Skywrath Mage

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Skywrath Mage 21 + 2 13 + 0.8 25 + 4.1
Level 0 1 15 25 30 Health 200 620 1180 1820 2060 +0.25 +2.35 +5.15 +8.35 +9.55 Mana 75 375 1059 1695 1959 +0 +1.25 +4.12 +6.77 +7.9 Armor -2 0.17 2.03 5.37 6.37 Damage Block - Magic Resistance 25% Status Resistance 0% Damage 16‒26 41‒51 98‒108 151‒161 173‒183 Attack Rate 0.59/s 0.66/s 0.73/s 0.85/s 0.88/s Attack Range 625 (800) Attack Speed ▶️ 100 (1.7s BAT) Attack Animation 0.4+0.78 Projectile Speed 1000 Movement Speed ▶️ 325 Turn Rate 0.6 Collision Size 24 Vision Range (G) 1800 • 800 Legs 2 Gib Type Default Ability Upgrades Arcane Bolt Concussive Shot Ancient Seal Mystic Flare Shield of the Scion

Casts high damage magical spells on a single target.
Bound to his courtly duties, Dragonus could only dream in secret of restoring his beloved to her rightful throne. Deadly and only protected by the Shield of the Scion, Skywrath Mage quickly destroys his enemies with a barrage of powerful magic. Blasting concentrated Arcane Bolts at his targets and crippling them momentarily with a long range Concussive Shot. Those who stand in his way would be muted by an Ancient Seal, exposing their vulnerability before the Skywrath Mage annihilates and vaporizes them in the storm of Mystic Flare.
Roles:	Support Nuker Disabler
Complexity:	★☆☆

Bio

Dragonus, the Skywrath Mage

▶️ "Even on this fallen field, I dedicate my powers to the lofty Skywrath."

Lore:

A highly placed mage in the court of the Ghastly Eyrie, Dragonus lives a troubled existence. Sworn by birth to protect whoever sits within the Nest of Thorns, he hates the current Skywrath queen with all his soul. As a youth, high-born, he was a friend and companion to the eldest Skywrath princess, Shendelzare, first in line for the Nest. He had loved her warmly and unshakably, but as his studies took hold, his mind turned to arcane learning and the mastery of Skywrath sorcery.

Obsessed with matters aetherial, he missed the mundane signs of courtly treachery that hinted at a plot against Shendelzare, and lost his chance to foil it. When the court was shaken by a swift and violent coup, he emerged from his studies to discover his oldest and dearest friend had been lost to him. The Nest of Thorns now belonged to Shendelzare's ruthless younger sister, and Dragonus could do nothing. The magic of the Skywrath Mage serves only the sworn protector of the Skywrath scion, so to act against the Nest would render him helpless. He clings to his post, believing it to be the best hope of one day restoring his true love to her rightful place. Meanwhile, his secret is known only to the goddess Scree'auk, whose magic it was transformed Shendelzare from a crippled physical creature into an embodiment of pure vengeful energy.

While he dreams of restoring his beloved queen to the Ghastly Eyrie, he dreams even more desperately of restoring Shendelzare herself to a fully healed physical form. The duplicity of his role at court tortures him, for he is a noble and good-hearted creature; but the worst torture of all is imagining the hatred that Vengeful Spirit must hold in her heart for him.

Voice:

TJ Ramini (Responses)

Abilities

Arcane Bolt

▶️▶️QC

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Skywrath Mage launches a slow-moving bolt of arcane magic, dealing damage to an enemy unit based on Skywrath Mage's intelligence.

Cast Animation: 0.1+0.9

Cast Range: 875

Number of Targets: 1 ( 2) ( 2,  3)

Base Damage: 75/95/115/135

Intelligence as Damage Multiplier: 1.5

 Secondary Targets Search Radius: 700 ( 700)

5/4/3/2

90

Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:

When Skywrath Mage casts Arcane Bolt, a different random target within 700 range will be hit with the same ability. Heroes will take priority.

Spell Immunity Notes:

Cannot be cast on or affect spell immune enemies.

Can be cast on and affect spell immune enemies.

Spell Block / Reflection Notes:

Blocked upon impact.

Blocked upon impact as primary or secondary target.

Modifiers [?]

modifier_projectile_vision

Undispellable

Within the Ghastly Eyrie's endless intrigue, only the clever and calm can hope to survive.

Notes:

• The bolt travels at a speed of 500.
  • The projectile has a 325 radius flying vision. This vision does not linger.
  • Also provides the same vision at the target's location for 3.34 seconds upon successfully hitting it.

• Checks Skywrath Mage's intelligence upon releasing the projectile.
  • This means that the projectile's damage is set upon launch and does not adapt when losing or gaining intelligence.

• This is how much damage Arcane Bolt deals with a certain amount of intelligence (before reductions):
  • Level 1 (25 intelligence): 113/133/153/173 damage
  • Level 5 (41 intelligence): 137/157/177/197 damage
  • Level 10 (61 intelligence): 168/188/208/228 damage
  • Level 15 (82 intelligence): 199/219/239/259 damage
  • Level 20 (102 intelligence): 229/249/269/289 damage
  • Level 25 (123 intelligence): 260/280/300/320 damage
  • Level 30 (143 intelligence): 291/311/331/351 damage

• With Aghanim's Scepter, whenever Arcane Bolt is cast, a different random target within the search radius is also targeted by a second Arcane Bolt.
  • The search radius is centered around the primary target, not around Skywrath Mage.
  • Since it uses a defined radius and is not based on the cast range, it is not affected by cast range modifying abilities (e.g. Aether Lens).
  • Prioritizes heroes (including illusions and clones) over other units. Treats creep-heroes as creeps.
  • If no other valid targets are found within the search radius, the second Arcane Bolt is not released.
  • The additional Arcane Bolt per cast talent adds a 3rd target to this, following the same rules.

Concussive Shot

▶️▶️WT

Ability
No Target

Affects
Enemy Heroes

Damage
Magical

Skywrath Mage sets off a long range shot that hits the closest hero within a long range. Upon impact, it deals damage and slows in an area of effect.

Cast Animation: 0+1.03

Search Radius: 1600 ( Global)

Damage/Slow Radius: 250

Number of Targets: 1 ( 2)

Damage: 120/180/240/300

Creep Damage Percentage: 75%

Move Speed Slow: 40%

Slow Duration: 4

15/14/13/12

80/85/90/95

Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:

When Skywrath Mage casts Concussive Shot, a different random target within cast range will be hit with the same ability. Heroes will take priority.

Spell Immunity Notes:

Can target spell immune enemies, and apply the area effect on impact.

Does not affect spell immune enemies within the area.

Cannot target secondary spell immune enemies.

Ability Disjoint Notes:

Area damage and slow are not applied when disjointed.

Modifiers [?]

modifier_projectile_vision

Undispellable

modifier_skywrath_mage_concussive_shot_slow

Any

Those who serve the court of the Ghastly Eyrie are ever locked in covert war. One must always know where danger lurks nearest.

Notes:

• Concussive Shot interrupts Skywrath Mage's channeling abilities upon cast.

• Concussive Shot travels at a speed of 800.
  • The projectile has 300 radius flying vision. This vision does not linger.
  • Also provides the same vision at the target's location for 3.34 seconds upon successfully hitting it.

• Concussive Shot targets the closest enemy unit that is not a ward, a building, or a creep-hero.
  • Prioritizes heroes (including clones) over other units. Treats illusions as creeps.
  • Does not target invisible or hidden units or units in the Fog of War.

• The area damage deals 90/135/180/225 damage to creeps. Treats creep-heroes as creeps.

• The shot first applies the damage, then the debuff.

• With Aghanim's Scepter, whenever Concussive Shot is cast, a different random target within the search radius is also targeted by a second Concussive Shot.
  • Uses the same search radius as the primary projectile, but slightly different targeting behaviors
  • Targets the closest enemy unit that is not a ward or a building.
  • Prioritizes heroes (including clones, illusions, and creep-heroes) over other units.
  • Does not target invisible, invulnerable, hidden, or spell immune units or units in the Fog of War.
  • If no other valid targets are found within the search radius, the second Concussive Shot is not released.

Ancient Seal

▶️ER

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Enemies

Skywrath Mage seals the targeted unit with an ancient rune, silencing it and causing it to take additional damage from spells.

Cast Animation: 0.1+0.97

Cast Range: 700/750/800/850

Number of Targets: 1 ( 2)

Magic Resistance Reduction: 20%/25%/30%/35% ( 32%/37%/42%/47%)

Duration: 3/4/5/6

 Secondary Target Search Radius: 700

14 ( 6)

80/90/100/110

Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:

Anytime Skywrath Mage casts Ancient Seal, a different random target within 700 range will be affected by the same ability. Heroes will take priority.

Spell Block / Reflection Notes:

Blocked upon cast.

Not blocked by secondary targets.

Modifiers [?]

modifier_skywrath_mage_ancient_seal

Any

A holy incantation, whosoever finds themselves touched by Avilliva's sigil must suffer in penitent silence.

Notes:

• Reduces most heroes' total magic resistance to 10%/6%/2%/-1% ( 1%/-3%/-7%/-10%).
  • The magic resistance reduction does not affect non-hero units.

• Successive casts on the same target do not stack, but refresh the duration instead.

• With Aghanim's Scepter, whenever Ancient Seal is cast, a different random target within the search radius is also targeted.
  • The search radius is centered around the primary target, not around Skywrath Mage.
  • Prioritizes heroes (including illusions and clones) over other units. Treats creep-heroes as creeps.
  • If no other valid targets are found within the search radius, the second Ancient Seal is not applied.

Shield of the Scion

Ability
Passive

Affects
Self

Every time Skywrath Mage casts an ability, he gains a buff that grants bonus Intelligence and Armor. Each cast stacks independently.

Intelligence Bonus per Stack: 5

Armor Bonus per Stack: 1

Duration: 35

Modifiers [?]

modifier_skywrath_mage_shard

Undispellable

modifier_skywrath_mage_shard_bonus

Undispellable

modifier_skywrath_mage_shard_bonus_counter

Undispellable

Ability Draft Notes:

Requires drafting Mystic Flare to be unlocked.

Notes:

• Requires Aghanim's Shard to be unlocked.

• Does not trigger on active item abilities, on abilities with 0 cooldown, or on abilities which do not trigger on-cast effects.

• Shield of the Scion first grants its bonuses before Skywrath Mage cast any of his abilities.

• Each stack places a new hidden modifier buff on Skywrath Mage. This means their durations are independent from each other.
  • The counter modifiers on Skywrath Mage shows how much intelligence and armor he gained.
  • The number of stacks can be seen on the status buff icon.

• Each stack effectively grants 60 mana, 0.25 mana regeneration, and 5 main attack damage.

Mystic Flare

▶️▶️RE

Ability
Target Area

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

Skywrath Mage uses his ultimate magical ability to conjure a precise and violent mystical field that lays waste to his adversaries. Deals massive damage distributed evenly among any Heroes in the area over seconds.

Cast Animation: 0.1+0

Cast Range: 1200

Flare Radius: 170

Number of Flares: 1 ( 2)

Total Damage: 800/1200/1600 ( 1250/1650/2050)

Flare Duration: 2.2

 Secondary Target Search Radius: 700

60/40/20

300/550/800

Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:

When Skywrath Mage casts Mystic Flare, another Mystic Flare will be created on the position of a different random target enemy within 700 range. Heroes will take priority.

Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:

New Ability

Grants the Shield of the Scion ability.

Modifiers [?]

modifier_skywrath_mage_mystic_flare

Undispellable

modifier_skywrath_mystic_flare_aura_effect

Undispellable

Only the most practiced of Skywrath sorcerers could hope to shape the skies into such a storm.

Notes:

• If enemy heroes are within the radius (including illusions, clones and creep-heroes), only the heroes are affected.
  • Non-hero units only get damaged if no enemy heroes are within the area.
  • Completely ignores spell immune, invulnerable and hidden units.

• Deals damage in 0.1-second intervals, starting 0.1 seconds after cast, resulting in 22 damage instances.

• This is how much damage Mystic Flare deals when hitting a certain amount of units for the full duration (before reductions):
  • 1 Unit: 36.36/54.55/72.73 ( 56.82/75/93.18) per interval, and 800/1200/1600 ( 1250/1650/2050) total damage.
  • 2 Units: 18.18/27.27/36.36 ( 28.41/37.5/46.59) per interval, and 400/600/800 ( 625/825/1025) total damage.
  • 3 Units: 12.12/18.18/24.24 ( 18.94/25/31.06) per interval, and 266.67/400/533.33 ( 416.67/550/683.33) total damage.
  • 4 Units: 9.09/13.64/18.18 ( 14.2/18.75/23.3) per interval, and 200/300/400 ( 312.5/412.5/512.5) total damage.
  • 5 Units: 7.27/10.91/14.55 ( 11.36/15/18.64) per interval, and 160/240/320 ( 250/330/410) total damage.

• A hidden debuff is responsible for the particle effects on hit enemies. It has only visual purposes.
  • The debuff is placed by an aura, and lingers for 0.5 seconds.

• With Aghanim's Scepter, casting Mystic Flare automatically casts another Mystic Flare centered on a random enemy within the search radius but outside the 170 effect radius.
  • The search radius is centered around the targeted area, not around Skywrath Mage.
  • Prioritizes heroes (including illusions and clones) over other units. Treats creep-heroes as creeps.
  • Ignores spell immune or invulnerable units within the search radius.
  • If no other valid targets are found within the search radius, the second Mystic Flare is not released.

Talents

Hero Talents
+450 Mystic Flare Damage	25	Arcane Bolt Pierces Spell Immunity
+12% Ancient Seal Magic Resistance Reduction	20	Global Concussive Shot
+1 Arcane Bolt Per Cast	15	-8s Ancient Seal Cooldown
+10 Intelligence	10	+175 Health

Notes:

• The intelligence talent effectively grants Skywrath Mage 120 mana, 0.5 mana regeneration, and 10 main attack damage.

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

Recent Changes

Main Article: Skywrath Mage/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.31

• Increased Arcane Bolt bonus damage per intelligence from 1.4 to 1.5.
• Increased Concussive Shot damage from 100/160/220/280 to 120/180/240/300.
• Reduced Ancient Seal magic resistance reduction from 30%/35%/40%/45% to 20%/25%/30%/35%.
• Increased Mystic Flare total damage from 750/1175/1600 to 800/1200/1600.

7.30

• Increased base health regeneration from 0 to 0.25.
• Increased Arcane Bolt base damage from 60/85/110/135 to 75/95/115/135.
• Rescaled Concussive Shot movement speed slow from 30%/35%/40%/45% to 40% on each level.
• Reduced Mystic Flare duration from 2.4 to 2.2.

7.29

• Increased base attack damage from 14-24 to 16-26.
• Increased turn rate from 0.5 to 0.6.
• Arcane Bolt
  • Increased base damage from 60/80/100/120 to 60/85/110/135.
  • Reduced bonus damage per intelligence from 1.6 to 1.4.
• Reduced Concussive Shot cooldown from 18/16/14/12 to 15/14/13/12.
• REWORKED
  Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
  • OLD
    Causes Ancient Seal to apply 50% status resistance reduction on the target, and to expose them, revealing them through the Fog of War.
  • NEW
    Every time Skywrath Mage casts an ability, he gains 5 intelligence and 1 armor for 35 seconds, stacking independently.
• Talents:

Level 10 right talent changed: +15 movement speed ➜ +175 health.

Level 25 left talent: +480 Mystic Flare total damage reduced to +450.

Recommended Items

Starting items:

• Tango gives health sustain to Skywrath Mage and to lane mates who are constantly getting harassed by the enemy.
• Healing Salve restores health to Skywrath Mage and allies.
• Clarity ensure that you do not run out of mana while laning. Due to how spammable Arcane Bolt is, having the mana to use it consistently can allow you to harass and zone out your lane opponents.
• Iron Branch gives a helpful boost to all your attributes for a cheap price, and later build into a Magic Wand should you need one.

Early game:

• Arcane Boots should be purchased as quickly as possible, as they expand the size of Skywrath's mana pool and allow him to replenish a portion of it occasionally (as well as that of his allies).
• Magic Stick can instantly restore some of Skywrath's health and mana. The health replenishment is crucial given his very small health pool, while the mana replenishment can allow him to cast one or two more spells in an emergency.
• Null Talisman gives cheap stats and magic damage for a stronger early game; purchasing multiple Null Talismans is recommended for buffing Arcane Bolt.

Mid game:

• Magic Wand grants all the same benefits of Magic Stick, along with attributes and larger charge storage. If Skywrath is given low farm priority, building one of these is cheap and effective.
• Rod of Atos pads out Skywrath Mage's health and mana pools with Strength and Intelligence, and can root enemies inside Mystic Flare.
• Witch Blade gives him intelligence, armor and passive that synergies with Arcane Bolt and scales into the late game.
• Eul's Scepter of Divinity provides much-needed movement speed, Intelligence and mana regeneration, along with a defensive tool and a disable. Can build into Wind Waker for improvements to the aforementioned stats including a more effective defensive tool.

Late game:

• Aghanim's Scepter effectively doubles Skywrath Mage's damage output, making him much better versus multiple opponents.
• Scythe of Vyse grants a large bonus to Intelligence and mana regeneration, and the hard disable is great for setting up kills for both his spells and his allies.

Situational items:

• Ghost Scepter prevents Skywrath Mage from being targeted by physical attackers, and can upgrade into Ethereal Blade for a powerful nuke and damage-amplification ability with some spare gold.
• Force Staff can be used to reposition and set up spells or as an escape tool for both Skywrath Mage and his allies.
• Bloodstone greatly greatly improves Skywrath Mage's survivability (through raw HP and spell lifesteal) and mana pool. Its active grants powerful mana restoration to keep up with his high mana consumption as he deals high spell damage against enemies; in tandem with Spell Lifesteal, the item overall increases his staying power in fights.
• Shiva's Guard gives Skywrath Mage a large amount of intelligence as well as powerful survivability against physical damage, while Freezing Blast keeps enemies in range of his spells.
• Veil of Discord grants cheap stat bonuses and softens enemies up for Skywrath Mage to nuke down.
• Dagon synergizes with Skywrath Mage's ability to nuke down targets by giving him even more magic damage and increasing his intelligence, though the gold and mana cost can be an issue.
• Aether Lens fuels Skywrath Mage's spells with mana, mana regeneration and extends his cast range, increasing his safety radius and letting him better follow up on Concussive Shot. Can build into Octarine Core which gives him more health, mana and lets him spam out spells more frequently.
• Blink Dagger greatly increases Skywrath Mage's ability to position himself for casting his spells, allowing him to extend the range of his already long-reaching spells. It can allow him to get the drop on enemies and nuke them down with very little warning, or escape from pursuing enemies provided that he can activate it before taking player damage. Can build into Arcane Blink, in which Skywrath Mage can use its active to extend Ancient Seal's duration and mitigate the exorbitant mana consumption of his spells.
• Kaya increases Skywrath Mage's already considerable damage output and amplifies his much-needed mana regeneration (and spell lifesteal, if he has such an item such as Bloodstone). Can build into Yasha and Kaya for better mobility, Kaya and Sange for more survivability or Ethereal Blade for more offense.

Gameplay

Strategy & Tips

Counters &
Matchups

Audio

Responses

Sounds

History

Lore

Old Abilities

Changelogs

Equipment

Skywrath Mage Equipment (expand sets) Sets Bastion of the Lionsguard Beacon of Cerulean Light Blessing of the Crested Dawn Cloud Forged Battle Gear Set Complete Vigilance of the Manticore Divine Ascension Eyriebound Imperator Regalia of the Sol Guard Rune Forged Set Secrets of the Celestial The Arms of Retribution Set The Nightwatcher's Set Thornwatch Vigil of the Penitent Scholar Vigilance of the Manticore Weapon Aethereal Crescent Wand Argent Spear Empyrean Eye of the Eyrie Falcon's Rise Golden Empyrean Sceptre of the Throne Head Azure Shroud Headdress of the Protector Skywarrior's Countenance Wings Crimson Flight of Epiphany Flight of Epiphany Golden Flight of Epiphany Golden Wings of the Manticore Skywarrior's Wings Vengeancebound Wings Taunt Taunt: Chicken! Kinetic Gems Kinetic: Empyrean

Trivia

• In the start of Vengeful Spirit's lore, the Skywrath are stated as being hateful and vengeful, yet Dragonus carries none of these traits, and is instead mild-mannered and tempered.
• In DotA, Dragonus's hero model was a Dragonhawk Rider, a unit of the blood elves. Skywrath Mage and Invoker were related due to them both being blood elves. Blood elves are also a playable race in World of Warcraft.
• The Skywrath race did not exist in Warcraft universe; rather, it was created in the Dota 2 lore for Vengeful Spirit, and then grandfathered into DotA afterward. Skywrath Mage was one of the first heroes created in DotA following the opening of the beta for Dota 2.
• A silhouette of what appears to be Skywrath Mage can be seen in Bristleback's splash artwork, seemingly still having a beta model/texture.

Gallery

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  Splash artwork

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  Concept art

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  Concept art

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  Concept art

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  Hero icon progress