Invoker · Mid (pos. 2)
Invoker 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
Invoker is a ranged Intelligence hero that Valve tags as Nuker, Disabler and Carry. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 86% 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 invisibility with Ghost Walk. This patch, Invoker wins 50.4% of the 667,192 public matches we measured (B tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Invisibility with Ghost Walk to scout, escape or set up ganks.
- Long attack range (600) to harass and last hit safely.
- Takes towers quickly: Valve lists it as a Pusher.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
Weaknesses
- Low base armor (-1): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- The enemy jungle and supports will target you for ganks.
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 Invoker players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Meteor Hammer and Orchid Malevolence — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Invoker players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Black King Bar and Force Staff. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Invoker players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Spirit Vessel and Orchid Malevolence. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Invoker 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 Invoker players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
186%- MidMain86% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Meteor Hammer
- 2Aghanim's Shard
- 3Black King Bar
- 4Force Staff
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Exort›Wex›Quas
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- 2x Quas/Wex/Exort Active BonusesRadial Deafening Blast25
- +2 Chaos Meteors+1 Orb Levels20
- -6s Cold Snap Cooldown+25 Alacrity Damage/Speed15
- +50 Ice Wall DPS-5s Tornado Cooldown10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Meteor Hammer and Orchid Malevolence — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Invoker players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
186%- MidMain86% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Meteor Hammer+6 Strength, +6 Agility, +24 Intelligence. Active: Meteor Hammer.
- 2Orchid Malevolence+35 Attack Speed, +20 Damage, +2.5 Mana Regeneration. Active: Soul Burn.
- 3Hand of Midas+40 Attack Speed. Active: Transmute.
- 4Yasha and Kaya+16 Agility, +16 Intelligence, +20 Attack Speed.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Exort›Wex›Quas
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- 2x Quas/Wex/Exort Active BonusesRadial Deafening Blast25
- +2 Chaos Meteors+1 Orb Levels20
- -6s Cold Snap Cooldown+25 Alacrity Damage/Speed15
- +50 Ice Wall DPS-5s Tornado Cooldown10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Black King Bar and Force Staff. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Invoker players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
186%- MidMain86% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Black King Bar+10 Strength, +24 Damage. Active: Avatar.
- 2Force Staff+10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- 3Rod of Atos+12 Intelligence, +275 Health. Active: Cripple.
- 4Spirit Vessel+1.75 Mana Regeneration, +10 All Attributes, +2 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Exort›Wex›Quas
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- 2x Quas/Wex/Exort Active BonusesRadial Deafening Blast25
- +2 Chaos Meteors+1 Orb Levels20
- -6s Cold Snap Cooldown+25 Alacrity Damage/Speed15
- +50 Ice Wall DPS-5s Tornado Cooldown10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Spirit Vessel and Orchid Malevolence. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Invoker players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
186%- MidMain86% 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.
- 2Orchid Malevolence+35 Attack Speed, +20 Damage, +2.5 Mana Regeneration. Active: Soul Burn.
- 3Octarine Core+25% Cooldown Reduction, +450 Health, +450 Mana.
- 4Linken's Sphere+16 All Attributes, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.25 Mana Regeneration. Active: Transfer Spellblock.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Exort›Wex›Quas
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- 2x Quas/Wex/Exort Active BonusesRadial Deafening Blast25
- +2 Chaos Meteors+1 Orb Levels20
- -6s Cold Snap Cooldown+25 Alacrity Damage/Speed15
- +50 Ice Wall DPS-5s Tornado Cooldown10
Abilities
- QuasAllows manipulation of ice elements. Active Quas instances imbue Invoker with bonus hp regeneration. Passively grants bonus strength per level of Quas.
- Max level
- 8
- Hp regen per instance
- 1·2·3·4·5·6·7·8·9
- Bonus strength per level
- 1
- WexAllows manipulation of storm elements. Active Wex instances imbue Invoker with bonus movement and attack speed. Passively grants bonus agility per level of Wex.
- Max level
- 8
- Move speed per instance
- 0.6%·1.2%·1.8%·2.4%·3%·3.6%·4.2%·4.8%·5.4%
- Attack speed per instance
- 1·2·3·4·5·6·7·8·9
- Bonus agility per level
- 1
- ExortAllows manipulation of fire elements. Active Exort instances imbue Invoker with bonus attack damage. Passively grants bonus intelligence per level of Exort.
- Max level
- 8
- Attack damage per instance
- 2·4·6·8·10·12·14·16·18
- Bonus intelligence per level
- 1
Invoked SpellPassiveCasting Invoke will replace this slot with one of ten unique spells based on Invoker's currently active Quas, Wex, and Exort buffs.
Invoked SpellPassiveCasting Invoke will replace this slot with one of ten unique spells based on Invoker's currently active Quas, Wex, and Exort buffs.
Invoke7sCombines the properties of the elements currently being manipulated to create a new spell for Invoker to use. Invoke cooldown is reduced by 0.3 seconds for each orb level. Invoker gains a bonus ability point for his orbs at levels 6, 12, and 18.
Invoker's vast knowledge of magic allows him to choose from Multiple Aghanim's Scepter and Shard options. The items must be activated before they can be - Max spells
- 2
Cold Snap19s100 mpInvoker draws the heat from an enemy, chilling them to their very core for a duration based on the level of Quas. The enemy will take damage and be briefly frozen. Further damage taken in this state will freeze the enemy again, dealing bonus damage. The enemy can only be frozen so often, but the freeze cooldown decreases based on the level of Quas.- Cold snap duration (quas):\n
- 3·3.4·3.8·4.2·4.6·5·5.4·5.8·6.2
- Freeze duration
- 0.4
- Freeze cooldown (quas)
- 0.80·0.77·0.74·0.71·0.68·0.65·0.62·0.59·0.56
- Freeze damage (quas)
- 28·36·44·52·60·68·76·84·92
Ghost Walk40s175 mpInvoker manipulates the ice and electrical energies around him, rendering his body invisible and gaining health and mana regen. The elemental imbalance created as a consequence slows nearby enemies based on the level of Quas, and slows Invoker as well based on the level of Wex.- Duration
- 50
- Slow radius
- 450
- Enemy slow (quas):\n
- -20%·-25%·-30%·-35%·-40%·-45%·-50%·-55%·-60%
- Self speed (wex):\n
- -20%·-15%·-10%·-5%·0%·5%·10%·15%·20%
- Health regeneration (quas)
- 2·4·6·8·10·12·14·16·18
- Mana regeneration (wex):\n
- 2·4·6·8·10·12·14·16·18
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:Exort›Wex›Quas
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
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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: Null Talisman and Kaya.
2Mid game
With Meteor Hammer, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are your core items: Meteor Hammer and then Aghanim's Shard.
- Core items: Meteor Hammer, 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: Octarine Core and Shiva's Guard.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Meteor Hammer 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.
- Keep Ghost Walk for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
- Ring Master59.2%win rate in the matchup
Invoker wins 59.2% of the 142 games measured against Ring Master this patch.
142 matches
- Lina58.8%win rate in the matchup
Invoker wins 58.8% of the 136 games measured against Lina this patch.
136 matches
- Lich56.9%win rate in the matchup
Invoker wins 56.9% of the 130 games measured against Lich this patch.
130 matches
- Tiny56.0%win rate in the matchup
Invoker wins 56.0% of the 216 games measured against Tiny this patch.
216 matches
- Silencer55.9%win rate in the matchup
Invoker wins 55.9% of the 118 games measured against Silencer this patch.
118 matches
Weak against
- Sniper42.2%win rate in the matchup
Invoker only wins 42.2% of the 109 games measured against Sniper this patch.
109 matches
- Puck42.5%win rate in the matchup
Invoker only wins 42.5% of the 106 games measured against Puck this patch.
106 matches
- Shadow Demon43.9%win rate in the matchup
Invoker only wins 43.9% of the 171 games measured against Shadow Demon this patch.
171 matches
- Dawnbreaker45.8%win rate in the matchup
Invoker only wins 45.8% of the 144 games measured against Dawnbreaker this patch.
144 matches
- Phoenix45.9%win rate in the matchup
Invoker only wins 45.9% of the 148 games measured against Phoenix this patch.
148 matches
Works well with
Adaptive Strike from Morphling gives Invoker, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
Mana Void from Anti-Mage gives Invoker, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
Bramble Maze from Dark Willow gives Invoker, who has no crowd control, a target that can't dodge.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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