5k mmr riki, top 150 dota buff. below is my email to icefrog which he replied with thanks and asked which region do i play riki.
Hi Icefrog,
Some background, played dota since 2005, and played more than 1500 games of riki across all versions and 300 games on him since 6.86.
The community has generally perceived 6.86 riki as a joke, and most of the players in game have the preconception that riki is still trash and not viable either in 3k,4k or 5k games. Every games I played on 5k I got teased by teammates just by picking riki alone.
I just want to let you know that as of now, this version of riki is the best and most viable of all [as offlaner/playmaker/carry]. I have raised my mmr from 3800 to 5300 since 6.86 using riki alone as solo offlaner and I had significant effect on most of the games.
my dotabuff
http://www.dotabuff.com/players/135274584
in older versions of riki, he always had the issue of surviving fights, as in if he committed into fight, he couldn't sustain if he were to be focused by few heroes other than relying on his blink strike. Also, older riki basically has no good ability to initiate fights [blinking and smoking to initiate are easily countered by bkb alone], however, tricks of the trade solves all these problems. riki can now initiate in fight [blink strike in, smoke and ulti, and then blink dagger to chase or escape], making riki much more viable as a playmaker.
the lack of agi stats gain can be compensated by yasha easily, and the lack of hp regeneration and armor early game by tranquil boots (also adds to the armor), not to mention the movement speed buff from active tranquil, making it much easier for riki to roam and gank after lvl 4 @ offlane.
For me, I think riki in current state is very viable and doesn't need any significant buff at all or nerf.
If i am to suggest some changes, I would say that you could make Blink Strike pierce spell immunity again, it would make riki even more viable, especially in competitive scene, as riki basically has nothing to fight spell immune unit except using the ulti.
Regards,
