Dota 2 Ancient Apparition Hero Guide
Author: Hawk Live LLC
Last updated:
Every moment, Dota 2 changes; however, there are heroes that are unique in their abilities and significance. One such hero is 
Ancient Apparition who is a celestial creature with a ranged attack type. In this guide we will explore the intricacies of playing as Ancient Apparition effectively, highlighting his strengths, weaknesses and optimum strategies.
Character Features of Ancient Apparition in Dota 2
Credit: Valve Corporation
Ancient Apparition is a ranged utility hero known for his powerful magical damage output and global presence. What makes him different is his ability to manipulate cold itself, inflicting chilling debuffs and massive damage over time. His kit revolves around zoning out enemies, disrupting groups of enemies and long-ranged harassment that makes him very dangerous during team fights and skirmishes.
Facets for Ancient Apparition
Ancient Apparition is a unique and powerful hero in Dota 2, known for his long-range magical damage and control. Mastering his abilities and optimal strategies will help you dominate the battlefield.
Key Facets for Ancient Apparition:
Bone Chill Ancient Apparition's abilities reduce the enemy's Strength. This facet enhances the hero’s debuff capabilities, weakening the enemy’s durability over time and making them more vulnerable to further attacks.
Each Death Rime Stack also reduces the enemy's Strength.Strength Reduction Per Stack: 0.5 / 0.75 / 1 / 1.25
Exposure Cold Feet applies in an area of effect (AoE), depending on the current level of Ice Blast. Cold Feet AoE: 200 / 350 / 500. This facet makes Ancient Apparition even more effective in team fights, allowing him to control a larger portion of the battlefield by affecting multiple enemies at once.
Facet | Tier | Win Rate | Change | Pick Rate | Change | Ban Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bone Chill | B | 51.79% | +0.58% | 2.04% | +0.03% | 0.44% |
Exposure | B | 50.52% | +1.33% | 1.34% | +0.08% | 0.44% |
Ancient Apparition Skills
Credit: Valve Corporation
Ancient Apparition has some abilities available to him that can change any engagement in an instant. The first one called “Cold Feet” places a debuff on an enemy unit which stuns it if it does not leave its range within several seconds. “Ice Vortex” creates an area at a target location where movement speed is reduced and magic amplification takes place. “Chilling Touch’ gives additional magic damage on attack to all allied heroes nearby. Finally, there is “Ice Blast,” an ultimate skill that sends a frozen ball across the map dealing damage while preventing health regeneration of enemies hit by it.
Skill Build for Ancient Apparition
To play well as Ancient Apparition you have to prioritize leveling up certain skills over others at each stage of the game. Maximize control against foes by starting off with “Cold Feet.” Next, you should put more points into “Ice Vortex” to increase magic damage output and slow down enemies. Then, upgrade “Chilling Touch” to start dealing more damage in team fights. Finally, don’t forget to improve “Ice Blast” which is vital for team fights and killing opponents.
Credit: DotaFire
Talents for Ancient Apparition:
Credit: DotaFire
Item Build for Ancient Apparition
Proper items are very important in playing Ancient Apparition well. In the beginning, it is good to have Magic Wand that will help you maintain your mana and health during laning stage. After this, purchase Boots of Speed so as to move faster. Urn of Shadows helps with health regeneration and provides extra kill opportunities. Aghanim’s Scepter makes an ultimate ability even better; Ice Blast can be used to get rid of Glimpse effect instantly. Glimmer Cape offers survivability plus utility functions while Scythe of Vyse can disable some key enemy heroes during fights.
Credit: DotaFire
Ancient Apparition's Counter Picks
While Ancient Apparition possesses many strengths, some heroes can successfully counter his powers. Below is a table highlighting heroes that Ancient Apparition is strong against and heroes that counter him effectively.
Ancient Apparition is the best against:
Hero | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Ice Blast prevents her from using Lifesteal and Cold Feet can easily stun her due to her low mobility. |
| Ice Blast prevents him from regenerating health with Chemical Rage, making him much easier to kill. |
| Ice Blast negates his healing from Lifesteal and Rage. |
| Ice Blast reduces his durability by preventing health regeneration from Kraken Shell. |
| Ice Blast makes it difficult for him to sustain himself with Reactive Armor. |
Phantom Assassin
Alchemist
Lifestealer
Tidehunter
TimbersawHow to counter Ancient Apparition:
Hero | Flaw |
|---|---|
| Can quickly close the distance with Blink and burn his mana, rendering him less effective. |
| Can dispel Cold Feet with Dark Pact and outmaneuver Ice Blast with Shadow Dance. |
| Can stun and burst him with Impale and Mana Burn, exploiting his low health pool. |
| Can counter Ice Blast with Rage and quickly close the distance with Infest. |
| Highly mobile, can dodge Ice Blast and Cold Feet with Phase Shift and Blink. |
Anti-Mage
Slark
Nyx Assassin
PuckConclusion
Ancient Apparition is a hero who changes entire matches because of his chilling abilities and an ultimate that turns the game's tide. The mechanics behind this hero are tough, but once mastered, they will give you control over any battlefield in Dota 2. If you master counterpicks or how to use your abilities correctly, you become a true cold master.
