0])

lvl 2 x2 spitters (370 value)

-(x1 wisp [3/0] Note: If somehow you are getting no enemy sends and are gold starved delay this worker until during lvl 3 or you can't build. If you do end up short modify the build by making a fire archer instead of upping a spitter.)

lvl 3 x1 nightcrawler (480 value) Don't get furbolged!!

-(x1 worker [4/0])

lvl 4 No Build

-save

lvl 5 x1 lord of death (780 value)

-( 60L/60G upgrade [4/1])

lvl 6 x1 nightcrawler (890 value)

-save

lvl 7 x1 lord of death (1190 value)

-FARM! (x2 wisp [6/1])

lvl 8 No Build (note: Have 85+ gold left over to aford hades upgrade after level

-save

lvl 9 x1 hades (1540 value) sometimes you can get the last wisp here if you have gotten a small amount of leak

-( 80L/80G upgrade x1 wisps + 100L/100G upgrade [7/3]) It's a lot to do during this level, but usually you get some leak earlier and can do an upgrade earlier)

lvl 10 x1 spitter (if you have the gold for it upgrade to nightcrawler or add more spitters. If you expect them to send a lot and can not afford the nightcrawler/spitters then stop at 7/2 instead of pushing 7/3) [1575 - 1685] altogether 2 lord of death, 1 hades, 2 - 3 nightcrawler, and/or 1+ spitter for lvl 10 and 30 - 50+ income Income varies depending on whether anyone leaks. Because you are pushing so many lumber upgrades around level 10 you income rapidly rises to 100 around lvl 12 or lvl 13.

-(120G/120L upgrade during lvl 10 and 140G/140L upgrade after lvl 10 [7/5])

arena No Build bring that sexy 1575 - 1685 and summon stuff and hope your teammates don't suck

lvl 11 No Build (Note: If you win arena and haven't done so already upgrade that last spitter to a nightcrawler (1685 value)) (Note #2: Sends are rare on this level and most are harmless, but if you get a gargoyle they will not get focused and thier normal damage on medium hades armor usually results in leaking 6 - 9 clockwreck thingies. OH NOES)

-save

lvl 12 x1 hades and if you still haven't upgraded that spitter and have the gold then do so now (2035 value) add spitters if you are against a team that incomed well and is sending a lot.

-save

lvl 13 x1 hades (2385+ value)

-save

lvl 14 x1 nightmare + x1 Lord of death (2900 value) (Note: If you can afford x2 lord of death or x1 lord of death upgraded to hades then feel free to do so. You can make x2 nightmares or x1 nightmare upgraded to doppleganger as well. [2815 - 3015 value]) Feel free to add the overseer for lvl 15 if you are getting extra gold from somewhere.

-(x2 lumber upgrades [7/7]+)

lvl 15 x1 overseer (3030 - 3165+ value)

Continue building hades and lord of death for level 17 and get at least 4100 value. (4100 - 4500 value) Level 17 isn't a hard level for hades and they shouldn't leak without a demon or other difficult sends. ~3500 value holds level 16 perfectly fine so feel free to hold onto gold for upgrades for lvl 17. Do 2 lumber upgrades during/after lvl 17 lumber [7/9]+. lvl 18, 19, and 20 aren't that difficult with mass hades feel free to up lumber during lvl 18 and 19. I usually use 5800 - 6400 value for lvl 20, but it's not a hard level for shadow and you can likely pass it with only ~5400 value if you want to push a lot of lumber upgrades. Only time I make a nightmare would be for lvl 14 and even then I try to avoid it. You should have at least [7/10] - [7/12] before lvl 20. @ lvl 20 income can vary from 300 - 400 depending on the game, sends, and king upgrades

If you incomed really well and got some leak + win arenas 7/15 is fine, but I often stop around 7/12 after 20 to avoid injuring my value. 7/15 @ 20 with ~5000+ value should be possible if you want to risk it. Going into level 21 I usually like to have ~6500 value so that i'm not struggling to keep up with value leading into the last levels. I can get annoyed when I stop at 7/13 to max my end value but my teammates that incomed worse than me go all the way from 7/8 to 7/15 after level 20 and slaughter thier value and income. Lumber upgrades after level 23 do nothing for you and I would not push lumber after level 21. You'd might be surprized by how those last couple lumber upgrades can hurt your value. Know when to stop

Final note (copy pasted this from original post): You want to switch builders between lvl 20 and lvl 25. The reason is lvl 25 - 27 are melee levels that hades don't handle them well. Hades need support through auras and ranged damage. Hades are good tanks, but they don't put out much overall damage. Ghost is the best option with merdians, but mech tanks, orc wyverns, and elemental fenix are acceptable, otherwise grab other range/siege damage and get auras. Perhaps some melee tanks if you are overly concerned about getting sent a ton on 27. I usually switch after building for 24. For 28 you should have 13500 - 15000+ value depending on how well you incomed, how many times you switch builder, and whether you stopped incoming to save up lumber.

I really like this build and hope it was helpful.