Why pick Invoker?
Pick Invoker when you want a mid who can snipe, control, burst and escape and who scales into the late game.
Mid guide
Three orbs, ten spells, one combo for every situation.
538 HP339 manaLevel 1
InvokerDota 2 hero
Invoker is an Intelligence mid who combines the orbs Quas, Wex and Exort into ten different spells, from Sun Strike snipes to Tornado and Chaos Meteor combos.
IntelligenceRangedThe Dota2Freaks take Editorial
When to think twice
Avoid him against heavy early pressure, silences and heroes who jump on him before his combo is ready.
The usual mistake
Do not invoke spells in the middle of a fight. Prepare the sequence before you walk in.
Our picks · Mid
Choose for the game in front of you.Invoker item builds
Standard
Default mid path built around Sun Strike, Cold Snap, Hand of Midas and Aghanim's Scepter.
01Starting
Empty inventory slotLane with damage and regen
02Lane
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotCheap mana and speed
03First core
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotBuy levels
04Mid game
Empty inventory slotStronger orbs and faster Invoke
05Late game
Combos back faster
06Luxury
Cast the combo twice
Aghanim's ScepterStronger orbs and a faster Invoke for more spells per fight.Guide ↗
Situational
Choose when the game needs early fights: Tornado, E.M.P. and Alacrity with mobility items.
01Starting
Empty inventory slotLane with stats
02Lane
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotCheap mana and speed
03First core
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotMove between lanes
04Mid game
Empty inventory slotLock down one target
05Late game
Survive and control
06Luxury
Finish the tempo build
Aghanim's ScepterStronger orbs and a faster Invoke for more spells per fight.Guide ↗
Situational
Use when Invoker needs to open fights himself with a Blink Dagger into Tornado and Meteor.
01Starting
Empty inventory slotLane with damage and regen
02Lane
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotCheap mana and speed
03First core
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotBuy levels
04Mid game
Empty inventory slotOpen from the fog
05Late game
Combo through control
06Luxury
Finish the initiation build
Aghanim's ScepterStronger orbs and a faster Invoke for more spells per fight.Guide ↗
Situational
Pick this against silences and burst, so the combo still happens when they jump on him.
01Starting
Empty inventory slotLane with damage and regen
02Lane
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotCheap mana and speed
03First core
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotBuy levels
04Mid game
Empty inventory slotDispel the silence
05Late game
Immune to the jump
06Luxury
Finish the defensive build
Aghanim's ScepterStronger orbs and a faster Invoke for more spells per fight.Guide ↗
Experimental
A damage-heavy plan with Alacrity and Forge Spirits for games against few disables.
01Starting
Empty inventory slotLane with damage and regen
02Lane
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotCheap mana and speed
03First core
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slotBuy levels
04Mid game
Empty inventory slotAttack with the spirits
05Late game
Scale the right-clicks
06Luxury
Finish the damage build
Aghanim's ScepterStronger orbs and a faster Invoke for more spells per fight.Guide ↗
How to use these builds
These are our editorial build paths. Labels describe their purpose, not measured popularity or win rate. Click an item for its use. Each stage is an inventory snapshot: keep earlier items, use consumables, upgrade components, and replace small items as space runs out. Boots, defenses, and late slots can change with the draft.
More match and build examples: Dota 2 Pro Tracker. Item names and images: Valve.
The draft check
Friends & counters
Our picks, based on how the spells work together.
5 friends to play with
Magnus
Reverse Polarity groups enemies for Chaos Meteor and Deafening Blast.
Tidehunter
Ravage holds the whole team under the meteor and blast.
Crystal Maiden
Arcane Aura keeps a hero with ten mana-hungry spells casting.
Bane
Nightmare and Fiend's Grip hold a target for Sun Strike and Cold Snap.
Earthshaker
Fissure and Echo Slam stack with the Tornado and E.M.P. combo.
5 counter picks to watch
Silencer
Global Silence and Arcane Curse stop a hero who lives on casting.
Nyx Assassin
Spiked Carapace and Mana Burn punish his spells and his mana pool.
Storm Spirit
Jumps on Invoker before the combo is invoked and leaves before the answer.
Anti-Mage
Mana Break and Mana Void punish a hero who stores mana for the combo.
Huskar
Out-trades the Quas-Exort lane and ignores most of his magic damage.
About these picks
These are useful ability interactions, not a statistical ranking or guaranteed matchups. Positioning, items, and cooldowns change the result. Hero links open a full guide when available, otherwise the directory.
Ability references from Valve: Magnus · Tidehunter · Crystal Maiden · Bane · Earthshaker · Silencer · Nyx Assassin · Storm Spirit · Anti-Mage · Huskar. Checked 2026-10-14.
The buttons
QWE + 10 combo spells · open for spell valuesQ
QuasNo targetOrb that gives health regeneration per active instance and feeds ice spells.
- Mana
- 0
- Cooldown
- 0s
- Health regen per instance
- 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
W
WexNo targetOrb that gives movement and attack speed per active instance and feeds storm spells.
- Mana
- 0
- Cooldown
- 0s
- Attack speed per instance
- 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
E
ExortNo targetOrb that gives attack damage per active instance and feeds fire spells.
- Mana
- 0
- Cooldown
- 0s
- Damage per instance
- 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 16 / 18
QQQ
Cold SnapUnit targetFreezes an enemy so every instance of damage briefly stuns and hurts it.
- Mana
- 100
- Cooldown
- 19s
- Duration
- 3 / 3.4 / 3.8 / 4.2 / 4.6 / 5 / 5.4 / 5.8 / 6.2s
QQW
Ghost WalkNo targetTurns Invoker invisible and slows enemies around him.
- Mana
- 175
- Cooldown
- 40s
- Duration
- 50s
QWW
TornadoPoint targetSends a tornado that lifts enemies into the air and damages them.
- Mana
- 140
- Cooldown
- 27s
- Lift duration
- 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.8 / 2 / 2.2 / 2.4 / 2.6 / 2.8s
WWW
E.M.P.Point targetCharges an electric pulse that burns mana and damages enemies in the area.
- Mana
- 125
- Cooldown
- 27s
- Mana burned
- 100 / 175 / 250 / 325 / 400 / 475 / 550 / 625 / 700
WWE
AlacrityUnit targetGrants an ally bonus attack speed and damage for a few seconds.
- Mana
- 75
- Cooldown
- 15s
- Bonus attack speed
- 10 / 22 / 34 / 46 / 58 / 70 / 82 / 94 / 106
WEE
Chaos MeteorPoint targetDrops a rolling meteor that damages and burns enemies in its path.
- Mana
- 200
- Cooldown
- 50s
- Impact damage
- 55 / 75 / 95 / 115 / 135 / 155 / 175 / 195 / 215
EEE
Sun StrikePoint targetCalls a beam of sunlight anywhere on the map that damages enemies after a delay.
- Mana
- 175
- Cooldown
- 23s
- Damage
- 175 / 225 / 275 / 325 / 375 / 425 / 475 / 525 / 575
QEE
Forge SpiritNo targetSummons a fire spirit whose attacks reduce armor.
- Mana
- 75
- Cooldown
- 27s
- Spirit duration
- 24 / 30 / 36 / 42 / 48 / 54 / 60 / 66 / 72s
QQE
Ice WallNo targetCreates a wall of ice that slows and damages enemies who cross it.
- Mana
- 125
- Cooldown
- 23s
- Damage per second
- 30 / 36 / 42 / 48 / 54 / 60 / 66 / 72 / 78
QWE
Deafening BlastPoint targetReleases a wave that damages, knocks back and disarms enemies.
- Mana
- 250
- Cooldown
- 36s
- Damage
- 70 / 110 / 150 / 190 / 230 / 270 / 310 / 350 / 390
Base stats & innate Level 1 · no items
Strength19+2.5 / lvl
Agility14+2 / lvlIntelligence22+4 / lvl- Attack damage
- 41–47
- Armor
- 1.3
- Move speed
- 280
- Magic resist
- 25%
- Attack range
- 600
- Base attack time
- 1.7s
- Health regen
- +2.15/s
- Mana regen
- +1.1/s
Skinport partner picks
Browse skins →Dota 2 Invoker skins
InvokerImmortal
Magus Accord
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DOTA2FREAKS GUIDE · REVIEWED Oct 14, 2026
Dota 2 Invoker guide: mid builds, all spells and tips
Invoker is an Intelligence mid who combines the orbs Quas, Wex and Exort into ten different spells, from Sun Strike snipes to Tornado and Chaos Meteor combos.
What role does Invoker play in Dota 2?
Invoker is a ranged Intelligence hero. Our recommended role is mid.
Invoker has three orbs instead of normal abilities. Quas gives health regeneration, Wex gives movement and attack speed, Exort gives attack damage, and the orbs you have active decide which spell Invoke creates. Ten spells exist: Cold Snap, Ghost Walk, Ice Wall, E.M.P., Tornado, Alacrity, Sun Strike, Forge Spirit, Chaos Meteor and Deafening Blast. Pick Invoker when you want a mid who can answer almost any situation and who scales with levels and items. He is weak against early pressure, silences and heroes who jump on him before he has his combo ready.
How to play Invoker in Dota 2
Invoker laning and early decisions
Most mid players start with Quas and Exort: the orbs give regeneration and damage, Cold Snap wins trades and Sun Strike kills low heroes anywhere on the map. Forge Spirit adds a summon that harasses and pushes. The Wex start is faster and builds around Tornado, E.M.P. and Alacrity instead. In both cases take last hits with your high base damage, keep two spells invoked and watch the side lanes for a Sun Strike.
Invoker positioning and teamfights
Invoker fights from the second line with a planned sequence. The classic combo is Tornado into E.M.P. to lift enemies and burn their mana, then Chaos Meteor and Deafening Blast while they land, or Cold Snap on the hero who tries to escape. Ice Wall separates a chasing enemy from his team, and Ghost Walk is your escape when the combo is on cooldown. Always re-invoke the next spell while the current one is in the air.
Dota 2 Invoker item build decisions
Null Talisman, boots and a Magic Wand start the lane, often with a Hand of Midas for the levels he needs. Boots of Travel and Aghanim's Scepter are the usual cores because the Scepter makes orbs stronger and Invoke faster. Octarine Core, Black King Bar, Scythe of Vyse, Refresher Orb, Blink Dagger, Eul's Scepter and Bloodthorn are picked depending on whether the game needs more combos, survival or control.
Dota 2 Invoker tips and ability interactions
D2F ADVICEInvoker: the orb levels decide the spell levels
Every invoked spell scales with the level of the orbs it is made from. Cold Snap is three Quas, so it is strongest when Quas is high, while Sun Strike needs Exort. Decide before the game which orbs you will max first and which spells you will rely on, and keep the orbs that support your combo active for their passive stats.
Invoker: Tornado and E.M.P. are the setup
Tornado lifts enemies for a fixed time and E.M.P. detonates after a delay. Cast E.M.P. so it lands where the enemies come down from the Tornado, and they lose mana and take damage while they cannot act. Add Chaos Meteor and Deafening Blast on the landing point for a full combo.
Invoker: Sun Strike is global
Sun Strike hits anywhere on the map after a short delay and its damage is split between enemies in the area. Use it to finish a hero who teleported out of a fight with low health, to secure kills on the side lanes and to punish a hero who stands still while channelling.
Dota 2 Invoker ability mechanics
| Detail | What it means in your game |
|---|---|
| Quas | Orb that gives health regeneration per active instance and feeds ice spells. |
| Wex | Orb that gives movement and attack speed per active instance and feeds storm spells. |
| Exort | Orb that gives attack damage per active instance and feeds fire spells. |
| Cold Snap | Freezes an enemy so every instance of damage briefly stuns and hurts it. |
| Ghost Walk | Turns Invoker invisible and slows enemies around him. |
| Ice Wall | Creates a wall of ice that slows and damages enemies who cross it. |
| E.M.P. | Charges an electric pulse that burns mana and damages enemies in the area. |
| Tornado | Sends a tornado that lifts enemies into the air and damages them. |
| Alacrity | Grants an ally bonus attack speed and damage for a few seconds. |
| Sun Strike | Calls a beam of sunlight anywhere on the map that damages enemies after a delay. |
| Forge Spirit | Summons a fire spirit whose attacks reduce armor. |
| Chaos Meteor | Drops a rolling meteor that damages and burns enemies in its path. |
| Deafening Blast | Releases a wave that damages, knocks back and disarms enemies. |
Dota 2 Invoker FAQ
Which role should Invoker play in Dota 2?
Invoker is a mid hero. The solo lane gives him the levels his orbs need, and his high base damage and Sun Strike let him control the map early. Some players run him as a position four with Wex, but mid remains the standard.
Which items should Invoker buy in Dota 2?
Null Talisman, boots and Magic Wand cover the lane, often followed by Hand of Midas. Boots of Travel and Aghanim's Scepter are the usual cores. Octarine Core, Black King Bar, Scythe of Vyse, Refresher Orb, Blink Dagger, Eul's Scepter and Bloodthorn are chosen by the game.
Is Invoker suitable for Dota 2 beginners?
Invoker is one of the hardest heroes in Dota 2. Ten spells, orb combinations and long combo sequences take many games to learn. Beginners should start in bot matches with the Quas-Exort build, memorise three spells first and add the rest step by step.
How should you use Invoker's ultimate in Dota 2?
Invoke creates the spell that matches the three orbs you have active and keeps two invoked spells ready. Plan your sequence, invoke the next spell while the current one is still travelling and use Aghanim's Scepter and Octarine Core to shorten the time between invocations.
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