Terrorblade: A Dota 2 Offlane Dominator
A few patches ago, seeing Terrorblade in the Dota 2 offlane was considered unconventional, even griefing. After a brief stint as a support, he seemed relegated to occasional hard carry roles. However, Terrorblade has staged a remarkable comeback, becoming a popular offlane pick, particularly at high MMR. This guide delves into what makes him effective in this role and outlines a successful build strategy.
Dota 2 Terrorblade Overview
Terrorblade is a melee Agility hero with exceptional Agility gain, providing substantial armor. While his Strength and Intelligence gains are low, his high Agility makes him incredibly durable in the late game, resistant to physical damage. His above-average movement speed, coupled with his abilities, facilitates efficient jungle farming. His innate ability, Dark Unity, boosts the damage of illusions within a certain radius.
Terrorblade's Abilities: A Quick Look
| Ability Name | How it Works |
|---|---|
| Reflection | Creates an invulnerable illusion of an enemy hero, dealing 100% damage and slowing attack/movement speed. |
| Conjure Image | Creates a controllable illusion of Terrorblade that deals damage and has a long duration. |
| Metamorphosis | Transforms Terrorblade into a powerful demon, increasing attack range and damage. Illusions also transform. |
| Sunder | Swaps Terrorblade's HP with a target's HP. Cannot kill, but can reduce to 1 HP with Condemned Facet. |
Aghanim's Upgrades:
- Aghanim's Shard: Grants Demon Zeal, sacrificing health for regeneration, attack speed, and movement speed (melee form only).
- Aghanim's Scepter: Grants Terror Wave, inflicting fear and damage, activating or extending Metamorphosis.
Facets:
- Condemned: Removes the HP threshold for Sundered enemies.
- Soul Fragment: Conjure Images spawn at full health, but casting costs additional health.
Position 3 Terrorblade Build Guide
Terrorblade's effectiveness in the offlane stems from Reflection – a low-mana, low-cooldown spell that creates a damaging illusion of enemy heroes. This allows for significant harassment and early kill potential. However, his low health pool necessitates strategic itemization.
Facets, Talents, & Ability Order
For the offlane, choose the Condemned Facet. This maximizes Sunder's potential, allowing for devastatingly timed attacks. Prioritize Reflection early for harassment, maximizing it quickly. Take Metamorphosis at level 2 for kill pressure, Conjure Image at level 4, and Sunder at level 6.
Item Build (Example)
(This is a sample build; adapt based on the game's flow and enemy composition.)
Early game items focus on survivability and sustain, transitioning to damage and attack speed items as the game progresses. Consider items like Wraith Band, Phase Boots, and eventually items that boost his damage output and survivability in team fights.
This guide provides a framework. Adaptability is key to success with Terrorblade in the offlane. Observe the game's dynamics and adjust your build and strategy accordingly.
