Windranger

Lyralei the Windrunner is a ranged intelligence hero that uses her powerful abilities in conjunction with her physical attack to take down enemies. Despite being an intelligence Hero, Windrunner's playstyle resembles an agility Hero, due in large part to her skillset. Windrunner is most often played as an offlane solo due to her escape and long range harass and farm capability, however she is quite a versatile hero and can be fielded as a midlaner, roamer, lane support, or even carry if the game calls for it. She is famous for her immense utility and versatility, and as such is one of the most common picks of experienced players.

Tips

 * If you must solo a lane, take Windrun before anything else. This will give you a reliable escape if you are being ganked early.
 * Power Shot should always be maxed before anything else, as it is a very powerful nuke early-game. One point in Shackle Shot and Windrun are usually sufficient. Keep in mind Power Shot damages invisible heroes, so if you know where they are do not hesitate to use it. Late-game Power Shot can be used in the same way as Vengeful Spirit's Wave of Terror; as an exploratory long-range spell.
 * Power Shot claims to do reduced damage if released early, but releasing it at 60% or more inflicts full damage.
 * Despite it being unlisted in her recommended items, Mekansm is very strong on Windrunner. Consider getting it on her after your upgraded boots, provided no one else can get it at a similar time. Remember, Mek is better the earlier it's gotten.
 * Shackle Shot's ministun is extremely useful for interrupting channelled spells, such as Bane's and Pudge's ultimates.
 * Early-game, unless circumstances are unusual, always save enough mana to Windrun when you are in dangerous territory.
 * Not leveling up Focus Fire until 10 and 11 allows you to max your other skills faster; besides which unless you build into it (see below) Focus Fire is not very useful outside of dealing siege damage.
 * Despite being an escape mechanism, Windrun is potentially a very powerful "tanking" spell, as it allows total damage immunity to heroes reliant on their physical attack, such as Ursa and Drow Ranger.
 * Building an Aghanim's Scepter with a powerful attack modifier can shift Windrunner's role from supportive chaser/nuker to that of a semi-carry; as it will allow her to scale. However, building a scepter without an attack modifier is not very useful, and Windrunner can function very well with attack modifiers even without building a scepter. Build an attack modifier first, then choose whether or not to build scepter.
 * Very unusually for a non-carry intelligence hero, Windrunner's basic attack becomes her primary source of damage as the game progresses, owing to her largely utilitarian skillset. If the role of support is already being covered, focusing on items that empower her basic attack is a good idea.

Trivia

 * In DotA, Windrunner was known as Alleria. Alleria Windrunner is a character from the Warcraft universe.
 * Windrunner's current name, Lyralei, is a partial anagram of Alleria (one of the A's was replaced with the Y).