Warlock is an absolute powerhouse in Dota 2, consistently dominating the battlefield and earning a commendable win rate of around 54.6%. With his exceptional teamfight abilities and impressive healing powers, it's no wonder that Warlock is a sought-after pick in casual and professional matches. According to Dotabuff, this support hero's unwavering performance makes a difference in every game.
All statistical data is gathered from dotabuff.
Description
Warlock is a versatile support hero in Dota 2 known for his powerful area-of-effect (AoE) spells and team-fight capabilities. Through his unique skill set, he excels at sustaining his team and disrupting enemies. Here, we delve deeper into his in-game traits, itemization, and performance across different game stages.
Itemization
Warlock's item build enhances his survivability, mana sustain, and team utility. Key items include:
- Arcane Boots: Provides essential mana regeneration for frequently casting his spells.
- Glimmer Cape: Offers invisibility for escaping and can be used to save allies.
- Force Staff: Adds mobility, allowing Warlock to reposition himself or assist teammates in escaping.
- Aghanim's Scepter: Upgrades Chaotic Offering to summon an additional Golem, significantly boosting his teamfight potential.
- Refresher Orb: Enables Warlock to use Chaotic Offering twice in quick succession, doubling the impact in crucial teamfights.
- Mekansm and Guardian Greaves provide additional healing and a mechanism to remove debuffs from allies.
Early Game
Warlock focuses on securing a good laning phase for his carry in the early game. He uses Shadow Word to heal and keep his lane partner healthy, while applying pressure with Fatal Bonds and his basic attacks. Positioning is crucial to avoid unnecessary deaths and maintain a safe distance from enemy initiators. Ward placements are vital to provide vision and prevent ganks.
Mid-Game
As the game progresses into the mid-game, Warlock transitions into a team fight enabler. By this stage, he should have key items like Arcane Boots and Glimmer Cape. His role is to participate in skirmishes, using Fatal Bonds to link enemies and Shadow Word to sustain his team. Warlock's ultimate, Chaotic Offering, becomes a central tool for winning team fights, and players should look to use it during critical moments to maximize its impact.
Late Game
Warlock becomes the backbone of his team's strategy in the late game. His spells significantly impact large-scale fights, and his item progression should include Aghanim's Scepter and Refresher Orb. Warlock's role shifts to positioning himself to cast multiple ultimates and keep his team alive with sustained healing and crowd control. Using Upheaval to slow enemies and disrupt their formation can be a game-changer in tightly contested battles.
Facets of Warlock's Playstyle
- Positioning: It is crucial to stay at the backline to avoid getting caught. The warlock's long-range spells allow him to influence fights from a safe distance.
- Timing: It is essential to use the Chaotic Offering at the right moment. Holding onto it until the enemy is grouped or about to engage can turn the fight in your favor.
- Communication: Coordinating with your team is vital. Let them know when your ultimate is ready to plan aggressive moves or defensive stands.
- Resource Management: Managing mana efficiently is essential due to the high cost of Warlock's spells. Items like Arcane Boots and a Magic Wand can help sustain his mana pool.
Lore
Warlock, whose true name is Demnok Lannik, is a dark and influential figure from the Ultimyr Academy, where he was once a promising student of arcane arts. His exceptional talents set him apart from his peers, and he quickly rose through the ranks under the guidance of the academy's greatest sorcerers. However, Demnok's insatiable thirst for power led him to delve into forbidden magics and ancient, sinister rituals. His pursuit of these dark arts culminated in studying demonology, a branch of magic strictly prohibited by the academy. This dangerous path eventually led to his expulsion, as his instructors could no longer condone his perilous and morally questionable experiments.
After being cast out of the Ultimyr Academy, Warlock wandered into the wilderness, where he encountered a powerful demon. Desperate to attain unparalleled power, he struck a fateful bargain, exchanging his soul for the demon's might. This pact transformed Warlock into a conduit of dark energy, capable of summoning monstrous golems and wielding devastating spells that could turn the tide of any battle. His newfound powers came at a significant cost, binding his fate to the demon he serves. Warlock's story is a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked ambition and the heavy price of seeking power at any cost. Despite his formidable abilities and fearsome reputation, Warlock remains a tragic figure, forever haunted by the consequences of his unrelenting quest for supremacy . Demnok Lannik, known as Warlock, is a master of the dark arts who was once a respected student at the Ultimyr Academy. His thirst for power led him to study forbidden magic, resulting in his expulsion. He made a pact with a powerful demon in exile, trading his soul for immense magical power. Now, Warlock uses his dark abilities to summon demonic golems and bind enemies to his will, embodying a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition.
Latest Updates
Patch 7.37 Updates
Warlock has seen several significant updates in the latest patches to enhance his utility and effectiveness in team fights. Here are the fundamental changes and their impact:
Fatal Bonds: The damage amplification per unit linked by Fatal Bonds has increased slightly, making it more potent in spreading damage across enemy heroes. This change solidifies Warlock's role as a damage amplifier during team fights.
Shadow Word: The healing and damage provided by Shadow Word over time have been adjusted. The spell now offers increased healing at earlier levels, but has a higher mana cost to balance its power. This tweak encourages more strategic use of Shadow Word, especially in the laning phase where mana management is crucial.
Upheaval: Upheaval's slow effect has been rebalanced to be more effective at all levels. This makes Warlock's crowd control ability more reliable, particularly in prolonged engagements. The slow per second has been adjusted to scale better, providing a more consistent impact throughout the game.
Chaotic Offering: Warlock's ultimate has received an indirect buff by adding new talents and items that synergize well with the Golem. The Golem's base attack time has been slightly reduced, increasing its damage output in fights. Additionally, the talent that increases Golem's armor has been improved, making the Golem more resilient in battles.
Aghanim's Shard: The Shard upgrade for Warlock has become a staple in his build, providing an area-of-effect (AoE) Shadow Word. This upgrade significantly boosts Warlock's healing capabilities in team fights, making him an even more valuable support. The Shard now also reduces the cooldown of Shadow Word, allowing Warlock to apply healing or damage more frequently.
Meta Shifts
The current meta favors heroes with strong team fight abilities and sustain, making Warlock a top-tier pick in many games. His ability to turn the tide of battles with a well-timed Chaotic Offering, combined with the healing and damage over time from Shadow Word, makes him a formidable support. The popularity of tanky heroes and extended team fights further enhances Warlock's value, as Fatal Bonds can link multiple high-health targets, maximizing the damage output across the enemy team.
Benefits
Strong Teamfight Presence: Warlock's ultimate, Chaotic Offering, summons a mighty golem that stuns and deals significant damage to enemies, turning the tide in crucial team fights.
Healing and Sustain: Shadow Word provides substantial healing to allies or damage to enemies over time, making Warlock a versatile support.
Area Control: Upheaval slows enemies in a large area, making it difficult for them to escape or reposition during fights.
Downsides
High Cooldowns: Warlock's abilities, particularly his ultimate, have long cooldowns, requiring strategic use to maximize effectiveness.
Mana-Dependent: His spells cost mana, necessitating careful management and itemization to sustain his abilities in prolonged fights.
Positioning Vulnerabilities: Warlock needs to maintain a safe distance due to his low mobility and vulnerability to being caught out of position.
Abilities
Fatal Bonds: Links multiple enemies together, sharing a percentage of the damage received between them.
Shadow Word: Heals an ally or damages an enemy over time.
Upheaval: Channels to slow all enemies in a large area, increasing the slow effect over time.
Chaotic Offering: Upon landing, the player summons a Golem that stuns and deals damage to enemies. The Golem remains to fight, adding considerable damage and control.
Hints and Tips to Master
Positioning: Stay at the backline to avoid being targeted while casting your long-range abilities.
Use Fatal Bonds Wisely: Target clustered enemies to maximize the damage spread.
Capitalize on Upheaval: Use it in chokepoints to disrupt enemy movements and create opportunities for your team.
Timing Chaotic Offering: Save it for crucial moments in team fights to disrupt and deal significant damage.
Recommended Allies
Centaur Warrunner
Centaur Warrunner is an excellent ally for Warlock because he can initiate team fights and create chaos in the enemy ranks. His skills, such as Hoof Stomp and Double Edge, synergize well with Warlock's Fatal Bonds, as they can deal substantial AoE damage that gets amplified across linked enemies. Additionally, Centaur's ultimate, Stampede, provides mobility for Warlock to reposition safely or to chase down fleeing enemies, complementing Warlock's otherwise low mobility.
Shadow Fiend
Shadow Fiend benefits greatly from Warlock's Fatal Bonds. His high burst damage from abilities like Shadowraze and Requiem of Souls can devastate enemies linked by Fatal Bonds, ensuring maximum damage output. Warlock's healing with Shadow Word also helps keep Shadow Fiend sustained in fights, allowing him to continue dishing out damage without retreating.
Zeus
Zeus's global presence and burst damage make him a formidable ally for Warlock. Fatal Bonds paired with Zeus's abilities, like Arc Lightning and Thundergod's Wrath, can decimate the enemy team from anywhere on the map. Zeus can exploit the vision provided by Warlock's wards and Golem to effectively target enemies, while Warlock can protect Zeus with Shadow Word and Glimmer Cape.
Magnus
Magnus's ability to pull enemies together with Reverse Polarity works seamlessly with Warlock's AoE spells. Once enemies are grouped, Warlock can follow up with Chaotic Offering and Fatal Bonds, causing massive team-wide damage. Magnus's Empower also benefits Warlock's summoned Golems, increasing their damage output and effectiveness in prolonged fights.
Dark Seer
Dark Seer's Vacuum synergizes well with Warlock's abilities by grouping enemies for maximum effectiveness of Fatal Bonds and Chaotic Offering. Additionally, Dark Seer's Ion Shell can be applied to Warlock's Golem to add extra damage over time in fights. The combination of Warlock's slow from Upheaval and Dark Seer's Surge can help control the battlefield and reposition allies as needed.
Counters
Weaver
Weaver's Shukuchi allows him to escape Warlock's Upheaval easily due to his high mobility. His ultimate, Time Lapse, can negate the damage inflicted by Warlock's abilities and Golem, making it difficult for Warlock to secure kills. Weaver's elusive nature and ability to deal sustained damage over time pose a significant threat to Warlock.
Anti-Mage
Anti-Mage's Blink makes it easy for him to dodge Warlock's spells and reposition during fights. His Mana Break ability can quickly deplete Warlock's mana pool, limiting his ability to cast multiple spells in prolonged engagements. Additionally, Anti-Mage's Spell Shield reduces the damage from Warlock's magical skills, further diminishing Warlock's effectiveness.
Silencer
Silencer's Global Silence can completely shut down Warlock's spellcasting, preventing him from using his crucial abilities in teamfights. Glaives of Wisdom deal pure damage, particularly effective against Warlock's relatively low health pool. Silencer's ability to steal intelligence through Last Word further cripples Warlock's mana pool, making it harder for him to sustain his spellcasting.
Dark Seer
Dark Seer's Vacuum can disrupt Warlock's positioning and bring him into unfavorable spots, setting up his team for a devastating follow-up. Ion Shell can significantly damage Warlock and his Golems over time, making it challenging for Warlock to maintain his presence in fights. Dark Seer's Surge can help his allies escape Warlock's slow from Upheaval.
Ember Spirit
Ember Spirit's mobility and burst damage make him a tough matchup for Warlock. Sleight of Fist can quickly clear Warlock's summoned units, while Flame Guard protects against Warlock's magical damage. Ember Spirit's ability to escape with Fire Remnant makes it difficult for Warlock to lock him down, reducing the impact of Warlock's spells in engagements.