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Ice Armor (Ogre Frostmage) icon
▶️ Armored to the teeth!
Clockwerk

Armor is a stat that reduces (or increases, if negative) physical damage a unit takes from spells and attacks. Every unit is capable of gaining or losing armor, and most units start with a small amount of base armor, some even starting with negative armor. A hero's armor can be passively increased with agility (with agility heroes gaining more than other heroes), talents, certain items, and some abilities. Armor of any unit can also be temporarily increased or reduced with some abilities.

Each point of agility increases a hero's armor by 0.16666666666667.

Base armor

Base armor is the part of the main armor that never changes throughout a game. It consists of one fixed value set for each unit individually. The base armor of a unit can be a negative number. Since only heroes have agility, the HUD of all non-hero units shows their base armor.

Heroes

Heroes Armor
Puck minimap icon -3
Centaur Warrunner minimap iconMirana minimap iconMorphling minimap iconSkywrath Mage minimap iconViper minimap icon -2
Ancient Apparition minimap iconAxe minimap iconBeastmaster minimap iconBroodmother minimap iconChen minimap iconHuskar minimap iconInvoker minimap iconLich minimap iconMars minimap iconMedusa minimap iconMuerta minimap iconPhantom Lancer minimap iconPhoenix minimap iconPudge minimap iconSniper minimap iconSven minimap iconTreant Protector minimap iconTroll Warlord minimap iconVisage minimap iconVoid Spirit minimap iconWraith King minimap icon -1
Abaddon minimap iconAlchemist minimap iconArc Warden minimap iconBrewmaster minimap iconClinkz minimap iconCrystal Maiden minimap iconDark Willow minimap iconDazzle minimap iconDisruptor minimap iconDragon Knight minimap iconDrow Ranger minimap iconEarth Spirit minimap iconElder Titan minimap iconEmber Spirit minimap iconFaceless Void minimap iconGrimstroke minimap iconHoodwink minimap iconJuggernaut minimap iconKeeper of the Light minimap iconLegion Commander minimap iconLeshrac minimap iconLina minimap iconLion minimap iconLone Druid minimap iconLycan minimap iconMarci minimap iconNature's Prophet minimap iconPugna minimap iconQueen of Pain minimap iconRazor minimap iconRiki minimap iconShadow Demon minimap iconSilencer minimap iconSlark minimap iconSpectre minimap iconTemplar Assassin minimap iconTidehunter minimap iconTimbersaw minimap iconTiny minimap iconVengeful Spirit minimap iconVenomancer minimap iconWindranger minimap iconWitch Doctor minimap icon 0
Anti-Mage minimap iconBane minimap iconBristleback minimap iconClockwerk minimap iconDeath Prophet minimap iconEnchantress minimap iconEnigma minimap iconIo minimap iconJakiro minimap iconLifestealer minimap iconMagnus minimap iconNaga Siren minimap iconNyx Assassin minimap iconOracle minimap iconPhantom Assassin minimap iconRubick minimap iconSand King minimap iconShadow Fiend minimap iconSnapfire minimap iconSpirit Breaker minimap iconStorm Spirit minimap iconTusk minimap iconUndying minimap iconUrsa minimap iconWarlock minimap iconWeaver minimap iconWinter Wyvern minimap icon 1
Batrider minimap iconBloodseeker minimap iconChaos Knight minimap iconDark Seer minimap iconDawnbreaker minimap iconDoom minimap iconEarthshaker minimap iconGyrocopter minimap iconKunkka minimap iconLuna minimap iconMonkey King minimap iconNecrophos minimap iconNight Stalker minimap iconOmniknight minimap iconPangolier minimap iconPrimal Beast minimap iconTechies minimap iconTinker minimap iconZeus minimap icon 2
Outworld Destroyer minimap icon 2.5
Shadow Shaman minimap iconSlardar minimap iconUnderlord minimap icon 3
Meepo minimap iconOgre Magi minimap icon 4
Bounty Hunter minimap iconTerrorblade minimap icon 5

Creeps

Units Armor
Lycan Lane Wolf, Mega Siege Creep, Ranged Creep, Siege Creep, Super Siege Creep 0
Mega Ranged Creep, Super Ranged Creep 1
Flagbearer Creep, Melee Creep 2
Mega Flagbearer Creep, Mega Melee Creep, Super Flagbearer Creep, Super Melee Creep 3

Summons

Summons Armor
Astral Spirit 0
Familiar 0/2/4
Spirit Bear 0/2/4/6
Fire 0/8/16
Storm 2
Mars Soldier 3
Void 3/4/5
Earth 3/5/7
Warlock Golem 8/12/14

Main armor

Main armor is the armor value shown in white numbers near the shield icon in the HUD, consisting of base armor and the armor granted by a hero's agility. The only way to improve a hero's main armor is to increase its agility, which is gained by leveling up, acquiring certain items, or with the help of certain abilities.

The formula to calculate a hero's main armor is:

main armor = base armor + agility * 0.16666666666667

Hero Armor
Hero Base Level 1 Level 15 Level 25 Level 30
Abaddon icon Abaddon 0 3.83 6.87 9.03 10.12
Alchemist icon Alchemist 0 3.67 7.17 9.67 10.92
Ancient Apparition icon Ancient Apparition -1 2.33 7.47 11.13 12.97
Anti-Mage icon Anti-Mage 1 5 11.53 16.2 18.53
Arc Warden icon Arc Warden 0 3.33 10.33 15.33 17.83
Axe icon Axe -1 2.33 6.3 9.13 10.55
Bane icon Bane 1 4.83 10.67 14.83 16.92
Batrider icon Batrider 2 4.5 7.77 10.1 11.27
Beastmaster icon Beastmaster -1 2 5.73 8.4 9.73
Bloodseeker icon Bloodseeker 2 6 13.23 18.4 20.98
Bounty Hunter icon Bounty Hunter 5 8.5 14.57 18.9 21.07
Brewmaster icon Brewmaster 0 3.17 7.83 11.17 12.83
Bristleback icon Bristleback 1 3.83 8.03 11.03 12.53
Broodmother icon Broodmother -1 2 8.07 12.4 14.57
Centaur Warrunner icon Centaur Warrunner -2 0.5 2.83 4.5 5.33
Chaos Knight icon Chaos Knight 2 5 8.27 10.6 11.77
Chen icon Chen -1 1.5 6.4 9.9 11.65
Clinkz icon Clinkz 0 4.17 10.47 14.97 17.22
Clockwerk icon Clockwerk 1 3.17 8.07 11.57 13.32
Crystal Maiden icon Crystal Maiden 0 2.67 6.4 9.07 10.4
Dark Seer icon Dark Seer 2 5.17 9.37 12.37 13.87
Dark Willow icon Dark Willow 0 3 6.03 8.2 9.28
Dawnbreaker icon Dawnbreaker 2 4.33 8.3 11.13 12.55
Dazzle icon Dazzle 0 3.33 6.6 8.93 10.1
Death Prophet icon Death Prophet 1 3.67 8.33 11.67 13.33
Disruptor icon Disruptor 0 2.5 5.77 8.1 9.27
Doom icon Doom 2 4.5 8 10.5 11.75
Dragon Knight icon Dragon Knight 0 2.67 7.33 10.67 12.33
Drow Ranger icon Drow Ranger 0 3.33 10.1 14.93 17.35
Earth Spirit icon Earth Spirit 0 2.83 8.43 12.43 14.43
Earthshaker icon Earthshaker 2 4 7.27 9.6 10.77
Elder Titan icon Elder Titan 0 2.67 6.87 9.87 11.37
Ember Spirit icon Ember Spirit 0 3.67 11.13 16.47 19.13
Enchantress icon Enchantress 1 4.17 9.07 12.57 14.32
Enigma icon Enigma 1 3.33 5.67 7.33 8.17
Faceless Void icon Faceless Void 0 3.17 10.17 15.17 17.67
Grimstroke icon Grimstroke 0 3 7.43 10.6 12.18
Gyrocopter icon Gyrocopter 2 6.33 13.57 18.73 21.32
Hoodwink icon Hoodwink 0 4 12.4 18.4 21.4
Huskar icon Huskar -1 0.67 4.17 6.67 7.92
Invoker icon Invoker -1 1.33 5.53 8.53 10.03
Io icon Io 1 3.33 7.07 9.73 11.07
Jakiro icon Jakiro 1 3.5 6.3 8.3 9.3
Juggernaut icon Juggernaut 0 5.67 12.2 16.87 19.2
Keeper of the Light icon Keeper of the Light 0 2.5 6.23 8.9 10.23
Kunkka icon Kunkka 2 4.33 8.07 10.73 12.07
Legion Commander icon Legion Commander 0 3 6.97 9.8 11.22
Leshrac icon Leshrac 0 3.83 10.37 15.03 17.37
Lich icon Lich -1 1.83 6.5 9.83 11.5
Lifestealer icon Lifestealer 1 4.17 10.23 14.57 16.73
Lina icon Lina 0 3.83 9.43 13.43 15.43
Lion icon Lion 0 2.5 6 8.5 9.75
Lone Druid icon Lone Druid 0 3.33 8 11.33 13
Luna icon Luna 2 6 13.93 19.6 22.43
Lycan icon Lycan 0 3 7.2 10.2 11.7
Magnus icon Magnus 1 2.5 7.17 10.5 12.17
Marci icon Marci 0 3.33 7.53 10.53 12.03
Mars icon Mars -1 2.33 6.3 9.13 10.55
Medusa icon Medusa -1 2.67 11.07 17.07 20.07
Meepo icon Meepo 4 6.83 11.73 15.23 16.98
Mirana icon Mirana -2 2 7.83 12 14.08
Monkey King icon Monkey King 2 5.83 14.47 20.63 23.72
Morphling icon Morphling -2 2 11.1 17.6 20.85
Muerta icon Muerta -1 2.33 8.63 13.13 15.38
Naga Siren icon Naga Siren 1 4.5 12.2 17.7 20.45
Nature's Prophet icon Nature's Prophet 0 2.33 9.8 15.13 17.8
Necrophos icon Necrophos 2 4 7.03 9.2 10.28
Night Stalker icon Night Stalker 2 5 10.13 13.8 15.63
Nyx Assassin icon Nyx Assassin 1 4 9.83 14 16.08
Ogre Magi icon Ogre Magi 4 6.33 9.83 12.33 13.58
Omniknight icon Omniknight 2 4.5 9.17 12.5 14.17
Oracle icon Oracle 1 3.5 7.47 10.3 11.72
Outworld Destroyer icon Outworld Destroyer 2.5 6.17 9.9 12.57 13.9
Pangolier icon Pangolier 2 5 10.83 15 17.08
Phantom Assassin icon Phantom Assassin 1 4.5 12.43 18.1 20.93
Phantom Lancer icon Phantom Lancer -1 3.33 9.87 14.53 16.87
Phoenix icon Phoenix -1 1 4.5 7 8.25
Primal Beast icon Primal Beast 2 4.5 6.83 8.5 9.33
Puck icon Puck -3 0.67 6.5 10.67 12.75
Pudge icon Pudge -1 1.33 4.6 6.93 8.1
Pugna icon Pugna 0 3.5 6.53 8.7 9.78
Queen of Pain icon Queen of Pain 0 3.67 9.5 13.67 15.75
Razor icon Razor 0 4 10.53 15.2 17.53
Riki icon Riki 0 5 10.6 14.6 16.6
Rubick icon Rubick 1 4.83 10.67 14.83 16.92
Sand King icon Sand King 1 4.17 8.37 11.37 12.87
Shadow Demon icon Shadow Demon 0 3 8.13 11.8 13.63
Shadow Fiend icon Shadow Fiend 1 5.17 13.33 19.17 22.08
Shadow Shaman icon Shadow Shaman 3 5.67 9.4 12.07 13.4
Silencer icon Silencer 0 3.67 9.27 13.27 15.27
Skywrath Mage icon Skywrath Mage -2 0.17 2.03 3.37 4.03
Slardar icon Slardar 3 5.83 11.43 15.43 17.43
Slark icon Slark 0 3.5 7 9.5 10.75
Snapfire icon Snapfire 1 3.67 6.47 8.47 9.47
Sniper icon Sniper -1 3.5 10.97 16.3 18.97
Spectre icon Spectre 0 4.17 9.07 12.57 14.32
Spirit Breaker icon Spirit Breaker 1 3.83 7.8 10.63 12.05
Storm Spirit icon Storm Spirit 1 4.67 10.73 15.07 17.23
Sven icon Sven -1 2.5 7.63 11.3 13.13
Techies icon Techies 2 4.33 7.37 9.53 10.62
Templar Assassin icon Templar Assassin 0 3.83 11.3 16.63 19.3
Terrorblade icon Terrorblade 5 8.67 18 24.67 28
Tidehunter icon Tidehunter 0 2.5 6 8.5 9.75
Timbersaw icon Timbersaw 0 2.67 5.7 7.87 8.95
Tinker icon Tinker 2 4.83 8.1 10.43 11.6
Tiny icon Tiny 0 0 0 0 0
Treant Protector icon Treant Protector -1 1.5 5.7 8.7 10.2
Troll Warlord icon Troll Warlord -1 2.83 10.53 16.03 18.78
Tusk icon Tusk 1 4.83 9.73 13.23 14.98
Underlord icon Underlord 3 5 8.73 11.4 12.73
Undying icon Undying 1 2.67 5.47 7.47 8.47
Ursa icon Ursa 1 4 10.53 15.2 17.53
Vengeful Spirit icon Vengeful Spirit 0 3.5 8.4 11.9 13.65
Venomancer icon Venomancer 0 4 8.67 12 13.67
Viper icon Viper -2 1.5 7.8 12.3 14.55
Visage icon Visage -1 0.83 3.17 4.83 5.67
Void Spirit icon Void Spirit -1 2.17 7.3 10.97 12.8
Warlock icon Warlock 1 2.67 5 6.67 7.5
Weaver icon Weaver 1 3.83 11.07 16.23 18.82
Windranger icon Windranger 0 3.17 6.43 8.77 9.93
Winter Wyvern icon Winter Wyvern 1 3.67 7.17 9.67 10.92
Witch Doctor icon Witch Doctor 0 2.17 5.43 7.77 8.93
Wraith King icon Wraith King -1 1.67 5.63 8.47 9.88
Zeus icon Zeus 2 3.83 6.63 8.63 9.63

Bonus armor

Bonus armor is the armor value shown in green numbers with a plus on the left, right below the white armor number on a unit's statistics. Whenever an item or skill shows a +armor value, e.g. Blade Mail icon Blade Mail (+5 Armor), it increases the bonus armor of the affected unit. Probably the most important difference between main and bonus armor is that illusions only benefit from main armor, although their HUD still shows the bonus armor just like on other heroes, to make them less obvious to the enemy. Some spells like Natural Order icon Natural Order also only affect main armor.

Damage multiplier

All units, including buildings, have an inherent base armor value and armor type. Any physical damage dealt to a unit is multiplied by the damage multiplier, resulting in either damage reduction or increase depending on the target's armor value.

For any real-valued armor, the damage multiplier is defined as

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

The damage multiplier limits are 25/12 (roughly 2.08) and 0, for infinitely negative and positive armor, respectively.

Examples
Armor (+) Multiplier Armor (-) Multiplier
1 95% -1 105%
2 90% -2 110%
3 85% -3 115%
4 81% -4 119%
5 77% -5 123%
6 74% -6 126%
7 71% -7 129%
8 68% -8 132%
9 65% -9 135%
10 62% -10 138%
11 60% -11 140%
12 58% -12 142%
13 56% -13 144%
14 54% -14 146%
15 52% -15 148%
16 50% -16 150%
17 48% -17 152%
18 47% -18 153%
19 45% -19 155%
20 44% -20 156%
21 43% -21 157%
22 42% -22 158%
23 40% -23 160%
24 39% -24 161%
25 38% -25 162%
26 37% -26 163%
27 36% -27 164%
28 35% -28 165%
29 34% -29 166%
30 33% -30 167%
31 32% -31 168%
32 32% -32 168%
33 31% -33 169%
34 30% -34 170%
35 29% -35 171%
36 29% -36 171%
37 28% -37 172%
38 27% -38 173%
39 27% -39 173%
40 26% -40 174%
41 26% -41 174%
42 25% -42 175%
43 25% -43 175%
44 24% -44 176%
45 24% -45 176%

Effective HP

Armor

Relationships between effective HP%, damage multiplier and armor

The extra damage a unit can take due to armor is known as its extra effective HP (or EHP) for physical damage. At 0 armor, 1 armor grants roughly 5.8% effective HP. This means a unit with 1000 health and 1 armor can take 1058 physical damage. At 30 armor, this figure scales upwards to 7.7%, meaning armor is more effective at higher values.

On the other hand, the effectiveness of armor is much lower at negative values (see graph). Total effective HP trends downwards towards 48%, meaning a unit with 1000 health and infinitely low armor would still be able to take 480 physical damage. At this point, losing or gaining 1 armor has essentially no effect.

Armor -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Effective HP 575.51 600 641.38 726.32 1000 1604.65 2268.29 3000 3810.81

This definition of effective HP assumes all damage taken is physical. In Dota 2, magical damage (such as Lina minimap icon Lina's or Lion minimap icon Lion's ultimate) is modified by magic resistance.

Calculating effective HP
effective HP = current HP ÷ damage multiplier
Example 1
A level 25 Sven minimap icon Sven has a total HP of 2293.6 and 11.3 points of armor. What is his effective HP vs physical damage?
EHP = 2293.6 ÷ ( 1 - (11.3 × 0.052) ÷ (0.9 + 11.3 × 0.048) ) = 2293.6 ÷ 0.592623 = 3870.25
Sven can tank 3870.25 physical damage.


Example 2
The same Sven from previous example is hit by a maxed Corrosive Haze icon Corrosive Haze. His armor is now Expression error: Missing operand for -.. What is his effective HP vs physical damage?
EHP = 2293.6 ÷ ( 1 - (Expression error: Missing operand for -. × 0.052) ÷ (0.9 + Expression error: Unexpected < operator. × 0.048) ) = 2293.6 ÷ Expression error: Unexpected < operator. = Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Sven can tank Expression error: Unexpected < operator. physical damage.

Armor types

There are several different types of armor, which determine how much damage a unit takes against certain attack damage types. Each of the 3 different armor types either reduces, increases or does not affect the damage from each of the damage types, on top of armor values manipulating them.

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 * 0.7719298245614 * 0.5) = 38.59649122807 damage. The same attack would deal 77.19298245614 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 armor type reduces against each attack damage type and which unit uses which armor type (units which take a set amount of damage per attack are excluded).

Armor Type Used by Attack Damage Type
Hero Basic Pierce Siege
Hero
Error 1054: Unknown column 'armor_type' in 'where clause'

Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT CONCAT("",title,"") AS `CONCAT("",title,"")` FROM `cargo__units` WHERE armor_type="Hero" AND game IS NULL GROUP BY `_pageID` ORDER BY CONCAT("",title,"") LIMIT 100

100% 75% 50% 85%
Basic
Error 1054: Unknown column 'armor_type' in 'where clause'

Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT CONCAT("",title,"") AS `CONCAT("",title,"")` FROM `cargo__units` WHERE armor_type IS NULL AND game IS NULL GROUP BY `_pageID` ORDER BY CONCAT("",title,"") LIMIT 100

100% 100% 150% 100%
Structure
Error 1054: Unknown column 'armor_type' in 'where clause'

Function: CargoSQLQuery::run Query: SELECT CONCAT("",title,"") AS `CONCAT("",title,"")` FROM `cargo__units` WHERE armor_type="Structure" AND game IS NULL GROUP BY `_pageID` ORDER BY CONCAT("",title,"") LIMIT 100

50% 70% 35% 250%

Modifying armor

A lot of abilites and items have abilities that grant or reduce armor. These changes are always Bonus armor, and never added to the main armor.

Armor increasing abilities

The following abilities increase armor:

Armor increasing abilities
Armor increasing items
  • Armlet of Mordiggian icon
    Armor bonus: 4
    Affects the caster. Armor is granted after the delay. Lasts until toggled off.
  • Assault Cuirass icon
    Armor bonus: 5
    Aura, affects nearby allies. The buff lingers for 0.5 seconds.
  • Buckler - [[Buckler#|]]
    Buckler icon
    Armor bonus: Lua error in Module:Show at line 70: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
    Hero duration: Lua error in Module:Show at line 70: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
    Non-hero duration: Lua error in Module:Show at line 70: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
    Affects nearby allies on cast.
  • Crimson Guard icon
    Armor bonus: 50%
    Duration: 8
    Affects nearby allies on cast.
  • Guardian Greaves icon
    Armor bonus: 1.5
    Boosted armor bonus: 12
    Aura, affects nearby allies. When an allied hero is below 3 health, the boosted value is applied to them. The buff lingers for 5 seconds.
  • Medallion of Courage icon
    Armor bonus: 6
    Duration: 8
    Affects the target ally.This is an old ability.
  • Mekansm icon
    Armor bonus: 49
    Duration:
    Affects nearby allies on cast.
  • Ring of Basilius icon
    Armor bonus: 0.5
    Aura, affects nearby allies. The buff lingers for seconds.
  • Solar Crest icon
    Armor bonus: 70
    Duration:
    Affects the target ally.
  • Vladmir's Offering icon
    Armor bonus: 2
    Aura, affects nearby allies. The buff lingers for 0.5 seconds.

Armor reducing abilities

The following abilities reduce armor:

Armor reducing abilities
  • Acid Spray icon
    Armor reduction: 3/4/5/6
    Duration: 15
    Aura, affects enemies within the target area. The debuff lingers for 0.5 seconds.
  • Viscous Nasal Goo icon
    Base armor reduction: 1.5/2/2.5/3
    Armor reduction per stack: 15%
    Max stacks: 2/2/3/3 (Talent )
    Affects the target enemy. Multiple casts increase the stack count, and refresh the duration of existing stacks.
  • Bad Juju icon
    Armor reduction per cast: 8/10/12 (Talent )
    Duration: 20
    Affects nearby enemies whenever casting a spell. Multiple casts increase the stack count, and refresh the duration of existing stacks.
  • Melting Strike (Forged Spirit) icon
    Armor reduction per stack: 20
    Max stacks: 0.8/0.9/1/1.1/1.2/1.3/1.4/1.5
    Duration: 5
    Passive. Affects the attacked enemy. Multiple attacks increase the stack count, and refresh the duration of existing stacks.
  • Rip Tide icon
    Armor reduction: 2/4/6/8 (Talent )
    Duration: 4
    Passive, has a chance to trigger on attacks. Affects nearby enemies.
  • Phantom Assassin - [[Phantom Assassin#|]]
    Armor reduction: Lua error in Module:Show at line 70: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
    Duration: Lua error in Module:Show at line 70: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
    Requires a Talent talent. Affects the attacked enemy.
  • Eye of the Storm icon
    Armor reduction per strike: 60/75/90
    Max duration: 1
    Strikes the lowest health enemy within range. Does not reduce armor of hit buildings. The armor duration of each strike is based on the storm's remaining duration.
  • Presence of the Dark Lord icon
    Armor reduction: 4/5/6/7 (Talent )
    Aura, affects nearby enemies. The debuff lingers for 2 seconds.
  • Corrosive Haze icon
    Armor reduction: 100
    Duration: 10/15/20
    Affects the target enemy.
  • Meld icon
    Armor reduction: 5/6/7/8 (Talent 8/9/10/11)
    Duration: 12
    Affects the attacked enemy.
  • Gush icon
    Armor reduction: 4.5 (Talent )
    Duration:
    Affects the target enemy (Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. affects all hit enemies).
  • Wave of Terror icon
    Armor reduction: 3/4/5/6 (Talent 8/9/10/11)
    Duration: 10%/15%/20%/25%
    Affects all hit enemies.
  • The Swarm icon
    Armor reduction per interval: 1 (Talent 1.5)
    Duration: 16
    Affects all hit enemies. The beetles reduce armor in 1.15/1.0/0.85/0.7 second intervals. The reduction lasts as long as the beetles do.
Armor reducing items

Armor negating abilities

Some abilities negate a unit's armor by reducing or increasing armor based on the unit's armor, effectively removing a percentage of the armor on the target. This Armor negation only affects the armor value of units, their armor type is unaffected and still reduces damage normally.

The following abilities negate armor:

Armor negating abilities
  • Desecrate (Ancient Prowler Shaman) icon
    Main armor negation: 50%
    Duration: 6
    Affects nearby enemies on cast. The reduction is based on the enemies' main armor.This is an old ability.
  • Marksmanship icon
    Total armor negation: 100%
    Has a chance to completely ignore the target's armor value on attack, dealing damage as if they had 0 armor.
  • Natural Order icon
    Main armor negation: 40%/60%/80%/100%
    Aura, affects nearby enemies. The reduction is based on the enemies' main armor. The debuff lingers for 1 seconds.

Armor granting talents

The following heroes have a talent that grants them bonus armor.

Bonus Level 10 Level 15 Level 20 Level 25
Left Right Left Right Left Right Left Right
Armor
  • Spirit Breaker minimap icon +4
  • Pudge minimap icon +5
  • Underlord minimap icon +5

Besides these, the following heroes have talents which increase the armor of the units they summon

Armor granting items

These items grant bonus armor to the hero who has them equipped.

Error: No field named "bonus_armor" found for any of the specified database tables.

Trivia

Dota 2 armor disparity plain

Negative armor damage multiplier for DotA and Dota 2

Dota 2 bonus dmg

This graph shows how much more additional damage a target takes when armor debuffs are applied, using the WC3 DotA armor formula.

  • In DotA the base magic resistance was bound to the assigned armor. In case of Hero Armor only 75% of the magic damage was applied. Some heroes possessed hidden passive skills to alter their base magic susceptibility albeit Hero Armor to 90% (Visage minimap icon Visage) or 65% (Meepo minimap icon Meepo). Nowdays in Dota 2 magic resistance works independently from armor.
  • The Basic armor type was referred to as Medium armor in DotA.
  • The deprecated Light damage type used to be called Chaos damage in DotA.
  • The deprecated Weak armor type used be called Light armor, Soft was referred to as Unarmored, and Strong was known as Heavy armor type.

Negative armor disparity

Amplified damage from negative armor is calculated differently in WC3 DotA than in Dota 2.[1]

Negative armor in WC3 DotA has a cap of -20 armor (71% damage increase). Further reducing the armor does not change the damage increase.[2] Also, the more aggressive damage amplify formula is used resulting in a max damage increase of 71%. The amplified damage is calculated from this formula:

Damage increase = 1 - 0.94^(-armor)

Comparison table

Update history

Version
Description
  • Changed the Armor formula from ( 0.05 * Armor ) / ( 1 + 0.05 * Armor ) to ( 0.052 * Armor ) / ( 0.9 + 0.048 * Armor )
  • Changed the Armor formula from ( 0.06 * Armor ) / ( 1 + 0.06 * Armor ) to ( 0.05 * Armor ) / (1 + 0.05 * Armor )
  • Armor per agility rescaled from 1/7 to 1/6.
  • Fixed the armor damage multiplier being 0.07 since 7.06, instead of 0.06.
  • Armor now shows decimal places in the hover tooltip
  • Changed piercing damage to heavy armor to 75% from 100%.
  • Chaos damage now does 40% damage to fortified (down from 50%).
  • Chaos Damage now does same as hero damage to structures, 50% instead of 100%.

References


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