HERO / GET TO KNOW THEM

Mars

Abilities, roles and builds with an explanation for every purchase.

VALVE · 7.41fChecked 06.10.2026Game data source ↗

HERO GAME PLAN

Ruslan Ukrainskyi· OOPS DOTA

What I want to do in the game

I deny the enemy space with Arena and pin the key target to a suitable boundary with Spear.

The warrior deity Mars thrives in the heart of strife, guarded by the bulk of a deadly shield as he skewers enemies with his legendary spear. He revels in facing opponents in an arena ringed with loyal spearmen—who guarantee that no one escapes and that whatever odds he's facing, the god of war can dictate the terms of battle knowing the crowd is forever on his side.

Abilities at hand

01 / ROLE IN THE TEAM

A pick is not a plan yet.

My recommendation is a starting point. We choose another position together with the team and for its needs.

Offlane · position 3

Initial recommendation

My resource is the team's space: I hold the lane and build for initiation or team protection.

MY VIEW OF THE HERO

Pick for a purpose. Play with a plan.

When I pick

This suits restricting space and initiating if the team knows how to fight inside the chosen Arena.

What I watch out for

A poor boundary can separate allies instead of enemies. A strong long-range or AoE response requires knowing who remains outside.

What I do in combat

Before Spear, I see the point where I will pin the target. Arena creates the fight the team needs, so I choose its location using allied positions and the follow-up available.

What I check first

Arena should help the team attack; a poorly placed boundary can split up allies.

02 / ITEMS FOR A PURPOSE

What I buy and why.

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.

Offlane · position 3

My starting plan

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.

01 / First stepPhase Boots
Help maintain close contact and pass through groups of units.
02 / FoundationBlink Dagger
Changes the entry angle and lets me reach a target quickly. Damage taken can prevent its use.
03 / FoundationBlack King Bar
Provides a window for my actions against eligible magical damage and disables. I check effects that pierce the protection.
04 / Next choiceShiva's Guard
Adds armor and pressure in an area, helping limit the enemy’s health restoration.
05 / Next choiceRefresher Orb
Lets you repeat your main power window. Before buying, I consider whether I will have enough mana for both casts.

What I change for the situation 3 options

Pipe of Insight ↗

Provides team protection against substantial magical damage.

Aghanim's Scepter ↗

Unlocks or upgrades Bulwark, Arena of Blood. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.

Assault Cuirass ↗

Gives the team armor and attack speed, helping it apply physical pressure to heroes and objectives.

I see the minute on the clock. And the situation too.

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.

03 / HERO ABILITIES

Abilities. As in the game.

Original Valve icons and descriptions. Cooldowns and mana are shown by level from the data snapshot; talents and upgrades can change the values.

Ability

Spear of Mars

The hero throws his mighty spear, damaging enemies. The spear impales and knocks back the first enemy hero hit.

↻ 14 / 13 / 12 / 11 sec.Mana 90 / 100 / 110 / 120

Details and upgrades

Mars throws his legendary Spear with deadly precision, damaging each enemy unit it strikes. The first enemy hero it hits is skewered on the spear, pushing it back. If a skewered hero hits a tree, building, or cliff, they will be impaled to it and stunned.

Aghanim’s Shard

Spear of Mars impales up to 1 heroes and leaves a fire trail behind that deals damage over time and slows movement speed.

Ability

God's Rebuke

Mars smashes enemies in front of him with his shield, knocking them back and damaging them with a critical hit based on his attack. Bonus damage is added when hitting heroes. Has True Strike.

↻ 16 / 14 / 12 / 10 sec.Mana 90

Ability

Bulwark

The hero uses his shield to block a portion of physical damage from attacks coming from the front and sides.

Details and upgrades

Mars wields his massive shield to block a portion of each physical attack when hit from the front or sides. Can be toggled, granting phased movement, removing Mars's ability to attack, and locking the direction he is facing. When active, reduces movement speed and re-directs 70% of the attack projectiles aimed at allies towards himself.

Aghanim’s Scepter

While the ability is toggled on, invulnerable soldiers appear on either side of Mars. They move with him, attack enemies with increased damage, slow them, and knock them back. Only one soldier can attack a given target.

Mechanics note: some upgrade numbers are missing from the source; I check the exact values in the client.

Ability

Arena of Blood

After a short formation time, Mars summons an arena lined with the undead warriors of the Ash Legion, who block enemy attacks and movement. Enemy heroes near the inside edge of the arena will be attacked by spears, dealing damage and knocking them back.

↻ 100 / 95 / 90 sec.Mana 150 / 200 / 250

Details and upgrades

Aghanim’s Scepter

Reduces cooldown by 10 sec. and increases duration. If an enemy hero dies in the arena, the ability’s owner and all allied heroes inside restore 35% of their maximum health and mana and gain +35% attack damage for 20 sec. This effect stacks.

Innates, upgrades and other forms1 ability +

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.

Innate

Dauntless

Mars gets more HP Regen the more he is outnumbered by enemy heroes in 900 radius.

Full description

Mars gets more HP Regen the more he is outnumbered by enemy heroes in 900 radius.

Valve base stats +

Health · base: 626
Mana · base: 327
Damage · Valve field: 49–57
Armour · Valve field: 3
Movement speed: 310
Attack range: 250
Strength · base / gain: 23 / 3.7
Agility · base / gain: 18 / 1.7
Intelligence · base / gain: 21 / 2.4

These are fields from the official source. The hero's final values in the client account for attributes and other active mechanics.

KEEP EXPLORING

One hero. Many decisions.

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