Spell Block is a defensive ability that protects the unit from most single target spells, ranging from basic small abilities to the strongest single target ultimates.
Mechanics
Spell Block acts as a passive effect, activating automatically when a blockable single target spell is targeted at the unit. It may also come in form of a buff, protecting the unit while the buff is active. All Spell Blocks have a down time and go on cooldown after blocking a spell. It does not provide permanent protection against single target spells. Spell Block only blocks spells upon cast, it does not cancel already ongoing cast when going off cooldown while already affected by a single target spell.
With a very few exceptions, Spell Block does not protect against area of effect spells. It also does not protect against single target spells when hit as a secondary target. The unit must be the primary targeting order to block the spell. If a single target spell has an area effect, Spell Block also completely negates the area effect, effectively protecting nearby allies as well, but again, there are exceptions to this. Projectile-based spells are usually blocked upon impact, and not upon cast, with a few exceptions.
A spell's interaction against Spell Block may change if the ability gets changed by other abilities, talents or by Aghanim's Scepter. For example, when a single target turns into a non-targeted spell, Spell Block may no longer block it.
Spell Block does not block any active attack modifier and does not block any abilities of allies.
Sources of Spell Block
- Anti-Mage - [[Anti-Mage#|]]Cooldown: {{#show:Anti-Mage#Spell Shield|?cooldown aghs#}}
Requires Aghanim's Scepter. - Cooldown: {{#show:Linken's Sphere#Spellblock|?cooldown#}}
Can temporarily be transfered to an ally. - Queen of Pain - [[Queen of Pain#|]]
- Cooldown: {{#show:Roshan#Spell Block|?cooldown#}}
Not blocked abilities
These abilities are not blocked by Spell Block.
Fully blocked abilities
These abilities are fully blocked by Spell Block.
- Abaddon – Mist Coil1
- Alchemist – Unstable Concoction Throw1 2
- Ancient Apparition – Cold Feet4
- Anti-Mage – Mana Void3
- Arc Warden – Flux
- Axe – Battle Hunger
- Axe – Culling Blade3
- Bane – Enfeeble
- Bane – Brain Sap
- Bane – Fiend's Grip
- Batrider – Flaming Lasso3
- Beastmaster – Primal Roar3
- Bloodseeker – Bloodrage
- Bloodseeker – Rupture
- Bounty Hunter – Shuriken Toss1 2 5
- Bounty Hunter – Track
- Lua error: Found no Cargo data for "Brewmaster - Drunken Haze".
- Bristleback – Viscous Nasal Goo1 4
- Broodmother – Spawn Spiderlings1
- Centaur Warrunner – Double Edge3
- Chaos Knight – Chaos Bolt1
- Chaos Knight – Reality Rift
- Chen – Penitence
- Lua error: Found no Cargo data for "Chen - Test of Faith".
- Crystal Maiden – Frostbite
- Dark Willow – Cursed Crown
- Dazzle – Poison Touch3
- Death Prophet – Spirit Siphon
- Disruptor – Thunder Strike3
- Disruptor – Glimpse
- Doom – Doom
- Dragon Knight – Dragon Tail1
- Earth Spirit – Boulder Smash3
- Earth Spirit – Enchant Remnant
- Enchantress – Enchant
- Enigma – Malefice
- Gyrocopter – Homing Missile1
- Huskar – Life Break1
- Invoker – Cold Snap
- Juggernaut – Omnislash3 5
- Lua error: Found no Cargo data for "Keeper of the Light - Mana Leak".
- Kunkka – X Marks the Spot
- Legion Commander – Duel
- Leshrac – Lightning Storm3
- Lich – Frost Blast3 6
- Lich – Chain Frost1 3 5
- Lifestealer – Open Wounds
- Lina – Laguna Blade6
- Lion – Earth Spike2
- Lion – Hex4
- Lion – Mana Drain3
- Lion – Finger of Death3 6
- Luna – Lucent Beam
- Medusa – Mystic Snake1 2 5
- Morphling – Adaptive Strike (Agility)1 2
- Morphling – Adaptive Strike (Strength)1 2
- Morphling – Morph
- Naga Siren – Ensnare1
- Necrophos – Reaper's Scythe
- Night Stalker – Void
- Night Stalker – Crippling Fear
- Lua error: Found no Cargo data for "Nyx Assassin - Mana Burn".
- Ogre Magi – Ignite1 3
- Oracle – Fortune's End1 3
- Oracle – Fate's Edict
- Oracle – Purifying Flames
- Lua error: Found no Cargo data for "Outworld Devourer - Astral Imprisonment".
- Phantom Assassin – Stifling Dagger1 2
- Phantom Assassin – Phantom Strike
- Phantom Lancer – Spirit Lance1 2
- Pudge – Dismember
- Pugna – Decrepify
- Pugna – Life Drain
- Queen of Pain – Shadow Strike1 3
- Razor – Static Link
- Riki – Blink Strike
- Rubick – Telekinesis3
- Rubick – Fade Bolt3
- Rubick – Spell Steal
- Sand King – Burrowstrike2
- Shadow Demon – Disruption
- Shadow Demon – Demonic Purge
- Shadow Shaman – Ether Shock3
- Shadow Shaman – Hex
- Shadow Shaman – Shackles
- Silencer – Last Word
- Skywrath Mage – Arcane Bolt1 2
- Skywrath Mage – Ancient Seal3
- Slardar – Corrosive Haze
- Sniper – Assassinate1 4
- Spirit Breaker – Charge of Darkness3
- Spirit Breaker – Nether Strike3
- Storm Spirit – Electric Vortex4
- Sven – Storm Hammer1 3
- Terrorblade – Sunder
- Tidehunter – Gush1 4
- Tinker – Laser3
- Treant Protector – Leech Seed
- Tusk – Walrus Kick
- Vengeful Spirit – Magic Missile1
- Vengeful Spirit – Nether Swap
- Viper – Viper Strike1
- Visage – Grave Chill
- Visage – Soul Assumption1 2
- Warlock – Fatal Bonds3
- Warlock – Shadow Word4
- Windranger – Shackleshot1 3
- Windranger – Focus Fire
- Winter Wyvern – Splinter Blast1 3 6
- Winter Wyvern – Winter's Curse3
- Witch Doctor – Paralyzing Cask1 2 5
- Wraith King – Wraithfire Blast1 2
- Zeus – Arc Lightning3
- Abyssal Blade – Overwhelm
- Bloodthorn – Soul Rend
- Dagon – Energy Burst6
- Diffusal Blade – Inhibit
- Ethereal Blade – Ether Blast1
- Eul's Scepter of Divinity – Cyclone
- Force Staff – Force
- Heaven's Halberd – Disarm
- Hurricane Pike – Hurricane Thrust
- Nullifier – Nullify1
- Orchid Malevolence – Soul Burn
- Rod of Atos – Cripple1
- Scythe of Vyse – Hex
- Lua error: Found no Cargo data for "Dark Troll Summoner - Ensnare".
- Earth – Hurl Boulder1
- Harpy Stormcrafter – Chain Lightning3
- Mud Golem – Hurl Boulder1
- Necronomicon Archer – Purge
- Satyr Banisher – Purge
- Satyr Mindstealer – Mana Burn
- Shard Golem – Hurl Boulder1
- Storm – Cyclone
1 Projectile-based abilities, these are blocked upon impact, not upon cast.
2 These abilities can hit multiple targets, and are blocked for everyone hit by them.
3 These abilities can hit multiple targets, but are only blocked when primary target. When blocked, the spell gets completely negated, including its area effects.
4 These abilities can be upgraded by talents and/or Aghanim's Scepter so that they are no longer blocked by Spell Block.
5 These bouncing spells do not stop bouncing when blocked.
6 Despite being blocked, the particle effects of these spells still fully appear.
Unique interactions
- Blocked upon cast and upon attacking a unit affected by an enemy Nightmare.
- Blocked fully only when directly targeted. Does not block when ground targeted.
- Blocked fully only when directly targeted. Does not block when ground targeted.
- When blocked, ends Multicast, no matter if the initial cast or a multicast instance was blocked.
- When blocked, ends Multicast, no matter if the initial cast or a multicast instance was blocked.
- Procs only when secondary target while a hero was directly targeted. However, Spectral Dagger instantly reattempts to apply the debuff, thus wasting Spell Block's cooldown. No interaction with the primary target or when hit while the ground was targeted.
- Units counted towards damage still lose health.
- Mini-stun and damage are blocked when hit, no matter if directly targeted or not. Vision is only blocked when directly targeted. Bolts from the Nimbus are not blocked.
Version history
- Spell Block now blocks Wrath of Nature and Lightning Storm completely only when primary target, no longer interacts when secondary target.
- Spell Block no longer blocks Nether Ward's Mana Flare, Fissure, Chain Lightning and Chain Lightning.
- Spell Block now blocks a ground-targeted Lightning Bolt.
- Spell Block now blocks Static Link and Culling Blade.
- Spell Block no longer blocks Valor and Soul Release.
- Spell Block now properly blocks Unstable Concoction and Mist Coil.
- Spell Block now properly blocks Lua error in Module:Ability_ID at line 61: Could not find Cargo data for "Mana Burn"..
- Spell Block now properly blocks Mana Void and Viscous Nasal Goo.
- Spell Block no longer interrupts the unit upon blocking a spell.
- Spell Block now properly blocks the following spells: Shackleshot, Brain Sap, Spirit Lance, Test of Faith, Malefice, Poison Touch, Shadow Word, Lua error in Module:Ability_ID at line 61: Could not find Cargo data for "Astral Imprisonment"., Life Break, X Marks the Spot, Battle Hunger, Open Wounds, Electric Vortex, Paralyzing Cask, Multicast, Adaptive Strike, Nether Swap, Rupture, Stifling Dagger, Sprout, Lightning Bolt, Earth Spike, Impale, Burrowstrike, Unstable Concoction, Mana Leak, Storm Hammer, Reaper's Scythe, Nether Strike and Gush.
- Spell Block is added to the game with Linken's Sphere.
Patch history
- Fixed Multicast Ignite's interaction with Spell Block.
- Fixed Aghanim's Scepter upgraded Viscous Nasal Goo interaction with Spell Block.
- Fixed Blink Strike and Aghanim's Scepter upgraded Demonic Purge not losing charges when blocked by Spell Block.
- Fixed Spell Block proccing on the Greater Bash from Charge of Darkness and Nether Strike.