Dragon Knight
This page is about the hero Davion, the Dragon Knight. For the group in Dota 2 lore, see Dragon Knights.
Hero
Dragon Knight
    21 + 3.4
19 + 2
18 + 1.7
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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.
Contents
Bio[edit]
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…
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…
Abilities[edit]
Breathe Fire
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%)
55%)Reduction Duration: 11
14/
90/
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 raw 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 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: 2.5/2.75/3/3.25 ( 3/3.25/3.5/3.75)
3/3.25/3.5/3.75) 16/ 70/
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
ED
Ability
Passive
Passive
Affects
Self
Self
The life blood of the Dragon improves health regeneration and strengthens armor.
Health Regen Bonus: 4/8/12/16 ( 16/20/24/28)
16/20/24/28)Armor Bonus: 3/6/9/12 ( 15/18/21/24)
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 240/480/720/960 ( 960/1200/1440/1680) health in one minute.
Fireball
Ignites a 450 AoE area for 10 seconds, dealing 80 damage per second to enemies in it. Has reduced cast range when melee.
Cast Animation: 0.2+0.53
Cast Range: 600
Radius: 450
Damage per Second: 80
Duration: 10
20 100
Modifiers
modifier_dragon_knight_fireball: Undispellable. Persists death.Notes:
- Requires Aghanim's Shard to be unlocked.
- Deals 40 damage in 0.5-second intervals, immediately upon cast, resulting in 21 damage instances.
- Can deal up to 840 damage to a single unit (before reductions).
- Multiple instances of Fireball on the same area stack, with each cast dealing damage to units within range.
- While in Elder Dragon Form, Fireball has a cast range of 1400.
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%/115%, 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.
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%/115%, 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)
500)Move Speed Bonus: 25
Magic Resistance Bonus: 0%/0%/0% (
/40%)
/40%)Dragon Tail Cast Range Bonus: 250
Dragon Form Duration: 60
Corrosive Breath Damage per Second: 20/20/20 ( /30)
/30)Corrosive Breath Debuff Duration: 5
Splash Attack Radius: 350
Splash Attack Damage: 0%/75%/75% ( /115%)
/115%)Frost Breath Radius: 300
Frost Breath Move Speed Slow: 0%/0%/40% ( /60%)
/60%)Frost Breath Attack Speed Slow: 0/0/40 ( /60)
/60)Frost Breath Debuff Duration: 3
Dragon Tail Radius: 375
Fireball Cast Range Bonus: 800 115 50
Increases the level of your ultimate. Adds a 4th level, Black Dragon. Black Dragon has bonus Corrosive Damage, Splash Damage, and Slow amount, free pathing and grants additional Magic resistance.
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 55%).
- 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.
- 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, Elder Dragon Form automatically increases its level by 1, granting Black Dragon form. The ability can still only be leveled 3 times.
- Grants Black Dragon unobstructed movement, allowing him to path over impassable terrain, units, buildings, and trees.
- However, it does not grant him phased movement meaning other units cannot pass through him.
- The black dragon form is 30% larger than the other forms.
Talents[edit]
| 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 raw 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 attack damage.
Recent Changes[edit]
Main Article: Dragon Knight/Changelogs
Version
Description
- 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. [?]
- Fireball
- 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.
- Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
- Reduced Fireball mana cost from 150 to 100.
- Reduced Breathe Fire mana cost from 100/110/120/130 to 90/100/110/120.
- Increased Dragon Tail damage from 25/50/75/100 to 50/75/100/125.
- Increased Elder Dragon Form Splash Attack radius from 300 to 350.
- Added Aghanim's Shard upgrade for Dragon Knight:
- Adds the Fireball ability to Elder Dragon Form.
- Fireball
- Ignites an area, dealing damage per seconds to enemies standing within it for some time.
- Cast time: 0.2
- Cast range: 1400
- Radius: 450
- Damage per second: 80
- Duration: 10
- Mana cost: 150
- Cooldown: 20
- Notes: Only available during Elder Dragon Form. Deals damage in 0.5 second intervals.
- Talents:
- Level 15 left talent: +350 health increased to +400.
Recommended Items[edit]
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 extra health regeneration from Soul Ring together with the regeneration from Dragon Blood offset 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 combined with Octarine Core to stay in Elder Dragon Form most of the time.
- Radiance Substantially increases DPS in team fights due to the AoE DoT and can also boost farming potential.
Gameplay[edit]
| 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. |
Audio[edit]
History[edit]
Equipment[edit]
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Trivia[edit]
- 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[edit]
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
