Bane, also known as Atropos, is one of the most iconic and feared heroes in Dota 2, renowned for his unparalleled abilities to disable, manipulate, and outplay his enemies. A master of nightmares and Fear, Bane dominates the early and mid-game with devastating spells that leave his opponents utterly helpless. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into Bane’s lore, abilities, playstyle, item builds, talents, counters, and much more that every Dota 2 gamer should know to master this hero.
Overview of Bane – The Nightmare Enthusiast
Bane, classified as an Intelligence-based hero, is a true terror when it comes to crowd control and single-target disable. Possessing a toolkit of spells that combine damage-dealing capabilities with hard disables, Bane thrives in team fights, ganks, and even one-on-one encounters. His unique contribution to any team lineup makes him one of the quintessential support/disabler heroes in the game.
Bane’s Unique Strengths
- Exceptional Disable Potential: With abilities like Nightmare and Fiend’s Grip, Bane can render enemies helpless for prolonged durations.
- Self-Sustain: Thanks to Brain Sap, Bane can deal damage and heal himself simultaneously, ensuring survivability in critical moments.
- Lane Dominance: Bane excels in the laning phase by trading effectively with enemies using Enfeeble and Brain Sap.
- Vision Advantage: His improved night vision grants valuable scouting advantages during night-time skirmishes.
Bane’s Limitations
- Vulnerability to Silences: Like most spell-dependent heroes, Bane struggles against heroes and items that silence or disable him.
- Item Reliance: While useful without items, Bane’s potential amplifies significantly with items like Aether Lens or Black King Bar.
- Mediocre Scaling: Bane’s impact decreases slightly in the late game compared to his dominance in the early and mid-game.
Hero Lore – The Birth of Fear
Bane’s story begins inthe depths of Dota 2’s rich lore. He was born from the midnight terrors of the goddess Nyctasha, an otherworldly being whose immortality and essence were consumed by this manifestation of fear. Bane’s spectral form is said to have emerged from her inky blood, embodying Pure dread. His name, “Atropos,” has its roots in Greek mythology, referencing one of the three Moirai sisters, who was responsible for cutting the thread of life, symbolizing finality and the inevitability of fate.
This grim origin aligns seamlessly with Bane’s in-game abilities, where each spell feels like an extension of the terror and despair he represents. Whether putting enemies to sleep with Nightmare or locking them in place with Fiend’s Grip, Bane instills the same sense of hopelessness that defines his lore.
Attributes and Stats
Understanding Bane’s base stats is critical to leveraging his strengths during gameplay. Despite being an Intelligence-based hero, Bane enjoys balanced attribute gains, giving him versatility in many scenarios.
Base Stats
- Health: 626
- Mana: 351
- Base Damage: 47.3 – 53.3
- Movement Speed: 305
- Armor: 4.8 (increases by 0.5 per level)
- Range: 400
Attribute Gains
- Strength: 2.4 (medium durability)
- Agility: 2.4 (moderate attack speed improvement)
- Intelligence: 2.4 (scales well with mana pool and damage potential)
Bane’s Abilities – Fearsome Spells
Enfeeble
Description: Weakens an enemy unit, reducing their total attack damage and cast range by 30%. Deals damage over time.
- Duration: 9 seconds
- Damage Per Second: 12/18/24/30
- Tips: Use Enfeeble to shut down physical-damage heroes, especially during team fights or ganks. It’s particularly effective against heroes dependent on precise positioning or long cast ranges.
Brain Sap
Description: Drains life energy from an enemy hero, dealing damage and healing Bane for the same amount.
- Damage/Heal: 90/160/230/300
- Aghanim’s Shard: Reduces cooldown and enables Brain Sap to hit multiple enemies as an Area of Effect (AoE) ability.
- Tips: Brain Sap can win trades in the lane by allowing Bane to stay healthy, even in unfavorable situations.
Nightmare
Description: Puts a target to sleep and makes them immune to damage temporarily, while leaving them unable to act.
- Duration: 4/5/6/7 seconds
- Unique Mechanic: Can be cast on allies to grant temporary invulnerability.
- Tips: Use Nightmare to set up kills, save allies from danger, or dodge incoming spells.
Fiend’s Grip
Description: Channels to stun an enemy hero and deal significant damage over time, draining their mana concurrently.
- Duration: 5.5 seconds
- Upgrades: Aghanim’s Scepter makes Fiend’s Grip uninterruptible through normal means.
- Tips: Fiend’s Grip is most effective in team fights when combined with allied disables to secure kills on high-priority targets.
How-to Guide – Mastering Bane
- Early Game: Focus on controlling the lane with Brain Sap to outlast and harass opponents. Use Nightmare strategically for setup kills or saving allies.
- Mid Game: Start roaming to gank enemy cores. Combine Nightmare, Enfeeble, and Fiend’s Grip to isolate and eliminate targets.
- Late Game: Position yourself carefully. Use Fiend’s Grip on high-damage targets to secure advantageous fights for your team.
Items and Equipment
- Core Items: Aether Lens, Glimmer Cape, Eul’s Scepter of Divinity
- Situational Items: Black King Bar, Lotus Orb, Aeon Disk, Linken’s Sphere
- Lategame: Refresher Orb, Aghanim’s Scepter
Trivia About Bane
- Bane’s name, “Atropos,” originates from Greek mythology.
- Bane is one of the oldest heroes in Dota 2, present since its Defense of the Ancients days.
FAQs About Bane
What role does Bane typically play in a game?
Bane is usually played as a support or disabler, excelling in crowd control and lane dominance.
How does Bane counter heroes with high mobility?
Bane’s spells like Nightmare and Fiend’s Grip can disable high-mobility heroes like Anti-Mage or Queen of Pain.
What are Bane’s best laning pairs?
Bane synergizes well with ranged nukers or carries with strong follow-up disables.
Does Fiend’s Grip go through spell immunity?
Yes, when upgraded with Aghanim’s Scepter, Fiend’s Grip can pierce through spell immunity.
How can Bane sustain himself during laning?
The healing effect of Brain Sap allows Bane to regen health while harassing enemies.
What are Bane’s notable weaknesses?
Strong silences, mobility items, and spell immunity can counter Bane effectively.
Can Bane be played mid-lane?
Yes, Bane can be played mid to leverage his strong disables and nuking abilities early on.
What are the optimal upgrades for Bane’s abilities?
Prioritize Brain Sap for sustain and Nightmare for utility, followed by Fiend’s Grip.
Does Bane’s Brain Sap work on multiple targets?
With Aghanim’s Shard, Brain Sap becomes an AoE spell, healing Bane from multiple targets simultaneously.
When should I pick Bane in drafts?
Bane is ideal when the enemy team has heroes with channeled spells, high mobility, or weak early-game laners.
Source : Rizpol
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