Dragon Knight

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This page is about the hero Davion, the Dragon Knight. For other uses, see Davion (Disambiguation).

Dragon Knight 21 + 3.4 19 + 2 18 + 1.7
Level 0 1 15 25 30 Health 200 620 1560 2480 2860 +0.25 +2.35 +7.11 +11.71 +13.61 Mana 75 291 567 915 1047 +0 +0.9 +2.09 +3.54 +4.07 Armor 0 3.17 7.83 13.17 15.17 Damage Block 16 (50%) Magic Resistance 25% Status Resistance 0% Damage 32‒38 53‒59 100‒106 146‒152 165‒171 Attack Rate 0.59/s 0.7/s 0.86/s 1.05/s 1.12/s Attack Range 150 (600) Attack Speed ▶️ 100 (1.7s BAT) Attack Animation 0.5+0.5 Projectile Speed Instant Movement Speed ▶️ 310 Turn Rate 0.6 Collision Size 24 Vision Range (G) 1800 • 800 Legs 2 Gib Type Default Ability Upgrades Elder Dragon Form Fireball

Davion, the Dragon Knight, is a durable melee strength hero with a relatively straightforward and yet versatile skill set. He has both an area-of-effect nuke and a lengthy single-target stun, giving him excellent farming and ganking capabilities. Though he has no real escape ability, his Dragon Blood provides him a hefty amount of armor and regen, making him capable of withstanding strong physical hits and recovering quickly. He is still very vulnerable in the early game, however, and needs to farm and stay alive in order to be effective in later stages. If he has enough levels and farm, Dragon Knight is very formidable in the late game due to his strong ultimate, Elder Dragon Form, which transforms him into a legendary dragon with a ranged attack, capable of eliminating multiple enemies at once.

Bio

Davion, the Dragon Knight

▶️ "The Dragon Slyrak sleeps within this armor, and the knight within the Dragon waits. Beware you do not wake them both."

Lore:

After years on the trail of a legendary Eldwurm, the Knight Davion found himself facing a disappointing foe: the dreaded Slyrak had grown ancient and frail, its wings tattered, its few remaining scales stricken with scale-rot, its fangs ground to nubs, and its fire-gouts no more threatening than a pack of wet matchsticks.

Seeing no honor to be gained in dragon-murder, Knight Davion prepared to turn away and leave his old foe to die in peace. But a voice crept into his thoughts, and Slyrak gave a whispered plea that Davion might honor him with death in combat. Davion agreed, and found himself rewarded beyond expectation for his act of mercy: As he sank his blade in Slyrak's breast, the dragon pierced Davion's throat with a talon. As their blood mingled, Slyrak sent his power out along the Blood Route, sending all its strength and centuries of wisdom to the knight. The dragon's death sealed their bond and Dragon Knight was born. The ancient power slumbers in the Dragon Knight Davion, waking when he calls it. Or perhaps it is the Dragon that calls the Knight…

Voice:

Tony Todd (Responses)

Abilities

Breathe Fire

▶️QF

Ability
Target Point / Target Unit

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Unleashes a breath of fire in front of Dragon Knight that burns enemies and reduces the damage their attacks deal.

Cast Animation: 0.2+0.47

Cast Range: 600

Starting Radius: 150

Travel Distance: 750

End Radius: 250

Damage: 90/170/240/300

Attack Damage Reduction: 25% ( 55%)

Reduction Duration: 11

14/13/12/11

90/100/110/120

Attack damage reduction persists if debuff was placed before spell immunity and when not dispelled.
Can directly target spell immune units, launching the fire in their direction.

Modifiers

modifier_dragonknight_breathefire_reduction: Dispellable with any dispel.

Knight Davion's breath has become that of the mighty Eldwurm Slyrak, remembered for burning numerous other knights to a crisp.

Notes:

• Breathe Fire travels at a speed of 1050.

• With the travel distance and end radius, Breathe Fire can hit units up to 1000 range away.
  • The complete area is shaped like a cone.

• Reduces hit targets' total attack damage, including attack damage bonuses.

• Breathe Fire first applies the damage, then the debuff.

• Has a cast backswing of 0.53 seconds while in Elder Dragon Form.

Dragon Tail

▶️▶️WT

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Dragon Knight smites an enemy unit in melee range with his shield, stunning it while dealing minor damage. When in Elder Dragon Form, the cast range increases to 400.

Cast Animation: 0+0.5

Cast Range: 150

Damage: 70/100/130/160

Stun Duration: 2.25/2.5/2.75/3 ( 2.75/3/3.25/3.5)

16/14/12/10

70/80/90/100

The projectile used during Elder Dragon Form can be disjointed.

Modifiers

modifier_stunned: Dispellable with strong dispels.

Davion's combination of dragon talents and knightly skills makes him a vicious opponent in melee combat.

Notes:

• In human form, Dragon Tail does not rely on a projectile and can therefore not be disjointed.

• Dragon Tail first applies the damage, then the debuff.

• While in Elder Dragon Form, Dragon Tail has a cast range of 400 and uses a projectile, instead of being instant.
  • The projectile travels at a speed of 1600.

• The level 25 talent adds a 375 radius to this ability while in Elder Dragon Form. The ability still must be centered over a unit.
  • Causes the launched projectile to apply its effects within the area, instead of only to the targeted unit.
  • Can hit invisible units and units inside the Fog of War.

Dragon Blood

ED

Ability
Passive

Affects
Self

The life blood of the Dragon improves health regeneration and strengthens armor.

Health Regen Bonus: 3/6/9/12 ( 15/18/21/24)

Armor Bonus: 3/6/9/12 ( 15/18/21/24)

Illusions benefit from the health regeneration, but not from the armor.

Modifiers

modifier_dragon_knight_dragon_blood: Undispellable. Persists death.

Slyrak's blood still courses through Davion's veins, giving him twice the vitality of an ordinary knight.

Notes:

• Can regenerate up to 180/360/540/720 ( 900/1080/1260/1440) health in one minute.

Fireball

▶️DB

Ability
Target Area

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Ignites a 450 AoE area for 10 seconds, dealing 65 damage per second that lingers for 2 seconds to enemies in it. Has reduced cast range when melee.

Cast Animation: 0.2+0.53

Cast Range: 600

Radius: 450

Damage per Second: 65

Duration: 10

Aura Linger Duration: 2

20

100

Continues to deal damage while lingering out if spell immunity was acquired after receiving the debuff.

Modifiers

modifier_dragon_knight_fireball: Undispellable. Persists death.

modifier_dragon_knight_fireball_burn: Undispellable. Persists death.

Ability Draft Notes:

Requires drafting Elder Dragon Form to be unlocked.

Notes:

• Requires Aghanim's Shard to be unlocked.

• The damage is provided by an aura, its debuff lingers for 2 seconds.

• Deals 32.5 damage in 0.5-second intervals, immediately upon receiving the debuff, resulting in 25 damage instances.
  • Can deal up to 812.5 damage to a single unit (before reductions).

• Multiple instances of Fireball's debuff do not stack.

• While in Elder Dragon Form, Fireball has a cast range of 1400.

Elder Dragon Form

▶️▶️▶️▶️▶️RR

Ability
No Target

Affects
Self / Enemies

Damage
Magical / Physical

Dragon Knight takes the form of one of three powerful elder dragons, increasing his speed, and Dragon Tail's range, while granting him new powers.
LEVEL 1 Green Dragon - Corrosive Breath: attacks deal 20 poison damage per second for 5 seconds. Works on structures.
LEVEL 2 Red Dragon - Splash Attack: attacks damage all enemy units in a 350 radius for 0%/75%/75%/100%, with Corrosive Breath added to the targets.
LEVEL 3 Blue Dragon - Frost Breath: slows movement speed by 40% and attack speed by 40 of enemy units in Splash Attack range for 3 seconds, with Corrosive Breath added to the targets.

Cast Animation: 0+0.5

Attack Range Bonus: 350 ( 500)

Move Speed Bonus: 25

Magic Resistance Bonus: 0%/0%/0% ( /25%)

Dragon Tail Cast Range Bonus: 250

Dragon Form Duration: 60

Corrosive Breath Damage per Second: 20/20/20 ( /30)

Corrosive Breath Debuff Duration: 5

Splash Attack Radius: 350

Splash Attack Damage: 0%/75%/75% ( /100%)

Frost Breath Radius: 300

Frost Breath Move Speed Slow: 0%/0%/40% ( /60%)

Frost Breath Attack Speed Slow: 0/0/40 ( /60)

Frost Breath Debuff Duration: 3

 Dragon Tail Radius: 375

 Fireball Cast Range Bonus: 800

115/110/105 ( /100)

50

Increases the level of Dragon Knight's ultimate. Adds a 4th level, Black Dragon. Black Dragon has bonus Corrosive Damage, Splash Damage and Slow amount, 25% increased Magic Resistance and free pathing.

Grants a new ability: Fireball

Poison and frost breath do not pierce spell immunity. Splash pierces spell immunity.
Corrosive Breath attempts to damage spell immune enemies when placed before spell immunity and when not dispelled.

Illusions get their own Elder Dragon Form buff lasting its regular duration.

Modifiers

modifier_dragon_knight_dragon_form: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_dragon_knight_corrosive_breath: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_dragon_knight_splash_attack: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_dragon_knight_frost_breath: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_dragon_knight_corrosive_breath_dot: Dispellable with any dispel.

modifier_dragon_knight_frost_breath_slow: Dispellable with any dispel.

The dormant dragon power springs forth from within Davion, combining the powers of a legendary knight with a legendary Eldwurm.

Notes:

• Increases Dragon Knight's movement speed to 335 and attack range to 500 ( 650) ( and magic resistance to 43.75%).
  • Also gives Dragon Knight ranged attack properties. His attack projectiles travel at a speed of 900.

• Level 1 transforms him into a Green Dragon, level 2 into a Red Dragon, and level 3 into a Blue Dragon ( and level 4 into a Black Dragon).

• Elder Dragon Form is fully canceled on death. The Dragon Form buff is hidden, only the 3 attack modifier buffs are displayed.

• Successive casts of Elder Dragon Form refresh the duration and update the form, adapting to the current level of the ability.

• While in Elder Dragon Form, Dragon Knight gains the following attack modifiers through undispellable buffs:
• Corrosive Breath: (Available for Level 1 and higher levels of Elder Dragon Form)
  • Places a Corrosive Breath debuff, which deals magical damage in 1-second intervals, starting 1 second after the debuff is applied, resulting in 5 instances.
  • When on level 2 or higher, the debuff is applied to all enemies within the splash radius.
  • Can deal up to 100 ( 150) damage to a unit (before reductions).
  • Does not work against wards, works against allied units.
  • Corrosive Breath fully affects buildings, meaning it can also be used to deny allied towers. However, buildings are only debuffed when directly attacked.
  • Successive hits do not stack, but refresh the duration.
  • The attacks first apply the debuff, then their own attack damage. However, on secondary targets, it first applies the splash damage, then the debuff.
  • When an attack misses or is disjointed, the debuff is not applied within the radius.

• Splash Attack: (Available for Level 2 and higher levels of Elder Dragon Form)
  • When an attack misses or is disjointed, no splash damage is dealt.
  • Splash damage cannot be amplified with outgoing spell damage amplification and cannot spell lifesteal.
    • Can be amplified by incoming spell damage amplification.
  • The splash damage is physical damage, and is affected by Damage Block.
  • Does not work against wards or buildings.

• Frost Breath: (Available for Level 3 and higher levels of Elder Dragon Form)
  • Does not work against wards, buildings, or allied units.
  • Successive hits do not stack, but refresh the duration.
  • The attacks first apply the debuff, then their own attack damage. The splash damage is applied after the debuff as well.
    • When an attack misses or is disjointed, the slow is not applied within the radius.

• With Aghanim's Scepter, the level of Elder Dragon Form increases 1.
  • Elder Dragon Form has 4 levels by default, but the 4th level can only be reached with Aghanim's Scepter.
  • The Black Dragon form has unobstructed movement, allowing him to path over impassable terrain, units, buildings, and trees.
  • However, it does not have phased movement meaning other units cannot pass through it.
  • The black dragon form is 30% larger than the other forms.

Talents

Hero Talents
+375 AoE Dragon Tail During Elder Dragon Form	25	+12 Dragon Blood HP Regen/Armor
+20 Strength	20	+150 Elder Dragon Form Attack Range
+400 Health	15	+0.5s Dragon Tail
-30% Breathe Fire Damage Reduction	10	+15 Damage

Notes:

• This attack damage talent is added as bonus attack damage.
  • Does not benefit illusions and is not affected by most percentage-based damage increasing or reducing effects.

• The health talent increases maximum health capacity, and keeps the current health percentage.

• The strength talent effectively grants Dragon Knight 400 health, 2 health regeneration, and 20 main attack damage.

Recent Changes

Main Article: Dragon Knight/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.30c

• Increased base attack damage from 31-37 to 32-38.
• Reduced Elder Dragon Form cooldown from 115 on each level to 115/110/105/100.
• Aghanim's Scepter upgrade:
  • Black Dragon
    • Increased magic resistance bonus from 20% to 25%.
• Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
  • Increased Fireball damage per second from 60 to 65.

7.30

• Increased health regeneration from 0 to 0.25.
• Reduced Dragon Tail stun duration from 2.5/2.75/3/3.25 to 2.25/2.5/2.75/3.
• Reduced Dragon Blood health regen bonus from 4/8/12/16 to 3/6/9/12.
• Aghanim's Scepter upgrade:
  • Black Dragon
    • Reduced splash damage from 115% to 100%.
    • Reduced magic resistance bonus from 40% to 20%.
• Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
  • Fireball
    • Now uses an aura to deal its damage, which lingers on enemies for 2 seconds. [?]
    • Reduced damage per second from 80 to 60.

7.29

• Dragon Tail
  • Increased damage from 50/75/100/125 to 70/100/130/160.
  • Reduced mana cost from 100 on each level to 70/80/90/100.
  • Increased cooldown from 12/11/10/9 to 16/14/12/10.
• Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
  • Fireball
    • Is now always present, instead of only during Elder Dragon Form.
    • Uses a cast range of 600 when used outside of Elder Dragon Form. [?]
• Talents:

Level 10 left talent: +24% Breathe Fire attack damage reduction increased to +30%.

Level 10 right talent changed: +2 mana regen ➜ +15 attack damage.

Level 15 right talent changed: +25 attack damage ➜ +0.5s Dragon Tail stun duration.

Level 20 right talent changed: 15% cooldown reduction ➜ +150 Elder Dragon Form attack range.

Level 25 left talent changed: +1.6s Dragon Tail stun duration ➜ 375 AoE Dragon Tail during Elder Dragon Form.

Level 25 right talent changed: 1.8x Dragon Blood health regen/armor ➜ +12 Dragon Blood health regen/armor.

Recommended Items

Starting items:

• Clarity helps with Dragon Knight's small mana pool, allowing him to use Breathe Fire more often in lane.
• Iron Branch gives nice attributes, and can be used to build a Magic Wand.
• Tango regenerates health early on until Dragon Blood.

Early game:

• Boots of Speed are compulsory because of the early speed boost they give.
• Bracer provides a good amount of strength, survivability, and overall tankiness in the early game.
• Magic Stick can help offset the damage of being harassed by spells, and provide a burst of HP and Mana to help win early fights.
• Quelling Blade makes last hitting easier due to his low base damage.
• Soul Ring is a useful item on Dragon Knight, as it allows him to farm using Breathe Fire constantly. The health regeneration from Dragon Blood offsets the health loss.

Mid game:

• Armlet of Mordiggian is common choice for strength DPS heroes. HP regen from Dragon Blood effectively manages the HP consumed by an activated Armlet.
• Black King Bar is a crucial item to have in most games to prevent being disabled. With the added survivability, damage and spell immunity, you become more durable and able to jump into the fight with less risk of dying.
• Blink Dagger gives great mobility and initiation potential which Dragon Knight severely lacks.
• Shadow Blade gives good mobility and ideal in games where Dragon Knight requires a way to initiate or gank the opposing team. The stealth allows you to initiate using your stun, and the bonus damage coming out of stealth is also helpful. Can be upgraded later into Silver Edge to break passive abilities.
• Magic Wand is a natural upgrade for Magic stick, offering a larger potential burst of health and mana.
• Power Treads increases attack speed, and also allows for attribute switching. Using Soul Ring while set to strength, then casting spells on intelligence minimizes the HP cost and maximizes the mana gained.

Late game:

• Assault Cuirass gives attack speed and armor to you and surrounding allies. It also places a debuff on enemies, making them easier to kill. It is a good item if you have many attackers in your team.

Situational items:

• Heaven's Halberd gives strength, status resistance and evasion that stacks nicely with Dragon Knight's large HP pool and high armor, and the disarm effectively prevents the enemy from dealing damage.
• Sange and Yasha provides you with a modest chunk of attributes, as well as increasing his movement speed and attack speed, boosts health regeneration and lifesteal, and gives status resistance.
• Manta Style illusions get full benefits of the bonuses of Elder Dragon Form and the passive Dragon Blood. It provides you with valuable attack speed and movement speed.
• Aghanim's Scepter gives another level to your ultimate which allows you to become a black dragon. It also provides health, mana, and some decent stats. Upgrade to Aghanim's Blessing later on in order to free up an item slot.
• Aghanim's Shard unlocks the "Fireball" ability; great for pushing and also provides more AoE damage in team fights .
• Satanic grants a sizeable strength boost, as well as damage and lifesteal, significantly increasing Dragon Knight's survivability.
• Heart of Tarrasque provides you with a massive HP boost and a passive ability to gain health more quickly, also adds strength which increases his attack damage and synergizes well with Dragon Blood.
• Daedalus makes you deal more damage, and gives you the chance to make critical hits.
• Eye of Skadi provides a slow that pierces spell immunity, like the Frost Breath from your level 3 Dragon Form. Cold Attack combined with Frost Breath reduces an enemy's damage output significantly and makes it hard for enemy heroes to disengage from a fight once they are attacked by Dragon Knight. It also provides a huge boost to health (increases overall survivability), intelligence (helps with your mana consumption), and agility (gives more attack speed and armor).
• Moon Shard can be considered as a final luxury when your team is far ahead.
• Overwhelming Blink a natural upgrade for Blink Dagger which gives a good amount of strength as well as slowing both attack and movement speed of enemies when you blink near them.
• Arcane Blink can be used to reduce Elder Dragon Form's cooldown.
• Radiance Substantially increases DPS in team fights due to the AoE DoT and can also boost farming potential.

Gameplay

Roles:	Carry Pusher Durable Disabler Initiator Nuker
Complexity:	★☆☆
Playstyle:	As Sir Davion slew Slyrak in arranged combat, the Eldwurm's blood mingled with his own, sealing their essences together. He was no longer a dragon-slayer, but a Dragon Knight. The infusion of Dragon Blood caused his wounds to heal with inhuman speed, and granted him great new powers. While nowhere as grand as Slyrak, he found himself with the ability to Breathe Fire, immolating packs of foes at once. But when Davion took on his Elder Dragon Form, he became the Eldwurm itself, and upon his awestruck enemies he rained projectiles of acid, fire, and ice.

Strategy & Tips

Counters &
Matchups

Audio

Responses

Sounds

History

Lore

Old Abilities

Changelogs

Equipment

Dragon Knight Equipment (expand sets) Personas Davion of Dragon Hold Sets Armor of Sir Davion Set Bitterwing Legacy Blazing Oblivion Bones of the Slain Dragon Set Dragon's Ascension Enchanted Plate of the Crimson Wyvern Set Fire Dragon of Doom Fire Tribunal Set Fire-Blessed Mail of the Drake Set Knight of the Burning Scale Legacy of the Eldwurm Crest Outland Ravager Pact of the Wurmblood Scorched Amber Silverwurm Sacrifice The Blazing Superiority The Gilded Maw Third Awakening Uldorak's Hide Set Weapon Ashtongue Davion's Broken Dragon Hold Sword Dragonblood Ravager Ember Edge Heavy Wingblade Salamander's Fang The Dragon's Soul Shield Crest of the Wyrm Lords Elder Shield Head Davion's Dragon Hold Helm Elder Dragon Form Kindred of the Iron Dragon Kinetic Gems Kinetic: The Knight's Repose

Trivia

• In DotA, Dragon Knight's fun name was Trogdor, a character that first appeared in episode 58 of the "Strong Bad e-mail" show on the website HomestarRunner.com.
  • He also has an alternate name when he transforms with his ultimate in DotA, in which he is named "Arc Honist".
• In The Lab, a VR game by Valve, there are some Bendie soldiers who wield Dragon Knight's sword in the minigame Longshot, along with other Dota 2 weapons like Axe's war axe, Huskar's spear and Stout Shield.

Gallery

• 

  Splash artwork

• 

  Steam profile background art

• 

  Dragon Knight revealed in the Gamescom Trailer

• 

  Alpha textures from 2011 as seen in the trailer
  "Are We Heroes Yet?", featuring new shield design

• 

  More recent beta textures from 2012

• 

  New textures to avoid similarities between Dragon Knight and Silencer

• 

  Concept art

• 

  Ability icon progress

• 

  Hero icon progress

• 

  Dragon Knight concept art for Dragon's Blood

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  Dragon Knight on the 7.00 update page.