You need to farm faster
Buy Maelstrom on a core who attacks quickly and needs to clear creep waves and jungle camps on the way to bigger items. It shines on heroes with built-in attack speed such as Windranger, Juggernaut or Sven.
Farming · Passive item
Maelstrom
2,950 
Base shop
Clear waves and camps with chain lightning.
Maelstrom adds attack damage and attack speed and gives each attack a chance to release chain lightning that leaps between nearby enemies. It is a farming and fighting item for heroes who attack often.
Price and stats snapshot: Sep 12, 2026. Later patches may change these values.
- Lightning chance
- 25%
- Lightning damage
- 110magical
- Attack damage
- 25damage
- Attack speed
- 25attack speed
Your damage is physical burst
Skip it on heroes who attack slowly or who win by single big hits, and when the enemy stacks magic resistance. The lightning is magical damage and does not help against buildings.
Chain lightning on attackEach attack has a 25% chance to release lightning that leaps between 4 targets within 650 units, dealing 110 magical damage to each. The lightning pierces evasion.
Components → Finished item
Build & upgrades
Maelstrom: 2,950 Combine components · base shop
→Maelstrom2,950 totalNo recipe fee
Maelstrom2,950 totalNo recipe feeAdds much more attack speed and an active lightning shield. Build it when fights decide the game and you already farm quickly enough.
→
Mjollnir5,500 totalRecipe included
Mjollnir5,500 totalRecipe includedComponents + recipe = total price. Already own Maelstrom? The tab shows the remaining cost. Valve data · Sep 12, 2026.
DOTA2FREAKS GUIDE · REVIEWED Oct 9, 2026
Dota 2 Maelstrom guide: recipe, uses and tips
Maelstrom turns attack speed into area damage. Its chain lightning clears creep waves and camps, and the same lightning adds damage in fights. This guide explains how the item works, who should buy it and when its upgrade is worth the gold. Prices and recipe totals use the dated Valve snapshot shown below.
What does Maelstrom do in Dota 2?
Maelstrom adds attack damage and attack speed and gives each attack a chance to release chain lightning that leaps between nearby enemies. It is a farming and fighting item for heroes who attack often.
Buy Maelstrom on a core who attacks quickly and needs to clear creep waves and jungle camps on the way to bigger items. Skip it on heroes who attack slowly or who win by single big hits, and when the enemy stacks magic resistance. The lightning is magical damage and does not help against buildings.
How to use Maelstrom in Dota 2
Attack creeps that stand close together
The lightning leaps between nearby targets, so attack the middle of a creep wave or a stacked camp rather than a creep standing alone. Attack speed matters more than damage: every attack is another chance to trigger the chain.
Use the farming speed to stay ahead
Maelstrom pays off when you clear the lane and a camp or two before the next wave arrives. Plan a route through the jungle after each wave and come back in time, then convert the gold into your next big item before the enemy catches up.
Hit the enemy carry and let the lightning spread
In fights, keep attacking your main target. The chain lightning jumps to nearby enemies and adds area damage without changing your target. Illusions from items like Manta Style also carry the effect, which makes Maelstrom stronger on illusion heroes.
Three Dota 2 Maelstrom tips
D2F ADVICEMaelstrom tip: the lightning ignores evasion
Valve's description notes that the lightning pierces evasion. Against a Butterfly carrier your attacks can still miss, but the chain damage from attacks that trigger it still lands. It is not a replacement for Monkey King Bar, only a small bonus.
Maelstrom or Battle Fury?
Both help melee carries farm. Battle Fury cleaves physical damage and suits big single hits; Maelstrom triggers on attack speed and also helps ranged heroes. Pick Maelstrom when your hero attacks fast or is ranged, and Battle Fury when your attacks are already large.
Maelstrom upgrade: Mjollnir or Gleipnir?
Mjollnir keeps the farming role and adds attack speed plus a lightning shield for fights. Gleipnir replaces attack speed with a root. Choose Mjollnir for a carry and Gleipnir when your team lacks control, as on Windranger or Clinkz.
Dota 2 Maelstrom recipe and mechanics
| Detail | What it means in your game |
|---|---|
| Price and full recipe | In the 2026-09-12 snapshot, Maelstrom costs 2,950 gold: Mithril Hammer (1,600 gold) + Javelin (900 gold) + Gloves of Haste (450 gold). There is no recipe fee. The expandable panel above shows nested components. |
| Important limitation | The chain lightning deals magical damage, so magic resistance and spell immunity reduce or block it. It also has a short internal cooldown, so very high attack speed does not trigger it on every attack. |
| Build detail | Buy Javelin first for the damage and the easier last hits, then Mithril Hammer. The Gloves of Haste are cheap and can be bought from the side shop area whenever you have spare gold. |
Dota 2 Maelstrom FAQ
How much does Maelstrom cost in Dota 2?
The saved 2026-09-12 Valve snapshot lists 2,950 gold with no recipe fee. This is a dated reference, not a promise that a later patch has the same price.
When should I buy Maelstrom in Dota 2?
Buy it on a core who attacks fast and needs to farm waves and camps quickly, usually as the first or second major item. Windranger, Juggernaut, Sven, Luna and Clinkz are common users.
Does Maelstrom work on illusions in Dota 2?
The snapshot lists a full illusion multiplier for the chain lightning, so illusions carry the effect. That makes Maelstrom and its upgrades strong with Manta Style on heroes such as Phantom Lancer or Naga Siren.
Should I upgrade Maelstrom to Mjollnir in Dota 2?
Upgrade when fights matter more than farm and your hero benefits from attack speed. Mjollnir costs 5,500 gold in the snapshot, so compare that with a defensive item like Black King Bar before you commit the gold.
