Attack damage

Attack damage is the amount of damage a unit is shown to deal with a regular attack. A unit's total attack damage is the sum of its main attack damage (white) and bonus attack damage (green). Attack damage is modified by many different effects in the game and ends up going through a number of steps in order to determine how much damage an attack actually deals as its overall or total attack damage.

Total attack damage

Properties of a level 1 Sniper with a Wraith Band: Sniper's base attack damage varies by 6; main attack damage is white, bonus attack damage green.

Calculating the total damage of an attack after all is said and done involves using many different multipliers and values. Total attack damage is synonymous with how much health a target immediately loses as a direct result of the attack. Some on-hit effects that are not affected by critical strike are still considered part of attack damage, and some are not.

Formula:

Damage =

{ [Main Attack Damage × (1 + Σ Percentage Bonuses) + Flat Bonuses]

× Crit Multiplier - Blocked Damage }

× Armor Multipliers

× General Damage Multipliers

Base attack damage

Base attack damage is the part of the main attack damage that stays the same throughout a game. It consists of two values, a minimum and maximum amount. Every time an attack is issued, a random value between these two extremes is chosen to help decide the damage output. The most extreme hero example of this is Chaos Knight, with base attack damage ranging between 29 and 59, causing his damage output to be somewhat unpredictable (or at least much less predictable than other heroes). This range of 30 is always part of his attack calculations, no matter how many attributes or how much bonus attack damage he acquires.

Main attack damage

Main attack damage is the damage value shown in white numbers on a hero's statistics consisting of the base attack damage with the damage granted by a hero's primary attribute on top. A hero's main attack damage can only be increased by raising its primary attribute, or by very few specific abilities. Attribute points can be acquired by leveling up, or by using specific items, abilities, or talents that raise attributes.

Formula:

main attack damage = base attack damage + total primary attribute points + ability bonuses.

Hero attack damage

Hero Base Attack Damage Starting Main Attack Damage Max Main Attack Damage Damage Range Minimum Damage Maximum Damage Minimum Damage Maximum Damage Minimum Damage Maximum Damage Abaddon 32 42 55 65 127 137 10 Alchemist 24 33 49 58 107 116 9 Ancient Apparition 21 31 44 54 126 136 10 Anti-Mage 29 33 53 57 130 134 4 Arc Warden 31 41 46 56 104 114 10 Axe 24 28 49 53 131 135 4 Bane 35 41 58 64 120 126 6 Batrider 16 20 38 42 108 112 4 Beastmaster 41 45 64 68 134 138 4 Bloodseeker 33 39 57 63 141 147 6 Bounty Hunter 24 38 45 59 107 121 14 Brewmaster 29 36 52 59 141 148 7 Bristleback 22 32 44 54 114 124 10 Broodmother 29 35 44 50 111 117 6 Centaur Warrunner 36 38 63 65 173 175 2 Chaos Knight 29 59 51 81 140 170 30 Chen 29 39 48 58 125 135 10 Clinkz 15 21 37 43 109 115 6 Clockwerk 24 26 50 52 139 141 2 Crystal Maiden 30 36 44 50 123 129 6 Dark Seer 33 39 54 60 128 134 6 Dark Willow 27 35 45 53 129 137 8 Dazzle 22 28 47 53 136 142 6 Death Prophet 29 41 50 62 134 146 12 Disruptor 29 33 49 53 119 123 4 Doom 27 43 53 69 149 165 16 Dragon Knight 31 37 50 56 136 142 6 Drow Ranger 19 30 48 59 115 126 11 Earth Spirit 25 35 46 56 152 162 10 Earthshaker 27 37 49 59 138 148 10 Elder Titan 23 33 47 57 119 129 10 Ember Spirit 33 37 55 59 105 109 4 Enchantress 30 40 49 59 135 145 10 Enigma 24 30 42 48 136 142 6 Faceless Void 33 39 56 62 133 139 6 Grimstroke 27 31 50 54 141 145 4 Gyrocopter 21 31 40 50 126 136 10 Huskar 19 24 40 45 114 119 5 Invoker 24 30 38 44 148 154 6 Io 22 31 39 48 99 108 9 Jakiro 27 35 53 61 130 138 8 Juggernaut 12 16 48 52 115 119 4 Keeper of the Light 20 27 43 50 120 127 7 Kunkka 26 36 50 60 141 151 10 Legion Commander 35 39 61 65 140 144 4 Leshrac 19 23 41 45 125 129 4 Lich 26 35 46 55 144 153 9 Lifestealer 27 37 52 62 122 132 10 Lina 21 33 51 63 140 152 12 Lion 29 35 47 53 131 137 6 Lone Druid 18 22 38 42 105 109 4 Luna 20 26 38 44 124 130 6 Lycan 30 35 55 60 137 142 5 Magnus 32 44 55 67 139 151 12 Mars 35 43 58 66 135 143 8 Medusa 24 30 46 52 140 146 6 Meepo 20 26 44 50 87 93 6 Mirana 25 30 43 48 132 137 5 Monkey King 29 35 51 57 140 146 6 Morphling 9 18 33 42 136 145 9 Naga Siren 23 25 44 46 133 135 2 Nature's Prophet 29 43 52 66 131 145 14 Necrophos 26 30 46 50 116 120 4 Night Stalker 38 42 61 65 138 142 4 Nyx Assassin 27 31 46 50 106 110 4 Ogre Magi 43 49 58 64 113 119 6 Omniknight 31 41 53 63 139 149 10 Oracle 18 24 39 45 135 141 6 Outworld Devourer 16 31 44 59 128 143 15 Pangolier 33 39 51 57 128 134 6 Phantom Assassin 23 25 46 48 128 130 2 Phantom Lancer 22 44 51 73 123 145 22 Phoenix 26 36 45 55 134 144 10 Puck 30 41 53 64 127 138 11 Pudge 40 46 65 71 161 167 6 Pugna 19 27 43 51 168 176 8 Queen of Pain 20 28 45 53 115 123 8 Razor 23 25 45 47 95 97 2 Riki 18 22 48 52 108 112 4 Rubick 22 32 47 57 121 131 10 Sand King 23 33 45 55 122 132 10 Shadow Demon 29 33 50 54 124 128 4 Shadow Fiend 15 21 35 41 114 120 6 Shadow Shaman 52 59 71 78 155 162 7 Silencer 18 32 43 57 113 127 14 Skywrath Mage 14 24 39 49 137 147 10 Slardar 30 38 51 59 137 145 8 Slark 33 41 54 62 95 103 8 Sniper 15 21 36 42 110 116 6 Spectre 23 27 46 50 96 100 4 Spirit Breaker 31 41 60 70 134 144 10 Storm Spirit 26 36 49 59 143 153 10 Sven 43 45 66 68 143 145 2 Techies 9 11 31 33 110 112 2 Templar Assassin 30 36 53 59 130 136 6 Terrorblade 26 32 48 54 163 169 6 Tidehunter 25 31 47 53 131 137 6 Timbersaw 26 30 47 51 114 118 4 Tinker 24 30 52 58 112 118 6 Tiny 44 50 74 80 172 178 6 Treant Protector 62 70 87 95 185 193 8 Troll Warlord 23 35 44 56 114 126 12 Tusk 27 31 50 54 144 148 4 Underlord 37 43 62 68 141 147 6 Undying 35 43 57 65 124 132 8 Ursa 24 28 42 46 100 104 4 Vengeful Spirit 12 20 39 47 130 138 8 Venomancer 16 18 42 44 119 121 2 Viper 23 25 44 46 104 106 2 Visage 23 33 45 55 115 125 10 Warlock 24 34 49 59 123 133 10 Weaver 36 46 50 60 136 146 10 Windranger 24 36 42 54 114 126 12 Winter Wyvern 12 19 38 45 124 131 7 Witch Doctor 29 39 51 61 130 140 10 Wraith King 39 41 61 63 138 140 2 Zeus 33 41 54 62 133 141 8

Bonus attack damage

Bonus attack damage comprises the green number next to main attack damage. It comes in two types:

• Flat Bonus: adds a flat number of damage to the unit's damage total. Examples: Phase Boots, Necromastery, Insatiable Hunger
• Percentage Bonus: adds an amount of bonus attack damage equal to a percentage of the affected unit's main attack damage, or total attack damage, depending on the ability. Examples: Vladmir's Offering, Vengeance Aura, Packleader's Aura
• While bonus attack damage is usually positive, it can also use a negative value, serving to reduce a unit's net attack damage. Examples: Static Link, Anchor Smash, Fade Bolt

Formula

bonus attack damage = sum of bonuses + sum of reductions.

Critical strike multiplier

Critical Strike is an attack modifier that multiplies the total attack damage certain factor. If an attack activates more than one critical strike, only the highest multiplier is applied.

Main Article: Critical Strike

Blocked damage

Damage Block is a passive ability that gives the unit a chance to block a certain number of physical damage from an attack. If an attack activates more than one damage block ability, only the highest block value is applied.

Main Article: Damage Block

Armor value multiplier

The target's armor influences the attack damage by a factor that asymptotically lies between 0 and 2 and is 1 for a target that has no armor.

Formula

damage multiplier = 1 - ((0.052 × armor) ÷ (0.9 + 0.048 × |armor|)).

Main Article: Armor

Armor type multiplier

Depending on the combination of the attack damage type and armor types, an armor type multiplier modulates the attack damage.

General damage multipliers

Main Article: Damage manipulation

A few abilities such as Bristleback and Dispersion modify all incoming damage, including attack damage. Bulwark reduces attack damage specifically.

Attack damage types

There are several different types of attack damage, which determine how much damage a unit's attack deals against certain armor types. Each of the 4 different attack types deals either reduced, increased, or unchanged damage against each of the armor types, on top of it being also manipulated by the armor value of the target.

Example
A hero with 100 attack damage attacking a siege unit which has 0 armor deals 50 damage to it, because the attack type "hero" deals 50% less damage against the armor type "structure", which is the siege creeps' and all buildings' armor type. If the siege creep would gain 5 armor, the 100 damage attack would deal (100 * 0.8 * 0.5) = 40 damage. The same attack would deal 80 damage to a unit with any other armor type, since attack type hero deals full damage to them.

This table shows how much damage each attack damage type deals against each armor type, and which units use which attack damage type:

Attack Damage Type	Used by	Armor Type
		Hero	Basic	Structure
Hero	Heroes, Ancient Black Dragon, Ancient Granite Golem, Ancient Prowler Shaman, Ancient Thunderhide, Boar, Centaur Conqueror, Dark Troll Summoner, Death Ward, Earth, Familiar, Fire, Forged Spirit, Hellbear Smasher, Hellbear, Roshan, Satyr Tormenter, Skeleton Archer, Spiderling, Storm, Warlock's Golem, Wildwing Ripper, Wraith King Skeleton	100%	100%	50%
Basic	Alpha Wolf, Ancient Prowler Acolyte, Ancient Rock Golem, Ancient Rumblehide, Centaur Courser, Eidolon, Fell Spirit, Greater Treant, Kobold Foreman, Kobold Soldier, Kobold, Lycan Wolf, Mega Melee Creep, Melee Creep, Mud Golem, Ogre Bruiser, Ogre Frostmage, Satyr Mindstealer, Shard Golem, Skeleton Warrior, Spiderite, Spirit Bear, Super Melee Creep, Treant, Wildwing	75%	100%	70%
Pierce	Ancient Black Drake, Ghost, Giant Wolf, Harpy Scout, Harpy Stormcrafter, Hill Troll Berserker, Hill Troll Priest, Hill Troll, Mega Ranged Creep, Necronomicon Archer, Necronomicon Warrior, Plague Ward, Ranged Creep, Satyr Banisher, Serpent Ward, Super Ranged Creep, Undying Zombie, Vhoul Assassin	50%	150%	35%
Siege	Fountain, Siege Creep, Super Siege Creep, Tier 1 Tower, Tier 2 Tower, Tier 3 Tower, Tier 4 Tower	85%	100%	250%

Instant attacks

Several abilities make use of the hero's regular attacks. However, these attacks are instant. This means they do not use the hero's attack animation, are independent from attack speed and ignore the regular downtime between attacks. If an instant attack is performed by a ranged hero, it still uses their regular attack projectile for the attack, unless it is set not to. If an instant attack occurs while already attacking an enemy normally, it does not interfere with the regular attack. They do not interfere with any other actions of the hero either, meaning they do not interrupt movement, do not cancel spell casts and do not stop channeling spells of the hero.

Since instant attacks do not use attack animations and jump straight to the attack point, they cannot proc effects which react on the start of an attack, like Untouchable or Moment of Courage. However, they can proc effects which react on attack hit, such as Counter Helix and Return, although there are some exceptions to this. Instant attacks may proc on-hit effects only when they are allowed to. An instant attack which is not allowed to proc attack modifiers is not allowed to proc on-hit effects either. Just like regular attacks, instant attacks also cause the attacking hero to get revealed if attacking from the Fog of War.

The following abilities make use of instant attacks:

• Drow Ranger – Marksmanship¹
• Ember Spirit – Sleight of Fist
• Faceless Void – Time Lock
• Gyrocopter – Flak Cannon²
• Gyrocopter – Side Gunner¹
• Io – Tether³
• Juggernaut – Omnislash⁵
• Legion Commander – Moment of Courage
• Mars – God's Rebuke
• Medusa – Split Shot⁴
• Monkey King – Boundless Strike
• Morphling – Waveform³
• Pangolier – Swashbuckle
• Phantom Assassin – Stifling Dagger
• Puck – Dream Coil³
• Riki – Tricks of the Trade
• Shadow Shaman – Serpent Ward split shot^{1 2}
• Sniper – Assassinate¹
• Tiny – Tree Throw
• Tidehunter – Anchor Smash
• Weaver – Geminate Attack

¹ Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

² These instant attacks may not proc any attack modifiers or on-hit effects.

³ Requires talent.

⁴ Split Shot may not proc any attack modifiers or on-hit effects, unless the required talent is chosen.

⁵ Number of instant attacks is dependent on Juggernauts attack speed.

Attack damage granting talents

The following heroes have a talent that grants them bonus attack damage.

Bonus	Level 10		Level 15		Level 20		Level 25
	Left	Right	Left	Right	Left	Right	Left	Right
Bonus attack damage

The following heroes have a talent that grants them base attack damage.

Bonus	Level 10		Level 15		Level 20		Level 25
	Left	Right	Left	Right	Left	Right	Left	Right
Base attack damage

Attack damage increasing items

Strength

Attack damage increase for strength heroes

Item	Value	Item cost	Cost per value point
Abyssal Blade	35	6650	190
Aghanim's Scepter	10	4200	420
Armlet of Mordiggian	65	2380	36.62
Belt of Strength	6	450	75
Black King Bar	34	4050	119.12
Bracer	6	515	85.83
Buckler	2	800	400
Circlet	2	165	82.5
Crimson Guard	2	3700	1850
Crown	4	450	112.5
Dagon 1	5	2700	540
Dagon 2	5	3950	790
Dagon 3	5	5200	1040
Dagon 4	5	6450	1290
Dagon 5	5	7700	1540
Dragon Lance	12	1900	158.33
Drum of Endurance	6	1625	270.83
Echo Sabre	24	2650	110.42
Ethereal Blade	10	4700	470
Eye of Skadi	25	5500	220
Gauntlets of Strength	3	135	45
Ghost Scepter	5	1500	300
Guardian Greaves	5	5475	1095
Headdress	2	525	262.5
Heart of Tarrasque	45	5200	115.56
Heaven's Halberd	45	3450	76.67
Helm of the Dominator	2	1875	937.5
Hurricane Pike	15	4600	306.67
Iron Branch	1	50	50
Kaya and Sange	28	4100	146.43
Linken's Sphere	13	5050	388.46
Magic Wand	3	450	150
Manta Style	10	4700	470
Mekansm	5	2275	455
Meteor Hammer	12	2625	218.75
Necronomicon 1	10	2400	240
Necronomicon 2	15	3700	246.67
Necronomicon 3	20	5000	250
Null Talisman	3	515	171.67
Ogre Axe	10	1000	100
Pipe of Insight	2	3025	1512.5
Power Treads (Strength)	10	1450	145
Reaver	25	3000	120
Rod of Atos	12	2750	229.17
Sange	24	2050	85.42
Sange and Yasha	16	4100	256.25
Satanic	50	5300	106
Scythe of Vyse	10	5700	570
Silver Edge	45	5550	123.33
Skull Basher	35	2950	84.29
Solar Crest	10	3875	387.5
Soul Ring	6	770	128.33
Spirit Vessel	2	2975	1487.5
Ultimate Orb	10	2150	215
Urn of Shadows	2	875	437.5
Veil of Discord	6	2050	341.67
Wraith Band	3	515	171.67
Values may include portions from actives or auras.

Agility

Attack damage increase for agility heroes

Item	Value	Item cost	Cost per value point
Aghanim's Scepter	10	4200	420
Band of Elvenskin	6	450	75
Blade of Alacrity	10	1000	100
Bracer	3	515	171.67
Buckler	2	800	400
Butterfly	60	5475	91.25
Circlet	2	165	82.5
Crimson Guard	2	3700	1850
Crown	4	450	112.5
Dagon 1	5	2700	540
Dagon 2	5	3950	790
Dagon 3	5	5200	1040
Dagon 4	5	6450	1290
Dagon 5	5	7700	1540
Diffusal Blade	20	3150	157.5
Dragon Lance	12	1900	158.33
Drum of Endurance	6	1625	270.83
Eaglesong	25	3200	128
Ethereal Blade	40	4700	117.5
Eye of Skadi	25	5500	220
Ghost Scepter	5	1500	300
Guardian Greaves	5	5475	1095
Headdress	2	525	262.5
Helm of the Dominator	2	1875	937.5
Hurricane Pike	20	4600	230
Iron Branch	1	50	50
Linken's Sphere	13	5050	388.46
Magic Wand	3	450	150
Manta Style	26	4700	180.77
Mekansm	5	2275	455
Null Talisman	3	515	171.67
Pipe of Insight	2	3025	1512.5
Power Treads (Agility)	10	1450	145
Rod of Atos	12	2750	229.17
Sange and Yasha	16	4100	256.25
Scythe of Vyse	10	5700	570
Silver Edge	45	5550	123.33
Slippers of Agility	3	135	45
Solar Crest	10	3875	387.5
Spirit Vessel	2	2975	1487.5
Ultimate Orb	10	2150	215
Urn of Shadows	2	875	437.5
Veil of Discord	6	2050	341.67
Wraith Band	6	515	85.83
Yasha	16	2050	128.13
Yasha and Kaya	16	4100	256.25
Values may include portions from actives or auras.

Intelligence

Attack damage increase for intelligence heroes

Item	Value	Item cost	Cost per value point
Aghanim's Scepter	10	4200	420
Blade Mail	32	2200	68.75
Bloodthorn	93	7205	77.47
Bracer	3	515	171.67
Buckler	2	800	400
Circlet	2	165	82.5
Crimson Guard	2	3700	1850
Crown	4	450	112.5
Dagon 1	18	2700	150
Dagon 2	21	3950	188.1
Dagon 3	24	5200	216.67
Dagon 4	27	6450	238.89
Dagon 5	30	7700	256.67
Diffusal Blade	10	3150	315
Drum of Endurance	6	1625	270.83
Echo Sabre	22	2650	120.45
Ethereal Blade	10	4700	470
Eul's Scepter of Divinity	10	2750	275
Eye of Skadi	25	5500	220
Force Staff	10	2250	225
Ghost Scepter	5	1500	300
Guardian Greaves	5	5475	1095
Headdress	2	525	262.5
Helm of the Dominator	2	1875	937.5
Hurricane Pike	13	4600	353.85
Iron Branch	1	50	50
Kaya	16	2050	128.13
Kaya and Sange	28	4100	146.43
Linken's Sphere	13	5050	388.46
Magic Wand	3	450	150
Manta Style	10	4700	470
Mantle of Intelligence	3	135	45
Mekansm	5	2275	455
Meteor Hammer	12	2625	218.75
Mystic Staff	25	2700	108
Null Talisman	6	515	85.83
Oblivion Staff	20	1650	82.5
Octarine Core	25	5900	236
Orchid Malevolence	55	4075	74.09
Pipe of Insight	2	3025	1512.5
Power Treads (Intelligence)	10	1450	145
Robe of the Magi	6	450	75
Rod of Atos	20	2750	137.5
Scythe of Vyse	35	5700	162.86
Shiva's Guard	30	4750	158.33
Silver Edge	45	5550	123.33
Solar Crest	10	3875	387.5
Spirit Vessel	2	2975	1487.5
Staff of Wizardry	10	1000	100
Ultimate Orb	10	2150	215
Urn of Shadows	2	875	437.5
Veil of Discord	15	2050	136.67
Wraith Band	3	515	171.67
Yasha and Kaya	16	4100	256.25
Values may include portions from actives or auras.

Bonus attack damage

Attack damage increase independent from primary attribute

Item	Value	Item cost	Cost per value point
Abyssal Blade	25	6650	266
Armlet of Mordiggian	40	2380	59.5
Battle Fury	45	4400	97.78
Black King Bar	24	4050	168.75
Blade Mail	22	2200	100
Bloodthorn	68	7205	105.96
Broadsword	18	1200	66.67
Butterfly	25	5475	219
Crystalys	38	2130	56.05
Daedalus	80	5330	66.63
Demon Edge	42	2200	52.38
Desolator	50	3500	70
Divine Rapier	330	6000	18.18
Echo Sabre	12	2650	220.83
Faerie Fire	2	70	35
Heaven's Halberd	25	3450	138
Kaya and Sange	12	4100	341.67
Maelstrom	24	2700	112.5
Mask of Madness	10	1775	177.5
Mjollnir	24	5600	233.33
Monkey King Bar	52	4175	80.29
Nullifier	65	4700	72.31
Oblivion Staff	10	1650	165
Orchid Malevolence	30	4075	135.83
Phase Boots	18	1480	82.22
Quarterstaff	10	875	87.5
Radiance	65	5150	79.23
Ring of Basilius	7	500	71.43
Sange	8	2050	256.25
Satanic	25	5300	212
Shadow Blade	22	2800	127.27
Silver Edge	30	5550	185
Skull Basher	25	2950	118
Values may include portions from actives or auras.

Attack damage increasing abilities

Percentage Bonus

• Gives a unit a damage buff equal to a percentage of their main attack damage.

• Earthshaker - Enchant Totem
  
  Attack Damage Bonus: 100%/200%/300%/400%
  Duration: 14
  Number of Attacks: 1
  
• Lycan - Feral Impulse
  
  Attack Damage Bonus: 12%/24%/36%/48% ( 28%/40%/52%/64%)
  Radius: 1200
  Affects units under Lycan's control only.
• Magnus - Empower
  
  Attack Damage Bonus: 10%/20%/30%/40% ( 30%/40%/50%/60%)
  Duration: 40
  
• Sven - God's Strength
  
  Self Attack Damage Bonus: 80%/120%/160%
  Allies Attack Damage Bonus: 0 ( 75%/100%/125%)
  Duration: 25
  The Aghanim's Scepter upgrade grants allies a damage bonus in a 1200 radius around Sven.
• Tiny - Tree Grab
  
  Attack Damage Bonus: 10%/20%/30%/40%
  Number of Attacks: 5
  
• Vengeful Spirit - Vengeance Aura
  
  Attack Damage Bonus: 12%/18%/24%/30% (