[Strategy] Sand King lanes

Decided that perhaps I should write a strategy guide for SK, one of my all-time favourite heroes. However that may take a little while to complete (plus I'll need to play a decent level 6.61 game with him for the replay; or wait for mania- to play him amazingly :p ), so as a prequel to that I'm writing this short piece evaluating different lane partnerships for him. Whats the point in drafting him into the team, if you cant make him work properly in lane :D

Mirana, Priestess of the Moon
Initiator: Sand King
Combo: Burrowstrike -> Elune's Arrow
Creep Priority: Both
Description: One of my favourite lane combinations, and seen alot in competitive play. They have strong lane control together, and its a good place for potm to win a lane and perhaps net a couple of kills to set her on her way towards semi-carry. Isn't the easiest of combos to pull off however, the idea is that SK stuns in such a way that there is a nice line of sight for potm to shoot off an arrow, avoiding hitting any creeps in the lane. When done well it works a treat, with the long arrow stun time going a good way towards netting the kill. Neither really has priority to get the creep kills, they both need as many as they can get in the laning phase.

Lina, the Slayer
Initiator: Sand King
Combo: Burrowstrike -> Light Strike Array -> Dragon Slave
Creep Priority: Sand King
Description: One of the most iconic lanes in dota, this lane combination has been around for a very long time. SK is generally required to initiate the combo because his target stun allows lina to place her aoe stun and follow up with a dragon slave. Linas stun is perfect for allowing SK to cast an ulti and levels 6+, and due to its aoe if well placed it can disable 2 heroes for epicenter. SK has the farm priority due to his dagger requirement, lina is more item independant so doesnt require the farm.

Puck, the Faerie Dragon
Initiator: Sand King
Combo: Burrowstrike -> Illusory Orb (Etherial Jaunt) -> Waning Rift
Creep Priority: Both
Description: I like the SK + Puck combo, its a pretty fun one to play imo, and theres lots of synergy between them. One the target(s) is/are stunned by SK, puck has a sure hit of orb, followed up by some extra damage from rift. At later levels the silence on rift is perfect to stop anyone trying to prevent SK from casting his ulti, and dream coil ensures that targets remain within a small area for epicenter to take effect. Altogether a nice combination to run. Neither really has creep priority, they could both do with a bit of farm.

Rhasta, the Shadow Shaman
Initiator: Either
Combo: Any combination of voodoo, shackles, burrowstrike and forked lightning
Creep Priority: Both
Description: Rhasta is an interesting one, most rhastas probably prefer to level lightning rather than purely the disables, which is fine - the damage helps alot as long as some disable capabilities remain. Probably the best way is for SK to initiate with a stun, Rhasta to follow up with shackles to allow SK to pound on the target a bit, with Rhasta finishing off with lightning. Rhasta can also initiate, SK's stun range is low at early levels so it may be useful for Rhasta to use his target disables to initiate from further away. Against a dual lane Rhasta is capable of disabling both heroes with a voodoo + shackles which is nice to enable SK to get his ulti off.

Lion, the Demon Witch
Initiator: Either
Combo: Burrowstrike/Impale -> mana drain
Creep Priority: Sand King
Description: Lion doesn't really have the mana pool for early hex + impale, so impale + mana drain early on is generally accepted. Probably more likely for lion to initiate with his longer stun range, allowing him to mana drain whilst SK follows up with burrowstrike - leaving the target hurting alot and lacking in spell power. Like Lina, Lion is completely item independant, benefits from phase boots, braces and buying wards, so really SK should have the priority to last hit creeps and gain his dagger.

Vol'Jin, the Witch Doctor
Initiator: Witch Doctor
Combo: Maledict -> Paralyzing Cask -> Burrowstrike
Creep Priority: Both
Description: Witch Doc isnt really in the top tier of heroes, and doesnt see as much play as the others here, but maledict can really prove deadly in the right situation. Witch Doc should begin the combo so that SK's stun is added to the maledic damage over time, hopefully all adding up to a kill.

Zeus, the Lord of Olympia
Just an honourable mention for this one, because I don't really see it as a lane "combo" of sorts, however zeus is often picked in teams that already have a hero for the solo lane and as suck you see a significant amount of competitive games involving a SK + Zeus lane. Theres no real combo here, but after SK stuns it'd be a good idea for Zeus to use Lightning Bolt :p I would suggest that SK probably has more of the priority for creeps, but zeus last-hitting with arc lightning is nice as an early level of static field will provide extra harassment for the lane opponents. Altogether quite a nice place to put both of these heroes :)


Anyway, thats about all I have to say on sand-king laning. Of course though I list them as lane combinations, they are free to roam off and gank other lanes too, that is afterall one of the purposes of a gank hero at early levels. If i've missed any vital combinations off the list, or got something drastically wrong, leave a comment :D