Crystal Maiden item-guide 7.01

Crystal Maiden is an unstoppable hero in hands of skillful player. This guide will help you to create a great support and disable hero, which has weight and a big part even in a Late game. CM can be a hero of any position, except carry-hero (because we don't have much attack speed and damage). Mostly CM is used as a support or a jungler. And remember - no matter what other players say - CM is a wonderful and strong hero, which is capable of bringing chaos into enemies' lives. Follow the instructions and purchase items written below.

Start items

Middle-game items

Tranquil boots - the best choice for CM because of its gain of MS and it gives CM needed armor and HP.

Hand of Midas - you need this item so as to get as more money as possible, and don't forget to purchase this until games reaches 15 minute. And if you see that you can't afford this item due to hard situation on your lane, just don't buy it.

Glimmer cape - it is your core item, which should be purchased after getting Midas. It hepls you to hide yourself into invisibility during your casting ultimate, and of course your allies will need you to cover them with glimmer cape to escape from somebody.

Core items

Bling dagger - you need an item, which will force you into the epicenter of fighting, therefore you need to purchase either Blink dagger ot Force staff. If enemies have a lot of unpleasant and repeating spaming spells, then I suggest you buying Force staff, because this one is not being interrupted by damage.

Glimmer cape - it is your core item, which should be purchased after getting Midas. It hepls you to hide yourself into invisibility during your casting ultimate, and of course your allies will need you to cover them with glimmer cape to escape from somebody.

Black king bar - this item is a little bit expensive for CM withous Midas, therefore you'll get this item not so soon. But if you do, then you don't get stanned during your ultimate (don't forget about spells, that pierce BKB).

Aghanims scepter - CM's scepter has been changed in patch 7.00 and now it gives you an ability to have your enemies frozen (like Frostbite) if they stand onto your ultimate more than 2.5 seconds. It's a big imba, that is why I recommend you to buy this item. If you chose Tree Ability 25 to extend Frostbite duration on +1.5 seconds, it will be just a cool mass stan (like Treant Protector's ultimate).

Octarine core - I recommend you to purchase this item as the last 6th item, because previous 5 items are the most needed for CM, and this one is like a guilty pleasure. It reduces the cooldown and you will cast your abilities more often. And of course there is an advantage when you cast the ultimate and get healed while your enemies are beating you.

Boots of travel - buy it only in a late game and only when you got all the core items and you have money on Buyback. This item will just help you to reach enemies' base in case you won the fighting. And if you do have A LOT OF money, you can turn it into Boots of travel Level II.

Situational items

Iron talon - you need it when you are going to be a jungler. You'll frostbite only one neutral creep, and Iron talon will help you to farm another creeps of the camp. Don't forget to sell this item in a late game.

Force staff - I described this item in information of Bling dagger. Main idea: purchase either FS or BD, which depends on which heroes you play against.

Mekansm - many players think that this item is a core item for CM, but it's not. Of course it will be useful for your team if you buy Mekansm, but it requires a lot of mana and considering that CM has not much mana, you'll be just unable to cast ultimate.Buy it when this item is very needed.

Drum of endurance - a slight adding to your characteristics and it gives wee aura, but still this item is very powerful in an early game. Don't forget to sell it when you will need something better.

Lotus orb - very powerful item. But you should purchase this one only when you have a single-target casters in enemies' team. And don't be selfish - use this item not only on yourself, but on your teammates.

Aether lens - rather cheap and very useful for CM. But it becomes useless in a late game, though stats from this item are very needed for CM: cast range allows you to cast spell without close approaching the enemy and therefore there are less chances to kill CM. Also spell amplification gains your ultimate and frostbite and nova.

Solar crest - I think that it's clear about this item. Gives you armor and evasion, which are very exotic and needed for CM and your hero will die less.

Veil of discord - this item is used for braking enemies' magic resist. If you do have a lot of casters in your team (e.g. Zeus, Lina, Pugna, Leshrac, Timbersaw and etc.) then you should definitely purchase this one. But if team consists of carries, durables which don't have much magic abilities, then maybe you should buy something more useful?

Urn of shadows - it's clear about this one. It's supposed to heal, and the charges on it are stacking after any foe's death. Don't buy, if your team doesn't kill that much and if someone else already bought that.

Guardian greaves - very expensive item, but has big potential. Mana and HP are very needed for your team, and considering the small cooldown, this item will perfectly fit you. But it will be very hard to farm this item, furthermore there are some core items which you should purchase first.

Medallion of courage - the same as Solar Crest, but without evasion. If you bought this, try to inform it to Solar Crest.

Pipe of insight - great items for tanks (durables), but sometimes it's purchasable on CM as well. Gives magic-blocking protection, which will be very useful against casters in enemies' team.

Arcane boots - very argued item on CM, because she has a lack of mana and not always you can cast your ultimate. Therefore Arcane boots is a worthy replacement for Tranquil boots. But then you have to choose what is better for you - to have a lot of mana and give it to your allies or to have armor and MS and regen.

Shadow blade - well, this one can replace Glimmer cape, but i still prefer buying Glimmer cape. Shadow blade is more self-using than Glimmer cape, which serves for your team too. But buy SB when you really think you need this.

Exotic items

Support utility items