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IntelligenceIntelligence · Ranged

Skywrath Mage

Casts high damage magical spells on a single target

SupportNukerDisablerSimple to play
Skywrath Mage portrait

Win rate

49.8%

B across all ranks

Pick rate

12.1%

of public matches

Public picks

408.5K

in the sample

Pro scene

7

0 bans · 14% win rate

Win rate by rank

  • Herald1Herald50.4%
  • Guardian2Guardian50.9%
  • Crusader3Crusader49.9%
  • Archon4Archon50.2%
  • Legend5Legend49.8%
  • Ancient6Ancient49.6%
  • Divine+7Divine+48.3%

Bars start at 50%. Sample sizes: Herald 10.3K · Guardian 34.8K · Crusader 64.9K · Archon 98.2K · Legend 105.7K · Ancient 57.9K · Divine+ 36.7K.

Last 6 days

49.7%

Popular item build

Starting items

Bought before the horn

  1. 1

    Iron Branch

    55g
  2. 2

    Tango

    90g
  3. 3

    Circlet

    155g
  4. 4

    Blood Grenade

    50g
  5. 5

    Observer and Sentry Wards

    50g
  6. 6

    Mantle of Intelligence

    140g

Laning

The first minutes

  1. 1

    Null Talisman

    505g
  2. 2

    Boots of Speed

    500g

Mid game

Core items

  1. 1

    Arcane Boots

    50%1,500g
  2. 2

    Rod of Atos

    51%2,250g
  3. 3

    Kaya

    59%2,100g
  4. 4

    Aghanim's Shard

    53%1,400g
  5. 5

    Ghost Scepter

    53%1,500g
  6. 6

    Blink Dagger

    59%2,250g

Late game

The full build

  1. 1

    Blink Dagger

    59%2,250g
  2. 2

    Force Staff

    47%2,200g
  3. 3

    Scythe of Vyse

    5,200g
  4. 4

    Kaya

    59%2,100g
  5. 5

    Aghanim's Scepter

    56%4,200g
  6. 6

    Glimmer Cape

    50%2,150g

Most-bought items for Skywrath Mage in OpenDota’s sample of parsed public matches (1,203 purchases counted). Bars compare each item with the most-bought one in its phase. The percentage is the win rate in games where Skywrath Mage bought the item by minute 30 (green or red when it is clearly above or below Skywrath Mage’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 min

  1. Arcane Boots

    272 games

    57%
  2. Rod of Atos

    62 games

    52%

Bought 12–15 min

  1. Kaya

    62 games

    65%
  2. Rod of Atos

    71 games

    56%
  3. Arcane Boots

    320 games

    51%

Bought 15–20 min

  1. Rod of Atos

    262 games

    58%
  2. Aghanim's Shard

    192 games

    54%
  3. Kaya

    121 games

    54%

Bought 20–30 min

  1. Sange

    78 games

    64%
  2. Kaya and Sange

    76 games

    63%
  3. Kaya

    223 games

    62%

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.

  • 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.

  • Circlet

    155

    • +2 All Attributes
  • Blood Grenade

    50

    • +50 Health

    Use: Throw Grenade: Throw a grenade at the target area. Enemies in the area will take 50 damage on impact, and be slowed by -15% and take 15 damage every 1s for 5…

    Full description

    10s

    Use: Throw Grenade. Throw a grenade at the target area. Enemies in the area will take 50 damage on impact, and be slowed by -15% and take 15 damage every 1s for 5 seconds. Radius 300.

  • Observer and Sentry Wards

    50

    Use: Plant: Plant the currently active ward. Double-Click to switch the currently active ward.

    Full description

    Use: Plant. Plant the currently active ward. Double-Click to switch the currently active ward.

    • Hold Control to give one ward to an allied hero.
  • Mantle of Intelligence

    140

    • +3 Intelligence
  • Null Talisman

    505

    • +5 Intelligence
    • +2 Strength
    • +2 Agility
    • +1 Mana Regen
  • Boots of Speed

    500

    • +45 Move Speed

    Movement speed bonuses from multiple pairs of boots do not stack.

  • Arcane Boots

    1,500

    • +45 Move Speed
    • +0.25 Mana Regen
    • +125 Mana

    Active: Replenish: Restores 150 mana to all nearby allies. Radius: 1200

    Win rate when bought50.1% · 840 games

    • ≤ 12 min57%272
    • 12–15 min51%320
    • 15–20 min40%204
    • 20–30 min52%44
    Full description

    55s

    Active: Replenish. Restores 150 mana to all nearby allies. Radius: 1200

    Passive: Basilius Aura. Grants 1 mana regeneration to allies. Radius: 1200 Movement speed bonuses from multiple pairs of boots do not stack.

    • Does not work on Meepo clones.
  • Rod of Atos

    2,250

    • +12 Intelligence
    • +275 Health

    Active: Cripple: Roots the target for 2 seconds.

    Win rate when bought51.3% · 797 games

    • ≤ 12 min52%62
    • 12–15 min56%71
    • 15–20 min58%262
    • 20–30 min46%402
    Full description

    18s100

    Active: Cripple. Roots the target for 2 seconds.

  • Kaya

    2,100

    • +16 Intelligence

    Win rate when bought58.8% · 452 games

    • ≤ 12 min48%46
    • 12–15 min65%62
    • 15–20 min54%121
    • 20–30 min62%223
    Full description
    • Multiple instances of this item do not stack.
  • Aghanim's Shard

    1,400

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

    Win rate when bought53.0% · 575 games

    • ≤ 12 min–17
    • 12–15 min–29
    • 15–20 min54%192
    • 20–30 min53%337
  • Ghost Scepter

    1,500

    • +5 All Attributes

    Active: Ghost Form: You enter ghost form for 4 seconds, becoming immune to physical damage, but are unable to attack and -30% more vulnerable to magic damage.

    Win rate when bought53.1% · 288 games

    • ≤ 12 min–3
    • 12–15 min–9
    • 15–20 min–23
    • 20–30 min52%253
    Full description

    22s

    Active: Ghost Form. You enter ghost form for 4 seconds, becoming immune to physical damage, but are unable to attack and -30% more vulnerable to magic damage.

    • Ends if you become Debuff Immune, and will have no effect if you are already Debuff Immune.
    • Shares cooldown with all Ghost Scepter upgrades.
  • 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.

    Win rate when bought59.4% · 155 games

    • ≤ 12 min–1
    • 12–15 min–3
    • 15–20 min–20
    • 20–30 min59%131
    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.
  • Force Staff

    2,200

    • +10 Intelligence
    • +175 Health

    Active: Force: Pushes any target unit 600 units in the direction it is facing.

    Win rate when bought47.1% · 104 games

    • ≤ 12 min–0
    • 12–15 min–0
    • 15–20 min–13
    • 20–30 min48%91
    Full description

    19s150

    Active: Force. Pushes any target unit 600 units in the direction it is facing.

    • Self-cast will cause you to use Force on yourself.
    • Force Staff doesn't interrupt the target's actions.
    • Will not work on a unit inside Chronosphere, Duel, or Black Hole.
    • Force Staff has 850 cast range when cast on enemies.
  • 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.
  • Aghanim's Scepter

    4,200

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

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

    Win rate when bought55.7% · 115 games

    • ≤ 12 min–2
    • 12–15 min–9
    • 15–20 min–14
    • 20–30 min58%90
  • Glimmer Cape

    2,150

    Active: Glimmer: After a 0.5 second delay, grants invisibility, 20 movement speed and a magic damage barrier that absorbs up to 375 damage to you or a target allied unit…

    Win rate when bought49.6% · 139 games

    • ≤ 12 min–0
    • 12–15 min–2
    • 15–20 min–17
    • 20–30 min48%120
    Full description

    15s125

    Active: Glimmer. After a 0.5 second delay, grants invisibility, 20 movement speed and a magic damage barrier that absorbs up to 375 damage to you or a target allied unit for 5 seconds. Can be cast while channeling.

Abilities

Arcane Bolt

5 / 4 / 3 / 2s70

Skywrath Mage launches a slow-moving bolt of arcane magic, dealing damage to an enemy unit based on Skywrath Mage's intelligence.

BASE DAMAGE
60 / 90 / 120 / 150
INT DAMAGE MULTIPLIER
1.5
  • The projectile moves very slowly (500 ms), providing 325 vision around it. Upon impact, it will reveal the target area for 3.34 seconds.
  • Arcane Bolt cannot be disjointed.

Aghanim’s ShardWhen Skywrath Mage casts Arcane Bolt, 2 bolts are created, one aimed at the original target, and two others aimed at random enemies within 500 range of the original target. Heroes will take priority.

Concussive Shot

15 / 14 / 13 / 12s80 / 85 / 90 / 95

Skywrath Mage sets off a long range shot that hits the closest hero within a long range. Upon impact, it deals damage and slows in an area of effect.

SHOT RANGE
1600
DAMAGE RADIUS
250
DAMAGE
120 / 180 / 240 / 300
SLOW DURATION
4
SLOW
40%
  • If no enemy heroes are in range or they are in fog, Concussive Shot targets the nearest enemy creep.
  • Damages creeps around the impact area.
  • Provides 400 vision around the projectile, and reveals the target area for 3.34 seconds upon impact.

Aghanim’s ScepterWhen Skywrath Mage casts Concussive Shot, a different random target within 500 range of the original target will be hit with the same ability. Heroes will take priority.

Ancient Seal

14s80 / 90 / 100 / 110

Skywrath Mage seals the targeted unit with an ancient rune, silencing it and causing it to take additional damage from spells.

INCREASED MAGIC DAMAGE
-20 / -25 / -30 / -35%
DURATION
3 / 4 / 5 / 6
  • The magic damage resistance reduction doesn't affect creeps.

Aghanim’s ScepterAnytime Skywrath Mage casts Ancient Seal, a different random target within 500 range of the original target will be affected by the same ability. Heroes will take priority.

Shield of the Scion

Innate

Every time Skywrath Mage deals magical damage to an enemy hero with his abilities, he gains a small magic damage barrier. Each buff stacks independently.

BARRIER
13.5
DURATION
12

Mystic Flare

Ultimate55 / 35 / 15s300 / 550 / 800

Skywrath Mage uses his ultimate magical ability to conjure a precise and violent mystical field that lays waste to his adversaries. Deals massive damage distributed evenly among any Heroes in the area over 2 seconds.

RADIUS
170
DURATION
2
DAMAGE
800 / 1200 / 1600
  • Mystic Flare only affects Heroes. Mystic Flare does not damage creep heroes.
  • Mystic Flare will damage enemy creeps if no enemy heroes are present.
  • Mystic Flare will immediately destroy illusions.

Aghanim’s ScepterWhen Skywrath Mage casts Mystic Flare, another Mystic Flare will be created on the position of a different random target enemy within 500 range of the original target. Heroes will take priority.

Talents

+1.5x Arcane Bolt Int Multiplier

25

+400 Mystic Flare Damage

Global Concussive Shot

20

+10% Ancient Seal Increased Magic Damage

-6s Ancient Seal Cooldown

15

+20% Concussive Shot Slow

+1.5 Mana Regen

10

+125 Arcane Bolt Cast Range

Base stats

Attributes

  • StrengthStrength22+2/lvl
  • AgilityAgility13+0.8/lvl
  • IntelligenceIntelligence25+4.1/lvl

At level 1

Damage
41–51
Attack time
1.7s
Attack range
625
Move speed
325
Armor
0.2
Magic resistance
25%
Health
604 (+2.5/s)
Mana
375 (+1.8/s)
Vision day / night
1800 / 800

Recent changes

latest 12 patches
  1. 7.41d
    • Base Strength increased from 21 to 22
  2. 7.41c
    • Mystic Flare:Cooldown decreased from 60/40/20s to 55/35/15s
  3. 7.41b
    • Base Mana Regen increased by 0.25
  4. 7.41
    • Removed Ruin and Restoration innate ability
    • Shield of the Scion:New innate ability. Passive
    • Whenever Skywrath Mage deals magical damage with his abilities to an enemy hero, he gains a magic damage barrier equal to 13.5 + 1.5 per level for 12s. Each instance stacks independently
    • Concussive Shot:Now considers Spirit Bear as a true hero for prioritization. Creep Heroes are now considered as secondary targets
  5. 7.40
    • Talents:Level 15 Talent Ancient Seal Cooldown Reduction decreased from 7s to 6s
    • Level 15 Talent Concussive Shot Slow increased from +15% to +20%
  6. 7.39d
    • Arcane Bolt:Aghanim's Shard number of bolts increased from 2 to 3

Lore

A highly placed mage in the court of the Ghastly Eyrie, Dragonus lives a troubled existence. Sworn by birth to protect whoever sits within the Nest of Thorns, he hates the current Skywrath queen with all his soul. As a youth, high-born, he was a friend and companion to the eldest Skywrath princess, Shendelzare, first in line for the Nest. He had loved her warmly and unshakably, but as his studies took hold, his mind turned to arcane learning and the mastery of Skywrath sorcery. Obsessed with matters aetherial, he missed the mundane signs of courtly treachery that hinted at a plot against Shendelzare, and lost his chance to foil it. When the court was shaken by a swift and violent coup, he emerged from his studies to discover his oldest and dearest friend had been lost to him. The Nest of Thorns now belonged to Shendelzare's ruthless younger sister, and Dragonus could do nothing. The magic of the Skywrath Mage serves only the sworn protector of the Skywrath scion, so to act against the Nest would render him helpless. He clings to his post, believing it to be the best hope of one day restoring his true love to her rightful place. Meanwhile, his secret is known only to the goddess Scree'Auk, whose magic it was transformed Shendelzare from a crippled physical creature into an embodiment of pure vengeful energy. While he dreams of restoring his beloved queen to the Ghastly Eyrie, he dreams even more desperately of restoring Shendelzare herself to a fully healed physical form. The duplicity of his role at court tortures him, for he is a noble and good-hearted creature; but the worst torture of all is imagining the hatred that Vengeful Spirit must hold in her heart for him.

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.