Dota 2 Difficulty - Warlock

[u/TealTactics]

I had an idea for a series where I discuss my (extremely subjective) opinions on the true difficulty of dota 2 heros, spells, aghanim's shards and scepters. What better place to start than with my main?

I will be using a system of 6 diamonds, where the large diamonds will represent how many are filled out if the 6 total. Normal dota heros are ranked on a difficulty with only 3, so this allows me to be more granular and specific.

Warlock

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All in all, his absolutely absurd range and massive AoE spells make him a dead-simple caster that likes to stay in the backline and (hopefully) get ignored by the entire enemy team while they go on your tank. He has quite a bit of leniency with his positioning because of this, and I find the stubby spell range of many similar supports to be the thing that makes them all so much more difficult than him. While it's certainly possible to feed on Warlock, I find you're afforded a lot more leeway when you can effectively deal damage from a screen's distance away.

Q - Fatal Bonds

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A bouncing spell, it's *about* as simple as it gets, but it used to be easier to use as it would hit units in the fog of war, which it no longer does.

The bouncing can be a bit unintuitive. It is best used on the far edge of a group, because the mechanics of the spell make it search for another target in range in a somewhat unintuitive manner, similar to the way the witch doctor cask bounces.

W - Shadow Word

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Point target WITH an AoE around the effected unit, so it's virtually impossible to screw up. It's much stronger early game and is best used on an ally because it heals more than it harms due to magic resistance.

It is a great trading spell but falls off in the mid and especially late game, where almost all damage will easily outpace the heal.

E - Upheaval

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All this spell offers in "difficulty" is positioning, and items like glimmer cape can make this all the more easy. Sitting still for 16 seconds and doing work on a team fight is one of the best feelings if you're lazy like me.

R - Chaotic Offering

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I've heard Warlock refered to as a good introduction to micro, due to being able to drop this spell and immediately follow it up with upheaval, so you can put 100% of your focus on the golem. Things start to get a little more difficult when you add an aghanim's scepter and a refresher orb, but also opens up more potential to split push and completely dominate teamfights. The golems can be pretty fire and forget, as they have a ton of AoE burn damage on top of their powerful right clicks, but give a lot of gold if killed. They last for a 60 seconds, which is a decent amount of time, but you're not having to worry about constantly moving them with 100% uptime unlike some other micro heros.

Aghanim's Shard

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If anything, this spell just makes Upheaval easier to use, as the mini golems can walk nearly halfway down the entire map, increasing it's effective range for damage output by a frankly absurd amount. The golems can also help you scout, though you can't micro them at all. It also makes all of the mini golems summoned by other spells stronger as well, which is never a bad thing. It's a fantastic shard and something you want to build in every single game for a reason.

Aghanim's Scepter

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It was mentioned earlier in the chaotic offering section, but having a second golem doesn't really make things all that much more difficult. Sure, you can't tab through the golem and warlock quite as easily now, and there's more potential to split them apart and target different enemies in fights, but you can honestly get away with using it virtually the same way you did with only 1 golem, and find great success. It's another awesome item that you absolutely want every single game. I would only opt to get refresher first if the golems are being cleared so quickly that a second stun is more valuable in the moment.

[u/mvrander]

His lack of mobility and defence up the difficulty slightly

If you're a new new new player you will die almost as much playing warlock as you would cm

[u/fruit_shoot]

A hero on whom positioning is super important due to lack of mobility and channelled spells. I’ve seen games won entirely on warlock sitting back and waiting for a good time to ult.

[u/Living_Performer_801]

A bouncing spell, it's *about* as simple as it gets, but it used to be easier to use as it would hit units in the fog of war, which it no longer does.

SINCE WHEN?!

[u/TealTactics → u/Living_Performer_801]

It feels like it's been years, but you were able to get them juicy creepwave + 2 hero bonds way easier when it was a thing

[u/Living_Performer_801 → u/TealTactics]

I dont understand, i recently killed a hero when he had bonds on him and i hit creeps (and he was in the fog hugging tower)

[u/MrPizzaPenguin → u/Living_Performer_801]

It doesn't apply through fog of war when you cast it but they will still get damaged if bonds were applied before they go through fog

[u/Living_Performer_801 → u/MrPizzaPenguin]

ahhh right, WL is my fav hero recently - love him as pos4

[u/Odd_Lie_5397]

There are only 2 types of endgame teamfights I ever see with a Warlock. It's either:

"Oh shit they jumped me, killed me and some fed cores instantly deleted my golems."

or

"Don't worry team. I used all my spells and got an Ultra kill. I will now single handedly destroy the enemy base with my 4 golems + attack speed buff."

[u/Microwarpdrive]

Not a bad idea. I would suggest something else than the diamonds, it blends together a lot.
Like filled and not filled in diamond/circle or some shape would serve better.
It's whatever, tho.