Dota 2

Dragon Knight

Strength melee hero, often played as a carry, pusher or tank.

Dragon Knight
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

Wyrm's Wrath reworked in 7.36

170 lines of changes across 46 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.

38 buffs and 34 nerfs in total: roughly even.

Biggest ability changes

  • ▲
    Wyrm's Wrath AoE Bonus increased from 25/50/75/100 to 30/60/90/120adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net buff
  • ▼
    Dragon Tail AoE increased from 25 to 50adjusted 10 times across 7 patches, net nerf
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Level 4 Black Dragon has the following stats: 40 Bonus Move Speed, 35 Corrosive Damage, 100% Splash Damage, 350 Splash Radius, 65 Attack Slow, 45% Movement Slow, and also provides +20% Magic Resistance and free pathingadjusted 39 times across 18 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Dragon Blood Health Regen decreased from 4 to 2adjusted 5 times across 4 patches, net buff
  • ▲
    Breathe Fire Fixed the cast indicator not matching the actual damage range of the ability, and also to properly reflect cast range bonusesadjusted 9 times across 6 patches, net buff
  • ◆
    Fireball Duration decreased from 8s to 6sadjusted 9 times across 6 patches, roughly even

Innate

  • ▲
    Dragon Blood Health Regen and Armor bonuses are multiplied by 1.5x while in Dragon formadjusted 3 times across 1 patch, net buff

Aghanim’s upgrades

  • ▼
    Scepter Aghanim's Scepter Black Dragon stats slightly rescaledchanged 9 times, latest shown
  • ▼
    Shard Shard AoE reduced from 450 to 350changed 5 times, latest shown

Base stats

  • ▼
    Strength gain decreased from 3.6 to 3.2adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Base movement speed increased by 5adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net buff
  • ▲
    Base Attack Time improved from 1.7s to 1.6s
  • ◆
    Base Movement Speed decreased from 315 to 310adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
Talents changed
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent 30% Breathe Fire Damage Reduction replaced with -2s Breathe Fire Cooldown
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Health decreased from +400 to +300
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Breathe Fire Damage increased from +200 to +220
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent +50% Wyrm's Wrath effect during Elder Dragon Form replaced with +50% Wyrm's Wrath Bonuses

Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Dragon Knight had 26 facet changes in between.

Most recent change patch 7.41e, Jul 2026

  • ▲
    Wyrm's Wrath AoE Bonus increased from 25/50/75/100 to 30/60/90/120
Current abilities
  • Breathe FireUnleashes a breath of fire in front of Dragon Knight that burns enemies and reduces the damage their attacks deal.
  • Dragon TailDragon Knight smites an enemy unit with his shield, stunning and damaging it and units close to it.
  • Wyrm's WrathThe life blood of the Dragon improves Dragon Knight's abilities and items to have increased AoE and causes his attacks to deal additional magic damage to enemy units.
  • FireballIgnites an area, dealing damage over time that lingers on enemies in it. Has reduced cast range when melee.
  • Dragon Blood innateThe life blood of the Dragon improves Dragon Knight's health regeneration and armor. Regen and armor are increased by 50% during Elder Dragon Form.
  • Elder Dragon FormDragon Knight assumes the form of the Elder Dragon, increasing the range of his abilities, gaining bonus movement speed, and a ranged attack with various properties. The Dragon evolves per level. The bonuses are cumulative. Level 1 Green: Grants a corrosive damage over time that can also damage buildings. Level 2 Red: Grants splash damage to the dragon's attacks. Level 3 Blue: Grants a debuff immunity piercing movement and attack frost slow on attack.

What players buy on Dragon Knight

Starting items

Early game

Mid game

  • 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 Dragon Knight change, patch by patch

All 170 changes Valve listed for Dragon Knight since patch 7.07b, newest first. Wyrm's Wrath reworked in 7.36. Last changed in 7.41e (Jul 2026).

Patch 7.41e

  • ▲
    Wyrm's Wrath AoE Bonus increased from 25/50/75/100 to 30/60/90/120

Patch 7.41d

  • ▲
    Dragon Tail AoE increased from 25 to 50
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Breathe Fire Damage increased from +200 to +220

Patch 7.41

  • ▼
    Base stats Strength gain decreased from 3.6 to 3.2
  • ▼
    Base stats Base Movement Speed decreased from 315 to 310
  • ◆
    Breathe Fire Damage Reduction rescaled from 30% to 20/24/28/32%
  • ▲
    Breathe Fire Cast range increased from 600 to 1000
  • ◆
    Breathe Fire Fixed the cast indicator not matching the actual damage range of the ability, and also to properly reflect cast range bonuses
  • ▼
    Dragon Tail No longer has an Elder Dragon specific cast range
  • ◆
    Dragon Tail Now has 25 radius AoE by default
  • ◆
    Wyrm's Wrath Now always grants the 10/20/30/40 bonus magic damage on attack, and 25/50/75/100 Area of Effect bonus
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Now evolves per level. The bonuses are cumulative
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Level 1: Green Dragon: Attacks apply a Corrosive poison that deals 25 magical damage per second for 3 seconds. Affects buildings
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Level 2: Red Dragon: Attacks have splash damage that deals 75% of attack damage to all enemies within 275 AoE range
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Applies Corrosive poison to all affected units. Other attack modifiers will affect only the primary target
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Level 3: Blue Dragon: Attacks also apply a Frost debuff, which pierces Debuff Immunity and slows attack by 50 and movement by 30%
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Splash attacks apply Corrosive poison and Frost slow to all affected units. Other attack modifiers will affect only the primary target
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Bonus Move Speed increased from 20 to 25/30/35
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form No longer provides bonus attack damage
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Now also increases cast range of all abilities by 350
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Doesn't affect items
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Aghanim's Scepter no longer improves Wyrm's Wrath effectiveness while in Dragon Form
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Aghanim's Scepter Black Dragon stats slightly rescaled
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Level 4 Black Dragon has the following stats: 40 Bonus Move Speed, 35 Corrosive Damage, 100% Splash Damage, 350 Splash Radius, 65 Attack Slow, 45% Movement Slow, and also provides +20% Magic Resistance and free pathing
  • ▼
    Fireball No longer has an Elder Dragon specific cast range
  • ▲
    Fireball Damage per second increased from 75 to 85
  • ▼
    Fireball Duration decreased from 8s to 6s
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +60% Breathe Fire Damage/Cast Range replaced with +200 Breathe Fire Damage
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent +50% Wyrm's Wrath effect during Elder Dragon Form replaced with +50% Wyrm's Wrath Bonuses

Patch 7.40

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Agility decreased from 16 to 14
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Bonus Attack Damage decreased from 20/60/100/140 to 20/50/80/110
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent 30% Breathe Fire Damage Reduction replaced with -2s Breathe Fire Cooldown
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +85% Breathe Fire Damage/Cast Range in Dragon Form replaced with +60% Breathe Fire Damage/Cast Range

Patch 7.39

  • ◆
    Facet Instead of reducing Healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Lifesteal by 14/21/28/35%, now reduces Health Restoration by 14/21/28/35%

Patch 7.38c

  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Bonus Move Speed decreased from 20/25/30/35 to 20

Patch 7.38b

  • ▼
    Facet AoE while in Dragon Form decreased from 175 to 100
  • ▼
    Facet Magic Damage on Attacks decreased from 10/20/30/40 to 6/12/18/24

Patch 7.38

  • ◆
    Facet While in dragon form, Dragon Tail applies to enemies in a 175 radius around the target
  • ◆
    Facet Attacks deal 10/20/30/40 bonus magic damage to enemies
  • ◆
    Facet Increases all AoE effects by 25/50/75/100
  • ◆
    Facet Now also makes all Dragon Knight's abilities deal physical damage
  • ◆
    Facet Damage type changed to Physical
  • ◆
    Facet Damage type changed to Physical
  • ◆
    Facet Corrosive Breath Damage type changed to Physical
  • ◆
    Facet Damage type changed to Physical
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form While in dragon form, attacks now apply 30/40/50/60% of the damage to targets in the attack splash AoE
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Now improves effects of Wyrm's Wrath by 20/30/40/50% regardless of the chosen facet
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Doesn't affect durations of those effects
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Attack splash AoE decreased from 350 to 275
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Bonus Move Speed decreased from 30/35/40/45 to 20/25/30/35
  • ▼
    Fireball Radius decreased from 350 to 275
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent +400 AoE Dragon Tail During Elder Dragon Form replaced with +50% Wyrm's Wrath effect during Elder Dragon Form

Patch 7.37d

  • ▼
    Facet Cleave Distance decreased from 450 to 400

Patch 7.37

  • ▲
    Facet Corrosive Breath Armor Reduction decreased from 1/2/3/4 to 0/1/2/3

Patch 7.36c

  • ▲
    Facet Cleave Damage increased from 25/35/45/55% to 30/40/50/60%

Patch 7.36b

  • ▼
    Facet Corrosive Breath Effect Bonus decreased from 30/40/50/60% to 20/30/40/50%
  • ▼
    Facet Frost Breath Effect Bonus decreased from 30/40/50/60% to 20/30/40/50%
  • ▼
    Dragon Blood Health Regen decreased from 4 to 2
  • ▼
    Dragon Tail Damage decreased from 70/100/130/160 to 60/90/120/150

Patch 7.36a

  • ▲
    Facet Cleave Damage increased from 20/30/40/50% to 25/35/45/55%
  • ▼
    Facet Damage per second decreased from 10/15/20/25 to 5/10/15/20

Patch 7.36 Wyrm's Wrath reworked

  • ▲
    Added new ability Wyrm's Wrath. It replaces Dragon Blood, providing and upgrading Dragon Knight's attack modifiers set by Facet
  • ◆
    Dragon Blood Now is an Innate ability. Passive, improves with Dragon Knight's level
  • ▲
    Dragon Blood Provides Dragon Knight with +4.5 Health Regen and +2.5 Armor, which are further increased by 0.5 with every hero level
  • ◆
    Dragon Blood Health Regen and Armor bonuses are multiplied by 1.5x while in Dragon form
  • ◆
    Facet While in human form, attacks have 20/30/40/50% cleave with 450 range
  • ◆
    Facet While in dragon form, cleave increases by another 20/30/40/50% and turns into splash damage to all enemies within 350 range from the attack target
  • ◆
    Facet While in human form, attacks apply poison to the target. It deals 10/15/20/25 damage per second and reduces the target's armor by 1/2/3/4. Duration: 3s. Poison also affects buildings
  • ▼
    Facet While in dragon form, poison damage and armor reduction are increased by 30/40/50/60%, and it's applied to all enemies within 350 range from the attack target
  • ◆
    Facet Enemies around the target don't take any attack damage when the debuff is applied
  • ◆
    Facet While in human form, attacks apply frost to the target. It reduces enemies' movement speed by 14/21/28/35%, attack speed by 14/21/28/35, and all health they restore by 14/21/28/35%. Duration: 3s. Frost doesn't affect buildings
  • ▲
    Facet While in dragon form, all reductions from frost are increased by 30/40/50/60%, and it's is applied to all enemies within 350 range from the attack target
  • ◆
    Facet Enemies around the target don't take any attack damage when the debuff is applied
  • ▼
    Breathe Fire No longer applies dragon's attack effects
  • ◆
    Wyrm's Wrath New basic ability
  • ◆
    Wyrm's Wrath Provides and improves attack modifiers of the chosen Facet for both human and dragon forms. Illusions can't apply Wyrm's Wrath's attack modifiers. Now upgradeable with Aghanim's Scepter. Improves attack modifiers of the chosen Facet
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form No longer changes Dragon type with each level. Now the dragon form depends on a chosen Hero Facet
  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Now increases attack damage by 20/60/100
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Aghanim's Scepter Black Dragon form no longer increases Magic Resistance

Patch 7.35d

  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Illusions no longer apply dragon's on-hit effects if they have reverted back to melee form
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Corrosive Breath debuff duration decreased from 5s to 3s
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Health decreased from +400 to +300

Patch 7.35c

  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Frost Breath movement slow decreased from 0/0/40/60% to 0/0/30/45%
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Frost Breath attack slow decreased from 0/0/40/60 to 0/0/30/45
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Aghanim's Scepter Black Dragon Magic Resistance bonus decreased from 25% to 20%

Patch 7.35

  • ▲
    Breathe Fire Now applies the corresponding Corrosive Breath and Frost Breath debuffs from his current level of Elder Dragon Form even in human form

Patch 7.34

  • ▲
    Dragon Tail Cast Range during Dragon Form increased from 400 to 450
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Bonus Move Speed increased from 25/30/35/35 to 30/35/40/45
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Corrosive Breath Damage per second increased from 20/20/20/30 to 25/25/25/35
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Breathe Fire Damage/Cast Range in Dragon Form increased from +75% to +85%

Patch 7.33c

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Movement Speed increased from 310 to 315
  • ▲
    Base stats Base Attack Time improved from 1.7s to 1.6s

Patch 7.33

  • ▲
    Base stats Strength gain increased from 3.4 to 3.6
  • ◆
    Breathe Fire While in Elder Dragon Form, applies Corrosive Breath or Frost Breath effect corresponding to the current form
  • ▼
    Dragon Tail Stun Duration decreased from 2.25/2.5/2.75/3s to 1.8/2/2.2/2.4s
  • ▼
    Knight Dragon Tail Info Duration decreased as a part of the comprehensive Disables Reduction
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Dragon Tail Stun Duration decreased from +0.5s to +0.4s
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Elder Dragon Form Attack Range decreased from +175 to +150

Patch 7.32e

  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Cooldown decreased from 105s to 100s
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Aghanim's Scepter no longer reduces cooldown by 5s
  • ▲
    Fireball Mana Cost decreased from 100 to 80

Patch 7.32d

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Damage increased by 2
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Cooldown decreased from 115/110/105s to 105s

Patch 7.32b

  • ▲
    Dragon Blood Bonus HP regen increased from 3/6/9/12 to 4/7/10/13
  • ▲
    Dragon Blood Bonus Armor increased from 3/6/9/12 to 4/7/10/13

Patch 7.32

  • ▲
    Breathe Fire Mana Cost decreased from 90/100/110/120 to 90/95/100/105
  • ▲
    Breathe Fire Attack Damage Reduction increased from 25% to 30%
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Bonus Movement Speed increased from 25 to 25/30/35
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +20 Strength replaced with +75% Breathe Fire Damage/Cast Range in Dragon Form

Patch 7.31d

  • ▼
    Fireball Shard duration reduced from 10s to 8s
  • ▼
    Fireball Shard AoE reduced from 450 to 350
  • ▼
    Base stats Base agility reduced by 3

Patch 7.31c

  • ▼
    Fireball Shard Damage Per Second decreased from 80 to 75

Patch 7.31

  • ◆
    Breathe Fire Damage rescaled from 90/170/240/300 to 80/160/240/320
  • ▲
    Fireball DPS increased from 65 to 80
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +150 Elder Dragon Form range increased to 175
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent 375 Dragon Tail AoE increased to 400

Patch 7.30c

  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Black Dragon Magic Resistance increased from 20% to 25%
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Cooldown reduced from 115 to 115/110/105/100
  • ▲
    Fireball DPS increased from 60 to 65
  • ▲
    Base stats Base damage increased by 1

Patch 7.30

  • ▼
    Dragon Tail Stun duration reduced from 2.5/2.75/3.0/3.25 to 2.25/2.5/2.75/3
  • ▼
    Dragon Blood Health regen reduced from 4/8/12/16 to 3/6/9/12
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Black Elder Dragon Splash damage reduced from 115% to 100%
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Black Elder Dragon Magic Resistance reduced from 40% to 20%
  • ▼
    Fireball DPS reduced from 80 to 60
  • ◆
    Fireball Damage debuff now lingers for 2 seconds

Patch 7.29

  • ◆
    Fireball Shard can now be used in melee form. Has 600 cast range when used that way (compared to 1400 in dragon form)
  • ▲
    Dragon Tail Mana cost reduced from 100 to 70/80/90/100
  • ▼
    Dragon Tail Cooldown increased from 12/11/10/9 to 16/14/12/10
  • ▲
    Dragon Tail Damage increased from 50/75/100/125 to 70/100/130/160
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from -24% Breathe Fire Damage Reduction to -30%
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +2 Mana Regen to +15 Damage
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +25 Damage to +0.5s Dragon Tail Stun Duration
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from +15% Cooldown Reduction to +150 Elder Dragon Form Attack Range
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent changed from 1.8x Dragon Blood to +12 Dragon Blood Armor and Regeneration
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent changed from +1.6s Dragon Tail to +375 AoE Dragon Tail During Dragon Form

Patch 7.28b

  • ▼
    Fireball Shard manacost reduced from 150 to 100

Patch 7.27d

  • ▲
    Base stats Base strength increased by 2

Patch 7.26c

  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent reduced from +2.5 Mana Regen to +2
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from +325 Health to +350

Patch 7.26a

  • ▼
    Base stats Strength gain reduced from 3.6 to 3.4
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Scepter no longer increases attack range

Patch 7.25

  • ▲
    Base stats Base movement speed increased by 5

Patch 7.24

  • ▲
    Base stats Base movement speed increased by 10
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Movement speed bonus reduced from 30 to 25

Patch 7.22f

  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from +180 Gold/Min to +210
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Scepter magic resistance increased from +30% to +40%

Patch 7.22c

  • ▲
    Base stats Base intelligence increased by 3
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from -25% Breathe Fire Damage Reduction to -30%
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from +350 Health to +400

Patch 7.22

  • ▲
    Aghanim's upgrade Added Scepter upgrade. Adds a 4th level to Elder Dragon Form, a Black Dragon. Gaining Scepter increases the level of your ultimate by one. Black Dragon has 50% more Corrosive Damage, Splash Damage and Slow amount. It also increases your attack range to 600 and grants you +30% Magic Resistance.

Patch 7.21d

  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Slow increased from 30 to 40
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from -20% Breath Fire Damage to -25%
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from +300 Health to +350
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from +150 Gold/Min to +180
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent increased from +1.75s Dragon Tail to +2s

Patch 7.21

  • ▲
    Base stats Base movement speed increased by 10
  • ▲
    Dragon Blood Health regen increased from 4/7/10/13 to 4/8/12/16
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Frost attack slow increased from -20 to -30
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from 2x Dragon Blood to +25 Strength
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent changed from +40 Strength to 2x Dragon Blood

Patch 7.20

  • ◆
    Elder Dragon Form Splash Attack now does 75% damage in the 300 AoE
  • ▼
    Elder Dragon Form Splash Attack no longer does partial damage if the attack misses

Patch 7.18

  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent reduced from +35 Damage to +30

Patch 7.16

  • ▼
    Base stats Base movemend speed reduced from 285 to 280
  • ▲
    Elder Dragon Form Bonus movement speed increased from 25 to 30

Patch 7.10

  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +30 Attack Speed to -20% Breathe Fire Damage Reduction
  • ▼
    Base stats Agility gain reduced from 2.2 to 2.0

Patch 7.07b

  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +40% XP Gain to +35 Damage