Dota 2 Ringmaster hero guide

RingMaster is an intelligence hero in Dota 2 who stands out with his unique crowd control, hypnosis, and fear abilities. His gameplay focuses on controlling the battlefield by disorienting and frightening enemies while providing protection for allies. This hero doesn’t just lead the battle but turns it into a grand spectacle, where each ability is like a circus trick.

Thanks to his high intelligence stats and versatile abilities, RingMaster can adapt to various situations on the map, remaining useful both in the early game and late game. Using powerful tools like fear and hypnosis to control enemies, he becomes a vital element in the team, especially in fights that require precise coordination and control.

Credit: Valve Corporation

RingMaster is perfect for players who enjoy strategic, tactical actions and a high degree of control over combat situations. His abilities allow him to find creative solutions and exploit opponents' weaknesses, turning every fight into a show where RingMaster always takes center stage.

RingMaster’s Facets

In Dota 2, facets allow heroes to adapt to different playstyles, offering new possibilities. Currently, RingMaster has only one available facet:

Center Stage

Description: RingMaster is just stepping into the spotlight. This facet currently has no active effect, but its presence hints at potential hero enhancements in future updates.

This facet is used in 100% of RingMaster games, though it doesn’t directly influence his wins yet. Future updates may introduce changes that reveal new mechanics and possibilities for this hero.

RingMaster’s Abilities

Credit: Valve Corporation

RingMaster has a set of unique abilities that offer crowd control, mobility, and support for allies. His kit includes both offensive crowd control abilities and ways to dodge and boost his team.

Tame the Beasts

RingMaster twirls his whip for up to 1 second and then cracks it, dealing damage to enemies and forcing them to flee in fear. The longer he channels the ability, the more damage and fear duration it inflicts, though the radius decreases.

Strategy: Use this ability to initiate fights or to scatter opponents, forcing them to retreat. The longer you hold the channel, the stronger the effect, but be mindful of the decreasing radius to maintain effectiveness in battle.

Escape Act

RingMaster packs himself or an allied hero into a mobile, extradimensional box. Units inside the box gain phased movement, slow resistance, bonus magic resistance, and bonus movement speed. They also become untargetable, silenced, and disarmed. The box disappears when its duration ends or if it moves more than 500 units away.

Strategy: An excellent ability for saving both yourself and allies. Use it to avoid mass damage or crowd control, providing temporary protection for key heroes in critical moments of the fight.

Impalement Arts

RingMaster throws a dagger to a precise point. If it hits an enemy, the enemy takes damage, gets slowed, and starts bleeding, taking a percentage of their max health as damage each second. Creeps take flat damage.

Strategy: Use this ability to deal heavy damage and slow enemy heroes. It’s especially effective against heroes with high health pools.

Wheel of Wonder

RingMaster rolls a wheel toward a target location, knocking aside and slowing enemies along the way. Enemies hit by the wheel take damage over time and are slowed by 50%. If enemies look at the wheel for more than 0.5 seconds, they become mesmerized and are pulled toward it. The first pull triggers a timer for the wheel to explode. If no enemy triggers the timer, the wheel explodes automatically after 8 seconds.

Strategy: This ability can be used to initiate and control team fights. Position the wheel strategically to mesmerize and damage as many enemies as possible.

Funhouse Mirror

Creates one imperfect illusion of RingMaster, which deals 28% damage and takes 300% damage. The illusion lasts 18 seconds.

Strategy: Use this ability to distract enemies or to apply additional pressure in fights. The illusion can also be used for scouting or confusing opponents during battles.

Strongman Tonic

Temporarily increases an allied hero’s Strength by 5 plus 1.5 for every level of RingMaster for 8 seconds. The effect lasts for 4 seconds, then gradually diminishes.

Strategy: Cast this on key allied heroes before major fights to boost their damage and survivability. This buff is especially useful when you need a burst of damage in a short time.

Whoopee Cushion

RingMaster leaps forward 400 units, leaving behind a cloud of gas with a radius of 200 units that slows enemies by 30% for 3 seconds.

Strategy: This ability can be used for mobility during fights or for escaping dangerous situations. The gas cloud slows down pursuers, giving you time to flee.

Spotlight

RingMaster directs a spotlight over an area. Enemies in the light have a chance to miss their attacks and are revealed if invisible. Illusions hit by the beam lose a percentage of their maximum health each second.

Strategy: This ability is particularly useful for countering invisible heroes and illusion-based enemies. Use it to scout or to secure key areas on the map.

RingMaster’s Skill Build

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The most popular build for RingMaster focuses on enhancing his crowd control and mobility abilities. Prioritize Tame the Beasts first, as this ability offers strong crowd control through fear, allowing you to scatter enemies and deal damage. Next, max Escape Act for increased survivability, helping save both yourself and allies from danger. Afterward, start leveling Impalement Arts to deal additional damage and slow key targets in fights. Lastly, level Wheel of Wonder to increase crowd control and create chaos on the battlefield.

At level 10, it's recommended to choose the talent for +200 Escape Act cast range, giving you more flexibility in saving allies, and at level 15, the talent that allows Impalement Arts to pierce one additional target for increased damage and control.

Talents Build for Ringmaster

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RingMaster's Item Build

Choosing the right items for RingMaster plays a crucial role in his success on the battlefield. This week’s most commonly used items reflect his need for mana regeneration, mobility, and team support.

Starting Items:

• Null Talisman — to increase intelligence, boosting your mana pool and ability damage.

• Magic Wand — a great item for quick health and mana restoration when facing aggression in the lane.

• Observer and Sentry Wards — standard items for map control and vision.

Core Items:

1. Arcane Boots — A must-have for mana-dependent heroes, providing both mana regen and movement speed. These were used in 41,577 matches with a win rate of 46.14%.

2. Aether Lens — Increases cast range on your abilities, especially useful for Tame the Beasts and Escape Act, allowing you to remain at a safe distance in fights. It has a 52.19% win rate.

3. Force Staff — Provides mobility for both you and your allies, allowing for quick repositioning or escapes. Win rate: 51.38%.

4. Rod of Atos — An ideal item for additional crowd control. It synergizes well with Impalement Arts and Wheel of Wonder. Win rate: 51.87%.

Situational Items:

• Aghanim's Shard — Adds the Spotlight ability, particularly useful against invisible heroes and illusions. Win rate: 55.04%.

• Glimmer Cape — Provides invisibility and defense, helping save yourself or your allies. Win rate: 51.56%.

• Guardian Greaves — A must-have for team fights, providing healing and removing negative effects. With a win rate of 64.76%, it’s one of the strongest items for RingMaster.

Late-Game Items:

• Eul’s Scepter of Divinity — Provides the ability to lift enemies into the air, disrupting their spells or attacks, and increases movement speed and mana regeneration. Win rate: 53.86%.

• Dust of Appearance — Useful against invisible heroes, especially in the late game.

Credit: DotaBuff

This item build gives RingMaster everything he needs to effectively control the battlefield, protect himself and his allies, and maintain enough mana for constant spell usage.

Counter-Picks for RingMaster

While RingMaster has many strengths, he can be countered by certain heroes and strategies. In this section, we’ll explore the heroes that RingMaster is strong against, as well as those who can effectively counter him.

RingMaster is strong against

How to Counter RingMaster

These tables will help you understand which heroes RingMaster is effective against and which ones pose a significant threat to him.

Conclusion

RingMaster is a hero that requires precise control and proper timing to utilize his abilities. He is strong in team battles when he can control enemies and create chaos on the battlefield. Competent use of his skills combined with proper item collection will allow you to dominate the map and lead your team to victory. However, be careful of counter picks, which can weaken his control and neutralize his power at critical moments of the game.

Curious about other heroes and strategies? Head over to our in-depth Dota 2 hero guides for the tips and tricks that will elevate your gameplay to the next level.