Abilities, roles and builds with an explanation for every purchase.
HERO GAME PLANI provide the team with mana and speed while managing Illuminate’s direction and the approach to a fight.
Keeper of the Light is a helpful addition to any team. Manipulating the mana of both his allies and enemies, he effortlessly destroys lesser foes with waves of illumination, then enters his spirit form to gather his team to press the assault.
My recommendation is a starting point. We choose another position together with the team and for its needs.
I contribute through laning, control and movement. I adapt the expensive core route to my budget.
Levels, lane control and joining the team at the right moment matter.
This is an editorial starting plan based on hero mechanics. It is not presented as a match I have already tested or a popularity ranking.
Here is my initial plan: I do my role's job first, then choose the items the team needs. I adapt the order and expensive purchases to the opponent.
Provide speed and regeneration between engagements, fitting a support’s budget.
Moves me or an ally out of danger; direction depends on the target's facing.
Adds a protective tool and hides the chosen ally; invisibility does not replace escaping detection.
Lets you use targeted abilities and items from a safer distance.
Unlocks or upgrades Will-O-Wisp. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
Kaya ↗Improves magical damage and mana efficiency without committing to an expensive item straight away.
Octarine Core ↗Reduces cooldowns when my impact is limited by how often my spells are available.
Black King Bar ↗Provides a window for my actions against eligible magical damage and disables. I check effects that pierce the protection.
I do not assign one ‘correct’ minute to every purchase. I look at my gold, the next fight and the problem: am I missing mana, target access, control or protection? If an expensive slot will arrive too late, I get a useful answer earlier.
Original Valve icons and descriptions. Cooldowns and mana are shown by level from the data snapshot; talents and upgrades can change the values.
CHANNELED - Channels light energy, building power the longer it's channeled. Once released, a wave is sent forth that deals damage and gives vision in its path. The longer it is channeled, the more damage is dealt.
A blinding light flashes over the targeted area, knocking back units to the edge of the area and blinding them, causing them to miss some attacks. Minimum knockback distance is 175 range over 0.6 seconds.
Restores mana to the target unit and reduces cooldowns of all basic abilities currently on cooldown by a fixed amount. Is 30% more effective when used on himself.
Ezalor temporarily turns his body luminescent, gaining cast range, increasing the speed bonus from Bright Speed, and allows Illuminate to be channeled by a separate spirit and heal allies.
Ezalor temporarily turns his body luminescent, gaining cast range, increasing the speed bonus from Bright Speed, and allows Illuminate to be channeled by a separate spirit and heal allies.
Increases healing from Illuminate.
These abilities are not necessarily available at the same time. I check the condition beside the name: innate ability, another form or an Aghanim purchase.
Weakens an enemy's magical resistance, and applies a slow that increases in strength the more the target moves.
Weakens an enemy's magical resistance, and applies a slow that increases in strength the more the target moves.
Replaces the cooldown with 2 charges.
Summons Ignis Fatuus at the targeted area. Alternates on and off, drawing enemies closer with its mesmerising flicker.
Summons Ignis Fatuus at the targeted area. Alternates on and off, drawing enemies closer with its mesmerising flicker.
Every 3 points of intelligence increase the hero’s movement speed by 1.
Keeper of the Light gains 1 movement speed for every 3 Intelligence. Whenever Keeper of the Light moves 300 distance, he leaves behind light that allows him to see 400 range for 3 seconds.
These are fields from the official source. The hero's final values in the client account for attributes and other active mechanics.
Items, slang and real episodes help connect abilities with what happens in a match.
