Ability
Paralyzing Cask
Launches a cask of paralyzing powder that ricochets between enemy units, stunning and damaging those it hits. Damage increases each bounce.
↻ 20 / 18 / 16 / 14 sec.Mana 80 / 100 / 120 / 140
Witch Doctor
Abilities, roles and builds with an explanation for every purchase.
HERO GAME PLANWhat I want to do in the game
I catch a target for Maledict and look for a Death Ward window; I secure positioning and protection first.
Witch Doctor is an ideal addition to any team. Few match his versatility: he can gradually heal allies, stun and fatally curse enemies, or destroy them with his powerful ultimate.
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.
05
Hard support · position 5
Initial recommendationHelp the lane, provide vision and keep the ally alive first; expensive upgrades follow the necessary team purchases.
04
Support · position 4
I contribute through laning, control and movement. I adapt the expensive core route to my budget.
02 / ITEMS FOR A PURPOSE
What I buy and why.
This shows my personal purchase order on Witch Doctor. I change it when the match calls for a different answer.
Hard support · position 5
My starting plan
This is Ruslan’s personal order from his games. If I get disabled before my ultimate, BKB or a positioning item may be needed earlier.
01 / First stepBoots of SpeedAn inexpensive first step towards the speed you need. I choose the upgrade based on my role and the match’s needs.
02 / FoundationGlimmer CapeAdds a protective tool and hides the chosen ally; invisibility does not replace escaping detection.
03 / FoundationAghanim's ScepterUnlocks or upgrades Death Ward. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
04 / Next choiceAghanim's ShardUnlocks or upgrades Voodoo Switcheroo. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
05 / Next choiceAeon DiskProtects against sudden focus fire. I account for the cooldown and the fact that my damage is limited while it triggers.
What I change for the situation 3 options
Black King Bar ↗Provides a window for my actions against eligible magical damage and disables. I check effects that pierce the protection.
Aether Lens ↗Lets you use targeted abilities and items from a safer distance.
Force Staff ↗Moves me or an ally out of danger; direction depends on the target's facing.
Hard support · position 5
Another starting point
In the current Dota2ProTracker sample, the core items are Arcane Boots, Shard, and Blink. I add Glimmer when a save is needed. This is an alternative build path, not a replacement for my personal sequence above.
Dota2ProTracker · 7.41f · checked 06.10.2026 ↗
01 / From the current sampleArcane BootsProvide mana for laning and regular ability use.
- 02 / From the current sampleAghanim's Shard
Unlocks or upgrades Voodoo Switcheroo. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
03 / From the current sampleBlink DaggerChanges the entry angle and lets me reach a target quickly. Damage taken can prevent its use.
- 04 / SituationalGlimmer Cape
Adds a protective tool and hides the chosen ally; invisibility does not replace escaping detection.
What I change for the situation 3 options
Aghanim's Scepter ↗Unlocks or upgrades Death Ward. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
Black King Bar ↗Provides a window for my actions against eligible magical damage and disables. I check effects that pierce the protection.
Aeon Disk ↗Protects against sudden focus fire. I account for the cooldown and the fact that my damage is limited while it triggers.
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
Voodoo Restoration
Witch Doctor focuses his magic to heal nearby allied units, costing Witch Doctor mana every second Voodoo Restoration is active.
Mana 25
Ability
Maledict
Curses all enemy heroes and units they control in a small area, causing them to take fixed damage each second.
↻ 30 / 26 / 22 / 18 sec.Mana 105 / 110 / 115 / 120
Details
Curses all enemy Heroes and player-controlled targets in a small area, causing them to take a set amount of damage each second, as well as bursts of damage every 4 seconds based on how much health they have lost since the curse began.
Ability
Death Ward
CHANNELED - Summons a deadly ward to attack enemy heroes within its attack range. Lasts a maximum of 8 seconds. Death Ward has 50% bonus accuracy.
↻ 100 / 90 / 80 sec.Mana 200
Details and upgrades
CHANNELED - Summons a deadly ward to attack enemy heroes within its attack range. Lasts a maximum of 8 seconds. Death Ward has 50% bonus accuracy.
Aghanim’s Scepter
Death Ward attacks bounce between nearby enemies.
Innates, upgrades and other forms2 abilities +
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.
From Aghanim’s Shard
Voodoo Switcheroo
Turns Witch Doctor into a Death Ward briefly with reduced attack speed. He is hidden during this time.
Full description
Turns Witch Doctor into a Death Ward briefly with reduced attack speed. He is hidden during this time.
Innate
Gris-Gris
The hero receives Gris-Gris, an item that cannot be dropped or placed in the backpack. When the owner dies, 100% of the gold lost on death is also added to the item’s value. Its value also increases by 1 every 3 sec.
Full description
The hero receives Gris-Gris, an item that cannot be dropped or placed in the backpack. When the owner dies, 100% of the gold lost on death is also added to the item’s value. Its value also increases by 1 every 3 sec. Using the item permanently consumes it and grants the hero all the stored gold. To use it, right-click the item and select Use.
Valve base stats +
- Health · base
- 560
- Mana · base
- 339
- Damage · Valve field
- 48–58
- Armour · Valve field
- 2.17
- Movement speed
- 300
- Attack range
- 550
- Strength · base / gain
- 20 / 2.1
- Agility · base / gain
- 13 / 1.4
- Intelligence · base / gain
- 22 / 3.1
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.
Items, slang and real episodes help connect abilities with what happens in a match.