Axe

Axe 25 + 3.4 20 + 2.2 18 + 1.6
	+20HP and +0.1HP regeneration/point.; +1 main attack damage/point.
	+0.17 armor and 1 attack speed/point.
	+12MP and +0.05MP regeneration/point.
L0	Base Hero Values
L1	⤷ + Base Attributes
L15	⤷ + Attribute Gain
L25	⤷ + 6 levels of Attribute Bonus
L30	⤷ + 7 levels of Attribute Bonus
	All values shown are without talent bonuses.

Hero

Strategy

Counters

Mogul Khan, the Axe, is a melee strength hero, infamous for creating chaos in battle and thriving off of it.

Axe is commonly played as an initiator, as his potent disables can disrupt the enemy's formation and give his team openings in fights. Axe's fighting style demands that he gets up close and very personal, as he can taunt enemies into attacking him with Berserker's Call, preventing them from engaging his teammates and granting him a huge amount of bonus armor. Once he has the enemy's attention, he can counter those who strike him with a sweeping Counter Helix that slashes all enemies at melee range with pure damage. He also has a slow and damage-over-time nuke in Battle Hunger, which can harass the enemy or force them to join in battle, while also slowing their movement speed and boosting his own. Finally, he has the ability to unconditionally remove weakened enemies from the battlefield if they are under a certain threshold with Culling Blade, while simultaneously boosting his allies' speed. A bloodthirsty and indomitable warrior, Axe's presence on the battlefield is felt by friend and foe alike, dominating the attention of the enemy wherever he goes.

Bio[]

Mogul Khan, the Axe

▶️ "Axe is all the reinforcement this army needs!"

Lore:

As a grunt in the Army of Red Mist, Mogul Khan set his sights on the rank of Red Mist General. In battle after battle he proved his worth through gory deed. His rise through the ranks was helped by the fact that he never hesitated to decapitate a superior. Through the seven year Campaign of the Thousand Tarns, he distinguished himself in glorious carnage, his star of fame shining ever brighter, while the number of comrades in arms steadily dwindled. On the night of ultimate victory, Axe declared himself the new Red Mist General, and took on the ultimate title of 'Axe.' But his troops now numbered zero. Of course, many had died in battle, but a significant number had also fallen to Axe's blade. Needless to say, most soldiers now shun his leadership. But this matters not a whit to Axe, who knows that a one-man army is by far the best.

Voice:

Jon St. John (Responses)

Abilities[]

Berserker's Call

▶️QE

Ability
No Target

Affects
Enemies / Self

Axe taunts nearby enemy units, forcing them to attack him, while he gains bonus armor during the duration.

Cast Animation: +

Radius: 300 (

400)

Armor Bonus: 30

Duration: 2/2.4/2.8/3.2

17/15/13/11 (

14/12/10/8)

80/90/100/110

Berserker's Call applies Battle Hunger to affected units. Reduces Berserker's Call cooldown by 3.

Modifiers

modifier_axe_berserkers_call_armor: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_axe_berserkers_call: Dispellable with death only.

Ability Draft Notes:

Battle Hunger must be drafted as well for it to get applied.

Mogul Khan's warcry taunts opponents into engaging in an unconquerable battle with the Axe.

Notes:

Taunts affected enemies, forcing them to attack Axe.
- Does not silence, so active attack modifiers with Autocast on are still applied.
- Affects invisible units and units in the Fog of War. Does not affect towers, wards, invulnerable or hidden units.
- Does not affect lane creeps from the very first creep wave that spawns, until they meet the opposing creeps in the lane.

When cast on a unit under the taunt effect of Berserker's Call refreshes the duration.

When Axe dies, the taunt ends immediately.

With Aghanim's Scepter, Battle Hunger of its current level is applied to all enemies within 300 ( 400) radius.

Battle Hunger

▶️WR

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Enemies / Self

Damage
Magical

Enrages an enemy unit, causing it to be slowed and take damage over time until it kills another unit or the duration ends. Axe gains movement speed for each unit affected with Battle Hunger, half speed from creeps.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 700/775/850/925

Damage per Second: 16/24/32/40 (

116/124/132/140)

Enemy Move Speed Slow: 12%/13%/14%/15%

Self Move Speed Bonus per Affected Enemy: 12%/13%/14%/15%

Non-Hero Speed Multiplier: 0.5

Duration: 12

Enemy Armor Reduction: 7

Self Armor Bonus per Affected Enemy: 7

20/15/10/5

50/60/70/80

Battle Hunger also reduces enemy armor by 7 and grants Axe 7 armor per affected targeted.

Slow persists, and attempts to damage if debuff was placed before spell immunity and when not dispelled.

Modifiers

modifier_axe_battle_hunger_self: Undispellable. Persists death.

modifier_axe_battle_hunger: Dispellable with any dispel.

Ordinary heroes cannot withstand Mogul Khan's rage for battle, such that it injures them until it is satisfied.

Notes:

Reduces non-hero units' movement speed by 6%/6.5%/7%/7.5% and armor by 3.5.
- Battle Hunger treats creep-heroes as creeps.

Battle Hunger has a passive modifier that is present at all times, but hidden when the stack count is at 0.
- This modifier gains 1 stack for every affected creep, and 2 for every affected hero.
- Each stack grants Axe 6%/6.5%/7%/7.5% movement speed and 3.5 armor.
- This means each affected hero effectively grants Axe 12%/13%/14%/15% movement speed and 7 armor.
- This modifier has no stack limit.

Casting Battle Hunger multiple times on the same target does not stack, but refreshes the duration instead.

Deals damage in 1-second intervals, starting 1 second after the debuff is placed, resulting in 12 instances.

Can deal up to 192/288/384/480 ( 1392/1488/1584/1680) damage (before reductions) when lasting its full duration.

The debuff can be removed by killing any unit that is not an illusion, in any way. This includes buildings, wards, and denying allied units.
- The affected unit itself has to make the kill to remove the debuff. Summons or illusions owned by the same player do not remove it when they make a kill.

Leveling up Battle Hunger does not update the damage of already placed debuffs.
- However, the damage upgrading talent immediately upgrades all current active Battle Hunger debuffs.

Counter Helix

▶️EX

Ability
Passive

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Pure

When attacked, Axe has a chance to perform a helix counter attack, dealing pure damage to all nearby enemies.

Radius: 275

Proc Chance: 17%/18%/19%/20% (

27%/28%/29%/30%)

Damage: 60/100/140/180 (

90/130/170/210)

Max Stacks: 5

Attack Damage Reduction per Stack: 20%

Stacks Duration: 6

0.3

Counter Helix now applies a stacking -20% Attack Damage debuff for 6s to enemies hit by it. Increases Counter Helix Chance by 10%.

If Break is applied by an attack, Counter Helix may trigger first on that attack before getting disabled.

Axe illusions have a fully functional Counter Helix.

Modifiers

modifier_axe_counter_helix: Undispellable. Persists death.

modifier_axe_counter_helix_damage_reduction: Dispellable with any dispel.

Axe is the only reinforcement this army needs.

Notes:

Can only proc when an enemy unit lands an attack on Axe, regardless of distance. This means it cannot proc on missed attacks.

Can proc on the secondary attacks from other instant attacks.
- Secondary attacks from Moon Glaives, Death Ward, Split Shot and Flak Cannon cannot trigger Counter Helix.
- Cannot proc on attacks from buildings, wards and allies.

Despite the visual effects, the damage is applied instantly within the radius.

Counter Helix uses pseudo-random distribution.

Counter Helix does not use a regular cooldown. It is neither displayed on the ability icon when proccing, nor is it affected by cooldown manipulating effects.

With Aghanim's Shard, Counter Helix places one debuff on enemies within its radius. This debuff gets stronger when it gets refreshed with successive procs.
- The debuff can stack up to 5 times. A number on the icon shows the current number of stacks.
- Successive procs refresh the entire stack's duration.
- Can reduce an enemy's attack damage by 20%/40%/60%/80%/100% with each amount of stacks.
- Reduces hit enemies' total attack damage, including bonus attack damage.

Culling Blade

▶️

▶️RC

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Enemies / Allies

Damage
Magical / Instant Kill

Axe spots a weakness and strikes, instantly killing an enemy unit with low health, or dealing moderate damage otherwise. When an enemy hero is killed with Culling Blade, its cooldown is reset, and Axe and nearby allied units gain bonus movement speed.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 150

Kill Move Speed Bonus Radius: 900

Damage: 150/250/300

Kill Health Threshold: 250/350/450 (

400/500/600)

Kill Move Speed Bonus: 30%

Kill Attack Speed Bonus: 30

Kill Bonus Buff Duration: 6

75/65/55

60/120/180

Modifiers

modifier_axe_culling_blade_boost: Dispellable with any dispel.

modifier_axe_culling_blade_jungle_weapon_gesture: Dispellable with death only.

Mogul Khan is the embodiment of battle and fury, launching into a gruesome fatality against those who dare engage the Axe in combat.

Notes:

When the target's health is above the threshold, it deals its regular magical damage to the target and plays a different sound.
- Even when the target dies to the regular damage (possible with damage amplifications), the other bonuses of Culling Blade are not granted.

When the target's health is below the 250/350/450 ( 400/500/600) threshold, it does the following:
- It deals pure damage, flagged as HP Removal, to the target equal to the health threshold value.
- It applies the movement and attack speed bonus to Axe and nearby allies.
- If the target was a hero, clone or illusion, its cooldown gets reset.

The target's health is checked upon reaching the cast point, so if it gained health during that time so it exceeds the health threshold, Culling Blade fails.

Culling Blade is able to kill targets affected by Shallow Grave, False Promise, Borrowed Time and Battle Trance but not Wraith Delay.

The jungle weapon gesture modifier is responsible for the sound and animation used by Fists of Axe Unleashed.

Talents[]

Hero Talents
+100 Battle Hunger DPS	25	+100 Berserker's Call AoE
+20 Health Regen	20	+150 Culling Blade Threshold
+30 Counter Helix Damage	15	+25 Movement Speed
+12% Magic Resistance	10	+1.5 Mana Regen

Notes:

The magic resistance talent stacks multiplicatively with other sources of magic resistance.
- Increases Axe's magic resistance to 34%.

Recent Changes[]

Main Article: Axe/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.30e

Battle Hunger
- Increased enemy movement speed slow from 12% on each level to 12%/13%/14%/15%.
- Increased self movement speed bonus per affected enemy from 12% on each level to 12%/13%/14%/15%.

7.30

Reworked Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
- Old: Increases Counter Helix proc chance by 5% and allows it to also proc on attacks Axe performs, using the same proc chance, and ignoring its cooldown. Also makes it passively grant 35 attack speed.
- New: Increases Counter Helix proc chance by 10% and causes it to apply a stacking debuff that reduces the enemy's attack damage by 20% and increases their chance to trigger Counter Helix by 10%. The debuff stacks up to 5 times and lasts 6 seconds.
Talents:

Level 10 left talent changed: +9

strength ➜ +12% magic resistance.

Level 15 left talent changed: +300 health ➜ +30

Counter Helix damage.

7.29d

Increased Berserker's Call cooldown from 16/14/12/10 to 17/15/13/11.
Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
- Reduced Counter Helix proc chance bonus from 10% to 5%.

Recommended Items[]

Starting items:

Tango is needed for every hero to slowly regenerate lost health in lane.
Healing Salve regenerates most of the health lost to enemy harassment, giving you a very big edge on heroes who don't buy one.
Iron Branch builds into a Magic Wand which you will want at some point in the early stages of the game, as Axe likes to be in the thick of things.
Ring of Protection boosts survivability against physical damage, also goes into Buckler, a very common starting item.
Wind Lace gives movement speed boost for a cheap price, and builds into Tranquil Boots.
Ring of Regen gives some regen for a cheap price, and also builds into Tranquil Boots.

Early game:

Bracer should be considered as a small item as it allows Axe to gain some magic resistance and additional health. It's especially useful when you are ahead and doing well, as it buffs your strength.
Phase Boots is an excellent alternative with 4 bonus armor since Axe does not have much agility gain throughout the game while also maintaining the speed boost.
Tranquil Boots provide Axe with movement speed and passive health regeneration outside of combat. It is one of two options for Axe early for increasing his mobility for early initiations, and providing a source of HP regen to allow him to remain on the field instead of returning to base.
Magic Wand allows Axe to gain burst health and mana while in the middle of fights, where he excels at most.

Mid game:

Blink Dagger is the most important item for Axe as it allows him to initiate and counter-initiate for his team.
Aghanim's Shard is a strong mid game pick up that will greatly increase Axe's damage output throughout the game, as it improves Counter Helix, allowing it to proc on attacks rather than only when being attacked, on top of slightly increasing the chances and giving an attack speed boost. This Helix proc completely ignores the cooldown of the normal ability and works independently from it, meaning Axe will be able to trigger Counter Helix very often.
Blade Mail it provides Axe some damage and armor. The active gives a real punishment for any hard hitting hero caught within your Berserkers Call.
Town Portal Scroll is necessary for allowing Axe to be present at teamfights and ganks. His powers as an initiator can set up fights decisively for his team.
Vanguard gives Axe even more survivability against physical damage by giving him increased damage block, more HP and HP regen. This item excels against physical damage dealers and allows unlimited jungling, but Axe should not be played primarily as a jungler.

Late game:

Black King Bar can be a necessary purchase if he is facing a very disable-heavy lineup. Because he jumps right into the middle of the enemy to initiate, he is a prime target for focusing down with magic nukes and stuns, so having spell immunity can allow him to do more in fights and get more uses of Berserker's Call of.
Crimson Guard, upgraded from Vanguard, is a strong utility item that provides Axe with even more survivability against physical damage. The extra armor and attributes on top of the existing damage block and bonus HP can make him extremely tanky, and he can augment it even more and protect his allies with the active.
Pipe of Insight allows Axe to initiate without fear of hard magical damage and allows him to march on the front lines and support his team against said magical damage.

Situational items:

Urn of Shadows is a good ganking item early game that gives Axe many benefits. The extra strength increases Axe's HP and base damage, and the passive mana regen helps with his mana problems. This should usually be gotten by a teammate however.
Lotus Orb is a strong initiator item that allows Axe to punish enemies for targeting him with disables. The item provides armor and more regeneration, making him more tanky and allowing him to replenish his mana over time. The active, used during an initiation, can punish enemies who target Axe with single-target disables and nukes, disabling and nuking them in turn to cause more chaos for Axe's team to capitalize on.
Heart of Tarrasque greatly increases Axe's health and provides base damage, giving him much more power as an initiator, since he can continue disabling the enemy during fights so long as he is alive. As well, if he manages to survive fights and escape, he can quickly regenerate his HP and jump straight back into battle.
Shiva's Guard drastically boosts Axe's intelligence and armor, giving him yet more survivability against physical damage while also eliminating his mana problems. The attack speed slow aura can greatly hinder the enemy from making physical attacks during fights, while the active can be used as a damage nuke and a slow to hinder their mobility.
Boots of Travel gives Axe additional battlefield and global mobility. The global teleport allows Axe to show up to fights to initiate for his team more easily, while the increased movement speed allows him to be more mobile on the battlefield, chasing enemies down and inflicting them with Battle Hunger to slow them.
Assault Cuirass is a strong teamfight item that greatly increases Axe's armor and attack speed. The armor provides yet more resistance against physical damage, and the attack speed allows Axe to become much more threatening with his right-clicks. The allied armor and attack speed aura is a strong edge in teamfights.
Heaven's Halberd is a strong survivability and utility item that can help Axe if the enemy's physical damage output is more than he can handle. The additional strength and evasion give him more health and survivability against physical attacks, respectively, and the active disarm allows Axe to completely stop an enemy from attacking.
Mjollnir is a strong late-game purchase on Axe given his role as a close-range initiator. The item gives him greatly increased attack speed, making his physical attacks much more dangerous and enhancing the effectiveness of his Attacking Procs Counter Helix talent. Chain Lightning provides AoE magical damage in teamfights, while the Static Charge active can also be placed on Axe himself right before initiation, further punishing the enemy for attacking him during Berserker's Call.
Bloodstone is a strong purchase on Axe. The item gives him great survivability during teamfights: the damage of Counter Helix, Culling Blade, Blade Mail, Battle Hunger (and also the Chain Lightning and Static Charge of Mjollnir) all benefit from spell lifesteal and amplification. The item grants Axe bonus health and mana.

Gameplay[]


Roles:	Initiator Durable Disabler Jungler Carry
Complexity:	★☆☆
Playstyle:	One by one the soldiers of the Red Mist fell, some in battle, others to Moghul Khan's ambitions, until the self-declared general found himself a commander without troops. No matter, Axe thought. For a one-man army is the best army of all. Leaping into battle, Moghul Khan compels nearby foes to attack him with a taunting Berserker's Call. Absorbing blows from every direction, Axe reacts by swinging his axe full circle in a Counter Helix, easily dispatching the swarm he had gathered. But alas, not all stay long enough to meet their end. The few limping away from Moghul Khan feel an inexplicable Battle Hunger, a hunger that is never sated before Axe sends them to an early grave with Culling Blade.

Strategy & Tips

Counters &
Matchups

Audio[]

Responses

Sounds

History[]

Lore

Old Abilities

Changelogs

Equipment[]

Trivia[]

Axe's alternate/fun name was "Mogul Kahnt Touch This", a reference to MC Hammer's famous song U Can't Touch This.
Axe, Disruptor, and Warlock are all related as they come from the Oglodi race.
Axe's phrase ▶️ "Better red than dead!" is a reversed reference to an American Cold War slogan stating "Better dead than Red".
Several of Axe's deny and Culling Blade killing blow responses (such as ▶️ "You get nothing. Good day, sir!") are references to Willy Wonka's infamous rage scene in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.^[1]
Axe's name, lore and "one-man army" image may have been inspired by Khan Noonien Singh in the Star Trek series, who was also described as a "one-man army" and killed uncooperative subordinates (along with used-to wearing a red shirt).
Axe was once the mascot of Dota 2, featuring only himself in several Dota 2 pages and game arts. This was removed in November 2013 for unknown reasons.
- Such was his popularity that Valve once considered creating a Dota 2 spinoff RPG, before coming up with a single player RPG featuring him as the main character, dating way back in 2013 when Valve was preparing new games for the Source 2 engine. This never left the conceptual stage, however.^[2]
In The Lab, a VR game by Valve, there are some Bendies who wield Axe's war axe, along with other Dota 2 weapons like a Stout Shield, Huskar's spear and Legion Commander's sword.