Author's Note

Hello! First off, I hope this guide helps everyone who tries it out. I would love any feedback and/or questions. I created this because I play Shaco and I feel I have finally found the best way, for me at least, to play him. I would like to share. Please, enjoy.

INTRO

Shaco is very powerful, if you know how to use him. I prefer to end up with a lot of damage output. With this build you can utilize your clone. The masteries aid your ability power, attack speed, and damage. The runes aid your ability power and crit damage. And the items make you a lethal champion.

ITEMS

Some players prefer some attack damage items, but with the on-hit effect items you will have more damage total (especially with your clone).

SKILL SEQUENCE

It really doesn't matter if you start with deceive or two-shiv poison, but for the early game gank, I prefer two-shiv poison. The slow makes it a great tool for stopping them from escaping, allowing you to escape, and to harass. Also, Riot recommends having at least one point is jack in the box at all times. While it has its uses, I find it unnecessary. It CAN change fights, but I rely more on my other abilities. The reason I recommend getting Deceive up so fast is for the reduction of mana and the guaranteed crit.

STRATEGY

EARLY GAME

Off the spawn buy boots of speed and head to bottom (Assuming you plan to gank before minions spawn) and hide in the bushes. Try to get there before anyone on the other team can. Wait in the bushes until the other team comes. If the enemy/enemies come before your teammates can get to the bushes, run. If your teammates are there, Ignite the enemy that does the most damage and/or is the squishiest. Right after igniting them, hit them with two-shiv poison. Continue attacking them, unless you are being targeted by other champions. Shaco is squishy, especially early game. Be very careful. After the early gank, farm minions until you get enough gold to buy ninja tabi (500 gold). (retreat earlier if you need health or mana) I also like to get a vampiric scepter to help with Shaco's squishiness and so I don't have to retreat as much to heal. I later sell this for the last slot.

MID GAME

Farm minions. Simple enough. Just farm, level, and try not to die. During farming I prefer to gank enemies whenever I can. This may require you to hide in the bushes/jungle. While hiding, try to stand close enough to the minion fights to get experience. During fights, try to get behind the enemy, especially for the first attack breaking stealth. Feel free to jungle a bit for gold, bonuses, and health from life steal.

LATE GAME

During late game, level 15-18, you should be powerful. Start going straight for ganks and pushing to the enemies base. You should be able to gank easily. Just hide in the pushes, and come from behind. After getting your crit from deceive, using two-shiv poison, and ignite if it's not on cooldown you should take out most champions very quickly. If they are a stronger champion (Have a lot of health and/or armor) I recommend using hallucination at the beginning to maximize damage to them, and hopefully minimizing damage to you. When it comes to team fights, try to be behind the enemy champion you are attacking. Backstab gives you bonus damage, the plus you on-hit effects should make you extremely lethal.

IMPORTANT HINTS FOR ALL GAMEPLAY
-Using Hallucination early in a fight maximizes damage and can help you survive BUT it can be a waste if the enemy runs. Make sure the fight WILL happen.
-You can use deceive through walls, including jumping into the bases. Use this for surprise, ganking, and possibly to finish off the nexus.
-You can control your clone by holding Alt and right clicking. You can use this to make fool enemies to make escape more likely, or to chase enemies with your clone while you sit back.
-Your clone explodes on death. This can kill champions if used right.
WARNING
-Turrets are Shaco's weakness. On hit effects don't work on turrets and turrets can kill Shaco very quickly. Beware of turrets.
-Stuns can ruin Shaco. When playing against champions who have stuns. Be careful.
-Shaco is SQUISHY. Try not to be the target for the enemy team. Try entering a fight shortly after it starts, most people don't change targets very quickly.

SUMMARY

Shaco is a very deadly champion in the right hands. Play smart. Try not to be a target, attack from behind when possible, and utilize your abilities, you are nothing with out them. Also: BEWARE TURRETS