Items
Starting items:
- Healing Salve and Tango Item Tango (Shared) Changelogs TangoB Forage to survive on the battlefield. Cost125 Bought FromConsumables Active Eat a Tree or Ward Charges 4 Disassemble? No Alert allies? No Recipe The Tango
help Wraith King sustain his health against lane harassment. - Clarity gives Ostarion more opportunities to set up kills early on with Wraithfire Blast.
- Iron Branch Item Changelogs Iron BranchB A seemingly ordinary branch, its ironlike qualities are bestowed upon the bearer. Cost50 Bought FromAttributes Active Plant Tree Charges 1 Bonus +1 Strength+1 Agility+1 Intelligence Disassemble? No es give Wraith King enough mana pool to cast Wraithfire Blast two times at level 1.
- Quelling Blade Item Changelogs Quelling BladeBL The axe of a fallen gnome, it allows you to effectively maneuver the forest. Cost200 Bought FromArmaments Active Chop Tree or Ward Passive Quell Disassemble? No Alert is an excellent starting item for Ostarion as it allows him to get last hits easier. It also makes Mortal Strike hit harder against creeps which makes you clean camps and creep waves faster. Increases the effectiveness of Vampiric Aura when attacking creeps. It can be used to cut trees and move faster from one camp to another while farming the jungle.
Early-game items:
- Magic Stick can sometimes be the difference between a death and a kill. Its active usually grants enough mana to sustain Reincarnation. It also combos with Armlet of Mordiggian For the cosmetic item equipped by Chaos Knight, see Chaos Knight s Armlet of Mordiggian Item Changelogs Armlet of MordiggianB Weapon of choice among brutes, the bearer sacrifices his life energy to toggle, as one can deactivate, use magic stick, and reactivate buying enough time for it to provide the 500 bonus hp.
- Boots of Speed provide an excellent boost of speed for any hero.
Mid-game items:
- Magic Wand Item Changelogs Magic WandB A simple wand used to channel magic energies, it is favored by apprentice wizards and great warlocks alike. Cost465 Bought FromCommon Active Energy Charge Charges 0 Bonus provides the same kind of benefit as the Magic Stick does, but it also provides a small amount of attributes. It makes great use of the earlier bought branches, making room for new items.
- Power Treads Item Changelogs Power TreadsBL A pair of tough-skinned boots that change to meet the demands of the wearer. Cost1350 Bought FromCommon Active Switch Attribute Bonus +25 Attack speed+45 Movement speed Disassemble? provides attack speed which is one of Ostarion`s main needs. Attribute switching also make his limited mana pool go much further if the treads are switched to intelligence before casting a spell. Due to Mortal Strike and his already high base damage it is better to leave treads in agility form to achieve maximum dps. One can use strength if tanking is essential or if last hitting is difficult.
- Armlet of Mordiggian For the cosmetic item equipped by Chaos Knight, see Chaos Knight s Armlet of Mordiggian Item Changelogs Armlet of MordiggianB Weapon of choice among brutes, the bearer sacrifices his life energy to is a very cost efficient item which provides lots of damage at cost of health degen. Be that as it may, Vampiric Aura easily negates the health drain effect, making it Ostarion`s main core item.
- Blink Dagger For the cosmetic item equipped by Axe, see Little Blink Dagger. Item Changelogs Blink DaggerBL The fabled dagger used by the fastest assassin ever to walk the lands. Cost2250 Bought FromArcane solves another of Ostarion`s deficiency: mobility. It negates countering through kiting, helps with positioning, as well as moving across the maps quicker, thus increasing farm speed. Another possible trick is to instantly blink away after using Reincarnation, as Reincarnation delay and Dagger cooldown are both 3 seconds.
Late-game items:
- Desolator causes Wraith King`s physical attacks to hit harder, especially against targets with already low armor as well as towers. With one or two lucky Mortal Strikes, Wraith King can quickly kill squishy carries and low-armor supports in the stun duration of Wraithfire Blast. Besides, it synergizes well with Assault Cuirass from the aspect of armor reduction; Vampiric Aura benefits greatly as the aura heals based on dealt damage after armor reduction.
- Mjollnir increases attack speed and damage output. The item should be considered if Wraith King is counter picked by illusions, damage-over-time and slows, as the Chain Lightning and Static Shield are more likely to trigger against them. The item also accelerates his farm speed.
- Assault Cuirass is a must-buy item most of the times for Wraith King in late game senarios. It increases his damage output by increasing the attack speed of his team and reducing enemies` armor, and single-handedly settles Wraith King`s armor problem most of the time. The Assault Aura lasts longer thanks to Wraith King`s high durability.
- Abyssal Blade Item Lore Changelogs Abyssal Blade The lost blade of the Commander of the Abyss, this edge cuts into an enemy s soul. Cost6400 (1550) Bought FromWeapons Active Overwhelm Passive Bash, Damage allows Wraith King to stun an enemy for a total of 4 seconds on top of Wraithfire Blast. Meanwhile, the item gives him an edge in close combat due to the bash component. Though the @@@#@@@HP(hp.com)###@### bonus as well as damage block is at least moderately decent, the item is bought most of the time for its lock-down viability.
- Monkey King Bar increases Ostarion`s attack damage, counters enemies with evasion abilities or items such as Butterfly or Heaven`s Halberd, and provides him with a chance to interrupt channeling spells when Wraithfire Blast is not an option.
- Black King Bar is a very situational item against certain scenarios:
- Against heavy mana burn in mid-game, as it prevents Reincarnation from activating. Beware that the talent in level 25 allows Wraith King to reincarnate with no mana cost.
- Being heavily kited/chain controlled even after buying Blink Dagger For the cosmetic item equipped by Axe, see Little Blink Dagger. Item Changelogs Blink DaggerBL The fabled dagger used by the fastest assassin ever to walk the lands. Cost2250 Bought FromArcane . Black King Bar allows Wraith King to dish out damage without the fear of being controlled. Nevertheless, Wraith King needs to position himself well and prevent himself from being kited even with Magic Immunity.
- Moon Shard can be consumed, granting him more attack speed and allowing him an effectively higher chance to proc Mortal Strike. He will also be able to see further during the night.
- Divine Rapier is well-suited for Ostarion to get due to it not dropping if
Gameplay
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Wraith King Hero Strategy Counters Equipment Gear Responses Sounds Lore Old Abilities Changelogs Wraith King 22 + 3.2 18 + 1.7 18 + 1.6 Level  is a durable carry with a reliable stun. As his ultimate, Reincarnation, effectively doubles his health in a teamfight, he is commonly built as a tank carry. He is traditionally popular among new players for his survivability and potentially simple playstyle. Be that as it may, Wraith King can also be played at a high level of skill, particularly by using active items. | |
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Videos
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Generic/Carry Wraith King
Wraith King is most often played as a farming position 1. Unlike other traditional carries like Anti-Mage or Phantom Assassin Hero Strategy Counters Equipment Gear Responses Sounds Lore Old Abilities Changelogs Phantom Assassin 20 + 2.15 23 + 3.15 15 + 1.4 Level 
, he is equipped with a reliable 2-second stun and slow from the start with Wraithfire Blast. Therefore, paired up with an average support, your laning phase should have high kill potential from the get-go. To increase the likelihood you score a couple of kills, try to keep the creep equilibrium somewhere between your tier 1 tower and the side shop, in order to provide plenty of hiding spots for your support to initiate from the shadows. Don`t forget to toggle off your Vampiric Aura.
You can`t be too wrong if you choose to max out Wraithfire Blast first, with a value point in your aura at level 2 for sustain, and maxing your Mortal Strike in second. Be that as it may, if you don`t require the additional burst (maybe the enemy offlaner has already fled) from extra levels in your nuke, you can also choose to skip extra levels in it and max out your critical strike first.
For your starting items, you will need to figure out what you`re up against. Wraith King has high base damage so you can definitely skip a Quelling Blade Item Changelogs Quelling BladeBL The axe of a fallen gnome, it allows you to effectively maneuver the forest. Cost200 Bought FromArmaments Active Chop Tree or Ward Passive Quell Disassemble? No Alert 
, but it`s useful in a contested lane, or if you transition to the jungle. A couple of Iron Branch Item Changelogs Iron BranchB A seemingly ordinary branch, its ironlike qualities are bestowed upon the bearer. Cost50 Bought FromAttributes Active Plant Tree Charges 1 Bonus +1 Strength+1 Agility+1 Intelligence Disassemble? No 
es are necessary to have enough mana for two stuns at level 1, and they can be upgraded in a Magic Wand Item Changelogs Magic WandB A simple wand used to channel magic energies, it is favored by apprentice wizards and great warlocks alike. Cost465 Bought FromCommon Active Energy Charge Charges 0 Bonus 
. Tango Item Tango (Shared) Changelogs TangoB Forage to survive on the battlefield. Cost125 Bought FromConsumables Active Eat a Tree or Ward Charges 4 Disassemble? No Alert allies? No Recipe The Tango 
es and a Stout Shield Item Changelogs Stout ShieldBL One man s wine barrel bottom is another man s shield. Cost200 Bought FromArmaments Passive Damage Block Disassemble? No Alert allies? No Recipe The Stout Shield is an item can be unnecessary if your aura provides enough sustain for you, but it`s never a waste, and it can later be upgraded in a Vanguard Item Lore Changelogs VanguardL A powerful shield that defends its wielder from even the most vicious of attacks. Cost2150 Bought FromArmor Passive Damage Block Bonus +250 Health+8 Health regeneration Disassemble? then in an Abyssal Blade Item Lore Changelogs Abyssal Blade The lost blade of the Commander of the Abyss, this edge cuts into an enemy s soul. Cost6400 (1550) Bought FromWeapons Active Overwhelm Passive Bash, Damage 
. You will only lose 100 gold if you sell the shield and re-buy it later, so don`t ask yourself too many questions. Considering the low cooldown of Wraithfire Blast, maybe get yourself an Enchanted Mango Item Changelogs Enchanted MangoB The bittersweet flavors of Jidi Isle are irresistible to amphibians. Cost100 Bought FromConsumables Active Eat Mango Charges 1 Bonus +1 Health regeneration Disassemble? No Alert allies? No 
that you can consume in the middle of a skirmish if it can net you a kill. Mangoes can be very valuable on Wraith King since you can also use them when you don`t have enough mana for Reincarnation.
Wraith King`s boots of choice are usually Power Treads Item Changelogs Power TreadsBL A pair of tough-skinned boots that change to meet the demands of the wearer. Cost1350 Bought FromCommon Active Switch Attribute Bonus +25 Attack speed+45 Movement speed Disassemble? , but the only choice we wouldn`t recommend are Tranquil Boots Item Old Abilities Changelogs Tranquil BootsB While they increase the longevity of the wearer, this boot is not particularly reliable. Cost975 Bought FromSupport Passive Break Bonus +14 Health regeneration+90 Movement since you already have the sustain from your aura. For the same reason, and because you`re a strength hero, your first major item can be Armlet of Mordiggian For the cosmetic item equipped by Chaos Knight, see Chaos Knight s Armlet of Mordiggian Item Changelogs Armlet of MordiggianB Weapon of choice among brutes, the bearer sacrifices his life energy to . Thanks to your Reincarnation, you make an excellent initiator, so Blink Dagger For the cosmetic item equipped by Axe, see Little Blink Dagger. Item Changelogs Blink DaggerBL The fabled dagger used by the fastest assassin ever to walk the lands. Cost2250 Bought FromArcane 
and Shadow Blade For the cosmetic item equipped by Kunkka, see Kunkka s Shadow Blade. Item Changelogs Known Bugs Shadow BladeB The blade of a fallen king, it allows you to move unseen and are good choices. Blade Mail Item Old Abilities Changelogs Blade MailBL A razor-sharp coat of mail, it is the choice of selfless martyrs in combat. Cost2200 Bought FromArmor Active Damage Return Bonus +10 Intelligence+6 Armor+22 is also a good item on Wraith King and the intelligence it provides is invaluable. Other mid-game items include Echo Sabre Item Changelogs Echo SabreB A deceptively swift blade imbued with resonant magic. Cost2650 Bought FromArtifacts Passive Echo Strike Bonus +10 Strength+10 Intelligence+10 Attack speed+75% Mana regeneration+15 Attack damage Disassemble? No Alert 
, Sange and Yasha, Heaven`s Halberd...
For the late game, there are few items we would not recommend. We`ve already mentioned Abyssal Blade Item Lore Changelogs Abyssal Blade The lost blade of the Commander of the Abyss, this edge cuts into an enemy s soul. Cost6400 (1550) Bought FromWeapons Active Overwhelm Passive Bash, Damage . You will need a good attack speed to make the most out of it, both Assault Cuirass and Mjollnir fill this gap. Desolator can help you push faster, Black King Bar can be necessary... If you are playing a position 1 and are the most farmed hero on your team, odds are Aghanim`s Scepter will be underwhelming. If you`re against tons of mana-burning abilities, don`t forget your level 25 talent removes the mana cost on your ultimate.
Jungling Wraith King
Like any other hero with good base damage and some built-in sustain, Wraith King can be played as a jungler. It is not a bad choice per se, but it can be a hindrance to your team, especially if you are against plenty of roamers.
Start off with an Iron Talon and some Tango Item Tango (Shared) Changelogs TangoB Forage to survive on the battlefield. Cost125 Bought FromConsumables Active Eat a Tree or Ward Charges 4 Disassemble? No Alert allies? No Recipe The Tango es if you can afford them, take the value point in Vampiric Aura, and go hit some jungle creeps, starting with the small camp if it`s not used for pulling. Add a Stout Shield Item Changelogs Stout ShieldBL One man s wine barrel bottom is another man s shield. Cost200 Bought FromArmaments Passive Damage Block Disassemble? No Alert allies? No Recipe The Stout Shield is an item or an upgraded Poor Man`s Shield and you should now be able to stay close to full hp at all times. You can proceed to max out Mortal Strike, but extra levels in your aura will not speed up your farm, so don`t take anymore, therefore take a point in Wraithfire Blast at level 4 at the latest.
Get a Town Portal Scroll to react to enemy ganks. Since you will be full mana, look at your allies` lanes and figure out if there`s any foe to gank. If there is, grab some Boots of Speed and a Smoke of Deceit and warn your allies that you are coming.
If the game is going slowly, you can keep farming. Perhaps rush a Hand of Midas to speed up your farm, then a Radiance to speed it up even more. Once you have a radiance, consider an Octarine Core and a Manta Style, as it will enable you to split-push the lanes... But it`s not always the best idea!
Else, you can rush the same items as you would on a generic Wraith King, Power Treads, Armlet and/or Blink. As a jungler, there is a high chance your Blink Dagger will not be scouted by the enemy team, enabling you to easily gank a key target.
A subtle detail: it is not necessarily the greatest idea to take a point in your ultimate as soon as possible. Since the ability is on such a long cooldown at level 1, you better not waste it. If you are getting ganked and you will definitely die twice without getting anything in return, you might as well die only once and have your Reincarnation ready for the next fight, where maybe it will make a difference.
Ability Builds
| Generic/Carry Wraith King | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 25 | ||||||
| Jungling Wraith King | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 25 | ||||||
Talents
| Hero Talents | ||
| Reincarnation Casts Wraithfire Blast | 25 | No Reincarnation Mana Cost |
| +10% Vampiric Aura Lifesteal | 20 | +40 Attack Speed |
| +50 Wraithfire Blast DPS | 15 | +15 Movement Speed |
+10  Intelligence | 10 | +15 Damage |
- The attack damage is added as bonus attack damage, and therefore does not benefit illusions.
- Upgrading health increases maximum health capacity and keeps the current health percentage.
General
- Due to Wraith King`s sustainability, he usually should initiate fights and tank up some damage first. Sometimes, it is great to even die first, triggering Reincarnation which heavily slows every nearby enemy. At this point, the enemies usually either prepare to take him down again, or try to escape when they can`t take him down a second time. This is the perfect opportunity for Wraith King`s team to follow up and catch the enemies off-guard.
- Besides these, dying as last as Wraith King basically just wastes his Reincarnation, since he cannot do much on his own after respawning besides dying a second time right away.
Wraithfire Blast
- Wraithfire Blast} is a decent nuke early on, which also allows Ostarion to disable and slow at the same time. A perfect tool for ganks and team fights, it has a relatively low cooldown, but its relatively high mana cost does not allow it to be used frequently. It should be saved for when it is really needed.
- It is generally best to have Wraithfire Blast maxed first as both of Ostarion`s passives are not very effective in the laning stage, since both are based on attack damage.
Vampiric Aura
- Having Vampiric Aura active during the laning phase shifts the creeps equilibrium, since it also affects the allied lane creeps, forcing Wraith King to farm and fight closer to the enemy tower, which makes him more susceptible to enemy ganks in the early game. If no early pushes are planned, it should be toggled off until after the laning phase.
- Vampiric Aura`s life-stealing particles are hidden from the enemy so long as they do not have vision of Wraith King, so there isn`t a need to toggle it off when jungling or ambushing to mask Wraith King`s location.
Mortal Strike
- Unlike other sources of critical strike, Mortal Strike deals more damage against non-Hero units than against Heroes. If Wraith King has a source of cleave (e.g. Magnus` Empower or a Battle Fury), he is potentially able to deal even more damage to Heroes indirectly through the splash damage than by actually attacking them head-on, especially if the enemy Heroes are under Armor-enhancing buffs.
Reincarnation
- Reincarnation has quite a high mana cost for a Wraith King`s rather low mana pool and regeneration. It is best to always keep his mana pool high enough for Reincarnation to trigger, or to make sure that enough charges of his Magic Stick are present in case of an emergency.
- Another possible solution to this problem is to have a Soul Ring, since it grants enough mana to sustain Reincarnation`s mana cost when already having at least some left-over mana, unless the enemies have mana burning capabilities. The health loss from Soul Ring`s active ability is usually not a problem thanks to Vampiric Aura.
- It is generally beneficial for Wraith King to die first during a gank, as the slow only activates upon his death, which will greatly benefit his other team members. This prevents the enemies from effectively escaping or attacking back, allowing Wraith King`s allies to pick off their targets with ease.
- Additionally, if Wraith King is the last to die, the benefit of the slow is greatly reduced, as there would be no allies around to make the most of the slow.
- The Aghanim`s Scepter bonus works even while Wraith King is reincarnating himself. Allies will still enter Wraith form so long as they are within range of Wraith King when they perish.
