Guide · 5 min read · Patch 7.41f
Dota 2 Attributes Explained
Every Dota 2 hero has three attributes: Strength, Agility and Intelligence. They make your hero tougher, faster or smarter, and one of them (or all three, for Universal heroes) also adds to your damage. Knowing what each does helps you understand why heroes feel the way they do, and what to buy.
Of 127 heroes, 36 are Strength, 35 Agility, 34 Intelligence and 22 Universal.
What each attribute does
| Attribute | What it gives | Typical feel |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Health and health regeneration | Tanky heroes that fight up close |
| Agility | Armor and attack speed | Attackers that hit fast and carry late |
| Intelligence | Mana and mana regeneration | Spellcasters with many abilities |
| Universal | A bonus from all three attributes | Flexible heroes that fit many roles |
Each hero’s primary attribute also increases their attack damage. That is why a Strength hero with more Strength hits harder, and why an Agility carry gets stronger the more Agility they have. Attributes also grow with every level; the gain per level is listed on each hero’s page under base stats.
The four types of heroes
Strength
Tanky heroes that fight up close. On average they start with 652 health and 287 mana, and win 50.8% of games at Herald to Crusader.
Examples: Axe, Wraith King, Sven and Tidehunter.
Agility
Attackers that hit fast and carry late. On average they start with 546 health and 291 mana, and win 49.8% of games at Herald to Crusader.
Examples: Juggernaut, Phantom Assassin, Anti-Mage and Luna.
Intelligence
Spellcasters with many abilities. On average they start with 562 health and 362 mana, and win 50.0% of games at Herald to Crusader.
Examples: Crystal Maiden, Lich, Lina and Witch Doctor.
How to use attributes when picking a hero
- Want to be hard to kill? Pick Strength heroes. Health is what keeps you alive in your first fights.
- Want to carry late? Agility heroes are the classic carries: they attack fast and scale with items.
- Like casting spells? Intelligence heroes have lots of mana and strong abilities, but low health.
- Want options? Universal heroes are flexible and can play several positions. They are usually harder to learn, so read best heroes for beginners first.
Attributes and items
Many items give attributes, so the item you buy can change how a hero plays. A Strength item adds health, an Agility item adds armor and attack speed, and so on. Check each hero’s build page for the items that fit it, and read Dota 2 items for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the attributes in Dota 2?
- Strength, Agility and Intelligence. Strength adds health, Agility adds armor and attack speed, and Intelligence adds mana. Universal heroes get a bonus from all three.
- What is a primary attribute?
- The attribute that adds to a hero’s attack damage. Each hero has one primary attribute, or is Universal.
- Which attribute is best?
- None is better. Each fits a different style: Strength for toughness, Agility for late-game attackers, Intelligence for spells and Universal for flexibility.
- What is a Universal hero?
- A hero whose damage grows from all three attributes instead of just one. Universal heroes tend to be flexible and fit many roles.
Numbers in this guide are computed from 3.4M public matches (OpenDota) and refreshed with every site update. Hero data is Valve’s. Builds Forge is an unofficial fan site, not affiliated with Valve.