Nyx Assassin
A being of pure energy from the deepest void, Nyx travels through dimensions to eliminate those who threaten the cosmic balance.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“In darkness, I thrive. In shadows, I strike. These are the laws of assassination - learn them, master them, become inevitable.”
Patience is Power
Wait for the perfect moment. One well-timed Carapace or well-positioned Vendetta is worth ten reckless attempts.
Information Warfare
Your Nyxth Sense is free intelligence. Use it to track invisible enemies, predict ganks, and control the map through knowledge.
The Art of Reflection
Every enemy attack is your opportunity. Anticipate their damage, time your Carapace, turn their strength into your weapon.
Position Over Damage
A perfect Impale positioning is more valuable than greedy Vendetta damage. Sometimes the best play is the setup, not the kill.
Master of Timing
Your entire kit revolves around perfect timing - Carapace stuns, burst combos, neutral camp stacking. Practice until it becomes instinct.
The Silent Hunter
Better to be unseen and threatening than visible and fighting. Your presence on the map, unknown, controls the enemy more than any visible impact could.
Hero Overview
Nyx Assassin excels at single-target elimination and initiation through his versatile toolkit. His Nyxth Sense innate provides crucial vision against invisible threats, while Spiked Carapace offers both defensive and offensive utility. Vendetta gives him unparalleled positioning ability for setting up devastating combos.
Nyx's gameplay revolves around timing his Spiked Carapace to stun enemies, landing multi-hero Impales, and using Vendetta for tactical positioning. The classic Nyx combo involves Vendetta positioning, followed by Impale, Mana Burn, and right-clicks to eliminate targets. Late game, Nyx transitions from damage dealer to utility initiator, using his invisibility for perfect positioning rather than greedy damage.
Pros
- Excellent single-target burst damage
- Spiked Carapace provides both defense and offense
- Nyxth Sense reveals invisible enemies
- Vendetta offers unmatched positioning
- Strong against spell-reliant heroes with Mana Burn
Cons
- Low base health and armor
- Relies heavily on spell timing and positioning
- Struggles against heroes with break effects
- Mana-intensive abilities
- Limited effectiveness against BKB-protected targets
Ability Analysis
Impale
ActiveNyx slams the ground, shooting out a line of spikes that impales enemy units, dealing damage and stunning them.
Notes: Your primary initiation and damage tool. Use Vendetta positioning to catch multiple heroes. The line AoE makes it perfect for teamfight setup. Can also stack certain neutral camps when timed at ~59 seconds.
Mind Flare
Target UnitNyx drains mental energy from an enemy, dealing damage based on their missing mana.
Notes: Devastating against intelligence heroes. Use as part of your burst combo - the damage scales with how much mana the target is missing. The low cooldown makes it great for repeated harassment in lane.
Spiked Carapace
ActiveWhen activated, Spiked Carapace reflects and blocks all incoming damage, stunning enemies who attack Nyx.
Notes: Your signature ability. Blocks an entire damage instance and reflects it. Can be cast while in Vendetta without breaking invisibility. Use it to counter targeted spells and to setup your own combo by reflecting damage back at enemies.
Vendetta
ActiveNyx Assassin becomes invisible for a duration, gaining bonus movement speed and dealing bonus damage on his next attack.
Notes: Ultimate ability for positioning and burst. Use it to get perfect Impale angles or to escape dangerous situations. In late game, prioritize positioning over damage - the invisibility duration is more valuable than the attack damage bonus.
Nyxth Sense
PassiveNyx assassin gains true sight of nearby invisible enemies and can detect units in fog of war within range.
Notes: Innate ability that provides crucial information against invisible threats like Riki, Bounty Hunter, or Templar Assassin. Also reveals enemies through fog, giving you valuable gank opportunities.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Nyx Assassin is the master of burst damage and tactical assassinations. His Spiked Carapace turns enemy attacks against them, while Vendetta provides the perfect setup for devastating combos.
Key Insights:
- Carapace timing is everything - predict enemy damage sources
- Use Vendetta for positioning, not just damage
- Nyxth Sense gives you free information against invisible enemies
Nyx rewards calculated aggression and perfect timing. One well-executed combo can delete even the tankiest heroes!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Survive lane and get level 6 for Vendetta Key: Play conservatively, focus on experience; Harass with Mind Flare when possible; Use Spiked Carapace defensively; Look for Vendetta gank opportunities Items: Arcane Boots (Mana sustain); Magic Wand (Spell usage); Tangos and healing regen Tips: Position aggressively but be ready to Carapace; Watch for opportunities to stack camps with Impale; Nyxth Sense provides valuable information; Don't die before level 6 - Vendetta is crucial
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Assassinate key targets and initiate fights Key: Use Vendetta for positioning and surprise attacks; Focus on squishy supports and intelligence heroes; Coordinate with team for follow-up damage; Control vision with Nyxth Sense Items: Blink Dagger (Positioning); Dagon (Burst damage); Aghanim's Scepter (AoE burst) Tips: Master the Carapace timing to catch enemy spells; Use Vendetta for escape, not just offense; Stack neutral camps for additional farm; Watch Courier paths with Vendetta for easy kills
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Initiate teamfights and disrupt enemy positioning Key: Focus on initiation over damage; Use Vendetta for perfect positioning; Save Carapace for crucial moments; Prioritize disrupting enemy carries Items: Scythe of Vyse (Reliable disable); Refresher Orb (Double initiation); Shiva's Guard (Tankiness and utility) Tips: Positioning is more important than damage; Be patient - wait for the right moment; Coordinate combo with team abilities; Don't get greedy with Vendetta attacks
Tips & Strategies
Carapace Mastery
- Cast Carapace then Mind Flare enemies with Lotus Orb - they'll reflect it back and get stunned.
- Carapace blocks entire damage instances, so Blink won't break from reflected damage.
- You can cast Carapace while in Vendetta and the invis won't break - use it to dive into enemy AoE.
Vendetta Positioning
- Late game, prioritize positioning for Impale over Vendetta damage bonus.
- You can cast Vendetta while channeling TP like all other invis spells.
- Set up observer wards to catch courier paths for easy Vendetta snipes.
Advanced Techniques
- Impale can stack certain neutral camps when timed at ~59 seconds.
- Against Rupture, activate Carapace and Blink to reflect the damage onto Bloodseeker.
- Some heroes have less obvious damage sources for Carapace—Radiance burn, cleave, Ember's Immolation.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Basic sustain and stats for early game survival. Nyx is squishy so you need regen to trade safely.
Tangos, Gauntlets of Strength, Clarity
Core Items
Arcane Boots solve mana issues, Blink Dagger enables perfect positioning, Dagon adds burst damage to your kill potential.
Arcane Boots, Blink Dagger, Dagon
Situational Items
Aether Lens increases cast range, Force Staff provides mobility, Orchid helps against mobile targets, Silver Edge breaks enemy passives.
Aether Lens, Force Staff, Orchid Malevolence, Silver Edge
Counter Guide
Good With
Nyx Assassin pairs excellently with heroes who can capitalize on his initiation and provide crowd control. Earthshaker creates devastating combos with Echo Slam after Nyx's Carapace stuns. Magnus can follow up Nyx's initiation with perfect Reverse Polarity positioning. Enigma benefits from Nyx's ability to isolate targets for Black Hole. Void Spirit works well as both heroes can burst down targets quickly with mobility spells. Lina and Jakiro provide follow-up damage on stunned enemies. Heroes who need time to set up their abilities or who benefit from enemies being stationary work perfectly with Nyx's disruption capabilities.
Bad Against
Nyx struggles against heroes who can bypass his defensive tools or exploit his low health pool. Slardar and Bloodseeker provide true sight and sustained damage that bypasses Carapace timing. Axe dominates Nyx with Berserker's Call taunt and Counter Helix damage. Silencer steals intelligence and prevents spell casting, crippling Nyx's combo potential. Legion Commander can win unfair duels against Nyx. Nyx Assassin mirrors are decided by who times Carapace better. Heroes with high physical damage, break effects, or abilities that bypass Carapace timing pose significant threats to Nyx's game plan.
Good Against
Nyx Assassin dominates heroes who rely on spells, positioning, or have low mobility. Intelligence heroes like Crystal Maiden, Skywrath Mage, and Zeus are your primary targets - Mind Flare annihilates their mana pools. Channeling heroes such as Enigma, Witch Doctor, and Shadow Shaman become helpless when Carapace interrupts their crucial spells. Position-dependent heroes like Sniper and Drow Ranger lose their safety advantage against Vendetta ganks. Invisible heroes including Riki, Bounty Hunter, and Templar Assassin struggle against Nyxth Sense. Mobile gankers like Pudge and Spirit Breaker find their combo effectiveness reduced by Carapace stuns. Nyx's ability to disrupt spells, provide burst damage, and counter invisibility makes him a nightmare for these hero types.