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Hero Mastery
Silencer
An Int thief: Global Silence silences the ENTIRE enemy team, Last Word silences on cast, Arcane Curse punishes casting, and Glaives of Wisdom steal Int permanently.
Mastery parameters
Your GPM, last hits and damage per game against other Silencer players — average vs Top 20%.
Members onlyLearning journey
- 1 Know the kit
- 2 Win the lane
- 3 Timing & rotations
- 4 Win the fights
- 5 Master
5 stages, each with one target from your own games and one short quiz. Make Silencer your mastery hero to start — progress shows on Home and Arcana.
Sign in through SteamPhase by phase
Laning: last hits above everything
You 80%Team 20%
Skills in lane — Max Arcane Curse (Q) for the silence + dot that punishes the lane; value Glaives of Wisdom (W) to steal Int + deal Int-based damage. Last Word (E) auto-silences.
Level 6 — Global Silence — Global Silence shuts off ALL enemy spells — open or win a teamfight by cancelling their combo.
Skills 1–7
1
2- 3
4- 5
6- 7
Starting items
Iron Branch24%
Tango15%
Blood Grenade13%
Faerie Fire12%
Sentry Ward9%
Smoke of Deceit8%
Pros buy this phase
Arcane Boots50%
Power Treads25%
Hand of Midas13%
Tranquil Boots13%
The Carry (Safe Lane)'s job this phase
- Aim for 45–50 last hits by minute 10 — check that number every game, it's your main KPI.
- Don't over-harass: trade HP only when it doesn't cost you last hits.
- Minutes 2 & 4: ask your support to pull so the lane stays near your tower.
Silencer
Counters & weaknesses
Right-click carry (physical damage)
The items that shut Silencer down, 3 heroes that trouble it, and your answer when you play it.
Members onlyWhy this way? How OpenAI Five learned
One hero, one role first
OpenAI's first bot played only Shadow Fiend, only mid, until it mastered it. Stay on Silencer in one role before moving on.
Small, measurable rewards
OpenAI Five was rewarded for last hits and staying alive long before it understood winning. That's why each journey stage has one number to hit.
From yourself to the team
Its 'team spirit' rose over the game: early on, look after yourself; late, play for the team. Each phase's meter shows the split.
Use proven builds
OpenAI Five's builds were hand-written, not trial and error. Start from the pro build, then experiment.
Phase items: what pros buy on this hero (OpenDota). Parameters: percentiles of players on this hero (OpenDota). Item effects checked against Valve's own item data.