Drow Ranger
From Dota 2 Wiki
For the race in Dota 2 lore, see Drow.
| Hero | Strategy | Counters | Equipment | Gear | Responses | Sounds | Lore | Old Abilities | Changelogs | Known Bugs |
Drow Ranger
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Traxex the Drow Ranger is a ranged agility hero whose greatest assets are her incredible damage and ability to keep threats at bay. Traxex is a carry who, though lacking survivability, provides a worthwhile contribution through her damage alone. The Drow Ranger can be extremely powerful at any point in the game.
As an agility hero, Traxex's damage is based largely on her basic attacks and is among the greatest largely due to the massive amounts of agility she gains from her passive ultimate, Marksmanship. The Drow Ranger also adds ranged damage to teammates with her global Precision Aura. Despite her lack of escape spells, Drow Ranger can keep herself relatively safe from enemy spellcasters and melee heroes using her Gust and her Frost Arrows, respectively. Frost Arrows infuses her attacks with ice, greatly slowing down her enemies. Since it can be manually cast, Frost Arrows can be used to harass her foes in the early game without drawing the creeps' attention. Gust is a great counter to enemy spellcasters as well as melee heroes as Gust pushes heroes away from Drow and prevents them from casting spells, who might threaten her life in battles. Position is of utmost importance as Traxex is quite vulnerable in close combat and the agility bonus from Marksmanship is removed when enemies come near her. This means she struggles against melee heroes with high mobility.
Contents
Bio[edit]
 Traxex, the Drow Ranger
| |
| Play "I walk alone, but the shadows are company enough." | |
| Role: |  Carry /  Disabler /  Pusher
|
| Lore: | Drow Ranger's given name is Traxex--a name well suited to the short, trollish, rather repulsive Drow people. But Traxex herself is not a Drow. Her parents were travelers in a caravan set upon by bandits, whose noisy slaughter of innocents roused the ire of the quiet Drow people. After the battle settled, the Drow discovered a small girl-child hiding in the ruined wagons, and agreed she could not be abandoned. Even as child, Traxex showed herself naturally adept at the arts they prized: Stealth, silence, subtlety. In spirit, if not in physique, she might have been a Drow changeling, returned to her proper home. But as she grew, she towered above her family and came to think of herself as ugly. After all, her features were smooth and symmetrical, entirely devoid of warts and coarse whiskers. Estranged from her adopted tribe, she withdrew to live alone in the woods. Lost travelers who find their way from the forest sometimes speak of an impossibly beautiful Ranger who peered at them from deep among the trees, then vanished like a dream before they could approach. Lithe and stealthy, icy hot, she moves like mist in silence. That whispering you hear is her frozen arrows finding an enemy's heart. |
| Voice: | Gin Hammond (Responses) |
Abilities[edit]
Frost Arrows
Affects
Enemies
Enemies
Adds a freezing effect to Drow's attacks, slowing enemy movement. Lasts 1.5 seconds on Heroes, and 7 seconds on creeps.
Cast Range: 625
Move Speed Slow: 16%/32%/48%/64%
Hero Slow Duration: 1.5
Non-Hero Slow Duration: 7
0
12
Slow persists if debuff was placed before spell immunity and when not dispelled.Modifiers
Frost Arrows Slow: Dispellable with any dispel.Ice-encased arrows pierce the silence, chilling their victims to the core.
Notes:
- Frost Arrows can be disjointed.
- The slow from successive casts does not stack, only the duration gets refreshed.
- Treats creep-heroes as heroes.
Gust
Ability
Target Point
Target Point
Affects
Enemies
Enemies
Releases a wave that silences and knocks back enemy units. Knockback distance is relative to how close they are to you.
Cast Animation: 0.25+0.6
Cast Range: 900 (
1300)
1300)Travel Distance: 900 ( 1300)
1300)Effect Radius: 250
Max Knockback Distance: 350 ( 750)
750)Knockback Duration: 0.6/0.7/0.8/0.9
Silence Duration: 3/4/5/6
16/ 90
Knockback and silence persist if debuff was placed before spell immunity and when not dispelled.Modifiers
Wave Of Silence Knockback: Dispellable with any dispel. Silence: Dispellable with any dispel.Traxex is rather fond of the tranquility of physical combat, calling on her Drow heritage to end the incantations of opposing magi.
Notes:
- The wave travels at a speed of 2000, reaching max distance in 0.45 ( 0.65) seconds.
- Reaches up to 1150 ( 1550) range away (travel distance + effect radius).
- The knockback distance is based on the distance between Drow Ranger and the hit enemy. The closer they are, the further they get knocked back.
- The knockback is strongest when the distance between Drow Ranger and the enemy is 1 range, pushing the enemy 350 ( 750) range away.
- Each additional range of distance between them affects the knockback's distance, reducing it by 0.39 ( 0.58).
- However, the knockback values are truncated, so that the knockback distance decreases by 1 for every 2–3 ( 1–2) range between Drow and the enemy.
- Due to this, the minimum knockback distance is 1 range.
- When standing at the exact same location as Drow Ranger, no knockback occurs, since the formula than multiplies by 0, which results in 0 knockback.
- The knockback is strongest when the distance between Drow Ranger and the enemy is 1 range, pushing the enemy 350 (
- Since the knockback distances are the same on each level, and the knockback duration increases per level, the knockback speed gets lower on each level.
- Therefore, the maximum knockback speed is 583.33/500/437.5/388.89 ( 1250/1071.43/937.5/833.33), while the minimum speed is 1.67/1.43/1.25/1.11.
- Therefore, the maximum knockback speed is 583.33/500/437.5/388.89 (
- Can push units over impassable terrain. Any tree a knocked back unit collides with gets destroyed.
- Units are not disabled during the knockback. They can still turn, attack and use items. Channeling items are not interrupted.
- Does not affect
Roshan.
Precision Aura
E
T
Cast Animation: 0+0
Radius: Global
Agility as Ranged Attack Damage Bonus: 20%/26%/32%/38% ( 26%/32%/38%/44%)
26%/32%/38%/44%)Active Duration: 30
100 Still disabled when the active component is used.Modifiers
Trueshot Aura: Undispellable. Trueshot Global: Undispellable.Traxex' time spent alone in the forests of her Drow home has allowed her to teach other archers how to improve their bow skills.
Notes:
- Interrupts Drow Ranger's channeling spells upon cast.
- Checks Drow Ranger's agility periodically and adapts the bonus damage instantly.
- Activating Precision Aura does not place a buff on lane creeps and summons, it instead makes the aura affect them as well.
- This means that creeps summoned or spawned after the activation still get the bonus for the remaining duration.
- Active aura persist through Drow Ranger's death, however, it does not provide the bonus during her death.
- This means when reincarnating with
Aegis of the Immortal, or buying back, the aura is bestowed for its remaining duration.
- This means when reincarnating with
- The buff lingers for 0.5 seconds. This goes for both, the passive aura for heroes and the active aura for creeps.
- Treats creep-heroes as creeps, so they are only affected when activating the aura.
Marksmanship 
R
P
Ability
Passive
Passive
Affects
Self
(
Enemies)
Self
(
Enemies)Drow's experiences in battle improve her accuracy and effectiveness in combat, providing a passive bonus to Agility. Grants no bonus if there are enemy heroes within 400 range.
Enemy Hero Search Radius: 400
Agility Bonus: 40/60/80 ( 65/85/105)
65/85/105)Splinter Search Radius: 0 ( 375)
375)Max Splinter Targets: 0 ( 2)
2)Splinter Damage Reduction: 0 ( 50%)
50%)
Causes Drow Ranger's attacks to splinter on the target, hitting nearby units with normal attacks that deal reduced damage. Particle effects still react on enemy proximity. Splintering arrows are not disabled and fully work.Modifiers
Marksmanship: Undispellable. Marksmanship Reduction: Undispellable.The Drow Ranger is the epitome of archery prowess.
Notes:
- An icy particle effect is visible on Drow Ranger while Marksmanship is active.
- Checks for nearby enemy heroes (including invulnerable or hidden ones) in 0.1 second intervals and adapts the bonus accordingly.
- Does not react on the presence of illusions and creep-heroes.
- Effectively gives Drow Ranger 5.71/8.57/11.43 ( 9.29/12.14/15) armor and 40/60/80 ( 65/85/105) attack speed as well as attack damage.
- This is how much extra damage
Precision Aura grants in conjunction with Marksmanship's agility bonus: [?]
- Marksmanship Level 1: 8/10.4/12.8/15.2 // 10.4/12.8/15.2/17.6 ( 13/16.9/20.8/24.7 // 16.9/20.8/24.7/28.6)
- Marksmanship Level 2: 12/15.6/19.2/22.8 // 15.6/19.2/22.8/26.4 ( 17/22.1/27.2/32.3 // 22.1/27.2/32.3/37.4)
- Marksmanship Level 3: 16/20.8/25.6/30.4 // 20.8/25.6/30.4/35.2 ( 21/27.3/33.6/39.9 // 27.3/33.6/39.9/46.2)
- Marksmanship Level 1: 8/10.4/12.8/15.2 // 10.4/12.8/15.2/17.6 (
- The
Aghanim's Scepter upgrade requires Marksmanship to be learned and causes Drow Ranger to perform instant attacks on 2 random enemies around the primary target.
- This means the splinters are regular attacks, using Drow Ranger's 1250 projectile speed and being disjointable.
- It also means that they can proc any attack modifier or any on-hit effect like a regular attack.
- The splinters are only released if the primary attack successfully hits a target. This means missed or disjointed attacks do not release any splinters.
- If Drow Ranger is blinded, the splinters can miss, unless she has True Strike. They can also miss to evasion.
- The splinters originate from the primary target's location, not Drow Ranger's location.
- Since the splinters are independent attacks, their damage does not depend on how much damage the primary target took.
- The damage penalty only applies to the attack damage and any bonuses. Damage dealt in separate instances is unaffected (e.g.
Maelstrom procs).
- When using
Frost Arrows manually, then the resulting splinters apply the slow as well.
- However, when using autocast, the splinters only apply it when having it on autocast as the splinters hit their target.
- Either way (be it manually used, or via autocast), it drains mana upon hitting the target, and not upon splintering.
- Therefore, it only drains mana upon successfully hitting the splinter targets. Missed attacks do not drain mana.
- The splinter arrows do not target couriers, buildings and wards as splinter targets, but can splinter off of them to nearby valid targets.
- They also completely ignore invisible, invulnerable and hidden units, as well as units in the Fog of War.
Talents[edit]
| Hero Talents | ||
|---|---|---|
+25  Marksmanship Agility
|
25 | +400  Gust Distance/Knockback
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+14  Strength
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20 | +6% Precision Aura Damage
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| +20 Attack Speed | 15 | +175 Health |
| +5 All Stats | 10 | +15 Movement Speed |
Notes:
- Upgrading health increases maximum health capacity and keeps the current health percentage.
Recommended items[edit]
Starting Items:
-
Healing Salve gives Drow Ranger a massive boost of health regeneration in one go. -
Tangos help providing Drow Ranger with health regeneration in the early game. -
Slippers of Agility provide a boost to Drow Ranger's primary attribute: agility; allowing for easier last hitting and more damage when attacking enemy heroes. -
Iron Branches provide a boost to all of Drow Ranger's attributes, which can be helpful in the lane.
Early-game:
-
Boots of Speed give Drow Ranger a speed boost which can be helpful for getting around. -
Magic Stick can be a good idea to pick up if the enemy is using a lot of spells, meaning Drow Ranger can use the stick charges in emergency. -
Ring of Aquila provides Drow Ranger with bonus attributes which can be helpful in the early game. It can be sold in the late game.
Core:
-
Tome of Knowledge helps Drow Ranger reach the crucial levels for her ultimate. -
Magic Wand can be a good idea to upgrade to from the 
Magic Stick to take further advantage of enemy spell casting, in case of emergency. -
Power Treads provide Drow Ranger with attack speed and additional attributes. -
Morbid Mask's lifesteal keeps Drow Ranger on the field, allowing her to farm continuously. -
Dragon Lance provides useful stats for a highly cost effective price, and the increased range allows Drow Ranger to easily achieve good positioning. It also lets her outrange towers, letting her destroy them without much risk.
Situational:
-
Shadow Blade provides an escape for Drow Ranger, who does not have a built in escape. It also provides some useful attack speed and damage. -
Silver Edge is a natural next step to 
Shadow Blade, and can be very effective in ganking. -
Helm of the Dominator provides good cheap stats and can also take control of creeps. -
Aghanim's Scepter gives her some stats and is good item in the mid/late game against illusions/push strategies, especially with 
Mjollnir. -
Butterfly provides ever-useful agility for Drow Ranger. It is usually picked up to help Drow Ranger defend against efficient backline attackers. -
Diffusal Blade is overall good item for agility carry and especially for Drow Ranger due to her passive. -
Monkey King Bar provides an excellent damage and attack speed boost, as well as a counter against evasion heroes. However, it has no defensive boosts, and makes Drow Ranger into even more of a glass cannon. -
Mask of Madness is a good source of lifesteal, and is useful for farming. It also provides a nice boost to Drow Ranger's attack and movement speed. -
Daedalus provides Drow Ranger with a critical strike chance, which synergizes well with the attack speed and damage she gets from her abilities, maximizing her DPS. -
Black King Bar is important if Drow Ranger is facing a team with many disables, giving her enough time to deal at least some damage. -
Satanic provides Drow Ranger with a huge amount of lifesteal for a short period of time, allowing Drow Ranger to stand her ground and regain practically all of her health with just a few shots. -
Hurricane Pike builds naturally from 
Dragon Lance, and is very useful in keeping distance between Drow Ranger and her enemies. -
Manta Style provides Drow Ranger with mobility, stats, the ability to disjoint projectiles and create illusions of herself. Because her illusions benefit from Marksmanship, Manta Style provides Drow Ranger with a large damage increase, especially when sieging buildings. -
Eye of Skadi gives a decent stats boost, and stacks with Frost Arrows, slowing the enemy further.
Gameplay[edit]
Audio[edit]
History[edit]
Equipment[edit]
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Trivia[edit]
- Traxex's original design was slightly different from the one now; aside from the same hood, her white hair was not present, and her eyes were completely white. Her outfit was also slightly more revealing.
- From her transition to Dota2, the name of her aura changed from "Trueshot Aura" to "Precision Aura".
- Drow Ranger's response "I quiver with anticipation." references a line in The Rocky Horror Picture Show "I see you shiver with anticipation."
Gallery[edit]
Drow Ranger's original artwork
Old face textures, with tattoos
Concept art
Concept art
Concept art
Ability icon progress
Hero icon progress
References[edit]
