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Howl reworked in 7.20180 lines of changes across 55 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.
49 buffs and 43 nerfs in total: roughly even.
Biggest ability changes
- ◆Howl No longer fears non-hero controlled unitsadjusted 14 times across 11 patches, roughly even
- ▲Summon Wolves Increases the number of wolves by 1 and grants them Hightail ability. Activate it to give them 100% evasion, 20 bonus attack speed, and hasted movement for 6sadjusted 21 times across 14 patches, net buff
- ▲Shapeshift Cooldown decreased from 110/100/90s to 105/95/85sadjusted 21 times across 17 patches, net buff
- ▲Wolf Bite Now can also be used on allied creep-heroesadjusted 6 times across 3 patches, net buff
- ▼Feral Impulse Health Regen increased from 1/3/5/7 to 2/4/6/8adjusted 9 times across 8 patches, net nerf
- ▲Apex Predator Damage to neutrals changed from 2% per level to 18% + 2% per leveladjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net buff
- ◆Summon Wolves Info Level 5 and 6 wolves with Alpha Wolves facet have 60% magic resistance
Innate
- ◆Apex Predator Lycan deals 2% extra damage to neutral creeps per hero leveladjusted 2 times across 1 patch, roughly even
Aghanim’s upgrades
- ◆Scepter Scepter now causes the target to have a fully fixed 150 attack rangechanged 7 times, latest shown
- ◆Shard Aghanim's Shard upgrade reworkedchanged 5 times, latest shown
Base stats
- ▲Agility gain decreased from 1.8 to 1.7adjusted 5 times across 5 patches, net buff
- ◆Intelligence gain increased from 1.2 to 1.7adjusted 4 times across 4 patches, roughly even
- ▼Base Damage increased by 20adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net nerf
- ◆Base armor increased by 1adjusted 4 times across 4 patches, roughly even
- ▲Attack backswing reduced from 0.55 to 0.25
- ▼Strength gain increased from 3.0 to 3.4adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net nerf
- ▼Base damage reduced by 6adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net nerf
- ▼Damage gain per level decreased from +4.2 to +3.4adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net nerf
- ◆Base movement speed reduced from 315 to 305adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
- ▲Base intelligence increased by 4adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net buff
- ▼Damage at level 30 decreased by 40 (from 202-207 to 162-167)
- ▲Base Agility increased from 16 to 18
- ▲Base Attack Speed increased from 100 to 110
- ▲Base Strength increased from 26 to 28
- ▼Damage on level 1 decreased by 3 (from 50-55 to 47-52)
- ▲Damage at level 1 increased from 50–55 to 52–57
- ▲Movement speed increased from 305 to 315
- ▼Base Movement Speed decreased from 315 to 305
- ▲Base strength increased by 1
- ◆Damage at level 1 unchanged (50-55)
Talents changed
- ◆Lv10 talent Wolves Damage increased from +10 to +14
- ◆Lv15 talent Summon Wolves Health increased from +350 to +375
- ◆Lv20 talent Shapeshift Duration increased from +6s to +7s
- ◆Lv25 talent +2 Wolves Summoned replaced with -25% Summon Wolves BAT
- ◆Talent Improves wolves' BAT from 1.2/1.1/1/0.9s to 0.9/0.825/0.75/0.675s
Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Lycan had 16 facet changes in between.
Most recent change patch 7.41c, May 2026
- ▲Feral Impulse Health Regen increased from 1/3/5/7 to 2/4/6/8
- ▲Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Wolves Damage increased from +10 to +14
- ▲Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Summon Wolves Health increased from +350 to +375
Current abilities
Summon WolvesSummons 2 wolves to aid Lycan in battle. At level 3, wolves gain Permanent Invisibility, and at level 4 wolves gain Cripple that gives 20% chance to cripple the target, causing 8 damage per second and lose 60 attack speed for 4 seconds.
HowlStrikes fear into enemies, reducing armor and attack damage of all enemies within 2000 range of Lycan and his wolves. At night, Howl's armor and attack damage reductions are global.
Feral ImpulseIncreases the HP regeneration and damage of Lycan and all units under his control.
Wolf BiteLycan bites an allied hero or creep-hero, granting them Shapeshift properties. Lycan and the bitten target gain 40% Lifesteal and share the healing effect of Lifesteal with each other as long as they are within 1200 range of each other.- APApex Predator innateLycan and units he controls deal extra damage to neutral creeps.
ShapeshiftLycan assumes his lupine form, granting him critical strikes and added vision at night. During Shapeshift, Lycan moves at increased speed and cannot be slowed. Movement and critical strike bonuses are also applied to all units under Lycan's control.
What players buy on Lycan
Starting items
- Sage's Mask 175g
- Quelling Blade 100g
Early game
- Helm of the Dominator 2550g
Mid game
- Helm of the Overlord 5650g
- Assault Cuirass 5125g
An armor aura for your side and an armor cut on enemies
Late game
Debuff immunity, to act in a fight without being disabled
- Nullifier 4350g
- Aghanim's Scepter 4200g
- Scythe of Vyse 5200g
- Overwhelming Blink 6800g
- Skull Basher 2875g
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.