What items should I consider getting for Phantom Lancer?

my version of a Phantom Lancer guide. I think there are two or three ways to proceed through items in a game Can you be greedy ? that is if your opposite team doesnt have massive push potential then you can go for radiance as first major item. But i warn this is the most unsafe way of progression as even 2 or 3 deaths early can basically delay your radiance too much and you dont actually "carry". So i advise against it , but more skilled players get it sometimes as they avoid dying by their map-awareness (through experience) If you feel you need to fight a lot in mid game i would recommend Treads-> Drums(soul ring optional) -> Manta/Diffusal and engage in early fights with the team . Dont build drums and try to keep farming when your team is engaging.

1. Laning Items : Tango, Stout shield , Salve , branches , Quelling is optional but i dont like it on PL as his base damage and agi gain is pretty high . If you see ranged heroes in opponent team that can potentially come to your lane stout is a must. it basically reduces the instant where you go back to base for healing or to tank creeps under tower.
2. mid game : Treads , Drums , yasha/Diffusal , Manta
3. late game : Heart , upgrade diffusal , butterfly , Skadi
4. late late game : Boots of travel , can sell diffusal for some other items if required. Like if your team doesnt have enough lockdown even going HEX is good . or Abyssal for BKB heroes. some told to go for Crit . I think this is not great on PL . any Illusion hero you need to try to get Stat Items so that the illusions are very tanky by themselves and can push towers just through illus. So the Skadi as 6th item is probably the best item you can get . sometimes late game you can get a linkens so that you dont get initiated on by heroes who have HEX.

Also try to understand that PL isnt your typical manfight hero , so try to splitpush and basically be annoying to enemy team . If 1 hero comes to defend engage him , if 2 come then teleport back and engage the 3 with your team . This is basic splitpush

So typical item progression for greedy PL Plain boots/Treads-> Radiance-> Bots-> Manta -> Diffusal-> Heart /Butterfly->Skadi For a more team fight and early engagement -> Treads -> Drums -> Yasha/Diffusal->Manta -> Butterfly-> Heart vs heroes like Sven/Tiny/Antimage who are pretty good vs PL i think i would go early abyssal after diffusal or heart since they will clear illusions pretty well and we will have to lock them down during BKB . Hope this helps !

you dont need diffusal level 2 anymore. It has the same mana burn as level one so its useless on phantom now and waste of gold. To maximize illusions get heart and assault cuirass to make them durable and also butterfly for damage and tankiness. Manta is useless according to me now cause he creates illusions very fast now. Thats about it. (2000+ hours player)