Wraith King, formerly known as Skeleton King, is a renowned strength-based hero in Dota 2. Known for his simplicity and durability, Wraith King is an excellent choice for players who are new to the game or looking for a hero with straightforward but impactful gameplay mechanics. With powerful abilities that scale well from early game to late game, an ultimate skill that provides him with a second life, and exceptional farming capability, Wraith King stands out as one of the most reliable heroes in the game’s roster.
General Overview – Wraith King in Dota 2
Wraith King is part of the strength hero category and is traditionally played as a carry or durable frontline hero. His combination of life-draining abilities, high sustainability, and devastating late-game impact makes him a menace on the battlefield. While he may not be the most versatile hero in terms of role-switching, his gameplay simplicity makes him a go-to pick for players looking to dive into competitive Dota 2 action without an overwhelming learning curve.
Key Attributes
- Primary Attribute: Strength
- Roles: Carry, Durable, Nuker, Pusher, Support, Escape, Disabler, Initiator
- Base Stats:
- Health: 604 + 61.6 per level
- Mana: 291 + 19.2 per level
- Damage: 60-62 + 2.8 per level
- Armor: 3.7 + 0.3 per level
- Movement Speed: 315
- Attribute Bonuses Per Point:
- +22 HP, +0.1 HP regeneration
- +1 attack damage (for his primary strength)
- +0.17 armor
- +12 MP, +0.05 MP regeneration
- +0.1% base magic resistance
Abilities – Breaking Down Wraith King’s Skills
Wraith King boasts a solid skill set designed to dominate in team fights, farm efficiently, and sustain himself during critical moments. Below is a breakdown of Wraith King’s abilities and how they integrate into his gameplay.
Wraithfire Blast
- Type: Active, Magical
- Description: Throwsa fiery projectile at an enemy unit, stunning it, dealing impact damage, and inflicting slow and damage over time.
- Details:
- Cast Range: 525
- Cast Animation: 0.35 + 0.5
- Impact Damage: 75/90/105/120
- Damage per Second: 20/40/60/80
- Movement Speed Slow: 20%
- Stun Duration: 1/1.2/1.4/1.6 seconds
Usage Tips: This is Wraith King’s primary ability for initiating fights and locking down slippery enemies. Make it a point to use it wisely on high-priority targets.
Vampiric Spirit
- Type: Passive
- Description: Grants lifesteal to Wraith King and his summoned Skeleton Warriors. When upgraded with Aghanim’s Scepter, it transforms into an aura, delaying the death of allied heroes within range.
- Details:
- Lifesteal Factor: 16%/24%/32%/40%
- Wraith Duration: 3.5/4/4.5/5 seconds
- Bonus Attack Speed: 30/45/60/75
- Bonus Movement Speed: 10%/15%/20%/25%
Usage Tips: Vampiric Spirit guarantees sustainability during both farming and team fights. Its synergy with Wraith King’s Skeletons increases his lane superiority and team support capabilities, especially in drawn-out battles.
Mortal Strike
- Type: Passive
- Description: Grants a chance to deal bonus critical damage with a cooldown, turning Wraith King into a consistent damage dealer.
- Details:
- Cooldown: 6/5.5/5/4.5 seconds
Usage Tips: This ability greatly enhances your farming speed and gives Wraith King a significant damage spike in team fights. Mastering critical timing is key to maximizing its effectiveness.
Bone Guard
- Type: Active
- Description: Summons Skeleton Warriors that attack enemies continuously for their duration.
- Details:
- Skeleton Duration: 40 seconds
- Charges Gained Per 2 Creep Kills: 2/4/6/8 Skeletons
- Speciality: Skeletons excel at harassing other heroes but are weaker against buildings.
Usage Tips: Use Skeleton Warriors to keep pressure on enemy lanes or even farm jungle camps when you are absent from the area.
Reincarnation
- Type: Ultimate Ability
- Description: Upon death, Wraith King reincarnates at the spot where he fell after a short delay, with all skills and items ready.
- Details:
- Cooldown: 180/150/120 seconds
- Slow Radius: 900
- Slow Duration: 5 seconds
- Aghanim’s Shard Upgrade: Removes mana cost.
Usage Tips: This ability is one of Wraith King’s defining features. Proper positioning and team coordination after reincarnation are essential to maximize its impact in fights.
Recommended Itemization for Wraith King
Early Game
Focus on items to improve laning and last-hitting efficiency:
- Bracer
- Wraith Band
- Quelling Blade
- Phase Boots or Power Treads
Mid Game
Transition into items that enable you to farm and fight more efficiently:
- Hand of Midas (for farming advantage)
- Armlet of Mordiggian
- Echo Sabre
Late Game
Build high-tier items to dominate in team fights and ensure survival:
- Satanic – For lifesteal and survivability.
- Moon Shard – Increased attack speed and night vision.
- Silver Edge – Disables enemy passives and grants invisibility.
How-To Guide – Mastering Wraith King
Follow this step-by-step guide to maximize Wraith King’s potential:
- Begin with last-hitting creeps and optimizing your farm in the laning stage.
- Use Wraithfire Blast for harassing enemy supports or securing tough creep kills.
- Summon Skeleton Warriors when pushing waves or jungling for additional farming efficiency.
- Build core items like an Armlet of Mordiggian to strengthen your mid-game power spike.
- Make the most of your Reincarnation by positioning aggressively but strategically in team fights.
FAQs – Wraith King in Dota 2
What role does Wraith King excel at?
Wraith King thrives as a carry who excels in durability and late-game damage output. He is also effective as a durable frontline hero.
Is Wraith King beginner-friendly?
Yes, Wraith King’s straightforward skill set, durability, and farming capabilities make him one of the most beginner-friendly heroes in Dota 2.
What are counter-picks to Wraith King?
Heroes with mana-burn abilities like Anti-Mage or feedback items like Diffusal Blade can effectively counter Wraith King by disabling his Reincarnation.
What items neutralize Wraith King?
Items such as Spirit Vessel, Shiva’s Guard, or Scythe of Vyse can reduce his healing and effective fighting time in engagements.
How should I build talents for Wraith King?
Prioritize talents that enhance your lifesteal and damage output early, and transition into sustain-focused talents for late-game durability.
Is Wraith King good for solo queue?
Yes, Wraith King is reliable for Solo queue due to his ability to carry games independently with proper farming and itemization.
What are the best combos with Wraithfire Blast?
Pair Wraithfire Blast with allies who have strong follow-up disables like Lion or Lina for burst damage combinations.
How to recover after a bad start?
Focus on farming neutral camps with your Skeleton Warriors and equip a Hand of Midas to accelerate your economy efficiently.
Should I buy a Blink Dagger for Wraith King?
Yes, Blink Dagger is situationally effective for initiating and reaching backline enemy supports with ease.
What heroes synergize well with Wraith King?
Heroes like Invoker (for alacrity boosts) or Crystal Maiden (mana supply) synergize well with Wraith King.
Source : Dota2HighSchool
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