Hero
Spectre
    23 + 2.5
25 + 2.1
16 + 1.9
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| Haunts her enemies and teleports to her target. | |
| An eternal being of violent energies, Mercurial, the Spectre is irresistibly drawn to conflict. Throwing out a Spectral Dagger, creating a shadowy trail to her foes in which she may travel unobstructed. Harm done to Mercurial is partially deflected and Dispersed onto nearby foes that prolongs her endurance. Even in the most Desolate wilderness, travelers are Haunted by visions of Spectre, seeming to prey on their solitude. But these are no mere illusions. It is said that for one in every five haunted, the apparition becomes Reality, and alongside these unfortunate victims the Spectre Shadow Steps to, bringing with her the destruction and wrath that she eternally craves. | |
        | |
| Roles: | Carry Durable Escape |
| Complexity: | ★★☆ |
Contents
Bio[]
Mercurial, the Spectre▶️ "Among the Transcendencies, you would be thought ignoble."
Lore:
Just as higher states of energy seek a lower level, the Spectre known as Mercurial is a being of intense and violent energy who finds herself irresistibly drawn to scenes of strife as they unfold in the physical world. While her normal spectral state transcends sensory limitations, each time she takes on a physical manifestation, she is stricken by a loss of self--though not of purpose. In the clash of combat, her identity shatters and reconfigures, and she begins to regain awareness. She grasps that she is Mercurial the Spectre--and that all of her Haunts are but shadows of the one true Spectre. Focus comes in the struggle for survival; her true mind reasserts itself; until in the final moments of victory or defeat, she transcends matter and is restored once more to her eternal form.
Voice:
Abilities[]
Spectre flings a dagger to draw a Shadow Path, dealing damage and slowing the movement speed of any enemies along the trail. Units hit by the dagger also trail a Shadow Path. While treading the path, Spectre phases through otherwise impassable terrain.
Cast Animation: 0.3+0.37
Cast Range: 1800
Effect Radius: 125
Damage: 75/130/185/240 (
175/230/285/340)
175/230/285/340)Move Speed Slow/Bonus: 10%/14%/18%/22% ( 22%/26%/30%/34%)
22%/26%/30%/34%)Path Duration: 12
Path Creator Duration: 7
Move Speed Slow/Bonus Linger Duration: 4
Free Pathing Linger Duration: 1
22/ 18/16/14/12)
130/
Spell Immunity Notes:
Can target spell immune enemies, placing the trail and slow debuff on them.
The slow debuff is inactive while enemies are spell immune.
Spell Block / Reflection Notes:
Procs only when secondary target while directly targeting the primary target.
However, Spectral Dagger instantly reattempts to apply the debuff, thus triggering the Spell Block cooldown.
No interaction with the primary target, or when hit while ability was ground-targeted.
Modifiers [?]
Mercurial's dagger eclipses the physical plane in shadow, a state in which mortals cower, but spectres thrive.
Notes:
- The Spectral Dagger travels at a speed of 800.
- Can directly target heroes and creep-heroes.
- When targeting a hero, the dagger homes in on the target until reaching it.
- When ground-targeted or targeting creep-heroes, the dagger travels 1800 range in a straight line. It does not home in on creep-heroes.
- Every enemy unit which comes within 125 range of the travelling dagger gets damaged.
- Hit enemy heroes and illusions also receive the Dagger Path Creator debuff, making them trail a shadow path like the dagger itself.
- This debuff also grants shared vision over the enemy heroes, revealing their silhouette when they become invisible.
- Spectre and enemies gain the Spectral Dagger Path modifier while on the path, increasing hers while decreasing the enemies' movement speed.
- This modifier lingers for 4 seconds after leaving the path.
- The modifier only refreshes from the same source. Meaning that Spectre will not be slowed by an enemy Spectral Dagger when she has the buff modifier.
- Spectre also gains a hidden buff, which grants her unobstructed movement.
- This buff lingers for 1 second after leaving the path.
- The shadow path's segments last 12 seconds from the moment on they were created, not as the ability was cast.
- The shadow path grants 200 radius flying vision around itself.
- The movement speed changing modifier on Spectre and enemies on the path is dispellable.
- However, as long as Spectre stays on the path, it immediately gets re-applied on her again.
- For enemies, the slow debuff does not get re-applied immediately, but does get applied again if they leave the path and enter it again.
- Dispelling the path creating debuff on enemy heroes stops them from creating or extending the path, but does not remove already created paths.
Desolate
Radius: 400
Damage: 21/34/47/60 ( 33/46/59/72)
33/46/59/72)Modifiers [?]
modifier_spectre_desolate
Undispellable
Often times, warriors find themselves alone with a vision of Mercurial - the fated question is if it is the true Spectre.
Notes:
- Desolate's effects are applied upon finishing an attack, regardless of whether the attack actually hits the target or not.
- This means Desolate applies its effects even when the leading attack misses the target.
- When used by ranged heroes, Desolate is applied on projectile launch, not when the projectile hit.
- The bonus damage is dealt in a separate damage instance, and counts as spell damage.
- This means it is not affected or considered by anything that works with attack damage.
- This also means that it fully works with spell damage amplification and spell lifesteal.
- Desolate completely ignores nearby wards, buildings, invulnerable and hidden units.
- This means that Desolate still deals its damage when the target only has any of the above as allies nearby.
- Only checks for allies of the target, meaning nearby neutral creeps do not prevent it from dealing damage to units of the enemy team, and vice versa.
Damage done to Spectre is reflected on her enemies, leaving her unharmed. The effect lessens with distance.
Min Radius: 400
Max Radius: 800
Damage Reflected: 8%/12%/16%/20% ( 13%/17%/21%/25%)
13%/17%/21%/25%)
Spectral Dagger Max Trigger Distance: 800 Spectral Dagger Damage Threshold: 300 7
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:
Every 300 damage absorbed will trigger a Spectral Dagger to be launched at the last player-controlled attacker, occuring a max of once every seconds.
Spell Immunity Notes:
Fully pierces spell immunity.
Passive Spectral Dagger cast are launched on spell immune units as well.
Modifiers [?]
modifier_spectre_dispersion
Undispellable
modifier_spectre_haunt
Death
modifier_illusion
Death
modifier_invulnerable
Death
Ability Draft Notes:
Spectral Dagger must be drafted as well for it to passively proc.
A daunting task lies before enemies of Mercurial - killing a shadow with blade and magic.
Notes:
- Applies generic incoming damage reduction on Spectre. Stacks additively with other sources of generic incoming damage manipulation.
- Reflects the 3 damage types, but not HP Removal effects (e.g. Sunder, Soul Ring etc.).
- Increases Spectre's survivability against any damage by 9%/14%/19%/25% ( 15%/20%/27%/33%).
- Dispersed damage is returned as the same damage type as it was received.
- Reflected physical damage is affected by damage block.
- The damage from Dispersion is flagged as HP Removal, so it does not trigger any on-damage effects.
- Reflects a percentage of the full damage value before Spectre actually takes the damage.
- This means that it reflects damage before all manipulations, so that it may only be affected by incoming damage manipulation the enemy has.
- This also means it reflects overkill damage dealt to Spectre. If a damage source exceeded Spectre's current health and killed her, the damage reflected will be the same damage value.
- If both Spectre and an enemy would die to the damage simultaneously, the enemy is always killed first.
- Reflected damage is not shared between enemies within the radius, all of them take the full amount of damage based on their distance.
- Reflects the full 8%/12%/16%/20% ( 13%/17%/21%/25%) within a 400 radius from Spectre. Then the reflected damage decreases linearly up to a 800 radius from Spectre.
- This is how much damage Dispersion reflects to enemies at certain distances:
- 400 Distance: 8%/12%/16%/20% ( 13%/17%/21%/25%) of dealt damage.
- 500 Distance: 6%/9%/12%/15% ( 9.75%/12.75%/15.75%/18.75%) of dealt damage.
- 600 Distance: 4%/6%/8%/10% ( 6.5%/8.5%/10.5%/12.5%) of dealt damage.
- 700 Distance: 2%/3%/4%/5% ( 3.25%/4.25%/5.25%/6.25%) of dealt damage.
- 400 Distance: 8%/12%/16%/20% (
- This is how much damage Dispersion reflects to enemies at certain distances:
- With Aghanim's Shard, a passive Spectral Dagger based on its current level triggers when Dispersion collectively reduces 300 damage.
- Spectral Dagger notes fully apply. If it is not leveled, no dagger is launched.
- Only counts player-based damage and damage dealt by Roshan. Does not count damage which has the HP removal or the no-reflection flag.
- Counts damage even while on cooldown, and may instantly release a dagger on the next damage instance once Dispersion is off cooldown again.
- Counts damage from any distance, but the Spectral Dagger is only released when a damage source is within 800 range of Spectre.
- The damage counter has no time limit. It only resets once a passive Spectral Dagger is launched.
- Any exceeding damage is completely ignored. For example, if an enemy deals an instance of 450 damage, it does not carry over to the damage counter for the next proc.
- The Spectral Dagger is launched towards the location of the last damage source that reached the damage threshold.
- Does not directly target the unit that procs the passive cast, the dagger always flies in a straight path.
- The passive cooldown is affected by cooldown reduction and reset sources.
- These procs are independent from the cooldown, they do not trigger the cooldown and work while on cooldown.
- They do not cost mana or proc on-cast effects either.
Reality
Affects
Self
Self
Spectre exchanges places with a chosen Haunt.
Cast Animation: 0+0.7
Cast Range: Global
0
Sub-ability of Haunt.
The scattered shadows unite into the one true Spectre.
Notes:
- Reality is unlocked upon learning Haunt and always stays active.
- Does not disjoint projectiles upon cast.
- When ground-targeted, Spectre exchanges places with the closest Haunt-based illusion from the targeted point.
- Can be cast multiple times until Haunt ends or all Haunt illusions are dead.
- After swapping positions, the Haunt illusion still walks towards its target and attacks it.
Allows Spectre to perform a single target unit Haunt. Casts Spectral Dagger on the target.
Cast Animation: 0.3+0.5
Cast Range: Global
Illusion Damage Dealt: 40%/60%/80% ( 72%/92%/112%)
72%/92%/112%)Illusion Damage Taken: 200%
Haunt Duration: 5/6/7
40 180
Modifiers [?]
modifier_spectre_haunt
Death
modifier_illusion
Death
modifier_invulnerable
Death
modifier_spectre_spectral_dagger_path
Undispellable
modifier_spectre_spectral_dagger_in_path
Death
modifier_spectre_spectral_dagger_path_phased
Death
modifier_spectre_spectral_dagger
Death
Ability Draft Notes:
Spectral Dagger must be drafted as well for it to get applied.
Requires drafting Haunt to be unlocked.
With great focus of will, Mercurial can sometimes limit the extent of her division.
Notes:
- Requires Aghanim's Scepter to be unlocked.
- Haunt's illusion notes fully apply.
- Instantly applies Spectral Dagger based on its current level on the target, without using a projectile.
- Spectral Dagger notes fully apply. If it is not leveled, no buffs or debuffs are applied.
- Cannot be cast on creep-heroes.
Ability
No Target
No Target
Affects
Enemy Heroes
Enemy Heroes
Creates a spectral nemesis to attack each enemy hero. At any moment during the duration, Spectre can use Reality to exchange places of a given haunt.
Haunt illusions are uncontrollable, take extra damage, and deal less damage than Spectre herself. They ignore terrain.
Haunt illusions are uncontrollable, take extra damage, and deal less damage than Spectre herself. They ignore terrain.
Cast Animation: 0.3+0.5
Radius: Global
Illusion Damage Dealt: 40%/60%/80% ( 72%/92%/112%)
72%/92%/112%)Illusion Damage Taken: 200%
Haunt Duration: 5/6/7
180/ 150/Grants the Shadow Step ability.
Modifiers [?]
modifier_spectre_haunt
Death
modifier_illusion
Death
modifier_invulnerable
Death
At the height of combat, Mercurial's physical manifestation shatters, and the shadowy pieces haunt those who still cling to life.
Notes:
- Haunt illusions are selectable, but uncontrollable.
- The illusions have unobstructed pathing.
- The illusions spawn 58 range away from their targets, at a random spot around them.
- They do not attack but still follow invisible units. They also spawn on and follow invulnerable and hidden units.
- Haunt illusions spawn for enemy Meepo Clones, but not for other clones or illusions.
- The illusions disappear once their target dies.
Talents[]
| Hero Talents | ||
|---|---|---|
| +5% Dispersion | 25 | +32% Haunt Illusion Damage |
| +12% Spectral Dagger Slow/Bonus | 20 | +350 Health |
| +100 Spectral Dagger Damage | 15 | +12 Desolate Damage |
| +5 All Stats | 10 | -4s Spectral Dagger Cooldown |
Notes:
- The / / all stats talent effectively grants Spectre 100 health, 0.5 health regeneration, 0.83 armor, 5 attack speed, 60 mana, 0.25 mana regeneration, and 5 main attack damage.
- The health talent increases maximum health capacity, and keeps the current health percentage.
Recent Changes[]
Main Article: Spectre/Changelogs
Version
Description
- Increased base health regeneration from 1.5 to 2.
- Increased base agility from 23 to 25.
- Dispersion
- Increased min radius from 300 to 400.
- Increased max radius from 700 to 800.
- Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
- [U] Increased Dispersion spectral dagger max trigger distance from 700 to 800.
- Desolate
- Reduced radius from 425 to 400.
- Increased damage from 18/32/46/60 to 21/34/47/60.
- Reduced Haunt mana cost from 150/200/250 to 150/175/200.
- Talents:
- Level 20 right talent: +400 health reduced to +350.
- Level 20 left talent: +14% Spectral Dagger movement speed slow/bonus reduced to +12%.
- Aghanim's Scepter upgrade:
- Increased Shadow Step cooldown from 30 to 40.
- Talents:
- Level 10 right talent: -5s Spectral Dagger cooldown reduced to -4s.
Recommended Items[]
Starting items:
- Tango regenerates health to keep Spectre in lane as long as possible.
- Healing Salve also restores health which can save Spectre at the last moment.
- Enchanted Mango gives passive health regeneration and burst mana for one more usage of Spectral Dagger.
Early game:
- Quelling Blade helps with getting last hits to farm for later items.
- Boots of Speed help her escape gankers and chase down weakened enemies.
Mid game:
- Power Treads benefit Spectre's illusions with attributes. Against weakened targets that cannot deal with the illusions, the extra attacks with Desolate may produce a kill.
- Radiance speeds up Spectre's farm and deals burn damage to all enemies during Haunt, complementing her tanky and AoE fighting style.
- Manta Style lets Spectre farm fast by sending illusions either into lane or into other jungle camps that, with Radiance, lets them take out the camps, and combines with desolate to deal a ton of damage to unwary foes.
Late game:
- Heart of Tarrasque gives a huge amount of health and health regeneration, coupling with Dispersion's damage reduction to make Spectre tough to kill and reflecting that damage back on her enemies.
- Butterfly grants agility and evasion to increase Spectre's and her illusions' damage output and survivability.
Situational items:
- Urn of Shadows is a great early game item to take advantage of Haunt to get a lot of charges.
- Phase Boots grant movement speed and attack damage to hunt enemy heroes.
- Diffusal Blade increases the damage your illusions deal, gives you some much needed mana and agility, and has a slow to keep up with enemies.
- Mask of Madness is a good early-game farming tool. Once you've haunted, rifted to a target and thrown your dagger, you don't mind being silenced, and will gladly take the bonus movement and attack speed.
- Drum of Endurance raises attributes. It combos well with Urn of Shadows.
- Vanguard gives a large amount of damage block, which is calculated after Dispersion. It also gives much needed early-game HP, as well as HP regeneration, which most farming heroes need to farm without breaks.
- Blade Mail works well with Spectre's constant AoE damage and punishes enemies who try to focus you down. Also, it can help you easily farm ancient stacks.
- Sange and Yasha is a midgame snowballing item. The stats transfer well to illusions and the extra movement speed will help Spectre stick to her target.
- Eye of Skadi is a good luxury item on Spectre. The stats benefit dispersion and your illusions, the slow means enemies won't be able to escape you, and the mana can help sustain the low cooldown Spectral Dagger talent.
- Assault Cuirass adds extra durability and damage and makes Haunt a global -5 armor for the duration while giving any teammates in range extra armor and attack speed.
- Abyssal Blade adds some damage and HP along with spell immunity-piercing disable and chase potential that again forces attention onto her.
- Mjollnir adds significant farming and push potential, while filling the AoE damage role of Radiance while also scaling better and having an easier buildup. Illusions can benefit from the attack speed but not the lightning effect.
Gameplay[]
Audio[]
History[]
Equipment[]
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Trivia[]
- The name Mercurial most likely comes from the DeviantART account of Kenneth Tan, the person who made the 6.28-6.32 loadscreen.[1][2] 6.28 is also the version in which Spectre got released in DotA.
- "Mercurial" means "swift, shrewd, and deceitful", which is attributed to the Roman god of thieves, Mercury, as Spectre is an agile and quick Hero. It can also refer to the planet Mercury, since Spectre is an otherworldly entity. Mercurial can also hint towards the element Mercury, often called "quicksilver," which is another reference to Spectre's speed and mobility. When used as an personal adjective, mercurial can mean a personality quick to change and dangerous to both the person receiving and transmitting. Someone quick to forgive and quick to anger would be mercurial, but not someone who holds grudges or holds none. See Mercutio (obviously named) from Romeo and Juliet.
- Spectre's alternate/fun name "Qwerty-" was given to her for remembering a legendary Dota player Zaven "Qwerty" Terminasov, who died on December 5, 2010.
- Spectre's voice responses are overlayed with the same track playing backwards, bearing a huge similarity to the Spirit of Vengeance's voice in Warcraft III: Frozen Throne, which is also the voice of Spectre in DotA.
- Spectre has fewer model animations than any other hero in the game.
Gallery[]
Spectre with old weapon model
Ability icon progress
