Dispel

A dispel is the term used for the forced removal of status effects.

Dispels usually come together with other mechanics and are rarely seen as a primary mechanic of an ability.

A list of buffs/debuffs which can or cannot be dispelled is stated in the ability's respective notes.

Definition

Dispel Type	Definition	Examples
Basic	Removes most basic stats-altering effects (e.g. movement speed slow, damage bonus or silences). However, they are unable to remove most hard disables (e.g. stuns, forced movement sources).	Cyclone
Strong	Removes all types of debuffs, except for those only dispellable by Death.	False Promise
Death	Death removes most buffs and debuffs unless explicitly stated in the ability's respective notes.	Reincarnation
Undispellable	The ability effects persist death.	Time Lapse

Mechanics

Sven using Eul's Scepter of Divinity to dispel various negative status effects.

Dispels remove status effects based on whether the casting unit is an ally or an enemy, and whether the status effect is positive or negative. Applying a dispel on an allied unit only removes negative effects, also known as debuffs. Positive effects, or buffs, are never removed. Vice versa, applying a dispel on an enemy unit only removes buffs, debuffs are not removed.

There are currently 3 different types of dispel, based on the strength of the dispel type: Basic Dispel < Strong Dispel < Death

Undispellable

Main Article: Aura

Generally, all buffs and debuffs placed by auras are not dispellable, except death.

Aura effects only disappear when getting out of range, no longer being affected by their source, or when no longer meeting their requirements. However, almost every aura's buff/debuff lingers for a short time (usually 0.5 seconds). Only a few aura effects end immediately when their source dies or disappears.

Other permanent effects have inconsistent behaviors with dispels. Some of them cannot be removed, while others can. However, since they are permanent effects, they almost always immediately reapply their buffs/debuffs when it gets dispelled.

Sources

These abilities listed below provide a form of dispelling.

Basic

Basic Dispel can be categorized into 3 types as follows:

• Allies affecting Dispel.
• Enemies affecting Dispel.
• Dispel applicable to both allies and enemies.

Allies

Basic Dispel Sources

• Alchemist – Chemical Rage
• Alchemist – Berserk Potion
• Black King Bar – Avatar
• Chaos Knight – Phantasm
• Chen – Holy Persuasion^2a
• Clockwerk – Power Cogs¹
• Elder Titan – Astral Spirit^2a
• Force Boots – Force
• Guardian Greaves – Mend
• Huskar – Life Break
• Lua error: Found no lpdb data for "Illusion Rune - Illusion".
• Juggernaut – Blade Fury
• Juggernaut – Swiftslash
• Juggernaut – Omnislash
• Keeper of the Light – Chakra Magic¹
• Lifestealer – Rage
• Lone Druid – Savage Roar^2b
• Spirit Bear – Savage Roar^2b
• Lifestealer – Infest
• Lotus Orb – Echo Shell
• Manta Style – Mirror Image
• Marci – Sidekick¹
• Marci – Unleash^2a
• Meepo – Dig
• Naga Siren – Mirror Image
• Pangolier – Rolling Thunder
• Phantom Assassin – Blur^2a
• Phantom Lancer – Doppelganger
• Primal Beast – Uproar¹
• Riki – Tricks of the Trade¹
• Satanic – Unholy Rage
• Shadow Demon – Demonic Cleanse
• Templar Assassin – Meld¹
• Troll Warlord – Whirling Axes (Melee)^2a
• Troll Warlord – Battle Trance

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Enemies

Dispels that only affect enemies also affect neutral units.

Basic Dispel Sources

• Doom – Doom
• Enchantress – Enchant
• Helm of the Dominator – Dominate
• Helm of the Overlord – Dominate
• Invoker – Tornado
• Necronomicon Archer – Purge
• Nullifier – Nullify
• Shadow Demon – Demonic Purge
• Sven – Storm Hammer^2a
• Techies – Reactive Tazer
• Troll Warlord – Whirling Axes (Ranged)^2a
• Winter Wyvern – Winter's Curse

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Affect All Units

The following Dispel sources affect all valid units stated in their respective ability notes.

Basic Dispel Sources

• Book of Shadows – Shadows
• Eul's Scepter of Divinity – Cyclone
• Oracle – Fortune's End
• Satyr Banisher – Purge
• Storm – Dispel Magic
• Wind Waker – Cyclone

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Strong

Strong Dispel Sources

• Abaddon – Aphotic Shield
• Abaddon – Borrowed Time
• Aeon Disk – Combo Breaker
• Chen – Hand of God¹
• Chen – Martyrdom¹
• Grimstroke – Ink Swell^2b
• Legion Commander – Press the Attack
• Muerta – Parting Shot
• Oracle – False Promise
• Outworld Destroyer – Essence Flux^2a
• Phoenix – Supernova
• Pudge – Dismember^2b
• Slark – Dark Pact
• Tidehunter – Kraken Shell
• Troll Warlord – Battle Trance¹
• Ursa – Enrage
• Weaver – Time Lapse

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Death

Main Article: Death

When a unit dies, most temporary buffs and debuffs on it are removed. Reincarnation counts as death for the purposes of dispelling both buffs and debuffs.