A Tier 2 item that gives 300 HP, but, the important thing is: it also adds one level to the hero using it

Insert PIC

So what does adding a hero level do?

There are three important stats for a hero to consider:

1. The unit cost (1-5 gold)
   
2. The * of the unit (1* - 3*)
   
3. The hero level (1-9)

In order to get the hero level, you add 2 to the unit's base cost each time you upgrade.

Let's take Luna and Batrider as examples:



This is a 1 cost, 1*, level 1



This is a 1 cost, 2* unit, level 3



This is a 1 cost, 3* unit of, level 5



This is a 2 cost, 1*, level 2



This is a 2 cost, 2*, level 4



This is a 2 cost, 3*, level 6

For Druids, the hero level of 3* units is one less. a 3* Enchantress is level 4, not level 5. 1* + 2 + 2 -1 = 4

There are some circumstances when the level of the hero is important:

• 4 Priests
  
• Courier Damage Done
  
• Targeting of certain items
  
• Ogre synergy
  
• Shamans
  
• Aqir Spawns
  
  
  
  

4 Priests



When you play 4 priests, you can steal a unit that is the same level or lower than your own,
A 2* Chen (level 6) can steal a 2* Snapfire, but not a 3* SF (level 7).
A 3* Shadow Demon (level 7) can steal a 3* SF, but not a 3* MK (level 8)
But, if you have Witless Shako, you can now steal those units one level higher!!



Typically, in high level play, 4 priest gameplay won't win you the game but is very good 20-30 to get you late/end game and deal good damage to opponents who aren't ready for it

(Priest guide - and its counters - coming soon!)

Courier Damage Done

Basically, the higher level the unit, the more damage it does to the courier.

Here is the exact formula:



So, having a unit with Shako has a chance to increase the damage you deal/take if the unit survives the battle

These items target the highest level hero, so Shako can be used to manipulate this

Sometimes, you don't want this item on your carry because it will make it a target for the enemy. You could also put it on another unit that you are willing to sacrifice if your carry is getting hexed at the beginning of the fight.



Notice in this game DLZ has a 3* Alchemist, but put all his items onto a 2* MK. This is because, as the highest unit level, Alch was getting hexed at the start of the fight so was basically useless. Although it wasn't a Shako play, I think it illustrates the point of the importance of hero level





And while this may not be relevant every game - this was a game-winning play vs a player who is regularly a Top 20 Queen player, so it definitely matters and learning these tricks can take your game play to the next level

When a hero with the Ogre synergy - most commonly Alch, but also possible for other units with Ogre cap or using Fatebender - the unit that is eating can only eat a unit of the same level or lower

So, if a 2* 4$ unit wants to eat a 3* 3$ unit, he would need Shako/Ogre Hood





Notice how Legion is now level 9 - Base of 3, +2 for 2*, +2 for 3* and +2 for Ogre Hood

If you're not sure how the item Ogre Hood works, you can check out this DLZ video where he made his Legion Commander an Ogre and the LC ate a 3* Dragon Knight!

If you play Shamans, when friendly or enemy units transform, it is based on their hero level:



So, for 2 Shamans, you transform an enemy piece into a hero of the same level. A 3* SF (level 7) will transform into an equivalent level 7 hero (another 3* unit or a 2* legendary)

If that enemy has Shako, he would transform into a 3* 4$ unit, as happened in this game of Dumpstered (top 10 player: https://www.twitch.tv/dumpstered95) - twice the SF was transformed into DK 3* which actually lost him the game:





For 4 shamans, if you put a Shako on your 2* Earthshaker (Level 6 -> 7), he would transform into a 3* Legendary instead of 3* 4$

When a seed unit dies, it will spawn a unit based on the hero level of the unit that didn’t die
For example, we play a typical 2 aqir / 4 beast build

Look at the following typical Arc Aqirs set up from a Serbian Butcher game:



He is playing 4 beasts and 2 aqirs with 2 Lone Druids, so when the first Lone Druid dies, he will spawn an aqir unit based on the surviving heroes level (in this example, they are both level 6 units).

A level 6 unit would be a 2* Brood or Nyx (as that is the same level as the remaning unit). If one of the Lone Druids had Witless Shako and the other unit died, the spawn would be a level 7 spawn - a 3* Veno or Sand King

This can make a huge difference in the fights. And is especially useful on 2* Legendary units if you have a 1* seed. This then allows you to spawn 3* Brood and 3* Nyx assassin which are no joke!

Here is the link for the Arc Aqirs game btw in case you're interested in watching - Serbian Butcher is famous for his aqirs, so if you are interested in learning, I highly recommend watching his videos!

Terrorblade Aqirs

This is the most important use for Shako and almost a core item for the build!

For those of you not familiar, here is a typical Terrorblade Aqir line up:



When casts his ultimate, if he is 2*, he transforms the closest unit to him to Terrorblade and when 3*, two units. These transformed units count as 'seeds' for aqirs. And their level is based on that of Terrorblade.

For example, if Terrorblade transforms a 3* Ench (level 4), she becomes level 7 (as if she were Terrorblade, a 3* unit) and the aqir that is spawned is based off that - 3* Veno or Sand King.

When you give TB Shako, the unit he transforms, also gains a level. So a 2* Terrorblade transforming a 3* Ench will make a level 8 unit! If that level 8 unit then dies, it will spawn a 3* Brood or Nyx!



For the cost of 13 gold - 4 gold to make an Enchantress 3* + 9 Gold for a TB 2*, you can get 3* aqir units by round 15 with some luck and almost certainly by 20 if you are rolling. These 3* units do a lot of damage with the beast synergy as well as creating space for TB and his illusions to hit

Check out these spawns - they hit hard and the spider spawns do so much courier damage!!



The added courier damage from multiple units when you are playing a momentum-based lineup like TB Aqirs, pressures the lobby harder and snowballs you

If you want to watch a TB Aqirs game, check out this video:

Is Shako really worth it?

If you are not playing certain lineups, it usually won't make much difference to your game, but can be important in the late game in a close game.

In TB Aqirs, it is game winning