Razor is a Carry/Core hero that has a reputation as an anti-carry and a lane dominator/tempo hero. He was one of my first loves to play and I finally decided to write a guide about him. He's simple enough to be understood by newer players and interacts with itemization enough to have plenty to optimize as a more experienced player. You normally want to take him offlane as a 3, but he is a perfectly capable carry and a passable mid. You want to gang up on your lane opponents with your support, as you lack lockdown but can bring a lot of early damage. You plan to dominate the lane and then cause havoc creating space for your carry to farm, or with good item choices and game sense help end the game yourself.

Razor can be played in two different ways depending on the game and itemized many more depending on specific opponents. The first type of game is where Plasma Field and Eye of the Storm will provide most of your contribution to the team. The second type of game is where static link and your right click damage will contribute more. This is more decided by your opponent's heroes than your preference or playstyle. However, the commonality between these types of games is Razor still wants to get tanky, move fast, survive, and leverage that survival to let his abilities wear your opponents down.

The ability build suggested is the most typical way of playing Razor the last updated patch for this guide, but due to the simplicity of Razor's kit as you learn and gain experience with the hero you can and should deviate to fit the demands of the game. For example skipping your first point in Storm Surge in favor of buying a wind lace to get an extra level in Plasma Field; keeping Static Link at 1 or 2 points because your opponents are too difficult to catch early and instead maxing Plasma Field to still contribute; Choosing instead to max Plasma Field as a position one because your lane went poorly and you need to recovery farm more safely. Razor rarely skips ult these days, but did years ago and your talents are strong enough you normally want them immediately. One of Razors greatest strengths is his item flexibility in a game. Razor pays for this in not scaling as well as other heroes with carry potential, but choose well and you can still overcome harder scaling cores.

You are at your best fighting heroes and letting a harder carry do the structure damage, but when played well Razor is no slouch at any core role. The key is well chosen itemization and understanding what Razor lacks at the start and what he needs to succeed. These things are: Survivability, light mana regen, mobility, and utility/damage (the game and your position will decide which you will want). Once you've addressed those problems it's the simple execution of Static Linking the correct targets, making sure to keep up the nuke/slow with Plasma Field, leveraging your high movement speed to kite or dodge things others cannot, using your well-chosen items to disadvantage your opponents, and getting in to let your ult fry even the hardest of targets with persistance.

Razor pairs well with heroes that can disable for him since he has to pay for the privilege through items as well as heroes who like to be aggressive in lane with him and not leave him solo until he has a definite advantage.

Razor does not do well against these heroes: Anti-Mage, Faceless Void, Queen of Pain, Terrorblade, Phantom Lancer, Meepo, Viper, Witch Doctor, and Bristleback.

Razor has difficulty but can overcome these heroes with items: Arc Warden, Morphling, Muerta, Primal Beast, Phoenix and Necrophos

Razor does particularly well against: Oracle, Troll Warlord, Ursa, Jugg, Lifestealer, Phantom Assassin, Broodmother, Lone Druid, and Visage