Lion, the Demon Witch, is one of the most iconic crowd-control supports in DotA 1, feared for his ability to completely neutralize enemies and delete them with a single devastating strike. With an exceptional Intelligence growth of +3.5, he possesses the scaling mana pool necessary to fuel his frequent spell rotations throughout the game. Armed with two distinct forms of hard disables and one of the highest burst-damage ultimates in the game, Lion is an unparalleled ganker and initiator who can effectively remove key targets from the battlefield before they even have a chance to react.
2. Base Stats & Attributes
Hero Attributes
| Attribute |
Base Value |
Growth (per level) |
| Strength |
18 |
+2.2 |
| Agility |
18 |
+1.5 |
| Intelligence |
18 |
+3.5 |
Statistics & Mechanics
| Statistic |
Value |
Mechanic |
Value |
| Damage |
48-54 |
Base HP Regen |
0.25/s |
| HP |
560 |
HP Regen |
+2.05/s |
| MP |
266 |
MP Regen |
+0.91/s |
| Armor |
2.6 |
Turn Rate |
0.5 |
| Move Speed |
290 |
Base Attack Time (BAT) |
1.7 |
| Attack Range |
600 (missile: 900) |
Attack Animations |
0.43 / 0.74 |
3. Hero Skills Breakdown
1. Impale
Lion channels his demonic energies into the earth, forcing solidified rock spikes to erupt along a linear path. Enemies caught in the path are launched into the air and suffer magical damage upon landing.
- Damage Type: Magical
- Mechanic: Linear stun/knock-up
| Level |
Magical Damage |
Stun Duration |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
| 1 |
80 |
1.4 seconds |
12 seconds |
70 |
| 2 |
140 |
1.8 seconds |
12 seconds |
100 |
| 3 |
200 |
2.2 seconds |
12 seconds |
130 |
| 4 |
260 |
2.6 seconds |
12 seconds |
160 |
2. Voodoo
Lion utilizes dark hex magic to transform a targeted enemy into a harmless creature, stripping them of all active special abilities for the duration.
- Mechanic: Hex (Targeted disable)
| Level |
Hex Duration |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
| 1 |
2.5 seconds |
30 seconds |
125 |
| 2 |
3.0 seconds |
24 seconds |
150 |
| 3 |
3.5 seconds |
18 seconds |
175 |
| 4 |
4.0 seconds |
12 seconds |
200 |
3. Mana Drain
Lion tethers himself to an enemy to siphon away their magical energy while simultaneously hindering their movement.
- Mechanic: Channeling (Mana drain)
- Unique Behavior: Slows target movement speed
| Level |
Mana Drained per Sec |
Move Speed Slow |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
| 1 |
20 |
20% |
16 seconds |
10 |
| 2 |
40 |
25% |
12 seconds |
10 |
| 3 |
60 |
30% |
8 seconds |
10 |
| 4 |
120 |
35% |
4 seconds |
10 |
4. Finger of Death
Lion invokes his ultimate power to rip at an enemy, dealing massive magical damage. If the target dies during or shortly after the effect, Lion’s proficiency grows, permanently increasing the damage of subsequent casts.
- Damage Type: Magical
- Unique Behavior: Grants permanent bonus damage per kill
- Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade: Increases damage, reduces cooldown, and adds a 325 radius area-of-effect splash
| Level |
Magical Damage |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
| 1 |
600 |
160 seconds |
200 |
| 2 |
725 |
100 seconds |
420 |
| 3 |
850 |
40 seconds |
650 |
4. Item Build Guide
| Phase |
Recommended Items |
Strategic Purpose |
| Early Game |
Tranquil Boots, Magic Wand, Wind Lace |
Tranquil Boots assist in sustaining health between ganks; Magic Wand provides burst survival; Wind Lace improves positioning for disables. |
| Core Items |
Blink Dagger, Aether Lens, Force Staff |
Blink Dagger is vital for initiating with Impale and Voodoo; Aether Lens increases cast range; Force Staff provides an essential escape tool. |
| Late Game |
Aghanim's Scepter, Scythe of Vyse, Ghost Scepter |
Aghanim's Scepter scales your ultimate into an AoE nuke; Scythe of Vyse offers an additional disable; Ghost Scepter protects against physical carries. |
5. Quick Gameplay Tips
- The Chain-CC Combo: To maximize your impact, always lead with Voodoo before casting Impale. Hex is an instant-cast ability, whereas Impale has a small travel time; turning the enemy into a harmless creature first guarantees they cannot activate items (like BKB or Blink) before you hit them with your stun.
- Mana Sustain Tactics: Because Mana Drain has a very low cooldown and low mana cost, you can effectively keep your mana pool topped off throughout the game. Use it on lane creeps or enemy supports in the jungle whenever you aren't actively participating in a fight. It allows you to stay on the map longer without returning to the fountain.
- Finger of Death Priority: Treat Finger of Death as your finishing move. Use it only when the target's HP is low enough to ensure a kill; this guarantees that you receive the permanent damage bonus, which makes your ultimate significantly more terrifying as the match drags into the late game.