Linken's Sphere

Item

 

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Old Abilities

 

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Linken's Sphere
This magical sphere once protected one of the most famous heroes in history.
Cost 4600 (900) Bought From Armor
Active Transfer Spellblock Passive [?] Spellblock Bonus [?] +14 Strength +14 Agility +14 Intelligence +7 Health regeneration +5 Mana regeneration Disassemble? No Alert allies? No Recipe

Linken's Sphere is an item purchasable at the Main Shop, under Armor. However, it can only be completed with items from the Secret Shop.

Additional information

• For strength heroes, it grants 280 health, 8.4 health regen, 2.33 armor, 14 attack speed, 168 mana, 5.7 mana regen and 14 attack damage.
• For agility heroes, it grants 280 health, 8.4 health regen, 2.33 armor, 14 attack speed, 168 mana, 5.7 mana regen and 14 attack damage.
• For intelligence heroes, it grants 280 health, 8.4 health regen, 2.33 armor, 14 attack speed, 168 mana, 5.7 mana regen and 14 attack damage.

Abilities

Spellblock

▶️

Ability
Passive

Affects
Self

Blocks most targeted spells once every 12 seconds.

12

Notes:

• Does not block spells cast by allies.

• Does not block Ion Shell, Toss, and Snowball.

• Does not block Urn of Shadows, Spirit Vessel, Medallion of Courage, and Solar Crest.

• For a list of blocked spells, see Spell Block.

Transfer Spellblock

▶️

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Allied Heroes

Temporarily removes Spellblock from the item's owner and transfers it to an allied unit for 12 seconds.

Cast Range: 700

Buff Duration: 12

12

The buff can be transfered to illusions, however it does not block a spell for them.

Modifiers

modifier_item_sphere_target: Dispellable with death only.

Notes:

• Cannot be cast on self.

• Multiple instances of the buff work fully independently from each other.
  • This means it is possible to cast two instances on the same allied hero, and each buff can block one spell.
  • This also means that when an ally places the Linken's buff on a hero that has its own Linken's Sphere, both can block a spell. The allied buff is used up first in this case.

• Puts Linken's Sphere on cooldown upon transferring the buff. During this period, it does not block spells on the owner.

• Goes into cooldown once again when the buff blocks a spell on the targeted allied hero.

• Does not go into cooldown when the buff did not block a spell and expired.

• Can be cast on creep-heroes.

Blocked abilities

Main Article: Spell Block

Recommended heroes

Core: Morphling, Weaver, Medusa

Situational: Ancient Apparition, Gyrocopter, Ember Spirit, Storm Spirit, Nyx Assassin, Mirana, Clinkz, Lina, Luna, Naga Siren, Underlord, Queen of Pain

Tips

• Although Heroes that solely have single-target abilities (like Bane and Lion) seem like they would be rendered harmless with Linken's, this actually means they would be able to bypass the Spell Block much more easily than Heroes with only one single-target spell (like Lina or Wraith King), as Linken's Sphere only blocks one spell at a time.
• As such, when facing against an enemy with Linken's Sphere, it's best to use a cheap, spammable spell like Stifling Dagger or Fade Bolt to put the item on cooldown so that you or an ally can then use more powerful spells like Reaper's Scythe or Doom.
• It is wise to place the Spell Block buff on your allied initiator or carry to prevent them from being disabled immediately when charging into the enemy team.
• It is good to purchase this item on Heroes that use invisibility or are going to buy items that grant it, as the Spell Block can prevent some spells, such as Corrosive Haze, from revealing the Hero. If the enemy lacks any detection but has strong burst damage, the Spell Block may also prevent some disables or ultimates from locking and bursting down your Hero before your fade time, or at least give you a warning that you are about to be targeted.
• This item can be useful on heroes with quick escape options such as Weaver, Ember Spirit, Clinkz or Storm Spirit, as Linken's Sphere can easily make you almost immune to enemy ganks by blocking any enemy's spell - protecting you from a potential disable and also giving you an early warning that the enemy is coming, allowing you to make your escape.
• Projectile-based spells are always blocked upon impact. This makes them easier to blocked for an ally, than spells with instant effect, because the Spellblock buff can be placed on the targeted ally before the projectile hits.
• Linken's Sphere is a good combination with Black King Bar, because it can force enemy hero to cast his most powerful singe-targeted ability on you. However, spending two inventory slots on defensive items means less room for damage and utility items, so think before you buy.

Items Synergy

• Shadow Blade: will make you hard to gank with the Linken protecting you from being disabled. It can also be used to initiate.
  • Force Staff and Blink Dagger : give good mobility too.

Counter Items

• Force Staff: it is the cheapest item able to disable a Linken's Sphere.
• Diffusal Blade: it is not as cheap as force staff, but is useful to disable a Linken's Sphere.
• Rod of Atos: it is not as cheap as force staff, but its active has the longest casting range of all the items who can disable Linkens's Sphere, which allows its wearer to disable Linken's Sphere from afar
• Skull Basher: Linken's Sphere doesn't protect from bashes.
• Abyssal Blade: Though expensive, can disable a Linken's Sphere through Spell Immunity.
• Heaven's Halberd: Situational, but it can also disable Linken's Sphere.
• Clumsy Net: Because Clumsy Net appears early on, it can be useful on disabling an enemy Linken's Sphere.

Trivia

• Linken's Sphere bears a strong resemblance to the item Nayru's Love originally from 'The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time', which protects Link from damage at the cost of magic power.
• Linken's Sphere is named after Linken, a character from World of Warcraft, who is in turn named after Link, the protagonist of the Legend of Zelda franchise.
• As Linken's Sphere was originally created, it was named "Linken's Mirror". Its ability was Spell Mirror, which was basically a chance-based Echo Shell from Lotus Orb. The item was reworked into the present version in 6.09.

Gallery

• 

  Blocking a spell

• 

  Transferring Spellblock

Items Basics Consumables Town Portal Scroll Clarity Faerie Fire Smoke of Deceit Observer Ward Sentry Ward Enchanted Mango Healing Salve Tango Tome of Knowledge Dust of Appearance Bottle Attributes Iron Branch Gauntlets of Strength Slippers of Agility Mantle of Intelligence Circlet Belt of Strength Band of Elvenskin Robe of the Magi Crown Ogre Axe Blade of Alacrity Staff of Wizardry Armaments Ring of Protection Quelling Blade Infused Raindrops Orb of Venom Blight Stone Blades of Attack Gloves of Haste Chainmail Quarterstaff Helm of Iron Will Broadsword Blitz Knuckles Javelin Claymore Mithril Hammer Arcane Magic Stick Wind Lace Ring of Regen Sage's Mask Boots of Speed Cloak Ring of Tarrasque Gem of True Sight Morbid Mask Voodoo Mask Shadow Amulet Ghost Scepter Blink Dagger Upgrades Common Magic Wand Null Talisman Wraith Band Bracer Soul Ring Power Treads Phase Boots Oblivion Staff Perseverance Mask of Madness Helm of the Dominator Hand of Midas Boots of Travel Moon Shard Support Ring of Basilius Headdress Buckler Urn of Shadows Tranquil Boots Medallion of Courage Arcane Boots Drum of Endurance Vladmir's Offering Mekansm Holy Locket Spirit Vessel Pipe of Insight Guardian Greaves Caster Glimmer Cape Veil of Discord Force Staff Aether Lens Necronomicon Dagon Eul's Scepter of Divinity Rod of Atos Solar Crest Orchid Malevolence Aghanim's Scepter Aghanim's Blessing Nullifier Refresher Orb Scythe of Vyse Octarine Core Armor Hood of Defiance Vanguard Blade Mail Soul Booster Aeon Disk Crimson Guard Lotus Orb Black King Bar Hurricane Pike Shiva's Guard Manta Style Bloodstone Linken's Sphere Heart of Tarrasque Assault Cuirass Weapons Crystalys Armlet of Mordiggian Meteor Hammer Shadow Blade Skull Basher Monkey King Bar Battle Fury Ethereal Blade Radiance Daedalus Butterfly Silver Edge Divine Rapier Abyssal Blade Bloodthorn Artifacts Dragon Lance Sange Yasha Kaya Echo Sabre Maelstrom Diffusal Blade Heaven's Halberd Desolator Kaya and Sange Sange and Yasha Yasha and Kaya Satanic Eye of Skadi Mjollnir Neutral Tier 1 Arcane Ring Broom Handle Faded Broach Iron Talon Ironwood Tree Keen Optic Mango Tree Ocean Heart Poor Man's Shield Royal Jelly Trusty Shovel Tier 2 Clumsy Net Dragon Scale Essence Ring Grove Bow Imp Claw Nether Shawl Philosopher's Stone Pupil's Gift Ring of Aquila Vambrace (Agility) Vambrace (Intelligence) Vambrace (Strength) Vampire Fangs Tier 3 Craggy Coat Enchanted Quiver Greater Faerie Fire Mind Breaker Orb of Destruction Paladin Sword Quickening Charm Repair Kit Spider Legs Telescope Titan Sliver Tier 4 Flicker Havoc Hammer Illusionist's Cape Magic Lamp Minotaur Horn Ninja Gear Prince's Knife Spell Prism The Leveller Timeless Relic Witless Shako Tier 5 Apex Ballista Book of the Dead Ex Machina Fallen Sky Force Boots Mirror Shield Pirate Hat Seer Stone Stygian Desolator Trident Woodland Striders Removed Elixir Fusion Rune Helm of the Undying Phoenix Ash Third Eye Tome of Aghanim Others Secret Shop Ring of Health Void Stone Energy Booster Vitality Booster Point Booster Platemail Talisman of Evasion Hyperstone Ultimate Orb Demon Edge Mystic Staff Reaver Eaglesong Sacred Relic Roshan Drop Aegis of the Immortal Cheese Refresher Shard Aghanim's Blessing Hidden Items Observer and Sentry Wards Tango (Shared) Power Treads (Strength) Power Treads (Agility) Power Treads (Intelligence) Boots of Travel 1 Boots of Travel 2 Dagon 1 Dagon 2 Dagon 3 Dagon 4 Dagon 5 Necronomicon 1 Necronomicon 2 Necronomicon 3 Removed Items (DotA 2) Banana Diffusal Blade 2 Animal Courier Flying Courier Stout Shield Removed Items (DotA) Crystal Ball Leather Tunic Shedd's Cleaver Tome of Retraining Upgrader Useless Item Vampiric Potion Precision's Aim Razor's Edge Guardian Armor Potent Gem Spider Queen's Band Wrath of God Assassin's Blade Claws of Attack Devil's Will Demonic Blade Holy Armor Bladeturn Necklace Bloodfury Doom Mantle Mithril Armor Elven Battlegear Speed Rake Vitra Booster Magi Booster