Io

Io 17 + 3 14 + 1.6 23 + 1.7
	+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


Links to its allies to buff them.
The phenomenon that is Io manifests on the physical plane as a wisp of light, its purpose beyond mortal understanding. It flits to and fro the battlefield, searching for an ally to Tether to. Those blessed with Io's bond feel their feet lighten as the Wisp channels its own regenerative powers into their body. Should its host falter, Io begins to Overcharge, augmenting that ally's speed while strengthening his resolve. As a force unbound by the laws of corporeal space, Io is able to temporarily Relocate itself and an ally to any point in the world, often saving a companion from certain death.

Roles:	Support Escape Nuker
Complexity:	★★★

Bio[]

Io, the Wisp

▶️ *Beep Boop*

Lore:

Io is everywhere, and in all things. Denounced by enemies as the great unmaker, worshiped by scholars as the twinkling of a divine eye, this strange Wisp of life-force occupies all planes at once, the merest fraction of its being crossing into physical existence at any one moment.

Like the great twin riders Dark and Light, and yet another ancient traveler whose true history is lost to the ages, Io the Wisp is a Fundamental of the universe, a force older than time, a wanderer from realms far beyond mortal understanding. Io is nothing less than the sum of all attractive and repulsive forces within the material field, a sentient manifestation of the charge that bind existence together. It is only in the controlled warping of these electrical waylines that Io's presence can be experienced on the physical plane. A benevolent, cooperative force, Io bonds its strange magnetism to others so that the power of allies might be enhanced. Its motives inscrutable, its strength unimaginable, Io moves through the physical plane, the perfect expression of the mysteries of the universe.

Voice:

Itself (Responses)

Abilities[]

Tether

▶️

▶️QT

Ability
Target Unit
(

Passive)

Affects
Allies / Self

Damage

Instant Attack

Tethers Io to an allied unit, granting bonus movement speed to both. When Io restores health or mana, tethered units target gains a larger portion of that amount. The tether breaks when the allied unit moves too far away, or Io cancels the tether.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 1600

Tether Break Distance: 1000

Tether Pull Distance: 700

Tether Break Distance During Pull: 2150

Heal/Restore Transfer: 75%/90%/105%/120%

Target Move Speed Bonus: 6%/8%/10%/12% (

12%/14%/16%/18%)

Enemy Move Speed Slow: 15%/25%/35%/45%

Enemy Attack Speed Slow: 15/25/35/45

Slow Duration: 0.2

Attack Damage Bonus: 15

Health Bonus: 400

Passive Spell Lifesteal Bonus: 10%

12

40

Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:

Io gains Spell Lifesteal and can now share Spell Lifesteal with its tethered target.

Break Notes:

Does not disable the passive spell lifesteal.

Modifiers []

Any

The benevolent touch of Io brings strength from between the planes.

Notes:

Tethering a unit that is 700 units or further away causes Io to latch on and pull itself to the target.
- Pulls Io at a speed of 1000, until coming within 300 range of the target.
- Can pull Io over impassable terrain and through trees. Destroys trees within 150 radius around Io once the pull ends.
- If Io breaks the tether while getting pulled to the tethered target, the pull immediately stops.
- The pull gets interrupted when Io gets stunned, hexed, hidden, feared, hypnotized, or rooted during the pull.
- Forced Movement cancels the pull as well, but only after the movement ends, and not upon getting applied.
- Taunts, leashes, and silences do not interrupt the pulling.
- If the distance between Io and the target gets greater than 2150 during the pull, the pull ends and the Tether breaks.

If the distance between Io and the target gets greater than 1000, the Tether breaks.
- When the distance between Io and the tethered target gets greater than 700, the link's visual appearance changes.

Tether has no set duration. It breaks only when exceeding the break distances, when Io or the target dies, when affected by an allied Dismember, or when using the Break Tether sub-ability.

The movement speed bonus is only applied to the tethered ally, while Io copies the target ally's movement speed.
- Sets Io's base movement speed equal to the base speed of the target, plus any speed bonuses they have, flat and percentage.
- Since it sets Io's base movement speed, percentage-based movement speed bonuses and slows are based on this value during Tether.
- Fully overrides any flat movement speed bonuses and reductions on Io, from items and abilities alike.
- If the target is slowed, the slow is not copied by Io. Tether copies the target's movement speed as if they are not slowed.
- Does not copy the target's movement speed while Io is hasted.
- While tethered, Io cannot bypass the maximum movement speed limit, even if the tethered ally does.
  - Prevents other abilities from unlocking the movement speed limit as well (e.g. Force Boots, Thirst).

The tethered unit benefits from Overcharge, Relocate, and from Io regenerating or replenishing health and mana.
- Tethered units still benefit from all those effects even when turning invulnerable or hidden.
- The heal and mana restore transfer happen regardless of how much Io actually healed/restored.
- The health/mana transfer percent is applied after all reductions/amplifications on Io.

If Io or the tethered unit is invisible, enemies can only see a fake link leading to the invisible unit's last known location. If the tethered unit is visible to the enemy, enemies can still see the unit is tethered.

The movement speed slow gets applied to every enemy that comes within approximately 55 range of the tether link on each server tick.

The tethered attack damage bonus talent grants its bonus to the target and to the caster.
- Learning the talent immediately updates the Tether buff on the target and the caster.
- Grants regular flat bonus attack damage.

The tethered health bonus talent grants its bonus to the target and to the caster.
- Learning the talent immediately updates the Tether buff on the target, but not the buff on the caster.
- The health talent increases maximum health capacity, and keeps the current health percentage.

The movement speed bonus increasing talent does not update the Tether instance.

The attack tethered ally target talent causes Io performs instant attacks on every enemy the tethered ally attacks.
- These instant attacks can proc any attack modifiers and on-hit effects normally. They do not have True Strike.
- The attacks are performed as soon as the ally launches their attack (including instant attacks from the ally). It does not matter whether the attack actually hits or not.
- If Io is stunned or disarmed, no instant attack is performed.
- Does not perform attacks when the tethered target also has this talent (i.e. an illusion of Io).

With Aghanim's Shard, Tether passively grants Io spell lifesteal, and grants Io's total spell lifesteal to the tethered target as well.
- Stacks additively with other sources of spell lifesteal.
- Heals for 2% from non-hero units. Treats creep-heroes as creeps and does not heal off of illusions.
- The shared spell lifesteal is still sourced to Io, not to the tethered ally.

Break Tether

QT

Ability
No Target

Break the link to the tethered unit.

Cast Animation: +

Initial Cooldown: 0.25

1

0

Sub-ability of Tether.

Notes:

Replaces Tether until the sub-ability is used or the tether is broken.

Interrupts Io's channeling abilities upon cast.

Break Tether goes on a 0.25-second cooldown when Tether is cast, this is to prevent accidental double-casts and prematurely ending the ability.

Spirits

▶️

▶️WW

Ability
No Target
(

Passive)

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Summon five particle spirits that dance in a circle around Io. If a particle collides with an enemy hero, it explodes, damaging all enemy units in an area around it. Creeps take minor damage from touching a particle spirit, but do not cause them to explode. When its duration ends, any remaining Spirits explode.

Cast Animation: +

Non-Hero Collision Radius: 150

Hero Collision Radius: 110

Explosion Radius: 360

Number of Spirits: 5

Collision Damage: 10/15/20/25

Explosion Damage: 30/50/70/90 (

75/95/115/135)

Duration: 19 (

Infinite)

Explosion Move Speed Slow: 15%

Slow Duration: 0.3

26/24/22/20

120/130/140/150

Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:

Spirits now passively spawn around Io constantly every second up to the max. Spirits colliding with enemy Heroes slows them briefly.

Break Notes:

Does not disable the passive spirits spawning.

Modifiers []

Any

Io twists the particles of the universe with his unimaginable capabilities.

Notes:

Interrupts Io's channeling abilities upon cast.

Summons a spirit in 1-second intervals, starting immediately upon cast, taking 5 seconds to summon all 5 spirits.
- The first spirit is always spawned to the north of Io, with the next spirit spawning behind the previous spirit.
- The spirits expand automatically to their maximum distance upon cast.
- The spirits always rotate clockwise and are locked to Io's location, following it wherever it goes.
- Moving the spirits in or out does not break their formation. They always rotate in a circle and keep an equal distance from each other.

The spirits complete a revolution every 2.7 seconds regardless of distance from Io.
- Their angular velocity is constant, meaning their speed increases the further away they are from the caster.
- This means the first created spirit can rotate at most 7 times around Io.

When a non-hero unit, illusion, or a creep-hero comes within 150 radius of the spirits, it takes the collision damage.
- Heroes and the Spirit Bear do not take this collision damage.

When a hero, or a creep-hero comes within 110 radius, the spirit explodes, dealing the explosion damage and slowing enemies within a 360 radius.
- The explosion damage and slow affect all enemies within the area, not only heroes.
- The explosions first apply the damage, then the slow.

Spirits do not collide with or explode on invulnerable or hidden units.

Remaining spirits explode simultaneously at the end of the duration or if recast, dealing the explosion damage around them.

Spirits provide 150 radius flying vision for 3 seconds at the location where they collided with a hero.
- They do not provide vision when exploding caused by expiring or recasting.

The spirits are invisible to the enemy if Io is invisible.

Can deal up to 150/250/350/450 ( 375/475/575/675) damage to a single unit when all spirits explode on a target (before reductions).

With Aghanim's Scepter, Spirits turns into a passive ability, constantly spawning spirits around Io.
- The Spirits In and Spirits Out sub-abilities become permanently available as well.
- When acquiring Aghanim's Scepter while a cast is already active, the spirits from that cast disappear without exploding.
- When losing Aghanim's Scepter, the spirits from it disappear immediately, without exploding.

Overcharge

▶️EV

Ability
No Target

Affects
Self / Allies

Io gains bonus attack speed, spell amplification, and HP Regen based on max health. If Io is tethered to an ally, that unit also gains the bonuses.

Cast Animation: +

Attack Speed Bonus: 50/70/90/110

Max Health as Health Regen Bonus: 0.5%/0.6%/0.7%/0.8% (

0.7%/0.8%/0.9%/1%)

Spell Damage Amplification: 8%/10%/12%/14% (

18%/20%/22%/24%)

Duration: 8

25/22/19/16

40/60/80/100

Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:

Increases Overcharge Spell Amplification.

Modifiers []

Drawing on the energy of matter from all worlds, Io begins the unravelling of time.

Notes:

Interrupts Io's channeling abilities upon cast.

Applies generic outgoing damage amplification on Io and the tethered ally. Stacks additively with other sources of generic outgoing damage manipulation.
- The amplification affects only spell damage Io and the tethered ally deal that is not flagged as HP removal. Attack damage is not amplified.

Io does not need to be already tethered to the target transfer Overcharge. Tethering afterward transfers it as well.
- The Overcharge on allies does not show a duration, and always appears like a permanent buff.

Can regenerate up to 4%/4.8%/5.6%/6.4% of Io's max health over the duration.
- Can restore up to 4%/4.8%/5.6%/6.4% of the target's max health, plus 3%/4.32%/5.88%/7.68% of Io's max health on the tethered ally.
- The max health regeneration increasing talent does not update on the current Tether instance.
- The talent further increases the health restore up to 5.6%/6.4%/7.2%/8% of the target's max health, plus 4.2%/5.76%/7.56%/9.6% of Io's max health on the tethered ally.

Spirits In

DD

Ability
Toggle

Calls the spirits closer to you. Can be toggled on and off.

Cast Animation: +

Min Distance: 200

0

Sub-ability of Spirits.

Notes:

This ability is hidden if Io does not have the spirits buff.

Does not interrupt Io's channeling abilities upon cast.

Moves the spirits towards Io at a speed of 250. It takes 1.8 seconds from moving the spirits from maximum to minimum distance.

With Aghanim's Scepter, this sub-ability becomes permanently available.

Spirits Out

FE

Ability
Toggle

Sends the spirits farther away from you. Can be toggled on and off.

Cast Animation: +

Max Distance: 650

0

Sub-ability of Spirits.

Notes:

This ability is hidden if Io does not have the spirits buff.

Does not interrupt Io's channeling abilities upon cast.

Moves the spirits away from Io at a speed of 250. It takes 1.8 seconds from moving the spirits from minimum to maximum distance.

With Aghanim's Scepter, this sub-ability becomes permanently available.

Relocate

▶️

▶️RR

Ability
Target Point

Affects
Self / Allied Heroes

Teleports Io and any tethered ally to any location. After the spell expires Io and any tethered ally will return to their original location. Double-click to teleport to your team's base fountain.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: Global

Effect Delay: 3.5/3.25/3

Duration: 12

100/90/80 (

75/65/55)

175

Root Notes:

Can be cast while rooted.

Does not teleport Io or the tethered ally while Io is still rooted as the delay finishes.

Modifiers []

Io is the embodiment of the mystery of the universe.

Notes:

↓↓ Double-tapping automatically targets the team's fountain.
- ☐ Disabled Help prevents Io from relocating the tethered ally.

If Io is rooted, stunned, slept, cycloned, or hexed during the effect delay, Relocate gets cancelled.
- If Io is silenced as the delay finishes, the teleport does not happen.
- Disabling the tethered ally of Io does not prevent the ally from getting teleported if Io successfully does so.
- The returning teleportation cannot be prevented.

Enemies get a ‼ Ping on their minimap during the teleport delay, showing them where Relocate was targeted.
- Creates a visual effect at the targeted point during the teleport delay, which is visible to everyone.
- Creates a visual effect at Io's position before the teleport happens, which also is visible to everyone.

Relocate interrupts channeling abilities and every current order of Io and the tethered ally both on initial teleport, and when teleporting back.

Disjoints projectiles for Io upon teleporting to the targeted point, but does not disjoint upon teleporting back.
- Does not disjoint projectiles for the teleported ally, neither upon teleporting to the target point, nor upon teleporting back.

Io may Break Tether at any time to prevent bringing an ally back.

Can only teleport heroes, clones, illusions and creep-heroes.

Teleports invulnerable and hidden targets.

Destroys trees within 150 radius around Io upon both teleports.

Talents[]

Hero Talents
Attack Tethered Ally's Target	25	+400 Health to Tethered Units
-25s Relocate Cooldown	20	+0.2% Overcharge Max HP Regen Bonus
+45 Spirits Hero Damage	15	+6% Tether Movement Speed
+15 Attack Damage to Tethered Units	10	+4 Health Regen

Recent Changes[]

Main Article: Io/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.31

Rescaled Tether heal/restore transfer from 70%/90%/110%/130% to 75%/90%/105%/120%.
Overcharge
- Reduced spell damage amplification from 10%/12%/14%/16% to 8%/10%/12%/14%.
- Increased cooldown from 22/20/18/16 to 25/22/19/16.
Aghanim's Scepter upgrade:
- Now also causes Spirits to apply a 15% movement speed slow for 0.3 seconds when hitting an enemy hero.
Reworked Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
- Old: Increases Tether movement speed bonus by 8% and causes it to deal 150 damage and stun enemies for 1.75 seconds upon them coming within its slow range. Can affect the same unit once every 7 seconds.
- New: Increases Overcharge spell damage amplification by 10%. Makes Tether passively grant Io 10% spell lifesteal and causes it to share Io's current spell lifesteal with the tethered target.
Talents:

Level 10 left talent changed: +30 attack damage ➜ +15 attack damage to

Tethered units. []

Level 15 left talent changed: +15% spell lifesteal ➜ +45

Spirits explosion damage.

Level 15 right talent changed: +300

Spirits max distance ➜ +6%

Tether movement speed bonus.

Level 20 right talent changed: +60

Spirits explosion damage ➜ +0.2%

Overcharge max health as health regeneration bonus.

Level 25 right talent changed: +900 health ➜ +400 health to

Tethered units. []

7.30e

Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
- Reduced Tether target movement speed bonus from 10% to 8%.
Talents:

Level 10 right talent: +5 health regeneration reduced to +4.

Level 20 left talent: -30s

Relocate cooldown reduced to -25s.

7.30

Increased health regeneration from 0 to 0.25.
Tether
- Increased link break distance from 900 to 1000.
- Increased heal/restore transfer from 60%/80%/100%/120% to 70%/90%/110%/130%.

Recommended Items[]

Starting items:

Tango provides health regeneration to Io and a lane partner, thanks to Tether.
Healing Salve keeps Io and ally up in health during the early game.
Clarity sustains Io and ally with mana to use abilities.
Enchanted Mango gives some health regeneration, as well as mana restoration.
Gauntlets of Strength increases strength so Io can hit harder and has more health. It also builds into Soul Ring.

Early game:

Bottle, available at the Secret Shop, restores both ally's health and mana with Tether.
Urn of Shadows heals Io while Tether passes that healing to an allied target.
Magic Stick instantly restores mana and health to both Io and a tethered ally.
Soul Ring grants strength and health regeneration. More importantly, Io can pass the created mana to the tethered ally so both parties can use their respective abilities. Consider items like Tranquil Boots or Helm of the Dominator that boost health regeneration to sustain the health cost of Soul Ring.

Mid game:

Magic Wand gives attributes and a bit more amount of heal compared to Magic Stick.
Spirit Vessel, upgraded from Urn of Shadows, increases regeneration and healing for Io to keep allies healthy, while providing bonus health and movement speed to boost Io's survivability.
Arcane Boots restore a large amount of mana to Io and allies with Tether.
Mekansm heals Io's tethered partner for much more than the standard 275. It also provides a health regeneration aura to boost survivability.
Helm of the Dominator provides extra health regeneration for tethered allies, and has an attack speed aura that stacks with Overcharge. It also allows Io to dominate a creep to take advantage of its auras and abilities, as well as boosting the movement speed of both parties thanks to Tether, giving Io an option of skipping buying boots.

Late game:

Guardian Greaves, built from Mekansm and Arcane Boots to save an item slot, restore huge amount of health and mana to Io and its team, especially with Tether.
Glimmer Cape allows Io or allied target to escape from enemies with invisibility and magic resistance.
Ghost Scepter shields Io from physical attacks, so it stays alive longer to help allies.

Heart of Tarrasque gives a huge amount of health and health regeneration, increasing the tethered allies health regeneration and survivality.
Mjollnir provides huge damage output, which allows taking down tethered ally's targets (with the appropriate talent taken) rapidly.

Situational items:

Tome of Knowledge grants experience to help Io reach its talents.
Tranquil Boots heals Io and tethered allies more if they do not need the mana from Arcance Boots.
Drum of Endurance gives cost efficient attribute bonuses and further boosts Io's and its partner's attack and movement speed.
Pipe of Insight grants aura of health regeneration and magic resistance, a great item to absorb magical damage.
Vladmir's Offering has useful aura with many perks, including bonus attack damage and lifesteal, enabling allied physical attackers.
Solar Crest further buffs allied targets with attack speed, movement speed, and armor. Moreover, Io can use it on the enemies to slow and removes their armor.
Force Staff provides useful ability to position different heroes, including Io.
Holy Locket enhances Io's healing power, as well as strengthening its defense with bonus health and magic resistance.
Heaven's Halberd gives strength, evasion, status resistance, and the ability to disarm an enemy carry.
Scythe of Vyse provides a valuable disable, some useful attribute bonuses, as well as mana regeneration which can pass on to tethered ally.
Desolator adds damage and applies armor reduction on enemies; works better in the late game after taking talent that lets Io attack tethered ally's target.

Gameplay[]

Strategy & Tips

Counters &
Matchups

Audio[]

Responses

Sounds

History[]

Lore

Old Abilities

Changelogs

Equipment[]

Trivia[]

Io is the name of a priestess of Hera in Greek Mythology. She was seduced by Zeus and subsequently incurred Hera's wrath.
- Io is also the name of one of four Galilean moons of Jupiter, which was named after the same character in Greek Mythology.
Io's fun names in DotA were Weird Ball and Santelmo. Santelmo may refer to St. Elmo's Fire, a weather phenomenon that creates sparks of bright energy similar to that of lightning, mostly occurring from sharply pointed structures. Santelmo may also refer to the Philippine's folklore creature which is a head of fire, or a ball of fire which Io resembles.
Enigma, Chaos Knight, Keeper of the Light, and Io together represent the four fundamental forces of the universe with Io representing the electromagnetic force, as alluded to in its lore as the attractive and repulsive force, the charge that binds existence together, its powers over magnetism, as well as its abilities which requires Io to pull itself towards allies.
Io's facing direction is marked by an arc-like effect.
Io has several "tentacles" that randomly palpate any visible unit within 256 range of it, enemies and allies alike, randomly switching between units every few seconds. This is purely for aesthetic purposes. A hidden modifier modifier_wisp_tentacles is responsible for this effect.

Gallery[]

Splash artwork
Io model (sprite)
Alternate color theme, briefly used until the March 28, 2013 Patch
Ability icon progress [?]
Hero icon progress [?]

Io

Contents

Bio[]

Abilities[]

Talents[]

Recent Changes[]

Recommended Items[]

Gameplay[]

Audio[]

History[]

Equipment[]

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

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