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StrengthStrength · Melee

Lycan

Shapeshifts into a ferocious beast

CarryDurableEscapePusherModerate to play
Lycan portrait

Win rate

48.5%

C across all ranks

Pick rate

1.4%

of public matches

Public picks

45.9K

in the sample

Pro scene

8

49 bans · 75% win rate

Win rate by rank

  • Herald1Herald–
  • Guardian2Guardian47.5%
  • Crusader3Crusader45.9%
  • Archon4Archon46.8%
  • Legend5Legend49.2%
  • Ancient6Ancient49.8%
  • Divine+7Divine+51.0%

Bars start at 50%. Sample sizes: Herald 1.1K · Guardian 3.3K · Crusader 6.1K · Archon 10K · Legend 11.3K · Ancient 7.1K · Divine+ 6.9K.

Last 6 days

49.2%

Popular item build

Starting items

Bought before the horn

  1. 1

    Iron Branch

    55g
  2. 2

    Sage's Mask

    175g
  3. 3

    Tango

    90g
  4. 4

    Quelling Blade

    100g

Laning

The first minutes

  1. 1

    Helm of Iron Will

    975g
  2. 2

    Helm of the Dominator

    59%2,550g

Mid game

Core items

  1. 1

    Helm of the Overlord

    60%5,650g
  2. 2

    Aghanim's Shard

    60%1,400g
  3. 3

    Assault Cuirass

    64%5,125g

Late game

The full build

  1. 1

    Black King Bar

    4,050g
  2. 2

    Blink Dagger

    2,250g
  3. 3

    Nullifier

    4,350g
  4. 4

    Aghanim's Scepter

    4,200g
  5. 5

    Assault Cuirass

    64%5,125g
  6. 6

    Scythe of Vyse

    5,200g

Most-bought items for Lycan in OpenDota’s sample of parsed public matches (1,553 purchases counted). Bars compare each item with the most-bought one in its phase. The percentage is the win rate in games where Lycan bought the item by minute 30 (green or red when it is clearly above or below Lycan’s average). Teams that are ahead buy items sooner, so a high number shows the item goes with winning games, not that it causes the win. Items with fewer than 100 games show no percentage. Cheap components are hidden from the mid and late game.

Best win rate by purchase time

Bought 12–15 min

  1. Helm of the Overlord

    200 games

    67%
  2. Ultimate Orb

    214 games

    65%

Bought 15–20 min

  1. Hyperstone

    92 games

    73%
  2. Aghanim's Shard

    307 games

    60%
  3. Ultimate Orb

    141 games

    50%

Bought 20–30 min

  1. Assault Cuirass

    217 games

    62%
  2. Black King Bar

    82 games

    62%
  3. Sacred Relic

    60 games

    60%

Final items compared within the same purchase window (at least 60 games each), so they are not simply ranked by how late or expensive they are. Still a correlation: a team that is far ahead can buy anything sooner.

What these items do

  • Iron Branch

    55

    • +1 All Attributes

    Use: Plant Tree: Targets the ground to plant a happy little tree that lasts for 20 seconds.

  • Sage's Mask

    175

    • +0.7 Mana Regen
  • Tango

    90

    Use: Devour: Consumes a target tree to gain 7 health regeneration for 16 seconds. Consuming an Ironwood Tree doubles the heal duration. Comes with 3 charges.

  • Quelling Blade

    100

    Active: Chop Tree: Destroy a target tree.

    Full description

    4s

    Active: Chop Tree. Destroy a target tree.

    Passive: Quell. Increases attack damage against non-hero units by 8 for melee heroes, and 4 for ranged.

    • Effects of multiple quelling blades do not stack.
  • Helm of Iron Will

    975

    • +4 Armor
    • +4 Health Regen
  • Helm of the Dominator

    2,550

    • +6 All Attributes
    • +6 Armor
    • +6 Health Regen

    Active: Dominate: Takes control of one neutral, non-ancient target unit and sets its movement speed to 370 and max health to a minimum of 1000.

    Win rate when bought59.1% · 413 games

    • ≤ 12 min59%404
    • 12–15 min–7
    • 15–20 min–2
    • 20–30 min–0
    Full description

    45s50

    Active: Dominate. Takes control of one neutral, non-ancient target unit and sets its movement speed to 370 and max health to a minimum of 1000. Also provides the unit with +25 base attack damage, +12 health regen, +4 mana regen and +4 armor. Dominated units with a max health of greater than 1000 retain their original max health. Grants the caster 50% of the gold and experience bounty of the dominated creep. Dominated unit's bounty is set to 100 gold and it can no longer be killed by abilities that instantly kill creeps otherwise. The Helm cannot be used for 3 seconds after the dominated creep takes damage from an enemy hero or Roshan.

    • Cannot dominate more than one unit at a time. If a new unit is dominated, the old one will die.
    • Can also Dominate enemy lane creeps and summoned units.
    • Selling Helm of the Dominator will cause dominated units to die.
  • Helm of the Overlord

    5,650

    • +21 All Attributes
    • +7 Armor
    • +7 Health Regen

    Active: Dominate: Takes control of one neutral target unit and sets its movement speed to 380 and max health to a minimum of 1900.

    Win rate when bought59.6% · 394 games

    • ≤ 12 min–20
    • 12–15 min67%200
    • 15–20 min49%158
    • 20–30 min–16
    Full description

    40s50

    Active: Dominate. Takes control of one neutral target unit and sets its movement speed to 380 and max health to a minimum of 1900. Also provides the unit with +70 base attack damage, +12 health regen, +4 mana regen, +7 armor, and levels up some abilities of the target by 1 level. Dominated units with a max health of greater than 1900 retain their original max health. Grants the caster the gold and experience bounty of the dominated creep. Dominated unit's bounty is set to 250 gold and it can no longer be killed by abilities that instantly kill creeps otherwise. The Helm cannot be used for 3 seconds after the dominated creep takes damage from an enemy hero or Roshan.

    • Can also Dominate enemy lane creeps and summoned units.
    • Selling will cause dominated units to die.
  • Aghanim's Shard

    1,400

    Passive: Ability Upgrade: Upgrades an existing ability or adds a new ability to your hero.

    Win rate when bought60.1% · 378 games

    • ≤ 12 min–2
    • 12–15 min67%33
    • 15–20 min60%307
    • 20–30 min53%36
  • Assault Cuirass

    5,125

    • +30 Damage
    • +10 Armor

    Passive: Assault Aura: Grants 30 attack speed and 5 armor to nearby allied units and structures, and decreases nearby enemy unit and structure armor by -5. Radius: 1200

    Win rate when bought64.1% · 234 games

    • ≤ 12 min–0
    • 12–15 min–1
    • 15–20 min–16
    • 20–30 min62%217
  • Black King Bar

    4,050

    • +10 Strength
    • +24 Damage

    Active: Avatar: Applies a basic dispel. Grants 60% magic resistance and immunity to reflected and pure damage.

    Full description

    95s50

    Active: Avatar. Applies a basic dispel. Grants 60% magic resistance and immunity to reflected and pure damage. For the duration of the effect, any negative effect from enemy spells has no effect. Duration: 9 / 8 / 7s Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

    • Purchasing another Black King Bar will not reset its immunity duration.
    • Avatar duration is not affected by increases to buff duration.
  • Blink Dagger

    2,250

    Active: Blink: Teleport to a target point up to 1200 units away. Blink Dagger cannot be used for 3 seconds after taking damage from an enemy hero or Roshan.

    Full description

    15s

    Active: Blink. Teleport to a target point up to 1200 units away. Blink Dagger cannot be used for 3 seconds after taking damage from an enemy hero or Roshan.

    • Self-casting will cause you to teleport in the direction of your team's fountain.
  • Nullifier

    4,350

    • +75 Damage
    • +10 Armor

    Active: Nullify: Dispels the target and applies a debuff for 4 seconds. Continuously dispels and slows the target. Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

    Full description

    10s

    Active: Nullify. Dispels the target and applies a debuff for 4 seconds. Continuously dispels and slows the target. Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

    • Can be cast on invulnerable units.
  • Aghanim's Scepter

    4,200

    • +10 All Attributes
    • +175 Health
    • +175 Mana

    Passive: Ability Upgrade: Upgrades the ultimate, and some abilities, of all heroes.

  • Scythe of Vyse

    5,200

    • +30 Intelligence
    • +8.5 Mana Regen

    Active: Hex: Turns a target unit into a harmless critter for 2.8 seconds. The target has a base movement speed of 140 and will be silenced, muted, and disarmed.

    Full description

    20s250

    Active: Hex. Turns a target unit into a harmless critter for 2.8 seconds. The target has a base movement speed of 140 and will be silenced, muted, and disarmed. Instantly destroys illusions.

    • The target will have a base movement speed of 140, but buffs granting maximum movement speed won't be disabled.

Abilities

Summon Wolves

30 / 30 / 30 / 30s115 / 120 / 125 / 130

Summons 2 wolves to aid Lycan in battle. At level 3, wolves gain Permanent Invisibility, and at level 4 wolves gain Cripple that gives 20% chance to cripple the target, causing 8 damage per second and lose 60 attack speed for 4 seconds.

DURATION
50
BASE ATTACK TIME
1.2 / 1.1 / 1 / 0.9 / 0.9 / 0.9
DAMAGE
22 / 28 / 34 / 40 / 46 / 52
HP
325 / 375 / 425 / 475 / 525 / 575
WOLF COUNT
2
  • Using this spell will replace currently active summoned Wolves.

Aghanim’s ShardIncreases the number of wolves summoned. Grants all summoned wolves the ability Hightail, an active ability that gives them phased movement, evasion, movespeed, and attack speed.

Howl

22 / 20 / 18 / 16s40

Strikes fear into enemies, reducing armor and attack damage of all enemies within 2000 range of Lycan and his wolves. At night, Howl's armor and attack damage reductions are global.

DURATION
8
ATTACK DAMAGE REDUCTION
25 / 30 / 35 / 40%
ARMOR REDUCTION
4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Feral Impulse

Increases the HP regeneration and damage of Lycan and all units under his control.

BONUS DAMAGE
10 / 20 / 30 / 40%
BONUS HP REGEN
2 / 4 / 6 / 8

Wolf Bite

Granted by Aghanim’s Scepter105 / 95 / 85s150

Lycan bites an allied hero or creep-hero, granting them Shapeshift properties. Lycan and the bitten target gain 40% Lifesteal and share the healing effect of Lifesteal with each other as long as they are within 1200 range of each other.

  • Wolf Bite cooldown matches the cooldown of the current level of Shapeshift.

Apex Predator

Innate

Lycan and units he controls deal extra damage to neutral creeps.

EXTRA DAMAGE
18%

Shapeshift

Ultimate105 / 95 / 85s100

Lycan assumes his lupine form, granting him critical strikes and added vision at night. During Shapeshift, Lycan moves at increased speed and cannot be slowed. Movement and critical strike bonuses are also applied to all units under Lycan's control.

DURATION
25
SHAPESHIFT MOVE SPEED
550
BONUS NIGHT VISION
1000
TRANSFORM TIME
1.1
CRITICAL CHANCE
40%
CRITICAL DAMAGE
160 / 200 / 240%
HEALTH BONUS
225 / 325 / 425
  • Hex doesn't remove Lycan's movement speed.

Talents

Howl Reduces Total Attack Damage

25

-25% Summon Wolves BAT

+7s Shapeshift Duration

20

+25% Feral Impulse Damage

+375 Summon Wolves Health

15

-15s Shapeshift Cooldown

+3 Howl Armor Reduction

10

+14 Wolves Damage

Base stats

Attributes

  • StrengthStrength28+3.4/lvl
  • AgilityAgility18+1.7/lvl
  • IntelligenceIntelligence23+1.7/lvl

At level 1

Damage
52–57
Attack time
1.7s
Attack range
150 (melee)
Move speed
305
Armor
3
Magic resistance
25%
Health
736 (+3.1/s)
Mana
351 (+1.2/s)
Vision day / night
1800 / 800

Recent changes

latest 12 patches
  1. 7.41c
    • Feral Impulse:Health Regen increased from 1/3/5/7 to 2/4/6/8
    • Talents:Level 10 Talent Wolves Damage increased from +10 to +14
    • Level 15 Talent Summon Wolves Health increased from +350 to +375
  2. 7.41b
    • Shapeshift:Cooldown decreased from 110/100/90s to 105/95/85s
  3. 7.41
    • Apex Predator:Damage to neutrals changed from 2% per level to 18% + 2% per level
    • Summon Wolves:Aghanim's Shard upgrade reworked
    • Increases the number of wolves by 1 and grants them Hightail ability. Activate it to give them 100% evasion, 20 bonus attack speed, and hasted movement for 6s
    • Shapeshift:Now grants controlled units movement speed and critical strike bonuses
    • Talents:Level 25 Talent +2 Wolves Summoned replaced with -25% Summon Wolves BAT
  4. 7.40
    • Summon Wolves:Wolf Damage decreased from 23/29/35/41/47/53 to 22/28/34/40/46/52
    • Shapeshift:Health Bonus decreased from 250/350/450 to 225/325/425

Lore

Banehallow was noble-born to the house of Ambry, the greatest of the landed castes in the old kingdom of Slom. Before the Fall, as the King's wants grew strange, and his court grew crowded with sorcerers and charlatans, the house of Ambry was the first to rise against the avarice of the throne. No longer willing to pay homage and fealty, they instead sent six-thousand swords into the capital, where they were wiped out in the Massacre of the Apostates. And then came the teeth behind the old truth: When you strike a king's neck, you had better take his head. Enraged by the betrayal, the king exterminated the vast Ambry bloodline, sparing only the lord of the house and his youngest son, Banehallow. Before all the royal court, with the disgraced lord chained to the ornate marble floor, the King bade his magicians transform the boy into a wolf so that he might tear out his own father's throat. "Do this," the king said, "so that Lord Ambry will understand the bite of betrayal." Powerful magic was invoked, and the child was transformed. But though his body was changed, his spirit remained intact, and instead of biting the exposed neck of his father, he attacked his handlers, tearing them to pieces. A dozen of the King's knights perished under the wolf's teeth before they managed to drive it off into the night. Lord Ambry laughed from his chains even as the King ran him through with a sword. Now the heir to the lost house of Ambry, Banehallow wanders the trail as the Lycan, part warrior, part wolf, in search of justice for all that he lost.

Win rates come from public Dota 2 matches (OpenDota), 3.4M matches counted, refreshed Oct 24, 2026. Tiers use the win rate in the chosen rank: S 52.5%+, A 51%+, B 49%+, C 47.5%+, D below; heroes with too few games are left unrated. Hero data and patch notes are Valve’s. Builds Forge is an unofficial fan site, not affiliated with Valve.