A hero's skill build (the order in which you level up their abilities) is just as important as their item build. It should be adapted to the specific game you are playing.
General Principles:
- Laning Phase: Prioritize abilities that help you last hit, harass, or survive in your lane. For example, a carry might prioritize a farming spell, while a support might prioritize a stun.
- Damage vs. Utility: Decide whether you need more damage (e.g., for farming or killing heroes) or more utility (e.g., crowd control, healing, buffs).
- Synergy: Consider how your abilities work together. Some heroes have powerful combos that require specific skill point allocation.
- Enemy Matchup: Adapt your skill build based on the enemy heroes. If they have strong illusions, you might prioritize an area-of-effect (AoE) spell. If they have a lot of magic damage, you might prioritize a defensive spell.
- Talents: At levels 10, 15, 20, and 25, heroes gain access to talents that provide significant bonuses. Choose talents that complement your current game plan and item build.
- Ultimate Ability (R): Always take your ultimate ability at levels 6, 12, and 18 unless there's a very specific reason not to (which is rare).
Example: Lina Skill Build
- Early Game (Mid Lane): Maximize Dragon Slave (Q) for wave clear and harass, then Light Strike Array (W) for stun and burst. Take Fiery Soul (E) later.
- Talents: At level 10, choose between +Damage or +Attack Range based on your item build and role.
Don't blindly follow guides; understand the reasoning behind different skill builds and adapt them to the game's flow.