Attack Speed

The frequency with which units attack is measured in attack speed. A unit's attack speed can be modified by items, agility, abilities, and auras.

Base attack time

Every unit has a base attack time (BAT), which refers to the default interval between attacks for an unbuffed unit with 0 agility and no attack speed bonus. For example, a melee lane creep has a BAT of 1.00 seconds, and thus attacks once every second by default. Similarly, if a hero with 1.7 BAT had 0 agility and no bonus attack speed, they would attack once every 1.70 seconds. While nearly every unit can have their attack speed modified, only a few heroes can actively change their BAT.

Every hero has a BAT of 1.7 except for the following:

Hero	Base Attack Time	Difference in Attacks/Sec	AS Range in 1.7 BAT Representation	Actual AS Range in game
Alchemist ( Chemical Rage LVL 3 + Talent)	0.8	(+112.5%)	42.5~1275	132.5~712.5
Alchemist ( Chemical Rage LVL 2 + Talent)	0.95	(+78.9%)	35.8~1073.7	98.9~678.9
Alchemist ( Chemical Rage LVL 3)	1	(+70%)	34~1020	90~670
Alchemist ( Chemical Rage LVL 1 + Talent)	1.1	(+54.5%)	30.9~927.3	74.5~654.5
Alchemist ( Chemical Rage LVL 2)	1.15	(+47.8%)	29.6~887	67.8~647.8
Dark Willow	1.3	(+30.8%)	26.2~784.6	50.8~630.8
Alchemist ( Chemical Rage LVL 1)	1.3	(+30.8%)	26.2~784.6	50.8~630.8
Juggernaut	1.4	(+21.4%)	24.3~728.6	41.4~621.4
Oracle	1.4	(+21.4%)	24.3~728.6	41.4~621.4
Anti-Mage	1.4	(+21.4%)	24.3~728.6	41.4~621.4
Troll Warlord ( Berserker's Rage)	1.45	(+17.2%)	23.4~703.4	37.2~617.2
Lone Druid ( True Form)	1.5	(+13.3%)	22.7~680	33.3~613.3
Morphling	1.5	(+13.3%)	22.7~680	33.3~613.3
Queen of Pain	1.5	(+13.3%)	22.7~680	33.3~613.3
Terrorblade	1.5	(+13.3%)	22.7~680	33.3~613.3
Windranger	1.5	(+13.3%)	22.7~680	33.3~613.3
Huskar	1.6	(+6.2%)	21.3~637.5	26.3~606.3
Lina	1.6	(+6.2%)	21.3~637.5	26.3~606.3
Drow Ranger	1.65	(+3.1%)	21~618	23~603
Bristleback	1.8	(-5.6%)	18.9~566.7	14.4~594.4
Magnus	1.8	(-5.6%)	18.9~566.7	14.4~594.4
Sven	1.8	(-5.6%)	18.9~566.7	14.4~594.4
Weaver	1.8	(-5.6%)	18.9~566.7	14.4~594.4
Lifestealer	1.85	(-8.1%)	18.4~551.4	11.9~591.9
Treant Protector	1.9	(-10.5%)	17.9~536.8	9.5~589.5
Spirit Breaker	1.9	(-10.5%)	17.9~536.8	9.5~589.5
Doom	2	(-15%)	17~510	5~585

• Note: Rubick is also capable of lowering his BAT if he steals and uses any of the abilities listed in the above table.

Unit	Base Attack Time	Difference in Attacks/Sec	AS Range in 1.7 BAT Representation	Actual AS Range in game
Death Ward	0.22	(+672.7%)	155~4636	692.7~1272.7
Familiar	0.4	(+325.0%)	85~2550	345~925
Necronomicon Warrior	0.75	(+126.6%)	45~1360	146.6~726.6
Lycan Wolf (level 4)	0.9	(+88.9%)	38~1133	108.9~688.9
Greater Treant	1	(+70.0%)	34~1020	90~670
Melee and Ranged Creeps	1	(+70.0%)	34~1020	90~670
Necronomicon Archer	1	(+70.0%)	34~1020	90~670
Lycan Wolf (level 3)	1	(+70.0%)	34~1020	90~670
Lycan Wolf (level 2)	1.1	(+54.6%)	30.9~927.6	74.6~654.6
Warlock's Golem	1.2	(+41.7%)	28~850	61.7~641.7
Lycan Wolf (level 1)	1.2	(+41.7%)	28~850	61.7~641.7
Wraith King Skeleton	1.2	(+41.7%)	28~850	61.7~641.7
Boar	1.25	(+36.0%)	27~816	56~656
Earth	1.35	(+25.9%)	25~756	45.9~625.9
Fire	1.35	(+25.9%)	25~756	45.9~625.9
Spiderite	1.35	(+25.9%)	25~756	45.9~625.9
Spiderling	1.35	(+25.9%)	25~756	45.9~625.9
Spirit Bear (level 4)	1.35	(+25.9%)	25~756	45.9~625.9
Spirit Bear (level 3)	1.45	(+17.2%)	23~703	37.2~617.2
Eidolon	1.5	(+13.3%)	23~680	33.3~613.3
Forged Spirit	1.5	(+13.3%)	23~680	33.3~613.3
Plague Ward	1.5	(+13.3%)	23~680	33.3~613.3
Serpent Ward	1.5	(+13.3%)	23~680	33.3~613.3
Storm	1.5	(+13.3%)	23~680	33.3~613.3
Spirit Bear (level 2)	1.55	(+9.7%)	22~658	29.7~609.7
Undying Zombie	1.6	(+6.3%)	21~638	26.3~606.3
Spirit Bear (level 1)	1.65	(+3.0%)	21~618	23~603
Treant	1.75	(-2.9%)	19~583	17.1~597.1
Roshan	2	(-15.0%)	17~510	5~585
Siege Creeps	2.7	(-37.0%)	13~378	-17~563

Neutral Unit	Base Attack Time
Ghost	1
Centaur Courser	1.3
Ancient Granite Golem	1.35
Ancient Rock Golem	1.35
Alpha Wolf	1.35
Dark Troll Summoner	1.35
Hill Troll	1.35
Kobold	1.35
Kobold Foreman	1.35
Kobold Soldier	1.35
Mud Golem	1.35
Ogre Bruiser	1.35
Ogre Frostmage	1.35
Satyr Mindstealer	1.35
Satyr Tormenter	1.35
Shard Golem	1.35
Wildwing	1.35
Wildwing Ripper	1.35
Ancient Black Dragon	1.5
Ancient Prowler Acolyte	1.5
Ancient Prowler Shaman	1.5
Centaur Conqueror	1.5
Fell Spirit	1.5
Hellbear	1.5
Giant Wolf	1.55
Hellbear Smasher	1.55
Harpy Scout	1.6
Harpy Stormcrafter	1.6
Hill Troll Berserker	1.6
Vhoul Assassin	1.6
Satyr Banisher	1.7
Ancient Black Drake	1.8
Ancient Rumblehide	1.8
Ancient Thunderhide	1.8
Hill Troll Priest	1.8

Attack speed representation

The reciprocal of base attack time is base attack speed. For most heroes, this is 1 / 1.7 = 0.588 attacks per second. Attack speed is expressed in percent of base attack speed. The base is therefore expressed as 100. Each point of increased attack speed (IAS) adds 1 to that, giving 1% of base attack speed. Each point of agility increases IAS by 1. IAS is also modifiable by items, abilities, buffs, and debuffs. Attack speed works together with BAT to determine how often a unit can attack.

Attack speed caps of 20 and 600 are reached with -80 attack speed reduction and with +500 increased attack speed respectively, since every unit has a base attack speed of 100.

• Note: When mousing over attack damage in the HUD, the first field shows the attack speed and the time per attack in parenthesis. The attack speed field is defaulted to 100 and adds the IAS afterward, leading to a lower boundary of 20 and an upper boundary of 600. Even though the display may show a unit to "exceed" these boundaries, the actual attack speed used for calculations will still obey the caps of 20 and 600. This can be easily verified by observing that the "time between attacks" display does not change even when pushing well past "600 attack speed".

• Note2: Units that do not have 1.7 BAT will display their attack speed differently in the in-game HUD as if they had 1.7 BAT. For example, a unit with 0.85 BAT and no bonus attack speed (100 attack speed) will display itself as having 200 attack speed, because 0.85 seconds is how long a unit with 1.70 BAT and 200 attack speed would take in between attacks. This strange quirk makes it harder to figure out if a hero without 1.7 BAT is nearing the attack speed cap, but it does allow players to compare this uniform "attack speed metric" across all heroes more easily (only their base attack time though, as any bonuses are not expressed in this "attack speed metric", but just added on top).

Attack speed formula

IAS vs BAT: attacks per second

The formulas below denote the relationship between BAT, IAS, attacks per second, and time between attacks.

Attacks per second = [(100 + IAS) × 0.01] / BAT

Attack time = BAT / [(100 + IAS) × 0.01] = 1 / (attacks per second)

For example, a lvl 1 Axe with no items has 1.7 BAT and 20 agility, which is converted to (0.20).

Attacks per second = [(100 + IAS) × 0.01] / BAT

Attacks per second = [(100 + 20) × 0.01] / 1.7

Attacks per second = 1.2 / 1.7

Attacks per second = ~0.706

>> Axe attacks about 0.706 times per second.

Attack time = 1 / 0.706

Attack time = ~1.417

>> Axe takes about 1.417 seconds between attacks.

Remember that units start with 100 attack speed, which caps at 20 and 600. This can be modified by IAS, which therefore caps at -80 and +500.

Here are some attack speed benchmarks and their effect on attacks per second:

-80 attack speed, a unit with 20 AS will take 5/1 times their BAT to attack (1/5x normal speed) (lower cap)

-75 attack speed, a unit with 25 AS will take 4/1 times their BAT to attack (1/4x normal speed)

-66 attack speed, a unit with 33 AS will take 3/1 times their BAT to attack (1/3x normal speed)

-50 attack speed, a unit with 50 AS will take 2/1 times their BAT to attack (1/2x normal speed)

+00 attack speed, a unit with 100 AS will take 1/1 times their BAT to attack (1x normal speed)

+100 attack speed, a unit with 200 AS will take 1/2 times their BAT to attack (2x normal speed)

+200 attack speed, a unit with 300 AS will take 1/3 times their BAT to attack (3x normal speed)

+300 attack speed, a unit with 400 AS will take 1/4 times their BAT to attack (4x normal speed)

+400 attack speed, a unit with 500 AS will take 1/5 times their BAT to attack (5x normal speed)

+500 attack speed, a unit with 600 AS will take 1/6 times their BAT to attack (6x normal speed) (upper cap)

List of abilities increasing attack speed

• Abaddon - Curse of Avernus
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 10/20/30/40
  Duration: 4.5
  Affects every unit attacking a debuffed unit.
• Ancient Thunderhide - Frenzy
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 75
  Duration: 8
  Affects targeted ally.
• Ancient Thunderhide - [[Ancient Thunderhide#|]]
  64px|text-top|link=Ancient Thunderhide#
  Attack Speed Bonus: 15
  Radius: 900
  Aura, affecting allies within range.
• Arc Warden - Magnetic Field
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 50/60/70/80
  Duration: 3.5/4.5/5.5/6.5
  Radius: 275
  Affects all allied heroes and buildings within the field.
• Axe - Culling Blade
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 30
  Duration: 6 ( 10)
  Affects allies within a 900 radius upon successfully culling an enemy.
• Beastmaster - Inner Beast
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 15/25/35/45
  Radius: 900
  Aura, affecting allies within range.
• Clinkz - Strafe
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 80/140/200/260
  Duration: 3 ( 7)
  Affects self.
• Drum of Endurance - Endurance
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 35
  Duration: 6
  Affects allies within a 900 radius upon cast.
• Hellbear Smasher - [[Hellbear Smasher#|]]
  64px|text-top|link=Hellbear Smasher#
  Attack Speed Bonus: 15
  Radius: 900
  Aura, affecting allies within range.
• Hurricane Pike - Hurricane Thrust
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 100
  Duration: 5
  When it is cast on an enemy. Affects self. Only grants attack speed against the targeted enemy. Bonus is lost after 4 attacks or within 5 seconds, whichever is shorter.
• Huskar - Berserker's Blood
  
  Max Attack Speed Bonus: 220/260/300/340
  Affects self. Grants attack speed for point of health missing, reaching the cap at 10% health.
• Invoker - Alacrity
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 10/25/40/55/70/85/100 ( /115)
  Duration: 9
  Affects targeted ally. Based on level of Wex.
• Invoker - Wex
  
  Attack Speed Bonus per Wex Instance: 2/4/6/8/10/12/14
  Max instances: 3
  Affects self. 3 instances grant 6/12/18/24/30/36/42 attack speed.
• Io - Overcharge
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 40/50/60/70
  Affects self and the Tethered ally. Lasts until toggled off.
• Legion Commander - Press the Attack
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 65/90/115/140
  Duration: 5
  Affects targeted ally.
• Lifestealer - Rage
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 50/60/70/80
  Duration: 3/4/5/6
  Affects self.
• Lina - Fiery Soul
  
  Attack Speed Bonus per Stack: 40/55/70/85 ( 75/90/105/120)
  Max Stacks: 3
  Duration: 10
  Affects self. Gains a stack on each spell cast. 3 stacks grant 120/165/210/255 ( 225/270/315/360) attack speed.
• Lone Druid - [[Lone Druid#|]]
  64px|text-top|link=Lone Druid#
  Attack Speed Bonus: 20/30/40/50 ( 60/70/80/90)
  Duration: 25
  Affects self and the Spirit Bear.
• Mirana - Leap
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 60/80/100/120 ( 160/180/200/220)
  Duration: 2.5
  
• Necronomicon Archer - Archer Aura
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 5/7/9
  Radius: 900
  Aura, affecting allies within range.
• Night Stalker - Hunter in the Night
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 45/60/75/90
  Affects self. Grants bonuses only during the night.
• Ogre Magi - Bloodlust
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 30/40/50/60 ( 70/80/90/100)
  Duration: 30
  Affects targeted ally. Can be cast on buildings.
• Phantom Assassin - Phantom Strike
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 130
  Duration: 4
  Affects self. Bonus is lost after 4 attacks or within 4 seconds, whichever is shorter. Buff is lost upon switching targets.
• Troll Warlord - Battle Trance
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 60/120/180
  Duration: 5
  Affects all allied heroes.
• Troll Warlord - Fervor
  
  Attack Speed Bonus per Stack: 15/20/25/30
  Max Stacks: 7 ( 10)
  Affects self. Gains a stack on each attack on the same target. All stacks are lost upon changing target. 7 stacks grant 105/140/175/210 attack speed.
• Ursa - [[Ursa#|]]
  64px|text-top|link=Ursa#
  Attack Speed Bonus: 400
  Duration: 15
  Affects self. Bonus is lost after 3/4/5/6 attacks or within 15 seconds, whichever is shorter.
• Visage - Grave Chill
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 64
  Duration: 3/4/5/6
  Affects self and the Familiars.
• Windranger - Focus Fire
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 400
  Duration: 20
  Affects self. Only grants attack speed against the targeted enemy. The buff is not lost upon switching target, so it continues to give attack speed upon switching back to it.
• Winter Wyvern - Winter's Curse
  
  Attack Speed Bonus: 55
  Duration: 4/4.75/5.5
  Affects all enemy units within 500 radius around the target.

List of items and abilities reducing attack speed

Attack speed/slows

Version history

Version

Description

6.83

• Maximum Attack Speed increased from 500 to 600 (the primary impact of this is on abilities like Windranger's Focus Fire and Ursa's Overpower).

See also

• Table of Hero attributes

Mechanics Main Heroes Unit Type (Heroes / Clones / Illusions) Complexity Attributes Table Buyback Level Roles Gold Experience Animations Stats Armor Attributes ( Strength / Agility / Intelligence) / Universal) Health & Mana (HP Regen & MP Regen) Magic Resistance Movement Speed / Slow Resistance Status Resistance Turn Rate Misc Creep Controling Death / Denying Vision Unit Size (Collision Size / Bound Radius / Selection Box / Model Size) Gib Type / Shades Adjectives Buildings Towers / Barracks / Ancient / Fountain Effigy Neutral Buildings (Outposts / Watchers / Twin Gates / Lotus Pools) Abilities Type Active / Passive / Autocast Aura Accuracy / Evasion Channeling Damage Barrier Damage Block Damage Manipulation Damage Over Time Talents Teleport Targeting Area No Target Point Unit Vector Combinations Casting Cast Range / Motion Buffer Cast Animation (Cast Point + Backswing) Cooldown Reduction (Flat / Current Flat / Percentage) Reset Charge-based Runes Bounty Rune Water Rune Wisdom Rune Power Runes ( Amplify Damage Rune / Arcane Rune / Haste Rune / Illusion Rune / Invisibility Rune / Regeneration Rune / Shield Rune) Misc Random Distribution Transformation Attack Damage Attack Damage Instant Attack Heroes Attack Classes Attack Range (Acquisition Range) Attack Speed (BAT / Interval) Damage Types (Physical / Magical / Pure / Instant Kill) Flags (HP Removal / No-reflection / No-Spell-Lifesteal / No-Spell-Amplification) Projectile Speed Spell Damage (Outgoing / Incoming) Modifiers Bash Cleave / Splash Corruption Critical Strike Lifesteal / Spell Lifesteal Mana Break On-hit Effects Misc Damage Instance Animation / Orb Walking Status Effects Disables Cyclone Disabling Orders Forced Movement (Knockback) / Upward Movement Fear (Hypnosis) Hide Hex Root Leash Stun Sleep Taunt Movement Move Speed Slow Flying Movement Phased / Tree Walk / Unobstructed Movement Other Attack Immune / Non-targetable Attack Speed Slow Debuff Immunity Spell Immunity Invulnerability Invisibility Blind Break Disarm Ethereal Silence Mute Trap Dispels Basic Strong Death Items Mechanics Courier Sharing / Selling Disassemble Recipes Neutral Item Drop