Assault Cuirass: Item Overview and Detailed Guide for DotA Allstars
The Assault Cuirass (frequently abbreviated as AC) is one of the most impactful late-game armor and team utility items in Defense of the Ancients (DotA Allstars / Warcraft III map). Built from the Ancient of Wonders / Custom Shop vendors, it provides an exceptional balance of physical survivability, attack speed, and powerful passive auras that boost allies while debilitating enemy units and structures.
1. Item Stats, Auras, and Passive Bonuses
When equipped, the Assault Cuirass provides direct attributes to the carrying hero as well as three surrounding passive auras:
Direct Stats (Hero Only):
- +10 Armor: Grants a substantial boost to physical damage resistance.
- +30 Attack Speed: Increases the hero's attack frequency significantly.
Passive Auras (Area of Effect):
- Positive Armor Aura (+5 Armor): Grants +5 bonus armor to nearby allied heroes and creeps.
- Negative Armor Aura (-5 Armor): Reduces the armor of nearby enemy units, heroes, and buildings by -5.
- Attack Speed Aura (+25 Attack Speed): Increases the attack speed of nearby allies by +25.
Net Effect on the Caster: Because the hero holding the Assault Cuirass receives both the base item stats and the positive aura, they effectively gain a total of +15 Armor and +55 Attack Speed, alongside the -5 armor reduction applied to nearby foes.
2. Recipe and Required Components
To craft an Assault Cuirass, you need three primary component items plus the recipe scroll from the recipe shop. Below is the full cost breakdown as shown in the original map shop interfaces:
| Component | Gold Cost |
|---|---|
 Plate Mail |
1,400 |
 Hyperstone |
2,000 |
 Chainmail |
550 |
 Recipe |
1,300 |
| Total Cost | 5,250 |
Resell Value Note: Once purchased, individual parts or the recipe alone have standard resell values (for instance, the isolated recipe sells for 650 gold).
3. Tactical Analysis and Strategic Impact
A. Tower Sieging and Base Pushing
One of the key strengths of Assault Cuirass in DotA Allstars is that its -5 Negative Armor Aura affects enemy towers and buildings. Combined with the +5 armor aura for your own creep wave, AC enables your team to tear down towers, barracks, and the Ancient at a rapid pace.
B. Amplifying Physical Damage Output
Reducing enemy armor by 5 significantly amplifies the physical damage dealt by your team's carries. Pairing AC with other armor-reducing items or skills in DotA Allstars (such as Desolator or Slardar's Amplify Damage) can drop enemy armor into negative values for devastating damage.
C. Teamwide Physical Mitigation
When playing against physical-damage-heavy lineups (e.g., heroes like Sven, Phantom Assassin, or Drow Ranger), the overall +15 armor for yourself and +5 armor aura for your teammates drastically mitigates incoming physical damage.
4. Recommended Heroes
Assault Cuirass is a core or high-priority item for Strength tanks, initiator offlaners, and physical carries who need both durability and attack speed:
- Kunkka (Admiral Proudmoore): Gains essential armor for front-line engagements while accelerating his attack rate for Cleave setups.
- Sven / Wraith King (Leoric) / Lifestealer (N'aix): Hard-hitting Strength carries that lack natural attack speed and armor growth in the map.
- Slardar / Tidehunter / Bristleback: Front-line tanks and initiators who want to maximize area-of-effect armor reduction during teamfights.
- Alchemist / Doom Bringer: Fast-farming heroes who can acquire AC early to snowball games and push high-ground objectives.
Conclusion
At a total cost of 5,250 gold, the Assault Cuirass remains one of the premier late-game items in DotA Allstars. Whether your goal is to survive heavy physical damage, speed up objective destruction, or empower your team in major teamfights, AC is an invaluable asset in any match.