Warlock · Hard Support (pos. 5)
Warlock Items: What to Buy and When
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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
This guide explains every item in Warlock's builds and when to buy it. Your spikes are level 6, when Chaotic Offering comes online, and your core items: Glimmer Cape and then Aghanim's Shard.
Strengths
- Reliable stun: Chaotic Offering sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Keeps allies alive with Shadow Word.
- Long attack range (600) to harass and last hit safely.
Weaknesses
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Warlock is easy to catch.
- Low base armor (1): 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 Warlock players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Hand of Midas and Vladmir's Offering — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Warlock players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Glimmer Cape and Pavise. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Warlock 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 Warlock players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
216%175%- Safe laneMain75% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 216% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- 2Aghanim's Shard
- 3Pavise+3 Armor, +175 Mana, +175 Health. Active: Protect.
- 4Solar Crest+7 Armor, +25 Movement Speed, +200 Mana. Active: Shine.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shadow Word›Fatal Bonds›Upheaval
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Talents by level
- Summons a Golem on death+5 Fatal Bonds Targets25
- 25% Damage Resistance for Chaotic Offering Golems+45 Upheaval Damage20
- +8 Upheaval Attack Speed per second on Allies+150 Shadow Word AoE15
- +4% Fatal Bonds Damage+50 Upheaval Radius10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Hand of Midas and Vladmir's Offering — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Warlock players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
216%175%- Safe laneMain75% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 216% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Hand of Midas+40 Attack Speed. Active: Transmute.
- 2Vladmir's Offering+1 Armor, +0.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- 4Aghanim's Shard
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shadow Word›Fatal Bonds›Upheaval
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Talents by level
- Summons a Golem on death+5 Fatal Bonds Targets25
- 25% Damage Resistance for Chaotic Offering Golems+45 Upheaval Damage20
- +8 Upheaval Attack Speed per second on Allies+150 Shadow Word AoE15
- +4% Fatal Bonds Damage+50 Upheaval Radius10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Glimmer Cape and Pavise. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Warlock players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
216%175%- Safe laneMain75% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 216% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- 2Pavise+3 Armor, +175 Mana, +175 Health. Active: Protect.
- 3Solar Crest+7 Armor, +25 Movement Speed, +200 Mana. Active: Shine.
- 4Ghost Scepter+5 All Attributes. Active: Ghost Form.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shadow Word›Fatal Bonds›Upheaval
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Talents by level
- Summons a Golem on death+5 Fatal Bonds Targets25
- 25% Damage Resistance for Chaotic Offering Golems+45 Upheaval Damage20
- +8 Upheaval Attack Speed per second on Allies+150 Shadow Word AoE15
- +4% Fatal Bonds Damage+50 Upheaval Radius10
Abilities
- Fatal Bonds42 / 34 / 26 / 18s120 / 130 / 140 / 150 mpBinds several visible enemy units together, causing a percentage of the damage dealt to one of them to be felt by the others.
- Enemies bound
- 6
- Shared damage
- 15%·18%·21%·24%
- Duration
- 18
- Bind radius
- 700
- Shadow Word15 / 14 / 13 / 12s110 / 120 / 130 / 140 mpWarlock whispers an incantation, casting a spell on a unit that makes it deal damage to nearby enemy units and heal nearby ally units. Target Unit will also heal or be damaged depending on whether they are ally or enemy.
- Heal/damage
- 15·25·35·45
- Duration
- 10
- Effect radius
- 225
- Upheaval45 / 40 / 35 / 30s100 mpCHANNELED - A powerful slowing and damaging current that grows stronger as it's channeled. Lasts up to 10 seconds. Enemies are slowed for 1 second after leaving the area or the spell ends.
- Radius
- 575·600·625·650
- Slow per second
- 11%·14%·17%·20%
- Max slow
- 55%·70%·85%·100%
- Damage per second
- 10
- Max damage
- 35·60·85·110
- Max channel duration
- 10·12·14·16
Eldritch SummoningPassiveWhenever an enemy unit dies while afflicted by one or more of Warlock's abilities, a minor imp is summoned that lasts for 15 seconds and explodes on death. Imps will automatically seek out nearby units, favoring fatally bonded heroes, and will explode when reaching their prey.- Imp health
- 5
- Explosion damage
- 20
- Chaotic Offering165s200 / 400 / 600 mpSummons a Golem from the depths, stunning enemies for 0.8 seconds. The Golem lives 60 seconds, takes reduced damage from spells, has increased Slow Resistance, has Permanent Immolation and Flaming Fists on attack.
- Summon blast radius
- 600
- Golem health
- 1500·2250·3000
- Golem damage
- 100·150·200
- Golem movement speed
- 320·340·360
- Golem health regen
- 25·50·75
- Golem gold bounty
- 100·150·200
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 87 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Shadow Word›Fatal Bonds›Upheaval
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Strategy
1Starting items
What to buy before leaving the base, and what each item gives:
- Iron Branch — +1 All Attributes.
- Tango
- Blood Grenade — +50 Health.
- Observer and Sentry Wards — 1600 Observer vision range, 6 Observer duration, 8 Sentry duration.
- Magic Stick — Active: Energy Charge.
- Sentry Ward
2Core items
Your spikes are level 6, when Chaotic Offering comes online, and your core items: Glimmer Cape and then Aghanim's Shard. Buy them in this order; each one is a power spike:
- Arcane Boots — +45 Movement Speed, +0.25 Mana Regeneration, +125 Mana. Active: Replenish.
- Glimmer Cape — +20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- Aghanim's Shard
- Pavise — +3 Armor, +175 Mana, +175 Health. Active: Protect.
- Solar Crest — +7 Armor, +25 Movement Speed, +200 Mana. Active: Shine.
3Late-game items
What players finish with once the core is done:
- Aghanim's Scepter — +10 All Attributes, +175 Health, +175 Mana.
- Force Staff — +10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- Blink Dagger — Active: Blink.
- Refresher Orb — +14 Health Regeneration, +7.0 Mana Regeneration. Active: Reset Cooldowns.
4Adapting to the game
The damage build moves the offensive items forward when you're ahead; the defensive one adds survival when the enemy focuses you. The situational builds in the matchups guide answer specific threats.
Tips
- Buy Glimmer Cape as early as you can: it's your first real spike.
- Complete one item before starting the next: half-built items give less than one finished one.
- Look at the enemy team at every back and adjust the situational items.
- Don't sit on gold: spend it when you go back.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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