Axe

Axe 25 + 3.6 20 + 2.2 18 + 1.6
Movement speed	310
Attack speed	100
Turn rate	0.6
Vision range	1800/800
Attack range	150
Projectile speed	Instant
Attack animation	0.5+0.5
Base attack time	1.7
Damage block	8
Collision size	24
Legs	2
Gib type	Default

Hero

Strategy

Counters

Mogul Khan, the Axe, is a melee strength hero, infamous for creating chaos in battle and thriving off of it.

Axe is commonly played as an initiator, as his potent disables can disrupt the enemy's formation and give his team openings in fights. Axe's fighting style demands that he gets up close and very personal, as he can taunt enemies into attacking him with Berserker's Call, preventing them from engaging his teammates and granting him a huge amount of bonus armor. Once he has the enemy's attention, he can counter those who strike him with a sweeping Counter Helix that slashes all enemies at melee range with pure damage. He also has a slow and damage-over-time nuke in Battle Hunger, which can harass the enemy or force them to join in battle, while also slowing their movement speed and boosting his own. Finally, he has the ability to unconditionally remove weakened enemies from the battlefield if they are under a certain threshold with Culling Blade, while simultaneously boosting his allies' speed. A bloodthirsty and indomitable warrior, Axe's presence on the battlefield is felt by friend and foe alike, dominating the attention of the enemy wherever he goes.

Bio[edit]

Mogul Khan, the Axe

▶️ "Axe is all the reinforcement this army needs!"

Lore:

As a grunt in the Army of Red Mist, Mogul Khan set his sights on the rank of Red Mist General. In battle after battle he proved his worth through gory deed. His rise through the ranks was helped by the fact that he never hesitated to decapitate a superior. Through the seven year Campaign of the Thousand Tarns, he distinguished himself in glorious carnage, his star of fame shining ever brighter, while the number of comrades in arms steadily dwindled. On the night of ultimate victory, Axe declared himself the new Red Mist General, and took on the ultimate title of 'Axe.' But his troops now numbered zero. Of course, many had died in battle, but a significant number had also fallen to Axe's blade. Needless to say, most soldiers now shun his leadership. But this matters not a whit to Axe, who knows that a one-man army is by far the best.

Voice:

Jon St. John (Responses)

Abilities[edit]

Berserker's Call

▶️

Ability
No Target

Affects
Enemies / Self

Axe taunts nearby enemy units, forcing them to attack him, while he gains bonus armor during the duration.

Cast Animation: +

Radius: 300 (

400)

Armor Bonus: 30

Duration: 2/2.4/2.8/3.2

16/14/12/10

80/90/100/110

Modifiers

Berserkers Call Armor: Undispellable.

Berserkers Call: Undispellable.

Mogul Khan's warcry taunts opponents into engaging in an unconquerable battle with the Axe.

Notes:

Affected units are taunted, so they ignore all given commands and are forced to attack Axe for its duration. They are not muted or silenced, thus active attack modifiers still apply.
- Units attempt to follow and attack Axe regardless of distance, vision, obstacles, or status.
- Affected units are still subject to disables and do not gain free pathing.

If Axe turns invisible during the taunt, affected enemies start attacking the next closest enemy to them.
- If no enemies are nearby, affected units stand still. While standing still, they can be given one order which they then execute. This order cannot be manually canceled.
- This can be any order, including casting of an ability or item, or a move or attack order.
- After that order, the unit cannot do anything and stands still until the taunt expires. However, if Axe turns visible again, affected units start attacking him again.

The taunt has the same priority as Winter's Curse, but lower priority than Duel.
- Same priority means that affected units attack the first taunt source, and switch to the other source once the first one expires.
- Taunts generally have a higher priority than Fear, however, Fear prevents the unit from attacking while taunted.

Affects invisible units and units in the Fog of War. Does not affect towers, wards, invulnerable or hidden units.

Re-casting on a unit under the taunt effect of Berserker's Call refreshes the duration.

When Axe dies, the taunt ends immediately.

Does not affect lane creeps from the very first creep wave that spawns, until they meet the opposing creeps in the lane.

Battle Hunger

▶️

Ability
Target Unit
(

Target Area)

Affects
Enemies / Self

Damage
Magical

Enrages an enemy unit, causing it to be slowed and take damage over time until it kills another unit or the duration ends. Axe gains movement speed for each unit affected with Battle Hunger, half speed from creeps.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 750

Radius: 0 (

400)

Damage per Second: 16/24/32/40 (

136/144/152/160)

Move Speed Slow: 12%

Self Move Speed Bonus: 12%

Enemy Damage Reduction: 0% (

30%)

Duration: 12

20/15/10/5

50/60/70/80

Causes Battle Hunger to be an area of effect ability, and reduces the damage output of affected enemy units.

Slow persists, and attempts to damage if debuff was placed before spell immunity and when not dispelled.

Not blocked when upgraded with Aghanim's Scepter.

Modifiers

Battle Hunger Self: Undispellable.

Battle Hunger: Dispellable with any dispel.

Ordinary heroes cannot withstand Mogul Khan's rage for battle, such that it injures them until it is satisfied.

Notes:

Axe is granted 12% movement speed for every affected enemy hero. This effect stacks.
- Every affected non-hero unit grants half the speed value. Treats creep-heroes as creeps.

Casting Battle Hunger multiple times on the same target does not stack, but refreshes the duration instead.

Denying an ally or destroying buildings or wards also removes the debuff.

Using Devour, Demonic Conversion, or Hand of Midas also removes the debuff.

Killing illusions does not remove the debuff.

The affected unit itself has to make the kill to remove the debuff. Summons or illusions owned by the same player do not remove it when they make a kill.

Deals damage based on the level upon cast of the ability. Leveling up Battle Hunger does not update the damage of already placed debuffs.
- However, choosing the damage upgrading talent immediately upgrades all of Axe's currently active Battle Hunger debuffs.

Deals damage in 1 second intervals, starting 1 second after the debuff is placed, resulting in 12 instances.

Can deal up to 192/288/384/480 ( 1632/1728/1824/1920) damage (before reductions) when lasting its full duration.

When upgraded, directly reduces any damage debuffed enemies deal. This includes damage from spells.

Aghanim's Scepter turns Battle Hunger into a ground-targeted spell, so no primary target is required.
- As a ground-targeted spell, it can debuff invisible enemies, and enemies inside the fog of war.

Choosing the damage upgrading talent immediately upgrades all of Axe's currently active Battle Hunger debuffs.

Counter Helix

▶️

Ability
Passive

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Pure

When attacked, Axe has a chance to perform a helix counter attack, dealing pure damage to all nearby enemies.

Radius: 275

Proc Chance: 17%/18%/19%/20%

Damage: 60/100/140/180

0.3

Axe illusions have a fully functional Counter Helix.

Axe is the only reinforcement this army needs.

Notes:

Can only proc when an enemy unit lands an attack on Axe, regardless of distance. This means it cannot proc on missed attacks.

Secondary attacks from Moon Glaives, Death Ward, Split Shot and Flak Cannon cannot trigger Counter Helix.

Can proc on the secondary attacks from other instant attacks.

Cannot proc on attacks from buildings, wards and allies.

Despite the visual effects, the damage is applied instantly within the radius.

Counter Helix uses pseudo-random distribution.

Counter Helix does not use a regular cooldown. It is neither displayed on the ability icon when proccing, nor is it affected by cooldown manipulating effects.

When the talent is chosen, the proc chance and cooldown are shared between the procs upon getting attacked and upon attacking.

Culling Blade

▶️

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Enemies / Allies

Damage
Magical / Instant Kill

Axe spots a weakness and strikes, instantly killing an enemy unit with low health, or dealing moderate damage otherwise. When an enemy hero is killed with Culling Blade, its cooldown is reset, and Axe and nearby allied units gain bonus movement speed.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 150

Kill Speed Bonus Radius: 900

Damage: 150/250/300

Kill Health Threshold: 250/325/400

Kill Move Speed Bonus: 30%

Kill Attack Speed Bonus: 30

Kill Bonus Duration: 6

75/65/55

60/120/180

Modifiers

Culling Blade Boost: Dispellable with any dispel.

Mogul Khan is the embodiment of battle and fury, launching into a gruesome fatality against those who dare engage the Axe in combat.

Notes:

When the target's health is above the threshold, it only applies its regular damage (magical) and plays a different sound.
- Even when the target dies to the regular damage (possible with damage amplifications), the other effects of Culling Blade are not applied.

When the target's health is below the threshold, it does the following:
- It deals damage to the target equal to the health threshold value, in the form of pure damage (flagged as HP Removal).
- It applies the speed bonus to Axe and nearby allies.
- If the target was a hero, clone or illusion, its cooldown gets reset.

The target's health is checked upon reaching the cast point, so if it gained health during that time so it exceeds the health threshold, the cull fails.

Culling Blade is able to kill targets affected by Shallow Grave, False Promise, Borrowed Time and Battle Trance but not Wraith Delay.

Talents[edit]

Hero Talents
+120 Battle Hunger DPS	25	+100 Berserker's Call AoE
Attacking Procs Counter Helix	20	+25 Health Regen
+30 Movement Speed	15	+3 Mana Regen
+40 Attack Speed	10	+8 Strength

Notes:

The strength talent effectively grants Axe 160 health, 0.8 health regen, 0.64% magic resistance and 8 attack damage.

Recent Changes[edit]

Main Article: Axe/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.24

Increased movement speed from 305 to 310.
Increased strength gain from 3.4 to 3.6.

7.23

Counter Helix
- Reduced cooldown from 0.45/0.4/0.35/0.3 to 0.3 on each level.
- Reduced proc chance from 20% on each level to 17%/18%/19%/20%.

7.22c

Increased movement speed from 295 to 305.

Recommended items[edit]

Starting items:

Buckler gives Axe much more survivability in lane with the bonus attributes and allows him to be much more tanky earlier than usual.
Tango's is a great item, needed for every hero to regenerate health and allow the ability to trade in lane.

OR

Healing Salve is going to be needed no matter which starting build you decide, as Axe is very good with trading until very low health and retreating, giving you a very big edge on heroes who don't buy one.
Tango's is a great source of slow regeneration and is needed no matter what build you are going for.
Quelling Blade is excellent starting damage to use for last hitting creep and will make your jungling faster, now that it's only 150 gold and there's no side shop, it's perfectly reasonable to start with it.
Iron Branch builds into a Magic Wand which you will want at some point in the early stages of the game, as Axe likes to be in the thick of things.

OTHERS TO CONSIDER Ring of Protection boosts survivability which Axe lacks for the majority of the game outside of Beserkers Call. Against physical damage this item is very good but can no longer be purchased at the side shop, also goes into Buckler, a very common starting item.

Early game:

Bracer should be considered as a small item as it allows Axe to gain some magic resistance and additional health. It's especially useful when you are ahead and doing well, as it buffs your strength.
Phase Boots is the best boosts choice as it allows Axe to run faster, mxied with Battle Hunger makes it very hard to escape or catch up to him.
Tranquil Boots provide Axe with movement speed and passive health regeneration outside of combat. It is one of two options for Axe early for increasing his mobility for early initiations, and providing a source of HP regen to allow him to remain on the field instead of returning to base.
Magic Wand allows Axe to gain burst health and mana while in the middle of fights, where he excels at most.

Mid game:

Blink Dagger is the most important item for Axe as it allows him to initiate and counter-initiate for his team. Axe is definitely one of the most scary heroes in the game with this item.
Blade Mail provides many strong benefits for Axe. The stats are amazing and the active gives a real punishment for any hard hitting hero caught within your Berserkers Call. All in all, just very good synergy for Axe and an item you will want the majority of games.
Town Portal Scroll is necessary for allowing Axe to be present at teamfights and ganks. His powers as an initiator can set up fights decisively for his team.

Late game:

Shadow Blade is very good for evading enemies and getting to the targets you want to blink to without being detected. Alternatively, it could be used for escaping if a gank or a teamfight does go wrong.
Black King Bar can be a necessary purchase if he is facing a very disable-heavy lineup. Because he jumps right into the middle of the enemy to initiate, he is a prime target for focusing down with magic nukes and stuns, so having spell immunity can allow him to do more in fights and get more uses of Berserker's Call of.
Force Staff gives Axe many strong benefits and is a powerful utility item to carry. The increased intelligence gives Axe a larger mana pool, while the passive health regeneration helps to keep Axe's health topped up. The active is excellent as Axe does not have a good way to disengage from fights very well. As well, using the active on himself after a successful Blink-Call can allow Axe to quickly kite enemies away, forcing them to follow him during the taunt.

Most games you will want one of these:

Crimson Guard, upgraded from Vanguard, is a strong utility item that provides Axe with even more survivability against physical damage. The extra armor and attributes on top of the existing damage block and bonus HP can make him extremely tanky, and he can augment it even more and protect his allies with the active.
Pipe of Insight allows Axe to initiate without fear of hard magical damage and allows him to march on the front lines and support his team against said magical damage.

Situational items:

Vanguard gives Axe even more survivability against physical damage by giving him increased damage block, more HP and HP regen. This item excels against physical damage dealers and allows unlimited jungling, but Axe should not be played primarily as a jungler.
Urn of Shadows is a good ganking item early game that gives Axe many benefits. The extra strength increases Axe's HP and base damage, and the passive mana regen helps with his mana problems. This should usually be gotten by a teammate however.
Lotus Orb is a strong initiator item that allows Axe to punish enemies for targeting him with disables. The item provides armor and more regeneration, making him more tanky and allowing him to replenish his mana over time. The active, used during an initiation, can punish enemies who target Axe with single-target disables and nukes, disabling and nuking them in turn to cause more chaos for Axe's team to capitalize on.
Heart of Tarrasque greatly increases Axe's health and provides base damage, giving him much more power as an initiator, since he can continue disabling the enemy during fights so long as he is alive. As well, if he manages to survive fights and escape, he can quickly regenerate his HP and jump straight back into battle.
Shiva's Guard drastically boosts Axe's intelligence and armor, giving him yet more survivability against physical damage while also eliminating his mana problems. The attack speed slow aura can greatly hinder the enemy from making physical attacks during fights, while the active can be used as a damage nuke and a slow to hinder their mobility.
Boots of Travel gives Axe additional battlefield and global mobility. The global teleport allows Axe to show up to fights to initiate for his team more easily, while the increased movement speed allows him to be more mobile on the battlefield, chasing enemies down and inflicting them with Battle Hunger to slow them.
Assault Cuirass is a strong teamfight item that greatly increases Axe's armor and attack speed. The armor provides yet more resistance against physical damage, and the attack speed allows Axe to become much more threatening with his right-clicks. The allied armor and attack speed aura is a strong edge in teamfights.
Heaven's Halberd is a strong survivability and utility item that can help Axe if the enemy's physical damage output is more than he can handle. The additional strength and evasion give him more health and survivability against physical attacks, respectively, and the active disarm allows Axe to completely stop an enemy from attacking.
Mjollnir is a strong purchase on Axe given his role as a close-range initiator. The item gives him greatly increased attack speed, making his physical attacks much more dangerous, and allows him to bounce Chain Lightning procs during fights to deal magical damage all around to the enemy. The Static Charge active can also be placed on Axe himself right before initiation, further punishing the enemy for attacking him during Berserker's Call.

Gameplay[edit]


Roles:	Initiator Durable Disabler Jungler
Complexity:	★☆☆
Playstyle:	One by one the soldiers of the Red Mist fell, some in battle, others to Moghul Khan's ambitions, until the self-declared general found himself a commander without troops. No matter, Axe thought. For a one-man army is the best army of all. Leaping into battle, Moghul Khan compels nearby foes to attack him with a taunting Berserker's Call. Absorbing blows from every direction, Axe reacts by swinging his axe full circle in a Counter Helix, easily dispatching the swarm he had gathered. But alas, not all stay long enough to meet their end. The few limping away from Moghul Khan feel an inexplicable Battle Hunger, a hunger that is never sated before Axe sends them to an early grave with Culling Blade.

Strategy & Tips

Counters &
Matchups

Audio[edit]

Responses

Sounds

History[edit]

Lore

Old Abilities

Changelogs

Equipment[edit]

Trivia[edit]

Axe's alternate/fun name was "Mogul Kahnt Touch This", a reference to MC Hammer's famous song U Can't Touch This.
Axe, Disruptor, and Warlock are all related as they come from the Oglodi tribe.
Axe's phrase ▶️ "Better red than dead!" is a reversed reference to an American Cold War slogan stating "Better dead than Red".
Several of Axe's deny and Culling Blade killing blow responses (such as ▶️ "You get nothing. Good day, sir!") are references to Willy Wonka's infamous rage scene in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.^[1]
Axe's name, lore and "one-man army" image may have been inspired by Khan Noonien Singh in the Star Trek series, who was also described as a "one-man army" and killed uncooperative subordinates (along with used-to wearing a red shirt).
Axe was the mascot of Dota 2, featuring only himself in several Dota 2 pages and game arts. This was removed in November 2013 for unknown reasons.
In The Lab, a VR game by Valve, there are some Bendies who wield Axe's war axe, along with other Dota 2 weapons like a Stout Shield, Huskar's spear and Legion Commander's sword.