Ringmaster hero analysis

The Ringmaster is the newest hero in Dota 2, released on August 23, 2024. He has become one of the top choices for Intelligence supports on Dotabuff. Many players enjoy using his unique abilities, making him popular in pub matches. Yet, he still needs to be available in Captain's Mode, and it's uncertain if he will be added to The International 2024.

In-Game Traits

Role Flexibility: Ringmaster is great as a support. He has perfect crowd control and utility abilities. He can also scale into a semi-carry role in long games. His Intelligence gain (+3.0 per level) helps him keep casting spells in extended fights. His main job is to disrupt enemies and protect his team, but he can also deal good damage, especially in the late game.

Positioning: Positioning is crucial for Ringmaster. His abilities need precise targeting. His base movement speed of 315, above average for a support, helps him position well in fights. His attack range of 575 lets him harass enemies from a safe distance during the laning phase.

Survivability: Ringmaster is quite durable for an Intelligence hero. He starts with 626 HP and decent base armor of 3.2. His Escape Act ability increases his survivability. It helps him avoid danger or protect critical allies. This makes him a support who can stay in fights longer than most.

Itemization

Early Game

The Ringmaster should focus on items that boost his mana pool and regeneration in the early game. His spells use a lot of mana. Typical starting items include:

Tangoes and Healing Salve. For sustaining in the lane.

Clarity. To keep his mana pool full.

Magic Stick. It provides burst mana and health, which is helpful against heroes that spam spells.

As the game moves into the early mid-game, consider these items:

Arcane Boots. It's essential for keeping his mana pool topped off, allowing him to keep casting spells.

Urn of Shadows. It provides healing and can deal damage over time. That works well with his aggressive playstyle.

Mid-Game

In the mid-game, focus on enhancing Ringmaster's utility and survivability:

Glimmer Cape. It grants invisibility to him or an ally and helps escape or set up ambushes.

Force Staff: Increases mobility, allowing him to reposition or save allies easily.

Aether Lens. Extends the range of his abilities, making it easier to initiate from a safer distance.

Late Game

Ringmaster can continue as utility support or transition into a semi-carry.

Aghanim's Scepter. If an upgrade becomes available, it could become a core item.

Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Provides an extra disable, mana regeneration, and movement speed. All of those are very useful for Ringmaster.

Scythe of Vyse. It offers a powerful single-target disable, which is crucial in late-game scenarios.

Situational Items

Guardian Greaves is useful if your team lacks a strong frontline. It provides utility and sustains long engagements.

Lotus Orb. Reflects targeted spells and offers armor and health regeneration. It gives defensive and offensive utility.

Shiva's Guard. Excellent for controlling the battlefield with its slow and aura. It enhances the Ringmaster's survivability with extra armor.

Game Stages and Builds

Laning Phase

During the laning phase, the Ringmaster should focus on harassing the enemy with long-range attacks. Also - setting up kills with Tame the Beasts. Positioning is critical; stay behind creeps and allies to avoid unnecessary damage. Use Escape Act early in skirmishes to protect your carry or yourself from ganks. Aim to farm for core items like Arcane Boots and Magic Wand.

Mid-Game

Ringmaster excels as a team fight controller in the mid-game. His ability to initiate or counter-initiate with Tame the Beasts and Wheel of Wonder makes him crucial in engagements. Focus on using your abilities to disrupt enemy carries and protect your backline. Use Impalement Arts to target high-priority enemies. Especially those with high HP - s percentage-based damage, which can wear them down quickly. Build utility items like Glimmer Cape and Force Staff will boost your team's mobility and survivability. Keep your team's formation intact and prevent the enemy from executing their strategies.

Late Game

As the game enters the late stage, the Ringmaster's role may shift based on the match's flow. If the game drags on, his talent tree allows him to become more damage-oriented. Continue using the Escape Act to protect your core heroes. Also, the Wheel of Wonder controls large areas in battles. Consider items like Scythe of Vyse or Eul's Scepter if your team needs more crowd control. Shiva's Guard can boost your team's damage output for more aggressive play, while reducing the enemy's mobility. Maintain good positioning to disrupt the enemy's formation without overextending. Despite his durability, Ringmaster can still be taken down by a well-coordinated team.

Builds

Standard Support Build:

Starting Items: Tango, Healing Salve, Clarity, Magic Stick.

Early Game: Arcane Boots, Urn of Shadows, Magic Wand.

Mid-Game: Glimmer Cape, Force Staff, Aether Lens.

Late Game: Eul's Scepter of Divinity, Scythe of Vyse, Shiva's Guard.

Semi-Carry Build:

Starting Items: Tango, Healing Salve, Clarity, Magic Stick.

Early Game: Arcane Boots, Magic Wand, Null Talisman.

Mid-Game: Aether Lens, Rod of Atos, Kaya.

Late Game: Octarine Core, Scythe of Vyse, Shiva's Guard.

Defensive Utility Build:

Starting Items: Tango, Healing Salve, Clarity, Magic Stick.

Early Game: Arcane Boots, Magic Wand, Urn of Shadows.

Mid Game: Guardian Greaves, Lotus Orb, Aether Lens.

Late Game: Shiva's Guard, Refresher Orb, Scythe of Vyse.

Latest Updates

Since his release, Ringmaster has seen a few adjustments in the latest patches, including a slight nerf in Patch 7.37c that reduced the effectiveness of his Escape Act and Wheel of Wonder abilities. These tweaks aimed to balance his overwhelming presence in pub matches, where his win rate had climbed to 57% within days of his release. It's worth noting that while the community speculated about potential Aghanim's Scepter upgrades, Valve has not yet introduced any such enhancements for Ringmaster, leaving room for future updates.

Benefits

Ringmaster brings several advantages to a team composition:

Crowd Control: His abilities, such as Tame the Beasts and Wheel of Wonder, are excellent for controlling enemy movements and disrupting their strategies.

Survivability: The Escape Act offers a reliable way to save allies or himself from imminent danger, making him a valuable asset in clutch situations.

Scaling Potential: While primarily a support, Ringmaster can scale into a semi-carry role in the late game thanks to his ability to deal percentage-based damage and his talent tree, whichboosts his damage output.

Downsides

However, Ringmaster has his share of weaknesses:

High Skill Ceiling: His abilities require precise timing and positioning, making him less forgiving for inexperienced players.

Mana Intensive: Ringmaster's spells are costly in terms of mana, requiring careful resource management and potential itemization towards mana regeneration.

Lack of Direct Damage Early: In the early game, his damage output is relatively low, making it challenging to secure kills without help from teammates.

Abilities

Tame the Beasts

Type: Point Target

Effect: Channels a whip that damages and forces enemies to flee. Longer channeling increases damage and fear duration, but reduces the AoE.

Damage: Up to 480 at max channel.

Cooldown: 10 seconds.

Escape Act

Type: Unit Target

Effect: Places an ally or himself in a box, providing phased movement, bonus magic resistance, and slow resistance while making the target untargetable.

Duration: Up to 3.2 seconds.

Cooldown: 20 seconds.

Impalement Arts

Type: Point Target

Effect: Throws a dagger that deals impact damage, applies a slow, and causes the target to bleed, dealing percentage-based damage over time.

Duration: 4 seconds.

Cooldown: 17 seconds.

Wheel of Wonder (Ultimate)

Type: Point Target

Effect: Rolls a giant wheel that damages and slows enemies. Enemies facing the wheel are taunted and pulled towards it before it explodes.

Cooldown: 70 seconds.

Innate Ability: Dark Carnival Barker

Effect: Generates random single-use items called Dark Carnival Souvenirs when an enemy dies near Ringmaster. These items offer various effects, such as creating illusions, buffing allies, or propelling the Ringmaster forward.

Hints and Tips to Master

Maximize Utility with Escape Act: Use the Escape Act to save key allies during critical moments or to reposition yourself for a perfect ultimate.

Channel Tame the Beasts Wisely: Shorter channels can be more effective in chaotic fights, as the larger AoE can catch more enemies.

Abuse Positioning: Ringmaster's effectiveness is highly dependent on positioning. Stay behind your frontline and use your abilities to disrupt enemy engagements.

Manage Mana: Invest in items like Arcane Boots or a Magic Wand to sustain your mana pool throughout the game.

Recommended Allies

Faceless Void

Faceless Void's Chronosphere is one of the most potent AoE disables in the game. Ringmaster can cast Wheel of Wonder outside the Chronosphere. That will continue to control or pull in enemies after the Chronosphere ends. Ringmaster's Escape Act can also save Void if he gets in trouble.

Outworld Destroyer

Outworld Destroyer (OD) and Ringmaster can form a powerful combo. OD's Astral Imprisonment and Ringmaster's Escape Act provide layers of protection or crowd control. This combination can lock down an enemy for a long time or keep allies safe. OD's high burst damage also benefits from the control Ringmaster provides. It is easy to land Sanity's Eclipse.

Centaur Warrunner

Centaur Warrunner's Stampede gives Ringmaster the mobility to position his abilities perfectly. Whether setting up Tame the Beasts or positioning Wheel of Wonder, Stampede helps Ringmaster move effectively. Ringmaster can also protect Centaur after a risky initiation with Escape Act, letting him retreat safely if needed.

Spectre

Spectre greatly benefits from Ringmaster's ability to disrupt and control the battlefield. During Spectre's Haunt, Wheel of Wonder can pull enemies together, making them easier targets for Spectre's illusions. Ringmaster's crowd control also helps extend fights, giving Spectre more time to deal damage and survive.

Drow Ranger

Drow Ranger is a high-damage, low-mobility carry. He will benefit from the Ringmaster's protection and control. Escape Act can keep Drow safe from initiations, while Wheel of Wonder can pull enemies into the perfect position for Multishot. The slowdown from Impalement Arts ensures that targets stay within Drow's attack range.

Counters

Anti-Mage

Anti-Mage is a natural counter to Intelligence heroes like Ringmaster. His high mobility helps him avoid Ringmaster's crowd control abilities. Plus, Mana Break and Mana Void can punish Ringmaster's mana-dependent kit. Anti-Mage's Spell Shield also reduces magic damage.

Nyx Assassin

Nyx Assassin's ability to counter-initiate with Spiked Carapace can easily disrupt Ringmaster's combos. Nyx's Mana Burn worsens Ringmaster's mana problems, and Vendetta lets Nyx quickly close the gap and burst down Ringmaster.

Silencer

Silencer's Global Silence directly counters Ringmaster's spell-heavy playstyle. A well-timed Global Silence can stop Ringmaster from using his abilities during crucial moments. Last Word and Arcane Curse can constantly harass Ringmaster. That will make it difficult for him to manage his mana and maintain good positioning.

Legion Commander

Legion Commander's Duel is a solid counter for Ringmaster because it bypasses his Escape Act, forcing him into a direct fight. Legion's Press the Attack can remove the debuffs from Ringmaster's Impalement Arts and Tame the Beasts.

Rubick

Rubick's Spell Steal can turn Ringmaster's abilities against his team. Rubick's ability to reposition himself and his long cast range allow him to steal and use any of Ringmaster's spells effectively. A stolen Wheel of Wonder or Escape Act can transform the outcome of a battle.