Magnus

Magnus 25 + 3.5 15 + 2.5 19 + 2.1
	+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

Magnus, the Magnoceros, is a monstrous melee strength hero who is usually played as a ganker, initiator, or semi-carry. His ability to battle multiple heroes at once gives him an excellent presence in team fights. In addition to his teamfight presence, he can buff allies or himself with bonus damage and cleave, capitalizing on his ability to group up multiple enemies. As a hero who possesses multiple area-of-effect abilities with a manageable mana cost, and a very powerful ultimate that serves as a great team fight initiation ability, Magnus is truly a force to be reckoned with.

Bio[]

Magnus, the Magnoceros

▶️ "No, I blame no one who covets my horn. But to desire more than sight of it is a guarantee of death."

Lore:

The master-smiths of Mt. Joerlak agree on only a single point: that the horn of a magnoceros is more precious than any alloy. And of all such horns, the largest and sharpest belongs to the beast they call Magnus. For half a generation, Magnus took easy sport goring hunters come to claim the treasures of his kin. Each time he would return to his cave with hooves and horns stained red, until his Matriarch urged him and all their kin to seek refuge to the north beyond the shadow of the mountain. But Magnus scoffed, having never failed to defend his people. The magnoceroi would stay, he decided, for a magnoceros does not believe in chance… nor does it ever change its mind.

But when Mt. Joerlak erupted without warning, and half his kin perished in the fire and ash, Magnus changed his mind after all. The survivors pushed north, until they reached a blockade watched over by a hundred hunters armed with bow and steel. Magnus expected no less. He led his fiercest brothers and sisters in a charge against their enemies, and fought with a ferocity matched only by the fire-spewing mountain at his back. Meanwhile the magnoceros elders, mothers, and calves vanished into the drifts. The master-smiths are divided about what happened next.

Some say Magnus reunited with his kin, while others claim he suffered mortal injuries and expired alongside the body of his Matriarch. Neither theory is correct. Magnus did vow to rejoin his kin…but only after seeking out those responsible for the eruption of Mt. Joerlak and watching them die upon his horn, for a magnoceros does not believe in chance.

Voice:

Dempsey Pappion (Responses)

Abilities[]

Shockwave

▶️

▶️QW

Ability
Target Point / Target Unit

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Magnus sends out a wave of force, damaging enemy units in a line, pulling them towards him and slowing them for a brief period.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 1200

Wave Distance: 1200

Wave Radius: 200

Number of Shockwaves: 1 (

3)

Damage: 75/150/225/300

Move Speed Slow: 75%

Pull Distance: 150

Pull Duration: 0.2

Slow Duration: 0.9 (

1.4)

Shockwave Angle: 30°

Returning Damage: 56.25/112.5/168.75/225

13/12/11/10

80/90/100/110

Magnus releases 3 shockwaves traveling away from him at 30-degree angles. After reaching their limit, the Shockwaves return to their origin, dealing 75% damage and pulling a second time.

Modifiers

modifier_magnataur_shockwave: Dispellable with any dispel.

modifier_magnataur_shockwave_pull: Dispellable with any dispel.

Mt. Joerlak was a somewhat unstable mass, and Magnus has learned to channel its reverberations.

Notes:

The Shockwaves travel at a speed of 900, taking 1.333 seconds to reach the maximum distance.

With the travel distance and radius, it can hit units up to 1400 range away.

Hit enemies are pulled towards the center of the Shockwave and towards the cast location.
- The further enemies are from the center of the shockwave, the stronger the pull force is towards its center than towards the cast location.
- Pulls hit enemies 150 range over 0.2 seconds, resulting in a speed of 750.

The shockwaves first apply the debuffs, then the damage.

Plays an initial sound and particles upon start casting.

The slow of multiple casts does not stack, it only refreshes the duration.

Slows and damages Roshan but does not pull him.

With Aghanim's Scepter, 2 extra Shockwaves are launched with a 30° angle to the left and right of the centered Shockwave.
- Although the areas of all 3 waves overlap heavily, an enemy may be hit by only one of them.
- Upon reaching max distance of 1200, the Shockwaves return to the original cast location.
- The returning Shockwaves act like separate casts, cast by invisible dummies. Therefore, enemies at the very tip may only be hit once.
- This is because Shockwave does not hit units behind the caster, so units hit by it 200 range beyond its max travel distance do not get hit upon returning.
- On the other side, units 200 range beyond the original cast point do get hit by the returning waves.
- The returning Shockwaves can hit previously already hit enemies a second time, and also pull enemies towards the cast location as well.

Empower

▶️WE

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Allies

Damage
Physical

Gives an allied unit bonus damage and cleave on attack. Magnus receives 75% larger bonus.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: 800

Cleave Starting Radius: 150

Cleave Distance: 650

Cleave End Radius: 360

Cleave Damage: 10%/20%/30%/40% (

20%/30%/40%/50%)

Attack Damage Bonus: 12%/20%/28%/36% (

22%/30%/38%/46%)

Self Bonus Factor: 1.75

Duration: 35 (

45)

8

45/60/75/90

Modifiers

modifier_magnataur_empower: Dispellable with any dispel.

With a deep bellow, Magnus displays his true power.

Notes:

When cast on self, Empower grants 17.5%/35%/52.5%/70% ( 35%/52.5%/70%/87.5%) cleave damage and 21%/35%/49%/63% ( 38.5%/52.5%/66.5%/80.5%) attack damage.
- ↓↓ Double-tapping automatically targets self.

Grants flat bonus attack damage based on the affected unit's main attack damage. Does not further increase bonus attack damage.
- The unit's current main attack damage is periodically checked and the bonuses are adapted instantly.
- The damage and cleave increasing talent instantly upgrade the current instance as well

Grants melee targets cleave and attack damage, and ranged targets only attack damage.

Cleave damage cannot be amplified with outgoing spell damage amplification and cannot spell lifesteal.
- Can be amplified by incoming spell damage amplification.
- Cleave damage is reduced by Damage Block.
- Cleave damage depends on the attack damage value of the cleaving unit, not on how much their primary attack target took.
- The complete cleave area is shaped like an isosceles trapezoid in front of the attacking unit.
- Fully stacks with other sources of cleave. Each source of cleave works completely independent.
- Does not cleave upon attacking wards, buildings or allied units. Wards and buildings are unaffected by cleave.
- Despite the visual effect, cleave damage is applied instantly in the whole area.

Skewer

▶️

▶️ED

Ability
Target Point

Affects
Enemy Heroes / Self

Damage
Magical

Magnus rushes forward, goring enemy units on his massive tusk. Heroes hit on the way will be dragged to the destination, then damaged and affected by slowed movement and attack speed.

Cast Animation: +

Cast Range: Global

Max Skewer Distance: 900/975/1050/1125 (

1275/1350/1425/1500)

Skewer Radius: 145

Damage: 80/170/260/350

Move Speed Slow: 10%/20%/30%/40%

Attack Speed Slow: 25/30/35/40

Slow Duration: 3.25

22/20/18/16 (

15/13/11/9)

80

Cannot hit spell immune enemies. Slows and damages enemies when they turn spell immune while already hit.

Getting rooted while already charging does not cancel the charge.

Modifiers

modifier_magnataur_skewer_movement: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_magnataur_skewer_impact: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_magnataur_skewer_slow: Dispellable with any dispel.

Magnoceros horns are valuable in direct proportion to their danger to prospective merchants.

Notes:

Magnus charges forward at a speed of 900.

Moves Magnus in 30 range instances. When targeting any distance which is not a multiplier of that number, it gets rounded down.
- This means the minimum possible distance is 30, and the actual maximum distance is 900/960/1050/1110 ( 1260/1350/1410/1500).

During the Skewer, Magnus is fully disabled.

Enemy heroes within 145 radius around Magnus get moved in front of him and dragged along.

Dragged heroes are stunned during the drag, and land 200 range away in front of Magnus at the end of the charge.

Can only drag heroes, including illusions, clones, and creep-heroes.

Can charge through and drag enemies over impassable terrain.

Skewer first applies the slow debuff, then the damage.

Destroys trees within 200 radius during the charge.

Horn Toss

▶️

▶️DT

Ability
No Target

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Magnus tosses any enemies in front of him, launching them to his rear. Enemies spend 0.6 seconds in the air, then take 200 damage and are heavily slowed for 1.25 seconds upon landing.

Cast Animation: +

Search Radius: 325

Facing Angle: 115°

Search Area Offset: 75

Damage: 200

Move Speed Slow: 100%

Attack Speed Slow: 100

Toss Duration: 0.6

Landing Slow Duration: 1.25

30

125

Modifiers

modifier_magnataur_horn_toss: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_magnataur_horn_toss_slow: Dispellable with any dispel.

Ability Draft Notes:

Requires drafting

Reverse Polarity to be unlocked.

Notes:

Requires Aghanim's Shard to be unlocked.

Horn Toss's search area is a circular segment with a radius of 325, and cutting off and at a total angle of 230°.
- This means it affects units in front of Magnus, and to his left and right up to a certain degree.

The center of the search area is located 75 range in front of Magnus, which approximately aligns with the position of his horn.
- This means Horn Toss can hit units up to 400 range in front of Magnus.

Enemies are always tossed at a location between 180‒210 range behind Magnus, varying based on where they were in front of him.

Enemies are moved over Magnus' head, in an arc with a height of 300, and varying lengths. The toss always takes 0.6 seconds.
- Enemies are fully disabled during the toss.

The damage is applied upon cast, while the slow debuff is placed upon landing. However, the toss modifier itself applies the slow as well.

Stuns and damages Roshan but does not toss him.

Reverse Polarity

▶️

▶️RV

Ability
No Target

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Magnus changes properties of matter, sucking all nearby enemies in front of him and stunning them with a powerful slam and dealing damage.

Cast Animation: +

Radius: 410

Damage: 75/150/225

Stun Duration: 2.75/3.25/3.75 (

3.75/4.25/4.75)

130

150/225/300

Grants a new ability: Horn Toss.

Modifiers

modifier_magnataur_reverse_polarity: Dispellable with strong dispels.

modifier_stunned: Dispellable with strong dispels.

Magnus fights with the fury of the erupting Mt. Joerlak.

Notes:

Instantly pulls all affected units 150 range in front of Magnus.

Reverse Polarity first applies the debuff, then the damage.

There is no limit of how many units can be affected.

Stuns and damages Roshan but does not pull him.

The particle effects and a sound effect start playing at the beginning of the cast.

Talents[]

Hero Talents
+1s Reverse Polarity Stun Duration	25	+10% Empower Damage/Cleave
+375 Skewer Range	20	+350 Health
-7s Skewer Cooldown	15	+12 Strength
+0.5s Shockwave Slow Duration	10	+10s Empower Duration

Notes:

The strength talent effectively grants Magnus 240 health, 1.2 health regeneration, and 12 main attack damage.

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

Recent Changes[]

Main Article: Magnus/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.30e

Reduced Skewer max distance from 900/1000/1100/1200 to 900/975/1050/1125.
Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
- Horn Toss
  - Now deals its damage upon cast, instead of upon landing.
  - No longer stuns enemies for 0.75 seconds upon landing.
  - Now slows enemy movement speed by 100% and attack speed by 100 for 1.25 seconds upon landing.
Talents:

Level 20 left talent: +425

Skewer max distance reduced to +375.

7.30

Reduced Empower duration from 40 to 35.
Increased Skewer damage from 70/150/220/310 to 80/170/260/350.
Talents:

Level 10 right talent changed: +20 attack damage ➜ +10s

Empower duration.

7.29c

Increased intelligence gain from 1.7 to 2.1.

Recommended Items[]

Starting items:

Tango provides health sustain during laning stage.

Early game:

Bottle can save Magnus trips to the fountain, since its mana rejuvenation works well with his low-mana cost abilities. It is crucial if soloing the middle lane, allowing for rune control.
Magic Wand will not only provide him bonus attributes, but also more sustain.
Boots of Speed provide movement speed bonus early on, helping Magnus collect runes and perhaps kills.

Mid game:

Power Treads give attack speed, and attributes switch between strength for damage output and health, and intelligence for mana to use abilities.
Blink Dagger will help Magnus initiate with Reverse Polarity, as well as give him more mobility. Shockwave and Skewer can also be efficiently used after blinking in front of the enemy.
Shadow Blade offers cost effective attack speed and damage increases that synergy with Empower, strong initiation and mobility, and a mediocre escape trough Shadow Walk. It also can be upgraded in to Silver Edge.
Force Staff provides additional intelligence so Magnus can use more abilities, as well as more mobility so he can position for Skewer and Reverse Polarity.
Aghanim's Shard unlocks Horn Toss, which combos excellently with Skewer to force enemies out of position.

Late game:

Black King Bar makes it easier for Magnus to use his ultimate, as he can place himself in the middle of heroes without being interrupted. It can also be used so that he can live longer against too many disablers.
Refresher Orb gives Magnus more regeneration and the ability to cast his ultimate in a shorter period of time.

Situational items:

Drum of Endurance gives him additional strength and intelligence for his health and mana pool, as well as give him a small boost to his attack and movement speed.
Silver Edge offers all the benefits of Shadow Blade and a good boost to your stats. Attacking to end the invisibility will Break the target for 4 seconds.
Aeon Disk greatly increases his survivability and gives him a chance to counter-initiate or escape even if he got caught.
Battle Fury gives Magnus more regeneration, additional attack damage, and a permanent cleave that stacks with Empower.
Heart of Tarrasque makes him more tanky and gives him additional attack damage.
Mask of Madness will give him a quick boost in attack speed, which could help when he is buffed with Empower.
Daedalus gives Magnus critical strike, enabling him to deal huge damage without relying on his spells.
Assault Cuirass gives Magnus additional attack speed as well as armor, and also debuff his enemies' armor.
Shiva's Guard gives Magnus an additional nuke once he's in the middle of the enemy team, much needed armor, and a large boost to his somewhat small mana pool.

Gameplay[]


Roles:	Initiator Disabler Nuker Escape
Complexity:	★★☆
Playstyle:	A magnoceros does not believe in chance, and the eruption of Mount Joerlak was no accident. For this reason Magnus set out, never to return to his kin until those responsible had been impaled upon his horn. He charges into battle, Skewering and dragging enemies through any terrain. With a deep bellow, the magnoceros Empowers his companions to strike beyond their normal scope, and devastates entire enemy columns with subterranean Shockwaves. In the midst of the fray, Magnus unleashes his most remarkable ability, Reverse Polarity. Nearby foes are pulled instantly to a spot before him, dazed and immobilized, ready to be dispatched by his allies.

Strategy & Tips

Counters &
Matchups

Audio[]

Responses

Sounds

History[]

Lore

Old Abilities

Changelogs

Equipment[]

Trivia[]

In the transition to Dota 2, Magnus's race was changed from Magnataur to Magnoceros, most likely to avoid copyright issues with Blizzard, since the Magnataur are an existing race in the Warcraft universe.
"Magnus" means "great" in Latin.
- This was used as an honorific in certain esteemed Romans; the most famous being Gnaeus Pompey Magnus (Pompey the great), party with Caesar on two triumvirates. When Caesar refused to disband his army and enter Rome as a citizen, Pompey led the Roman's evacuation and was the main general to oppose Caesar, until his (Pompey's) death.
Magnus' lore was written by Greg Kasavin of Supergiant Games. In Greg's original draft, the Magnoceri were a dying race due to the males having the tendency of killing the females after mating, leading Magnus to go on a search for a new mate that could please him. Magnus still has many rivalry lines directed towards female heroes referencing that original draft.^[1]