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Axe
From Liquipedia Dota 2 Wiki
Version Control
This article is mostly accurate for the latest version of the game (7.37b), in which this hero was changed.
It has no changes in the current game version — 7.37d.
Axe
25 + 2.8
20 + 1.7
18 + 1.6
| Grants the following bonuses per attribute point: | |
|
+22HP and +0.1HP regeneration +1 Main Attack Damage |
|
+0.17 armor and 1 attack speed |
|
+12MP and +0.05MP regeneration +0.1% base magic resistance |
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Instant Projectile Speed
| ||
100 (120)
(1.7 BAT) | ||
0.4 + 0.5
| ||
0.6
| ||
1800 / 800
| ||
Default
Gib Type | ||
2010-11-01
Released | ||
2005-03-01
(v6.00) | ||
Competitive Span
2010-11-01 — Present |
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This article is about the hero. For other uses, see Axe (Disambiguation)
| Taunts and forces enemies to attack him. | |
|---|---|
| One by one the soldiers of the Red Mist fell, some in battle, others to Mogul Khan's ambitions, until the self-declared general found himself a commander without troops. “No matter”, Axe thought, “For a one-man army is the best army of all.” — Leaping into battle, Mogul Khan compels nearby foes to attack him with a taunting Berserker's Call. Absorbing blows from every direction, the indomitable Axe reacts by swinging his axe full circle in a Counter Helix, easily dispatching the swarm he had gathered. But alas, not all stay long enough to meet their end. The few limping away from Mogul Khan feel an inexplicable Battle Hunger, a hunger never sated before Axe slams his Culling Blade through a weakened enemy, sending them to an early grave. Axe, Axe is always charging onward. | |
      | |
| Roles: |  Initiator  Durable  Disabler  Carry |
| Complexity |   |
| Adjectives | Bearded, NicePecs, Red, Nose Legs ( 2 ) |
Facets[edit]
One Man Army
Grants Axe temporary 
strength based on Axe's current armor.
Ally heroes venturing too close to Axe passively disables this effect linearly.
strength based on Axe's current armor.Ally heroes venturing too close to Axe passively disables this effect linearly.
Call Out
Berserker's Call grants affected enemy units bonus attack speed, while granting Axe additional bonus armor for the duration.
+45 Enemy Attack Speed
+5 Self Armor
+5 Self Armor
Upgrades[edit]
Aghanim's[edit]
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:
After a set number of attacks, Axe performs a helix counter attack.
The required attacks and incoming attacks per Counter Helix proc works simutaneously.
The required attacks and incoming attacks per Counter Helix proc works simutaneously.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:
All ability components are dispelled upon the caster's death. Berserker's Call now applies Battle Hunger to affected units within the radius.
Reapplying the debuff now creates an independent and stackable debuff instance.
Talents[edit]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2x Battle Hunger Armor Factor | 25 | +100 Berserker's Call Radius |
| +25 Counter Helix Damage | 20 | +100 Culling Blade Damage |
| +10 Berserker's Call Armor | 15 | +10% Battle Hunger Move Speed Slow |
| +10% Self Move Speed per Battle Hunger Debuff | 10 | +3s Culling Blade Speed Duration |
| ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ +2 All / / Attributes | ||
Bio[edit]
Axe is all the reinforcement this army needs!Axe
Lore:
As a grunt in the Army of Red Mist, Mogul Khan set his sights on the rank of Red Mist General. In battle after battle he proved his worth through gory deed. His rise through the ranks was helped by the fact that he never hesitated to decapitate a superior. Through the seven year Campaign of the Thousand Tarns, he distinguished himself in glorious carnage, his star of fame shining ever brighter, while the number of comrades in arms steadily dwindled. On the night of ultimate victory, Axe declared himself the new Red Mist General, and took on the ultimate title of 'Axe.' But his troops now numbered zero. Of course, many had died in battle, but a significant number had also fallen to Axe's blade. Needless to say, most soldiers now shun his leadership. But this matters not a whit to Axe, who knows that a one-man army is by far the best.
Voice:
Innate[edit]
Coat of Blood[edit]
Coat of Blood 
Passive
Affects
Self
Grants bonus armor retroactively per hero kill credited to Axe.
Armor Bonus per Kill: 0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5
Culling Blade grants additional bonus armor per hero kill credited to Axe.
Armor Bonus Factor per Kill: 3
This ability levels up with Culling Blade.
- Grants a permanent
bonus armor 
buff on the HUD upon culling an enemy hero for the first time.
- Subsequent kills update the buff.
Forced kill sources grants a stack.
- Subsequent kills update the
- Does not grant permanent stacks from the following sources:
- Wraith Delay.
Reincarnation sources.- The permanent buff considers the following kills as enemy creep kills:
axe_coat_of_blood (1201)
One Man Army[edit]
- Selecting the
facet unlocks this ability.
- Checks for nearby ally heroes in 0.1-second intervals.
- The temporary strength adapts immediately and is lost over its linger duration.
- Considers ally clones,
illusions, and creep-heroes as creeps. 
- The following ally heroes disables the aura:
Hidden heroes.
Invulnerable heroes.
- The following ally heroes disables the aura:
- The ability values reduces per server tick linearly to 0% throughout the aura linger duration.
- Illusions bestows this ability, but do not utilize bonus armor by design.
- Hence, the ability does not grant Axe's illusions the strength bonus.
- Hence, the ability does not grant Axe's illusions the
Abilities[edit]
Berserker's Call[edit]
No
Affects
Enemy Units / Self
Axe taunts nearby enemy units, forcing them to attack him, while he gains bonus armor for the duration.
Cast Animation: 0.3 + 0.5
Radius: 
315 (
415)
315 ( 415) Armor Bonus: 12/13/14/15 (
22/23/24/25)
22/23/24/25) Duration: 1.8/2.2/2.6/3
All ability components are dispelled upon the caster's death.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Berserker's Call now applies Battle Hunger to affected units within the radius.
Berserker's Call now applies Battle Hunger to affected units within the radius.
17/15/13/11 ( 14/12/10/8)
14/12/10/8)
80/90/100/110
Mogul Khan's warcry taunts opponents into engaging in an unconquerable battle with the Axe.
Call Out
Grants affected enemy units bonus attack speed for the duration.
Enemy Attack Speed Bonus: 45
Grants Axe a greater bonus armor with the selected facet.
Armor Bonus: 17/18/19/20 ( 27/28/29/30)
27/28/29/30)
Has the following priorities among 
taunt sources.
taunt sources.
- Affected units within the radius
cannot act and are forced to attack Axe.
- Does not apply
silence. 
Active attack modifiers with 
autocast on are still applied.
- Does not apply
- Reapplying the
debuff refreshes the duration. - Additionally applies the Battle Hunger debuff corresponding to its level on affected units within the radius at the same time.
- Affected units within the radius
- Does not affect the following units:
Buildings
Couriers- Lane creeps of the first wave spawn, until they meet the opposing faction's creeps in their respective lanes.
- Hidden units.
- Invulnerable units.
- Uncontrollable
player-controlled units, despite the debuff application on these units. 
Ward-type units.
- Requires Battle Hunger drafted to be passively applied.
modifier_axe_berserkers_call_armor
Berserker's Call Armor: x bonus armor
modifier_axe_berserkers_callBerserker's Call: You are forced to attack Axe
axe_berserkers_call (5007)
- Berserker's Call calc with Battle Hunger.
-
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
- The taunt debuff.
- The bonus
attack speed buff. - The Battle Hunger debuff.
- The
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
Battle Hunger[edit]
Enrages an enemy unit, causing it to take damage over time until it kills another unit or the duration ends. The damage is increased by a factor of Axe's armor.
The enemy is also slowed as long as it is facing away from Axe.
The enemy is also slowed as long as it is facing away from Axe.
Cast Animation: 0.3 + 0.5
Cast Range: 
700/775/850/925
700/775/850/925 Damage per Second: 10/15/20/25
Armor as Damage Bonus Factor: 1 (
2)
2) Facing Angle: 90°
Move Speed Slow: 11%/19%/27%/35% (
14%/22%/30%/38%)
14%/22%/30%/38%) Duration: 12
Self Move Speed Bonus per Enemy: (
10%)
10%) 
Battle Hunger is less effective on creeps.
Move Speed Slow Factor: 0.5
Armor Value Factor: 0.5
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Reapplying the debuff now creates an independent and stackable debuff instance.
Reapplying the debuff now creates an independent and stackable debuff instance.
20/15/10/5
50/60/70/80
Ordinary heroes cannot withstand Mogul Khan's rage for battle, such that it injures them until it is satisfied.
- All ability components consider clones as heroes, creep-heroes and illusions as creeps.
-
- Disables the
movement speed slow component in the following conditions:
- As long as the affected enemy is not within 90° in front of Axe's current facing angle as visualized above.
- Affects the following units:
Fogged units.
- Has the following debuff
dispel properties:
- Can be dispelled by killing any unit, including
denies, except illusions. - The affected enemy has to be credited for the last hit, excluding the enemy's player-controlled units, including illusions.
- Can be dispelled by killing any unit, including
- Reapplying the debuff has the following interactions:
- Adapts the ability values correspondingly.
- Refreshes the duration.
- The ability upgrade now applies an independent, and stackable debuff instance per application.
- The
- Disables the
_icon.png){kind=icon}
- The
armor-based damage has the following properties:
- Both of Axe's main armor and bonus armor are checked periodically and updates correspondingly.
- The damage is not capped at 0 armor.
- Deals 0 damage per instance when Axe has 10/15/20/25 ( 5/7.5/10/12.5) negative armor.
- Deals 0 damage per instance when Axe has 10/15/20/25 (
- Both of Axe's
-
Spell Block sources do not proc upon the passive Battle Hunger application by Berserker's Call.
- Spell Block notes fully apply.
- The passive Battle Hunger applied does not trigger on-cast events.
- Requires Battle Hunger drafted to be passively applied.
modifier_axe_battle_hunger_selfBattle Hunger: Gaining x% bonus movement speed.
modifier_axe_battle_hungerBattle Hunger: Dealing x damage per second, reducing movement speed by x%.
axe_battle_hunger (5008)
- Deals the following amount of
physical 
spell damage (before reductions) in 0.5-second intervals, over 24 instances.
- Table
-
- The ability has a
modifierthat keep tracks of affected enemy units at all times, it is hidden when no debuffs are applied. - Previously, this was used to track the amount of enemy units affected.
- The ability has a
Counter Helix[edit]
After a set number of incoming attacks, Axe performs a helix counter attack, dealing pure damage to all nearby enemies.
Radius: 275
275 Required Incoming Attacks: 7/6/5/4
Damage: 95/120/145/170 (
120/145/170/195)
120/145/170/195) 
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
After a set number of attacks, Axe performs a helix counter attack.
The required attacks and incoming attacks per Counter Helix proc works simutaneously.
After a set number of attacks, Axe performs a helix counter attack.
The required attacks and incoming attacks per Counter Helix proc works simutaneously.
Required Attacks: 7/6/5/4
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Applies a stacking debuff on affected enemies within the radius that causes them to deal less total attack damage to Axe.
Removes cooldown.
Applies a stacking debuff on affected enemies within the radius that causes them to deal less total attack damage to Axe.
Removes cooldown.
Max Stacks: ( 5)
5)Damage Reduction per Stack: ( 20%)
20%)Duration: ( 6)
6)0.3 ( 0)
0)Axe is the only reinforcement this army needs.
- The required attacks counting buff lowers by 1 when an attack, including both
instant attacks and 
secondary attacks, successfully hits Axe regardless of distance.
- When the counter reaches 1, the next attack that hits Axe will proc the ability, applying the
pure spell damage instantly within the radius, then reset the counter. - Both incoming attacks and Axe's outgoing attacks now reduces the counting buff by 1 simutaenously.
- When the counter reaches 1, the next attack that hits Axe will proc the ability, applying the
- Attacks of the following sources do not reduce the counter:
Missed attacks.- Ally units.
- Buildings
- Ward-type units.
- Instant attack sources that cannot proc attack modifiers:
- Split Shot (without the talent).
- Flak Cannon
- Split Shot (without the
- The counter last indefinitely and persist death.
- However, the counter resets and does not proc its ability effects when Axe respawns, reincarnates, or leveling up Counter Helix.
- However, the counter resets and does not proc its ability effects when Axe respawns,
- Applies a debuff instance on enemies that only affects the enemies'
total outgoing attack damage against Axe within the radius.
- Reapplying the unique enemy outgoing damage damage debuff refreshes the entire stack duration.
- Reapplying the unique enemy
- The debuff only affects the target's
main and 
bonus attack damage against Axe.
- Neither reduces any other damage types nor outgoing attack damage against other targets.
- The ability upgrade component specifically do not work for Axe's illusions.
- The ability effects fully trigger on the attack before the passive is disabled.
modifier_axe_counter_helixCounter Helix: Attacks remaining to perform a counter attack.
modifier_axe_counter_helix_damage_reductionCounter Helix Damage Reduction: Reducing Attack Damage by x%
axe_counter_helix (5009)
- The debuff can reduce up to 20%/40%/60%/80%/100% total outgoing attack damage per stack.
Culling Blade[edit]
Axe spots a weakness and strikes, dealing pure damage.
Cast Animation: 0.3 + 0.5
Cast Range: 175
175 Damage: 275/375/475 (
375/475/575)
375/475/575) Grants nearby ally units bonus movement speed and armor when an enemy hero is killed with Culling Blade.
Damage to Kill Threshold Factor: 1
Buff Radius: 900
900 Move Speed Bonus: 20%/25%/30%
Armor Bonus: 20/25/30
Duration: 6 (
9)
9)Resets the cooldown when an enemy hero is killed with Culling Blade.
Cooldown on Kill: 0
0 100/85/70
100/125/150
Mogul Khan is the embodiment of battle and fury, launching into a gruesome fatality against those who dare engage the Axe in combat.
-
- Dispels the following sources, except Wraith Delay, prior applying the spell damage instance:
- Has the following conditions while determining the ability outcome:
- EXPR
UnitCurrentHP ≤ SpellDmg:- Procs the
instant kill component.
- Procs the
- EXPR
UnitCurrentHP ≥ SpellDmg:- Applies the pure spell damage instance.
- Applies the
- Does not instant kill the
Tormentor.
- The damage to kill threshold factor has the following properties:
- The value can only be increased upon leveling up the ability, and learning the damage increasing talent.
- Not affected by
outgoing spell damage sources on Axe.
- The value can only be increased upon leveling up the ability, and learning the damage increasing
-
- Grants ally units within the radius the following ability effects upon an instant kill proc:
- Flat bonus armor.
- Bonus movement speed.
- Flat
- The speed buff component considers clones and illusions kill as hero kills, creep-heroes kill as creep kills.
- Does not affect the following ally units:
- Invulnerable units.
- Hidden units.
- Grants ally units within the radius the following ability effects upon an
- Resets Culling Blade's cooldown if the kill is credited to Axe. This includes the following sources:
- Ally hero kills.
- Reincarnation sources.
- Self-denying with lethal self-damage sources.
- Resets Culling Blade's
- This ability is reflected if the target does not
die from the spell damage.
- Bonus armor granted is permanent.
- The passive cooldown reset on target death depends if the primary target dies to the spell damage.
modifier_axe_culling_blade_boostCulling Blade: Axe releases a war cry, giving all nearby allies x% bonus movement and x bonus attack speed
modifier_axe_culling_blade_permanentCulled Armor: x Armor harvested by Axe's Culling Blade.
modifier_axe_culling_blade_jungle_weapon_gestureHidden modifier
axe_culling_blade (5010)
-
- COSMETICThe
culling_blade_jungle_weapon_gesturegrants Axe a 0.26-second buff that plays the custom ability effects used by
Fists of Axe Unleashed.
Recent Matches[edit]
Main Article: Axe/Matches
| Date | Tier | Tournament | Picks | Score | vs. Picks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2024 - 12:00 AST | Qualifier |   | DreamLeague S24 MESWA CQ |      |  | 0 : 1 | |      |
| Sep 28, 2024 - 11:45 UTC | Qualifier |  | GEG Women: Asia |     |  | 0 : 1 |  |      |
| Sep 28, 2024 - 09:40 UTC | Qualifier | | GEG Women: Asia |    | | 1 : 0 |  |     |
| Sep 28, 2024 - 09:40 UTC | Qualifier | | GEG Women: Asia |    | | 0 : 1 | |   |
| Sep 27, 2024 - 16:00 EDT | Qualifier | | DreamLeague S24 NA OQ2 |     | | 0 : 1 | |    |
The International[edit]
- Axe has won the following final matches in The International of the following years:
Recent Changes[edit]
Description
- Reduced Counter Helix radius from 300 to 275.
Talents:
- LVL 15 +20 Counter Helix damage ➜ +10 Berserker's Call armor.
- LVL 20 +12 Berserker's Call armor ➜ +25 Counter Helix damage.
- Reduced One Man Army bonus linger duration from 5 to 3.
- Talents:
- LVL 10 +4s Culling Blade buff duration reduced to +3s.
- LVL 20 +125 Culling Blade damage/kill threshold reduced to +100.
- Coat of Blood
- Reduced permanent armor bonus per kill from 0.4/0.6/0.8/1 to 0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5.
- One Man Army
- The armor bonus per strength component starts reducing upon approaching an ally, over the bonus linger duration.
- Now affected by Break sources.
- Increased radius from 600 to 700.
- Increased Culling Blade kill bonus factor from 2 to 3.
- The armor bonus per
- Reduced Berserker's Call armor bonus 14/16/18/20 to 12/13/14/15.
- Talents:
- LVL 15 +30 Counter Helix damage reduced to +20.
- LVL 20 +150 Culling Blade damage/kill threshold reduced to +125.
Dota Plus Progress[edit]
Main Article: Hero Challenges
Relics track a hero's actions and statistics, and display in-game notifications when a milestone is reached. They are only available to Dota Plus subscribers.
| Axe's Relics | Voice Lines | |
|---|---|---|
 Mega Kill Streaks Kill Assists Kills |
 Bronze |
|
 Silver |
||
 Gold |
||
 Platinum |
| |
 Master |
| |
 Grandmaster |
| |
Equipment[edit]
| Sets | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | |
| Head | |
| Armor | |
| Belt | |
| Misc | |
| Taunt | |
Trivia[edit]
- Axe's alternate/fun name was "Mogul Kahnt Touch This", a reference to MC Hammer's famous song - U Can't Touch This.
- Axe's phrase ▶️ "Better red than dead!" is a reversed reference to an American Cold War slogan.
- Several of Axe's deny and Culling Blade killing blow responses (e.g. ▶️ "You get nothing. Good day, sir!") are references to Willy Wonka's infamous rage scene in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.[1]
- Axe's name, lore, and "one-man army" image may have been inspired by Khan Noonien Singh in the "Star Trek" series, who was also described as a "one-man army" and killed uncooperative subordinates, along with used-to wearing a red shirt.
- Axe was once the mascot of Dota 2, featuring only himself in several Dota 2 pages and game arts. This was removed in November 2013 for unknown reasons.
- Such was his popularity that Valve once considered creating a Dota 2 spinoff RPG, before coming up with a single-player RPG featuring him as the main character, dating way back in 2013 when Valve was preparing new games for the Source 2 engine. This never left the conceptual stage, however.[2]
- In The Lab, a VR game by Valve, there are some Bendies who wield Axe's war axe, along with other Dota 2 weapons like a Stout Shield, Huskar's spear and Legion Commander's sword.
Gallery[edit]
Crystal Maiden and Axe cartoon art
Model and icons before November 21, 2013 Patch
Ability icon progress
Hero icon progress
Axe illustration
Axe T-shirt design
Axe on the Replay Takeover splash art in the New Bloom 2014 update.
Axe on Ringmaster's teaser trailer.
Bone Harvest sprite - alive
Bone Harvest sprite - dead
