HERO / GET TO KNOW THEM

Skywrath Mage

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 combine magical burst with reliable lockdown.

Deadly and fragile in equal measure, Skywrath Mage quickly destroys his enemies with a barrage of powerful magic. He silences foes while increasing their vulnerability to spells, meaning he has no trouble vaporizing any who stand against him.

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.

Support · position 4

Initial recommendation

I contribute through laning, control and movement. I adapt the expensive core route to my budget.

Mid · position 2

Levels, lane control and joining the team at the right moment matter.

MY VIEW OF THE HERO

Pick for a purpose. Play with a plan.

When I pick

I pick this alongside reliable control that keeps the target inside my magical damage.

What I watch out for

Dispels, magic protection and a quick exit from the area can break the combo. The hero itself handles return focus in close combat poorly.

What I do in combat

The first disable or Atos should secure the hit, then I deal damage. If the target has already left, I do not spend my main cast merely to finish the button sequence.

What I check first

Without a disable, Mystic Flare can hit an empty area: I secure the hit first.

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.

Support · position 4

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 stepArcane Boots
Provide mana for laning and regular ability use.
02 / FoundationRod of Atos
Roots the target so it cannot move out of the team’s follow-up spells.
03 / FoundationAether Lens
Lets you use targeted abilities and items from a safer distance.
04 / Next choiceAghanim's Scepter
Unlocks or upgrades Concussive Shot, Ancient Seal, Mystic Flare. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
05 / Next choiceBlack King Bar
Provides a window for my actions against eligible magical damage and disables. I check effects that pierce the protection.

What I change for the situation 3 options

Force Staff ↗

Moves me or an ally out of danger; direction depends on the target's facing.

Glimmer Cape ↗

Adds a protective tool and hides the chosen ally; invisibility does not replace escaping detection.

Scythe of Vyse ↗

Provides a strong targeted disable for an important target when a normal slow or silence is not enough.

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

Arcane Bolt

Skywrath Mage launches a slow-moving bolt of arcane magic, dealing damage to an enemy unit based on Skywrath Mage's intelligence.

↻ 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 sec.Mana 70

Details and upgrades

Skywrath Mage launches a slow-moving bolt of arcane magic, dealing damage to an enemy unit based on Skywrath Mage's intelligence.

Aghanim’s Shard

Each cast creates 2 projectiles: one flies toward the original target, while the others fly toward random enemies within a radius of 500 of it, prioritizing heroes.

Ability

Concussive Shot

Skywrath Mage sets off a long range shot that hits the closest hero within a long range. Upon impact, it deals damage and slows in an area of effect.

↻ 15 / 14 / 13 / 12 sec.Mana 80 / 85 / 90 / 95

Details and upgrades

Skywrath Mage sets off a long range shot that hits the closest hero within a long range. Upon impact, it deals damage and slows in an area of effect.

Aghanim’s Scepter

Each cast also affects one random target within a radius of 500 of the original target, prioritizing heroes.

Ability

Ancient Seal

Skywrath Mage seals the targeted unit with an ancient rune, silencing it and causing it to take additional damage from spells.

↻ 14 sec.Mana 80 / 90 / 100 / 110

Details and upgrades

Skywrath Mage seals the targeted unit with an ancient rune, silencing it and causing it to take additional damage from spells.

Aghanim’s Scepter

Each cast also affects one random target within a radius of 500 of the original target, prioritizing heroes.

Ability

Mystic Flare

Skywrath Mage uses his ultimate magical ability to conjure a precise and violent mystical field that lays waste to his adversaries. Deals massive damage distributed evenly among any Heroes in the area over 2 seconds.

↻ 55 / 35 / 15 sec.Mana 300 / 550 / 800

Details and upgrades

Aghanim’s Scepter

Each cast also affects one random target within a radius of 500 of the original target, prioritizing heroes.

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

Shield of the Scion

Every time Skywrath Mage deals magical damage to an enemy hero with his abilities, he gains a small magic damage barrier. Each buff stacks independently.

Full description

Every time Skywrath Mage deals magical damage to an enemy hero with his abilities, he gains a small magic damage barrier. Each buff stacks independently.

Valve base stats +

Health · base: 604
Mana · base: 375
Damage · Valve field: 41–51
Armour · Valve field: 0.17
Movement speed: 325
Attack range: 625
Strength · base / gain: 22 / 2
Agility · base / gain: 13 / 0.8
Intelligence · base / gain: 25 / 4.1

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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