Hello, friend! Librarian Husky here, ready to guide you through the depths of strategy!* Ringmaster is an Intelligence hero, playing the role of support, nuker, escape, and disabler. His first spell, “Tame the Beast,” is a nuke that can be channeled for up to 4 seconds. The longer you channel, the more damage it deals and the longer the fear effect, but the AoE shrinks. You can choose any channeling time between the larger and smaller AoE. Items increase the range, and Bloodstone increases the AoE.

Talents and Modifiers for Tame the Beast

Ringmaster currently has three talents that affect “Tame the Beast.” One talent increases the AoE, another grants debuff immunity while channeling, and the last one increases both the minimum and maximum damage. A timer shows above Ringmaster as he channels, visible only to him and his allies. This spell can be used to quickly stop a team push, farm a creep wave, or secure range creeps during the laning phase.

Escape Act: A Defensive Ability

His second spell, “Escape Act,” is a saving tool similar to Shadow Demon’s “Disruption,” but it works differently. He can use it on himself or ally heroes. The unit in the box gains phased movement, slow resistance, bonus magic resistance, and bonus movement speed. They become untargetable, muted, silenced, and disarmed. The box opens after the duration ends or if the unit moves 500 units away. There’s a faint circle on the ground indicating this range, visible to both teams.

Escape Act: A Versatile Saving Ability

This ability is excellent for saving an ally who is locked down by abilities like Reaper’s Scythe or Duel, or caught in Chronosphere or Black Hole. Although the unit can still take damage from spells and debuffs, it becomes untargetable. For example, Zeus’s ultimate won’t hit the unit while it’s in the box, similar to how it doesn’t hit Dark Willow in Shadow Realm. It can also be cast on a debuff-immune ally, and its range can be increased with cast range items, though Bloodstone has no effect.

Talents That Affect Escape Act

Ringmaster has two talents that affect “Escape Act.” One talent increases the cast range, while the other makes it apply a strong dispel, making it even more effective as a saving tool. The box itself doesn’t appear to fly, but the talent enables flying movement over cliffs, similar to Oracle’s ultimate. Without this talent, “Escape Act” does not apply any type of dispel, making this a valuable upgrade.

Impalement Arts: A Long-Range Dagger

Ringmaster’s third spell, “Impalement Arts,” is a long-range dagger that damages and slows the enemy it hits. It deals initial impact damage and applies damage every second based on the target’s max HP if it’s a hero. For creeps, it deals flat damage per second. As the spell levels up, it gains more charges, up to a maximum of four, but there’s a small cooldown between each use. The dagger also provides vision in the fog of war, making it useful for scouting or securing ranged creeps in lane.

Talents That Affect Impalement Arts

There are two talents that currently affect “Impalement Arts.” One allows it to penetrate a target, hitting a second one if present, applying the same effects. The other talent increases the bleed and slow duration. The slow does not pierce debuff immunity, though the damage does, and both effects are dispellable. Cast range items can increase its range, but Bloodstone does not increase its AoE.

Wheel of Wonder: Ultimate Ability

His ultimate, “Wheel of Wonder,” is an AoE damage, slow, nuke, and taunt. When used, it rolls out, knocking enemies aside and breaking trees in its path and at the landing location. This knockback doesn’t deal damage or interrupt channels. After rolling, it starts dealing damage and slowing enemies for 8 seconds, hitting twice per second for a total of 16 hits. Once the duration ends, the wheel explodes, dealing significant magic damage.

Taunt Mechanic and Triggering the Explosion

If an enemy hero faces the wheel for more than 5 seconds, they are taunted towards it. This triggers a timer, potentially causing the wheel to explode early, dealing the same damage as after the full 8 seconds. The taunt only affects enemies who face the wheel for 5 seconds, and illusions can start the timer as well. Debuff-immune heroes won’t start the timer when they face the wheel.

Taunt Mechanic and Vision from Wheel of Wonder

Enemies who face the wheel and gain the red indication above their hero will start the timer, even if they have debuff immunity. This inconsistency raises questions about whether it is intentional. The wheel can last longer than 8 seconds if a player triggers it right before the end, extending the duration until the timer runs out. Additionally, the wheel provides significant vision, even more than an observer ward, especially if placed on a cliff. It also gives vision as it rolls, but has a minimum range, meaning it can’t be placed directly in front of you.

Combo Potential and Range Increase

“Wheel of Wonder” can be combined effectively with “Tame the Beast” by fearing enemies into facing the wheel for 5 seconds. You can channel “Tame the Beast” fully, then throw “Wheel of Wonder” behind the enemy, or vice versa. The cast range of “Wheel of Wonder” can be increased, and Bloodstone can further increase the AoE of its damage and slow, making it a powerful tool in certain combinations.

Aganim’s Scepter and Shard Upgrades

The Aganim’s Scepter upgrade is important, but let’s discuss his Shard first. The Shard grants a new ability called “Spotlight.” Ringmaster shines a spotlight that sweeps over an area for 8 seconds. Enemies in the spotlight have a chance to miss their attacks and are revealed if invisible. Additionally, it deals significant damage to illusions. However, the miss chance does not go through BKB, limiting its effectiveness against certain heroes.

Spotlight: A Great Utility Spell

“Spotlight” is a valuable utility spell, offering mischance and invisibility reveal, but its most important aspect may be the vision it provides. The range is impressive, allowing you to scout areas before engaging, whether it’s checking Roshan or high ground. The cast range can be increased with cast range items, and the AoE can be boosted with Bloodstone, enhancing its utility even further.

Ringmaster’s Innate Ability: Dark Carnival Barker

Ringmaster’s innate ability, “Dark Carnival Barker,” is a unique mechanic. Every time an enemy hero dies within a 925 range of Ringmaster, he gains a souvenir charge. There are three different souvenir charges he can collect: Funhouse Mirror, Strongman Tonic, and Whoopy Cushion. The souvenir gained is random, and you will never get the same one twice in a row. These souvenirs stack, with the oldest one being replaced when new ones are collected.

Funhouse Mirror: A Defensive Ability

“Funhouse Mirror” creates an imperfect illusion of Ringmaster. When used, it grants 2 seconds of invulnerability, similar to the effect of using an illusion rune or Manta Style. Each souvenir has a 3-second cooldown, preventing you from spamming them, even if you have a large stack of souvenirs. This makes Funhouse Mirror an excellent defensive tool when timed correctly.

Funhouse Mirror: Illusion Dodge Mechanic

You can technically dodge some spells with “Funhouse Mirror,” and you can have multiple illusions up at once. This makes it a versatile defensive ability. Next, we have “Strongman Tonic,” which can be cast on yourself or allied heroes, increasing their strength by 5, plus 1.5 per Ringmaster’s level, for 8 seconds. After the first 4 seconds, the effects start to deteriorate over time, and it can be dispelled.

Whoopy Cushion: Mobility and Crowd Control

“Whoopy Cushion” is similar to the inactive neutral item Tumbler’s Toy but with an additional twist. It propels your hero forward, allowing you to pass over impassable terrain. After use, it leaves behind a cloud for 3 seconds that slows enemies. However, it cannot be used while rooted, limiting its application in certain scenarios.

Final Thoughts on Ringmaster’s Mechanics

If you have any other insights into Ringmaster’s abilities, interesting mechanics, or strategies, feel free to share your thoughts. Let us know what you think about Ringmaster so far. As always, a shoutout to the supporters on Patreon for making this possible!

Thank you for diving into our guide! Discover our exceptional Dota 2 boosting services and elevate your gaming experience with our top-tier boosts.