Phantom Lancer

dota 2 phantom lancer

Azwraith, the Phantom Lancer, is a melee agility hero who can fill the role of carry and pusher because of his ability to generate an army of illusions in a matter of seconds. He requires deep cunning, positioning, and most importantly, great micromanagement as his illusions might just get in the way rather than help the situation if not utilized correctly. Many of his abilities help him in his creation of images, allowing him to always have a companion. He has a nuke ability in Spirit Lance, which deals moderate damage, slows the target, and creates an illusion at his target’s location. His escape ability Doppelganger allows him to quickly relocate himself and any nearby illusions while creating additional ones, possibly tricking enemies into wasting their spells and time in trying to kill said illusions. His toggle Phantom Rush allows him and his illusions to close the distance toward a target when issued an attack order, giving him the ability to quickly focus single targets in battle. His ultimate Juxtapose gives him the ability to generate a large number of illusions when attacking a target, while giving said illusions the ability to replicate themselves as well. Phantom Lancer is an extremely mobile hero who is hard to pin down and can quickly overwhelm his opponents in battle.

Bio[]

Azwraith, the Phantom Lancer

[external_link_head]

▶️ “We outnumbered you. We outnumber them all!”

The remote village of Pole had no knowledge of the wars raging in the heart of the kingdom. For them, the quiet of spear fishing, and a family meal were all that a full life required. Yet war came for them nonetheless. Joining the able-bodied conscripts as they filed passed their homes, the humble lancer Azwraith vowed to bring peace to his kingdom, and in so doing, his people. Placed with his kin in the vanguard of the final assault against the Dread Magus Vorn, the cost to his fellows was absolute. As the charging force battled toward the fortress, Azwraith alone among his kind remained standing, and he alone was able to infiltrate the keep.

Focused and infuriated by the slaughter of his brothers, Azwraith bested each of the wizard’s deadly traps and conjured guardians. Soon the simple fisherman arrived at Vorn’s tower sanctum. The pair dueled through the night, pike to staff, as chaos raged below, and with a deafening cry Azwraith pierced his enemy. But the wizard did not simply expire; he exploded into uncountable shards of light, penetrating his killer with power. As the dust settled and the smoke of combat began to clear, Azwraith found himself standing among a throng of his kin. Each seemed to be dressed as he was, each seemed armed as he was, and he could sense that each thought as he did. Aware that his allies were approaching, he willed these phantoms to hide themselves, and one by one they began to vanish into nothingness. As the soldiers came upon the sanctum, they found the warrior that had bested the wizard. When they approached their champion, the lancer vanished. The pikeman who had stood before them was no more than another phantom.

Abilities[]

Sends a magical spirit lance to a target enemy unit that damages and slows, while summoning an illusory phantom to attack the unit.

Cast Animation: 0.3+0.73

Cast Range: 525/600/675/750

Number of Targets: 1 ( 2)

Damage: 100/160/220/280

Move Speed Slow: 10%/18%/26%/34%

Illusion Damage Dealt: 20% ( 60%)

Illusion Damage Taken: 400%

Illusion Duration: 2/4/6/8

Slow Duration: 3.25

 Bounce Distance: 750

7 5)

120

Spirit Lance bounces once on an enemy within 750 radius, prioritizing heroes. Increases Spirit Lance illusion damage by 40%.

Slow persists if debuff was placed before spell immunity and when not dispelled.

Also stops the lance from bouncing when hitting a spell immune unit.

Blocked upon impact as primary or secondary target. When blocked, it stops bouncing.

Can be disjointed by primary and secondary targets. Once disjointed, it stops bouncing.

Modifiers

modifier_phantom_lancer_juxtapose_illusion: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_illusion: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_invulnerable: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_phantom_lancer_spirit_lance: Dispellable with any dispel.

[external_link offset=1]

Azwraith’s proficiency at spearing his family’s meal of fish is proving quite useful in the battlefield.

Notes:

  • Spirit Lance travels at a speed of 1000.
  • The lance first applies the debuff, then the damage.
  • The illusion only spawns when the projectile successfully hits and damages or slows the target.
  • The illusion spawns 58 range away from the target, at random spot around it.
  • All illusions owned by Phantom Lancer within 675 range of Phantom Lancer also cast a fake Spirit Lance.
    • They play the whole cast animation and release their fake lances at the same time the real lance is released.
    • When illusions currently are not having any order and are standing still, they turn to face the target and cast the fake lances.
    • When illusions are moving or attacking, they continue to do so and do not turn to face the target. They still play the cast animation, overriding their move or attack animations.
    • When canceling the cast, the illusions still play the full cast animation, but do not release the fake lances.
    • The fake lances do not interact with anything and nothing on impact.
  • Illusions created by Spirit Lance have a static 5 and 5XP bounty which does not scale with levels.
  • With Aghanim’s Shard, the projectile bounces on another unit within a 750 radius.
    • Does not bounce on invisible units or units in the Fog of War.
    • Can never hit the same unit twice per cast.
    • If the current target turns invulnerable or hidden, it does not bounce upon reaching them.
    • All bounces together can deal up to 200/320/440/560 damage (before reductions).

Doppelganger illusion as they appear to allies.

Phantom Lancer briefly vanishes from the battlefield. After 1 second, Phantom Lancer and any of his nearby illusions reappear at a random position within the targeted location, along with two additional doppelgangers. Extends duration of all illusions. The two added doppelgangers have different properties: one takes normal damage and deals none, while the other takes 500% bonus damage and deals 80% less damage.

Cast Animation: 0.1+0

Cast Range: 575

Reappear Radius: 325

Illusion Gather Radius: 900

Reappear Delay: 1

Number of Illusions: 2

First Illusion Damage Dealt: 0%

First Illusion Damage Taken: 100%

Second Illusion Damage Dealt: 20%

Second Illusion Damage Taken: 600%

Gathered Illusion Duration Extension: 2

Doppelganger Illusion Duration: 8

25/20/15/10 21/16/11/6)

50

Modifiers

modifier_phantomlancer_dopplewalk_phase: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_phantom_lancer_juxtapose_illusion: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_illusion: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_invulnerable: Dispellable with death only.

Dread Magus Vorn’s death imbued the Phantom Lancer with the ability to blend with all spectrums of light.

Notes:

  • Doppelganger disjoints projectiles and applies a basic dispel on Phantom Lancer upon cast.
  • Phantom Lancer and his affected illusions are invulnerable and hidden during the reappear delay.
    • They are unable to do anything during the reappear delay. Any order given during it is queued as next order.
  • Phantom Lancer and the 2 created illusions face the direction Phantom Lancer was facing upon cast.
    • Other illusions which got gathered keep their previous facing angle.
    • Phantom Lancer and his illusions reappear in a formation shaped like a plus, with a bit of variation.
    • Illusions which were moving or attacking a target continue to move or attack their target after reappearing.
    • Destroys trees within 150 radius of Phantom Lancer and every affected illusion upon reappearing.
  • All illusions gathered with Doppelganger get their duration increased. The 2 illusions created with this cast are not affected by this.
    • The duration extension happens upon cast, so they effectively gain 1 second extra duration, since it takes 1 second for the illusions and Phantom Lancer to reappear.
  • The normal damage taking and no damage dealing illusion is brighter and can be distinguished by Phantom Lancer and his allies from other illusions.
  • The 600% damage taking and 20% damage dealing illusion looks like any other illusion Phantom Lancer can create.
  • Unlike illusions created by Phantom Lancer’s other abilities, Doppelganger illusions use the default bounty values which scale with levels.
  • Doppelganger cannot be interrupted by anything except death. This means when getting teleported (e.g. with Glimpse), Phantom Lancer still appears at the targeted area.

When targeting an enemy for an attack, Phantom Lancer quickly charges into range, gaining a temporary agility boost. Phantom Lancer’s illusions also have this ability.

Min Proc Distance: 200

Max Proc Distance: 600/675/750/825 ( 900/975/1050/1125)

Haste Speed: 800

Agility Bonus: 10/20/30/40

Max Rush Duration: 5

Agility Duration: 2

16/12/8/4

Modifiers

modifier_phantom_lancer_phantom_edge: Undispellable. Persists death.

modifier_phantom_lancer_phantom_edge_boost: Dispellable with any dispel.

modifier_phantom_lancer_phantom_edge_agility: Dispellable with any dispel.

Azwraith knows that on the field of battle, speed can mean everything.

Notes:

  • Can be toggled On to not activate.
    • Only Phantom Lancer can toggle it, it still remains toggled Off for his illusions.
  • Requires a direct attack order (A or Right Click) to trigger. Auto-attacks or ground-targeted orders do not trigger Phantom Rush.
  • Phantom Rush can trigger on any target, including wards and buildings.
  • Disarm or ethereal effects on Phantom Lancer do not prevent him from rushing. However, attack immune units (e.g. invulnerable or ethereal) cannot be targeted.
  • Upon triggering, Phantom Lancer receives the rush buff, which grants haste and phased movement.
    • This buff lasts for up to 5 seconds, until Phantom Lancer successfully hits the rush target, or until he receives another order.
    • Non-targeted items do not cancel the rush. ↓↓ Double-tapping item abilities count as targeted and cancel the rush.
    • The rush buff is also lost when Phantom Lancer gets stunned, cycloned, slept, hexed or hidden.
    • Roots do not cause Phantom Lancer to lose the buff and he continues rushing once the effect expires.
    • Taunts cause Phantom Lancer to rush towards the taunting unit instead without making him lose the buff. Forced attacks caused by taunts do not make him lose it either.
    • Fear does not make him lose the buff either, so that he flees with the rush speed.
    • When the target turns hidden, invisible or moves into the Fog of War, Phantom Lancer rushes towards the unit’s last known location.
  • Phantom Lancer gains the agility buff as soon as he loses the rush buff.
    • It does not matter how he loses the rush buff, the agility buff is always gained.
    • Effectively grants Phantom Lancer 1.67/3.33/5/6.67 armor, 10/20/30/40 attack speed, and 10/20/30/40 attack damage.

Spirit Lance and Juxtapose illusion as they appear to allies.

Phantom Lancer has a chance to fracture his presence, creating an illusion of himself. Illusions also have a chance to fracture further. Illusions created from Phantom Lancer last for 8 seconds, while illusions created from other illusions last 4 seconds.

 Cast Animation: 0+0.54

[external_link offset=2]

Hero Proc Chance: 40%/45%/50%

Illusion Proc Chance: 8%

Max Illusions: 6/8/10 ( 8/10/12)

Illusion Damage Dealt: 22% ( 27%)

Illusion Damage Taken: 650%

Illusion Duration (from Hero): 8

Illusion Duration (from Illusion): 4

 Active Spawn Radius: 550

 Active Illusion Duration: 18

 40

 75

Adds Juxtapose active ability. Destroys Phantom Lancer’s other juxtapose illusions and quickly creates the max illusions it allows with a bonus 10 seconds of duration. Increases Max Illusions by 2.

Modifiers

modifier_phantom_lancer_juxtapose: Undispellable. Persists death.

modifier_phantom_lancer_juxtapose_illusion: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_illusion: Dispellable with death only.

modifier_invulnerable: Dispellable with death only.

Ability Draft Notes:

Each of Azwraith’s lance attacks feels like two from a normal warrior; or three; or four…

Talents[]

Notes:

  • The health talent increases maximum health capacity, and keeps the current health percentage.
  • The evasion talent stacks multiplicatively with other sources of evasion.
  • Critical Strike from talents is not disabled by Break.
    • The critical strike increases attack damage by an average of 24%.
    • The proc chances of multiple critical sources stack. If two sources of critical strike proc at the same time, the higher crit multiplier has priority.

Recent Changes[]

  • Talents:
Level 15 left talent: -3s Spirit Lance cooldown reduced to -2s.

Recommended Items[]

Starting items:

Early game:

Mid game:

Late game:

Situational items:

  • Vanguard makes Phantom Lancer significantly tankier, and is useful for split pushing. For late game teamfights, it can be upgraded into an Abyssal Blade.
  • Sange and Yasha provides strength and agility, both of which are useful on Phantom Lancer, as well as his illusions. However, it is not recommended if Phantom Lancer already has a Manta Style, as the speed bonus from Yasha does not stack.
  • Daedalus is the final damage item that can be purchased if Phantom Lancer is struggling against tankier heroes. His illusions will also receive the critical strike bonus.
  • Radiance makes Phantom Lancer an intimidating pusher, as the burn damage aura works on his illusions, and enemies are unlikely to move out of its range due to Phantom Rush and Spirit Lance. The minor blind effect also helps Phantom Lancer stay alive.
  • Boots of Travel makes Phantom Lancer a powerful split-pusher in the late game, and also allows him to return to base after generating an illusion army to push down lanes.
  • Abyssal Blade allows Phantom Lancer to stun targets, giving him the time to land multiple hits and generate illusions.
  • Monkey King Bar should be purchased against evasion heroes, or in the late game as a luxury item. It provides a decent attack damage and procs magical damage.
  • Black King Bar is less common on Phantom Lancer than on other carries, but is sometimes necessary against enemies with numerous disables.

Gameplay[]

Audio[]

History[]

Equipment[]

Trivia[]

  • In DotA, Phantom Lancer’s in-game model was a fan interpretation of Kimahri Ronso, a playable character in the RPG game Final Fantasy X. As such, the Phantom Lancer of Dota 2 gained many similarities with Kimahri, namely the blue skin, humanoid feline appearance, and halberd weapon.
  • Phantom Lancer’s model shares design similarities with, and may have been based on earlier concepts of Monkey King.

Gallery[]

  • Splash artwork

  • Trading card art

  • Ability icon progress

  • Hero icon progress

[external_footer]

Scores: 5 (14 votes)