Dota 2

Axe

Strength melee hero, often played as an initiator, tank or disabler.

Axe
Strength

When did you last play?

Full history

Until you pick a month the page shows every change. Pick the month you last played to keep only what is new to you. The date is shared by every hero page.

Since you last played

Heavily adjusted

158 lines of changes across 44 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.

32 buffs and 33 nerfs in total: roughly even.

Biggest ability changes

  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Cooldown increased from 17/15/13/11s to 18/16/14/12sadjusted 12 times across 11 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Battle Hunger Damage per second decreased from 12/18/24/30 to 12/16/20/24adjusted 19 times across 13 patches, net buff
  • ▼
    One Man Army Increases Axe's Strength by 50% of his armor, as long as there are no allied heroes within a 700 radius of him. The effect fades over 3s after an ally walks within rangeadjusted 8 times across 5 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Culling Blade Now each hero kill made with Culling Blade provides a permanent stack, which provides 1/1.5/2 armor depending on the current level of Culling Bladeadjusted 16 times across 9 patches, net buff
  • ▼
    Counter Helix Damage rescaled from 95/120/145/170 to 100/120/140/160adjusted 8 times across 7 patches, net nerf
  • ▼
    Berserkers Call Info Duration decreased as a part of the comprehensive Disables Reduction

Innate

  • ◆
    Coat of Blood Innate removed (it was added in 7.36)

Aghanim’s upgrades

  • ▼
    Scepter Aghanim's Scepter Attack Damage Reduction decreased from 15% to 12%changed 8 times, latest shown
  • ▲
    Shard Aghanim's Shard no longer increases proc chance. Now reduces the cooldown of Counter Helix to 0 secondschanged 9 times, latest shown

Base stats

  • ▼
    Strength gain decreased from 2.8 to 2.7adjusted 5 times across 5 patches, net nerf
  • ▼
    Attack point reduced from 0.5 to 0.4
  • ▼
    Agility gain decreased from 2.0 to 1.7adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Base movement speed increased by 10adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net buff
Talents changed
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Movement Speed per active Battle Hunger decreased from +10% to +8%
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Battle Hunger Damage Per Second decreased from +10 to +8
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent +100 Culling Blade Damage replaced with +15 Strength
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent 2x Battle Hunger Armor Multiplier replaced with +150 Culling Blade Damage
  • ◆
    Talent Level 25 +100 Battle Hunger DPS replaced with 2x Battle Hunger armor multiplier

Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Axe had 4 facet changes in between.

Most recent change patch 7.41e, Jul 2026

  • ▼
    Battle Hunger Damage per second decreased from 12/18/24/30 to 12/16/20/24
  • ▼
    Base stats Base Agility decreased from 20 to 18
Current abilities
  • Berserker's CallAxe taunts nearby enemy units, forcing them to attack him while he gains bonus armor during the duration.
  • Battle HungerEnrages an enemy unit, causing it to take damage over time until it kills another unit or the duration ends. The enemy is slowed as long as they are facing away from Axe.
  • Counter HelixAfter a set number of attacks, Axe will perform a helix counter attack, dealing pure damage to all nearby enemies.
  • Culling BladeAxe spots a weakness and strikes, dealing pure damage. When an enemy hero is killed with Culling Blade, its cooldown is reset, and all nearby allied units gain bonus movement speed and armor. Axe permanently drenches his blade every time he kills an enemy Hero with Culling Blade, gaining bonus armor for each stack.
  • OM
    One Man Army innateAxe gains Strength based on 50% of his Armor as long as there are no allied heroes within 700 distance from Axe. The effect fades over 3s after approaching an ally.

What players buy on Axe

Starting items

Early game

Mid game

  • Returns damage against enemies who focus you

  • Black King Bar 4050gReworked in 7.33

    Debuff immunity, to act in a fight without being disabled

Late game

Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.

Every Axe change, patch by patch

All 158 changes Valve listed for Axe since patch 7.10, newest first. Last changed in 7.41e (Jul 2026).

Patch 7.41e

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Agility decreased from 20 to 18
  • ▼
    Battle Hunger Damage per second decreased from 12/18/24/30 to 12/16/20/24

Patch 7.41d

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Health Regen decreased by 0.5
  • ▲
    Info Sense of Foreboding increased from 0 to 0.5
  • ▼
    Battle Hunger Cast Range decreased from 700/775/850/925 to 600/700/800/900

Patch 7.41

  • ◆
    Coat of Blood Innate removed (it was added in 7.36)
  • ◆
    One Man Army Now Axe's innate ability
  • ◆
    One Man Army Increases Axe's Strength by 50% of his armor, as long as there are no allied heroes within a 700 radius of him. The effect fades over 3s after an ally walks within range
  • ◆
    Culling Blade Now each hero kill made with Culling Blade provides a permanent stack, which provides 1/1.5/2 armor depending on the current level of Culling Blade

Patch 7.40c

  • ▼
    Base stats Strength gain decreased from 2.8 to 2.7
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Battle Hunger Damage Per Second decreased from +10 to +8

Patch 7.40b

  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Battle Hunger Damage Per Second decreased from +12 to +10

Patch 7.40

  • ▲
    Berserker's Call Duration increased from 1.8/2.2/2.6/3s to 2.1/2.4/2.7/3s
  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Cooldown increased from 17/15/13/11s to 18/16/14/12s
  • ▼
    Battle Hunger No longer has an armor-based damage multiplier
  • ◆
    Battle Hunger Damage type changed from Physical to Pure
  • ▼
    Battle Hunger No longer has reduced movement slow against creeps
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +10% Battle Hunger Slow replaced with +12 Battle Hunger Damage Per Second
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Counter Helix Damage increased from +30 to +40
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +100 Culling Blade Damage replaced with +15 Strength
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent 2x Battle Hunger Armor Multiplier replaced with +150 Culling Blade Damage

Patch 7.39d

  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Mana Cost increased from 80/90/100/110 to 90/100/110/120
  • ▼
    Culling Blade Kill Armor Bonus decreased from 20/25/30 to 10/15/20

Patch 7.39c

  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Movement Speed per active Battle Hunger decreased from +10% to +8%
  • ▼
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Berserker's Call AoE decreased from +100 to +85

Patch 7.39b

  • ▼
    Counter Helix Aghanim's Scepter Attack Damage Reduction decreased from 15% to 12%

Patch 7.39

  • ▲
    Facet Bonus Armor increased from +5 to +6
  • ▲
    Facet Total value increased from 17/18/19/20 to 18/19/20/21
  • ▲
    Battle Hunger Movement Slow increased from 15/20/25/30% to 18/22/26/30%
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Counter Helix Damage increased from +25 to +30

Patch 7.38

  • ▲
    Base stats Base damage increased by 1
  • ▲
    Base stats Damage at level 1 increased from 55-59 to 56-60
  • ▲
    Battle Hunger Damage per second increased from 10/15/20/25 to 12/18/24/30
  • ◆
    Counter Helix Damage rescaled from 95/120/145/170 to 100/120/140/160
  • ▼
    Counter Helix Aghanim's Scepter Attack Damage Reduction decreased from 20% to 15%
  • ▲
    Culling Blade Cooldown decreased from 100/85/70s to 80/75/70s

Patch 7.37e

  • ▼
    One Man Army Armor as Strength decreased from 50% to 40%
  • ◆
    Battle Hunger Movement Slow rescaled from 11/19/27/35% to 15/20/25/30%

Patch 7.37b

  • ▼
    Counter Helix Radius decreased from 300 to 275
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +20 Counter Helix Damage replaced with +10 Berserker's Call Armor
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +12 Berserker's Call Armor replaced with +25 Counter Helix Damage

Patch 7.36c

  • ▼
    One Man Army Linger Duration decreased from 5s to 3s
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Culling Blade Speed Bonus Duration decreased from +4s to +3s
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Culling Blade Damage decreased from +125 to +100

Patch 7.36b

  • ◆
    One Man Army Bonuses now start fading immediately after approaching an ally, over the 5s linger duration
  • ▲
    One Man Army Radius increased from 600 to 700
  • ◆
    One Man Army Bonus Strength can now be broken
  • ▼
    Coat of Blood: Armor per Kill decreased from 0.4/0.6/0.8/1.0 to 0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5
  • ▲
    Coat of Blood: Culling Blade Multiplier increased from 2x to 3x
  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Bonus Armor decreased from 14/16/18/20 to 12/13/14/15
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Counter Helix Damage decreased from +30 to +20
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Culling Blade Damage decreased from +150 to +125

Patch 7.36a

  • ▼
    One Man Army Strength bonus decreased from 60% to 50% of Axe's armor
  • ◆
    Coat of Blood: Now levels with Culling Blade
  • ▼
    Coat of Blood: Armor gain per kill decreased from 1 to 0.4/0.6/0.8/1.0
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Movement Speed per active Battle Hunger decreased from +12% to +10%
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Battle Hunger Slow decreased from +12% to +10%

Patch 7.36

  • ◆
    Coat of Blood New Innate ability. Passive, can't be leveled up
  • ◆
    Coat of Blood Whenever Axe kills an enemy, he gains +1 permanent armor. Kills with Culling Blade gives 2x that amount
  • ◆
    Facet Increases Axe's Strength by 60% of his armor, as long as there are no allied heroes within a 600 radius of him. Effect lingers for 5s after the ally walks within range
  • ◆
    Facet Increases bonus armor by 5. Taunted enemies gain +45 attack speed for the duration
  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Bonus Armor decreased from 16/19/22/25 to 14/16/18/20
  • ◆
    Berserker's Call Aghanim's Scepter upgrade moved to Aghanim's Shard. Still applies Battle Hunger to all affected units, but doesn't reduce Cooldown anymore
  • ▲
    Battle Hunger Now applies immediately after applying and every 0.5s after
  • ▼
    Battle Hunger Aghanim's Scepter upgrade moved to Aghanim's Shard. No longer provides armor to Axe, but now makes multiple Battle Hunger debuffs stackable
  • ◆
    Battle Hunger Info This provides one extra tick of half damage
  • ▲
    Counter Helix Aghanim's Shard upgrade moved to Aghanim's Scepter. Damage Reduction per stack increased from 15% to 20%, Max stacks decreased from 6 to 5
  • ◆
    Counter Helix Aghanim's Scepter now also allows Counter Helix counter to decrease when Axe attacks
  • ◆
    Counter Helix This effect doesn't work on illusions of Axe
  • ◆
    Culling Blade Bonus armor on kills moved to Innate ability
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +1 Bonus Armor per Culling Blade Stack replaced with +12 Berserker's Call Armor

Patch 7.35

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Armor increased by 1
  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Bonus Armor decreased from 25 to 16/19/22/25
  • ▼
    Culling Blade Temporary boost on kill no longer provides +20/30/40 Attack Speed
  • ▲
    Culling Blade Temporary boost on kill now provides +20/25/30 Armor
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +10 Berserker's Call Armor replaced with +4s Culling Blade Speed Bonus Duration

Patch 7.34c

  • ▲
    Berserker's Call Radius increased from 300 to 315
  • ▲
    Culling Blade Damage increased from 250/350/450 to 275/375/475
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Berserker's Call Armor increased from +8 to +10

Patch 7.34

  • ▼
    Base stats Agility gain decreased from 2.0 to 1.7
  • ▲
    Counter Helix Damage increased from 80/110/140/170 to 95/120/145/170

Patch 7.33

  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Duration decreased from 2/2.4/2.8/3.2s to 1.8/2.2/2.6/3.0s
  • ▼
    Berserkers Call Info Duration decreased as a part of the comprehensive Disables Reduction
  • ◆
    Counter Helix Damage rescaled from 60/100/140/180 to 80/110/140/170
  • ▼
    Counter Helix No longer uses a pseudo-random proc chance. Now triggers after a set number of attacks taken. Attacks to trigger: 7/6/5/4
  • ▼
    Counter Helix Aghanim's Shard no longer increases proc chance. Now reduces the cooldown of Counter Helix to 0 seconds

Patch 7.32e

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Movement Speed increased from 310 to 315
  • ▲
    Counter Helix Radius increased from 275 to 300

Patch 7.32d

  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Movement Speed per active Battle Hunger increased from +10% to +12%

Patch 7.32c

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Damage increased by 3
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Battle Hunger Slow increased from +10% to +12%

Patch 7.32

  • ▼
    Base stats Strength gain decreased from 3.4 to 2.8
  • ▼
    Base stats Agility gain decreased from 2.2 to 2.0
  • ▲
    Berserker's Call Cast point improved from 0.4s to 0.3s
  • ▲
    Battle Hunger Slow increased from 8/17/26/35% to 11/19/27/35%
  • ▲
    Counter Helix Shard Max Stacks increased from 5 to 6
  • ▼
    Counter Helix Shard Damage Reduction decreased from 20% to 15%
  • ▲
    Culling Blade Cast Range increased from 150 to 175
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +1.5 Mana Regen replaced with +8 Berserker's Call Armor
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +20 Movement Speed replaced with +10% Movement Speed per active Battle Hunger

Patch 7.31c

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Health regeneration reduced from 2.75 to 2.5
  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Bonus Armor reduced from 30 to 25

Patch 7.31

  • ▲
    Battle Hunger Now deals physical damage
  • ◆
    Battle Hunger Damage rescaled from 16/24/32/40 to 10/15/20/25 + 1x Axe's Armor
  • ▼
    Battle Hunger No longer grants movement speed to Axe
  • ◆
    Battle Hunger Now only slows enemies as long as they are not facing Axe
  • ◆
    Battle Hunger Slow rescaled from 12/13/14/15% to 8/17/26/35%
  • ▲
    Counter Helix Shard debuff now reduces total attack damage taken by Axe from the affected unit. (This makes Blade Mail deal full damage back since the outgoing damage isn't reduced)
  • ◆
    Culling Blade Killing an enemy hero grants a permanent +1/1.5/2 armor bonus to Axe
  • ▼
    Culling Blade Cooldown increased from 75/65/55s to 100/85/70s
  • ◆
    Culling Blade Mana cost rescaled from 60/120/180 to 100/125/150
  • ◆
    Culling Blade Movement speed bonus rescaled from 30% to 20/25/30%
  • ◆
    Culling Blade Attack speed bonus rescaled from 30 to 20/30/40
  • ◆
    Culling Blade Damage is now pure and pierces magic immunity
  • ▲
    Culling Blade Damage increased from 150/250/300 to 250/350/450
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +12% magic resistance replaced with +20 movement speed
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +25 movement speed replaced with +10% Battle Hunger slow
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +20 HP regen replaced with +1 permanent armor per Culling Blade kill (Note: This is retroactive)
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +150 Culling Blade threshold replaced with +150 Culling Blade damage/threshold
  • ◆
    Talent Level 25 +100 Battle Hunger DPS replaced with 2x Battle Hunger armor multiplier

Patch 7.30e

  • ▲
    Battle Hunger Slow/boost increased from 12% to 12/13/14/15%

Patch 7.30

  • ◆
    Aghanim's upgrade Reworked Shard: Now causes Counter Helix to apply a 6s stacking debuff that reduces attack damage by 20% and increases Counter Helix chance by 10%
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +9 Strength replaced with +12% Magic Resistance
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +300 Health replaced with +30 Counter Helix Damage

Patch 7.29d

  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Cooldown increased from 16/14/12/10 to 17/15/13/11
  • ▼
    Counter Helix Shard proc chance reduced from 10% to 5%

Patch 7.29

  • ▼
    Base stats Attack point reduced from 0.5 to 0.4
  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Scepter upgrade cooldown reduction increased from 2 to 3
  • ◆
    Counter Helix Shard now also increases proc chance by 10%
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent reduced from +1.75 Mana Regen to +1.5
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +25 Attack Speed to +9 Strength

Patch 7.28b

  • ▲
    Counter Helix Shard attack speed increased from 25 to 35

Patch 7.28a

  • ▲
    Counter Helix Shard attack speed increased from 20 to 25

Patch 7.27b

  • ▲
    Culling Blade Kill threshold increased from 250/325/400 to 250/350/450
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +8 Strength to +25 Attack Speed
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +35 Attack Speed to Attacking Procs Counter Helix
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from Attacking Procs Counter Helix to +150 Culling Blade Threshold

Patch 7.26c

  • ▼
    Base stats Strength gain reduced from 3.6 to 3.4
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from +6 Strength to +8
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +30 Attack Speed to +20 Movement Speed
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +25 Movement Speed to +35 Attack Speed
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent reduced from +2.5 Mana Regen to +2
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent increased from +80 Berserker's Call AoE to +100

Patch 7.24

  • ▲
    Base stats Movement speed increased by 5
  • ▲
    Base stats Strength gain increased from 3.4 to 3.6

Patch 7.22c

  • ▲
    Base stats Base movement speed increased by 10

Patch 7.22

  • ▲
    Base stats Base damage increased by 3
  • ▲
    Base stats Base armor increased by 1
  • ◆
    Aghanim's upgrade Reworked Scepter upgrade. Now causes Battle Hunger to be a 400 AoE target ability (debuff still reduces enemy damage by 30%)
  • ◆
    Battle Hunger Gives half speed when used on creeps

Patch 7.21d

  • ▲
    Base stats Strength gain increased from 3.2 to 3.4

Patch 7.20d

  • ▼
    Counter Helix Damage reduced from 75/110/145/180 to 60/100/140/180
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent reduced from +4 Mana Regen to +3

Patch 7.20

  • ▼
    Berserker's Call Armor bonus reduced from 40 to 30

Patch 7.14

  • ◆
    Battle Hunger Manacost rescaled from 75 to 50/60/70/80
  • ▲
    Base stats Base movement speed increased by 5

Patch 7.12

  • ▲
    Battle Hunger Duration increased from 10 to 12

Patch 7.10

  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from +30 Movement Speed to +40