Ember Spirit · Mid (pos. 2)
Ember Spirit Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Ember Spirit is a melee Agility hero that Valve tags as Escape, Carry and Nuker. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 95% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Mid (pos. 2): your job is to win the solo lane, control the runes and create pressure on the other lanes. The kit brings mobility with Sleight of Fist. Its ultimate is Fire Remnant. This patch, Ember Spirit wins 49.2% of the 255,831 public matches we measured (B tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Fire Remnant can swing team fights: it hits several enemies at once.
- Mobility: Sleight of Fist gets Ember Spirit in and out of fights.
- Sustain from Flame Guard to stay in lane and in fights.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
Weaknesses
- Melee: has to walk up to its target, which makes the lane harder against ranged heroes.
- Low base armor (0): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Ember Spirit players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Radiance and Veil of Discord — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Ember Spirit players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Spirit Vessel and Mage Slayer. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Ember Spirit players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Ember Spirit players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
195%- MidMain95% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Spirit Vessel
- 2Aghanim's Shard
- 3Black King Bar
- 4Mage Slayer
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Flame Guard›Searing Chains›Sleight of Fi…
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- -12s Remnant Charge Restore Time2 Sleight of Fist Charges25
- +50 Sleight of Fist Hero Damage+50 Searing Chains Damage20
- +100% Flame Guard Damage Per Second+0.8s Searing Chains Duration15
- +165 Flame Guard Barrier Amount+12 Damage10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Radiance and Veil of Discord — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Ember Spirit players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
195%- MidMain95% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Radiance+55 Damage, +25% Evasion.
- 2Veil of Discord+175 Health, +10 Intelligence, +18% Spell Lifesteal. Active: Spell Weakness.
- 3Orb of Corrosion+7 Agility.
- 4Divine Rapier+100 Damage.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Flame Guard›Searing Chains›Sleight of Fi…
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · |
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Talents by level
- -12s Remnant Charge Restore Time2 Sleight of Fist Charges25
- +50 Sleight of Fist Hero Damage+50 Searing Chains Damage20
- +100% Flame Guard Damage Per Second+0.8s Searing Chains Duration15
- +165 Flame Guard Barrier Amount+12 Damage10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Spirit Vessel and Mage Slayer. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Ember Spirit players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
195%- MidMain95% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Spirit Vessel+1.75 Mana Regeneration, +10 All Attributes, +2 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
- 2Mage Slayer+18% Magic Resistance, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.5 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 4Refresher Orb+14 Health Regeneration, +7.0 Mana Regeneration. Active: Reset Cooldowns.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Flame Guard›Searing Chains›Sleight of Fi…
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● |
Talents by level
- -12s Remnant Charge Restore Time2 Sleight of Fist Charges25
- +50 Sleight of Fist Hero Damage+50 Searing Chains Damage20
- +100% Flame Guard Damage Per Second+0.8s Searing Chains Duration15
- +165 Flame Guard Barrier Amount+12 Damage10
Abilities
- Searing Chains13 / 12 / 11 / 10s80 / 90 / 100 / 110 mpEmber Spirit unleashes fiery bolas that wrap around nearby enemies, anchoring them in place and dealing damage each second.
- Duration
- 1.25·1.75·2.25·2.75
- Radius
- 400
- Damage per second
- 100
- Unit count
- 2
- Sleight of Fist13 / 11 / 9 / 7s75 mpEmber Spirit dashes around with blazing speed, attacking all enemies in the targeted area of effect, then returning to his start location. Deals bonus damage to heroes.
- Radius
- 250·350·450·550
- Bonus hero damage
- 40·80·120·160
- Attack interval
- 0.25
- Flame Guard32s65 / 80 / 95 / 110 mpEmber Spirit surrounds himself with a ring of fire that consumes incoming magic damage, absorbing a percentage of the damage taken. Flame Guard deals damage per second in an area around Ember Spirit while Flame Guard is active. If the shield is broken, the damage is also lost.
- Duration
- 12·14·16·18
- Damage per second
- 20·30·40·50
- Radius
- 500
- Percentage absorbed
- 70%
- Magic barrier
- 60·140·220·300
Activate Fire Remnant100 / 125 / 150 mpSelect the Fire Remnant to arrive at.
ImmolationPassiveEmber Spirit is continuously burning, dealing damage per second to all nearby enemies at all times.- Radius
- 200
- Damage per second
- 10
- Fire Remnant0.5sSends a Fire Remnant that runs to the target location at 250% Ember Spirit's speed. Using Activate Fire Remnant, Ember Spirit will dash out to all active Fire Remnants, destroying them and dealing damage in an area and then moving to the nearest Remnant. Ember Spirit will end at the Remnant closest to the targeted location.
- Damage
- 100·200·300
- Radius
- 450
- Duration
- 45
- Charge radius
- 0
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 100 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Flame Guard›Searing Chains›Sleight of Fi…
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● |
Strategy
1Early game
Mid is a one-on-one: whoever has more last hits and levels usually wins it. Contest the power runes every two minutes and use a good one to gank a side lane. Trade when the enemy mid goes for a last hit and when you are a level ahead: in the solo lane each level is a real edge.
- Early items: Bottle and Urn of Shadows.
2Mid game
With Spirit Vessel, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are level 6, when Fire Remnant comes online, and your core items: Spirit Vessel and then Aghanim's Shard.
- Core items: Spirit Vessel, Aghanim's Shard and Black King Bar.
3Late game
Late, choose your fights: you still hit hard, but the enemy carry catches up. Stay with the team and look for picks with vision.
- Late items: Aghanim's Scepter and Kaya and Sange.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position, and use Fire Remnant where it hits the most heroes.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Spirit Vessel is your first big spike: once you have it, leave the lane and look for kills.
- Push the wave into the enemy tower before you rotate, or the lane punishes you twice.
- Plan fights around Fire Remnant: without it, Ember Spirit is far less threatening.
- Keep Sleight of Fist for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
- Void Spirit61.8%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit wins 61.8% of the 170 games measured against Void Spirit this patch.
170 matches
- Undying61.8%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit wins 61.8% of the 123 games measured against Undying this patch.
123 matches
- Terrorblade61.2%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit wins 61.2% of the 129 games measured against Terrorblade this patch.
129 matches
- Tidehunter60.5%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit wins 60.5% of the 263 games measured against Tidehunter this patch.
263 matches
- Hoodwink60.4%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit wins 60.4% of the 364 games measured against Hoodwink this patch.
364 matches
Weak against
- Clinkz41.1%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit only wins 41.1% of the 112 games measured against Clinkz this patch.
112 matches
- Treant Protector43.1%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit only wins 43.1% of the 144 games measured against Treant Protector this patch.
144 matches
- Necrophos44.3%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit only wins 44.3% of the 106 games measured against Necrophos this patch.
106 matches
- Slark44.8%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit only wins 44.8% of the 116 games measured against Slark this patch.
116 matches
- Beastmaster45.5%win rate in the matchup
Ember Spirit only wins 45.5% of the 202 games measured against Beastmaster this patch.
202 matches
Works well with
Adaptive Strike from Morphling holds enemies in place for Fire Remnant from Ember Spirit.
Reel In from Naga Siren holds enemies in place for Fire Remnant from Ember Spirit.
Rebound from Marci holds enemies in place for Fire Remnant from Ember Spirit.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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