Dota 2

Night Stalker

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

Night Stalker
Strength

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Full history

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Reworked in 7.41

Reworked in 7.41 Mar 2026

Night Stalker changed enough that old habits may not hold. The kit further down is how Night Stalker plays now.

  • ◆
    Midnight Feast New basic ability. Has both passive and active components
  • ◆
    Heart of Darkness Innate removed (it was added in 7.36)
  • ◆
    Hunter in the Night Now an innate ability
  • ◆
    Void Now affects all units within 400 radius around the target

0 buffs and 2 nerfs since the rework: trending weaker.

Biggest ability changes

  • ▼
    Crippling Fear Radius decreased from 375 to 350

Base stats

  • ▼
    Base Health Regen decreased by 1.25
Talents changed
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Dark Ascension Cooldown Reduction decreased from 40s to 35s

Most recent change patch 7.41e, Jul 2026

  • ▼
    Crippling Fear Radius decreased from 375 to 350
Current abilities
  • VoidCreates a damaging void that slows an enemy unit and deals damage. At night, Void also mini-stuns, interrupting channeling abilities, and its effects lasts longer.
  • Crippling FearNight Stalker horrifies all nearby enemies, causing them to become silenced and take damage over time while near him. The effect lasts longer at night.
  • Midnight Feast
  • Hunter in the Night innateNight Stalker is in his element at night, attacking and moving with great swiftness.
  • Dark AscensionNight Stalker smothers the sun and summons instant darkness, so that he might use his powers at their fullest. Night Stalker gains flight and bonus damage during this time. Has unobstructed vision.

What players buy on Night Stalker

Starting items

Early game

Mid game

Late game

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

Every Night Stalker change, patch by patch

All 149 changes Valve listed for Night Stalker since patch 7.06d, newest first. Reworked in 7.41 (Mar 2026). Crippling Fear reworked in 7.20. Last changed in 7.41e (Jul 2026).

Patch 7.41e

  • ▼
    Crippling Fear Radius decreased from 375 to 350

Patch 7.41d

  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Dark Ascension Cooldown Reduction decreased from 40s to 35s

Patch 7.41b

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Health Regen decreased by 1.25

Patch 7.41 Hero rework

  • ◆
    Heart of Darkness Innate removed (it was added in 7.36)
  • ◆
    Hunter in the Night Now an innate ability
  • ◆
    Hunter in the Night Move Speed bonus changed from 22/28/34/40% to 24% + 2% per 3 levels
  • ◆
    Hunter in the Night Attack Speed bonus changed from 20/40/60/80 to 38 + 2 per level
  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night No longer upgraded with Aghanim's Shard
  • ◆
    Hunter in the Night Now upgraded with Aghanim's Scepter
  • ◆
    Hunter in the Night Increases bonus Movement Speed by 15% and bonus Attack Speed by 50. Killing an enemy hero resets cooldowns of all basic abilities
  • ◆
    Void Now upgraded with Aghanim's Shard
  • ◆
    Void Now affects all units within 400 radius around the target
  • ▼
    Crippling Fear No longer upgraded with Aghanim's Scepter
  • ◆
    Midnight Feast New basic ability. Has both passive and active components
  • ◆
    Midnight Feast Night Stalker heals himself 6/8/10/12 health when attacking enemy units
  • ◆
    Midnight Feast Attacks on allied units and buildings will not heal Night Stalker
  • ◆
    Midnight Feast Can be cast at night to eat a non-ancient creep and restore 10/15/20/25% of Night Stalker's maximum health and 10/12/14/16% of his mana. Cast Range: 125. No Mana Cost. Cooldown: 39/36/33/30s
  • ◆
    Midnight Feast Can't be cast on allies
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +5s Dark Ascension Duration replaced with +10 Crippling Fear DPS
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +40 Crippling Fear DPS replaced with +75 Crippling Fear Radius
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent +100 Hunter in the Night Attack Speed replaced with +100 Midnight Feast Lifesteal

Patch 7.40

  • ▼
    Facet No longer has decreased number of +2 All Attributes bonuses
  • ▼
    Heart of Darkness: No longer reduces Night Stalker's health regeneration by 20% during the day
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Crippling Fear DPS increased from +20 to +40

Patch 7.39b

  • ▼
    Void Night Duration decreased from 2/2.5/3/3.5/4s to 1.6/2.2/2.8/3.4/4s

Patch 7.39

  • ◆
    Facet Level 5 now also increases Move Slow from 50% to 60%
  • ◆
    Facet Level 5 now also increases Attack Slow from 50 to 60
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Strength decreased from +20 to +15

Patch 7.38c

  • ▼
    Heart of Darkness: Bonus health regen at night decreased from 40% to 20%
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Hunter in the Night Status Resistance decreased from 30% to 20%

Patch 7.38b

  • ▼
    Facet Move Speed decreased from 16/22/28/34/40% to 10/22/28/34/40%
  • ▲
    Facet AoE on level 5 increased from 300 to 350
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Dark Ascension Duration decreased from +6s to +5s

Patch 7.38

  • ◆
    Removed Blinding Void Facet
  • ◆
    Facet Changes Roshan's first move to the Top Pit to be at 20 minutes instead of 15 minutes.
  • ▲
    Facet Is now granted for free on level 1. Max level is increased to 5
  • ◆
    Facet Move Speed rescaled from 22/28/34/40% to 16/22/28/34/40%
  • ◆
    Facet Attack Speed rescaled from 20/40/60/80 to 15/35/55/75/95
  • ◆
    Facet Increases the max level of Void to 5
  • ▼
    Facet Number of times +2 All Attributes can be skilled decreased from 7 to 6
  • ◆
    Facet Level 5 deals 400 damage, has 4s Night Duration, and becomes a Point Target ability with 300 AoE during the night
  • ▼
    Void No longer reduces vision
  • ▼
    Void Night Duration decreased from 2.5/3/3.5/4s to 2.0/2.5/3/3.5s
  • ◆
    Void With Voidbringer facet rescaled from 2.5/3/3.5/4s to 2/2.5/3/3.5/4s
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +80 Void Damage replaced with -1s Void Cooldown
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Hunter in the Night Status Resistance decreased from +35% to +30%
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Dark Ascension Cooldown Reduction decreased from 50s to 40s

Patch 7.37b

  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Aghanim's Shard Cooldown increased from 30s to 35s

Patch 7.36c

  • ▲
    Crippling Fear Now only starts costing mana per second with Aghanim's Scepter if the duration is extended past its normal end
  • ◆
    Crippling Fear Mana Cost with Aghanim's Scepter is now always 6%
  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Aghanim's Shard Max Health Restore decreased from 30% to 25%
  • ▼
    Dark Ascension No longer refreshes cooldowns of basic abilities
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Dark Ascension Duration decreased from +8s to +6s

Patch 7.36a

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Health Regen decreased by 0.5
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Dark Ascension Damage decreased from +30 to +25

Patch 7.36

  • ◆
    Heart of Darkness New Innate ability. Passive, can't be leveled up
  • ▲
    Heart of Darkness At night, Night Stalker's Health Regen is increased by 40%, but during the day it is decreased by 20%
  • ◆
    Facet Enemy heroes affected by Void do not share vision with their teammates
  • ◆
    Facet Deals 50 damage per second when affected enemies cannot be seen by their allies
  • ◆
    Facet The day-night cycle of the game is reversed
  • ▲
    Facet Nighttime duration increased by 15s
  • ▼
    Facet Daytime duration decreased by 15s
  • ◆
    Void Aghanim's Scepter upgrade removed
  • ◆
    Void Now also reduces target's vision by 100/200/300/400 at any time of the day
  • ◆
    Crippling Fear Now upgraded with Aghanim's Scepter. Decreases cooldown by 5 seconds and makes it a toggled ability. Costs the regular mana cost to activate, then 6/4% of Night Stalker's max mana per second for day/night. Still has a regular cooldown, but can be toggled off at any point
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Void Damage increased from +50 to +80
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Hunter in the Night Status Resistance increased from +25% to +35%
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent -5s Crippling Fear Cooldown replaced with +20 Crippling Fear DPS

Patch 7.35

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Mana Regen increased from 0 to 0.25
  • ▲
    Void Mana Cost decreased from 90/100/110/110 to 90/95/100/105
  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Aghanim's Shard Max Health Restore decreased from 35% to 30%
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Dark Ascension Damage decreased from +35 to +30

Patch 7.34b

  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Aghanim's Shard Mana Cost increased from 0 to 50
  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Aghanim's Shard Cooldown increased from 20s to 30s

Patch 7.34

  • ▲
    Crippling Fear Now deals 25/30/35/40 magical damage per second
  • ◆
    Dark Ascension Now refreshes cooldowns of non-ultimate abilities on cast
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Hunter in the Night Status Resistance increased from +15% to +25%

Patch 7.33

  • ◆
    Void Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade reworked
  • ◆
    Void Makes Void an area targeted spell, applying its effect on all enemies in 450 radius even if they're invisible or in fog of war. Also creates a void zone in the chosen area for 5s. While he is in the void zone, Night Stalker's abilities (along with Void) are empowered to their nighttime version

Patch 7.32c

  • ▲
    Dark Ascension Cooldown decreased from 150/140/130s to 140/135/130s

Patch 7.32

  • ▲
    Void Scepter Stun Duration increased from 0.8s to 1s
  • ◆
    Crippling Fear Night Duration rescaled from 4/5/6/7s to 4.5/5/5.5/6s
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +10% Hunter in the Night Movement Speed replaced with +15% Hunter in the Night Status Resistance

Patch 7.31d

  • ▼
    Void Mana cost increased from 80/90/100/110 to 90/100/110/120

Patch 7.31

  • ▼
    Base stats Agility gain reduced from 2.3 to 2.2
  • ▲
    Crippling Fear Cast point reduced from 0.2 to 0
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +45 Void damage increased to +50
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +10s Dark Ascension duration reduced to +8s
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +40 Dark Ascension damage reduced to +35
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent -4s Crippling Fear cooldown increased to -5s
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent +80 Hunter in the Night attack speed increased to +100

Patch 7.30d

  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent -60s Dark Ascension cooldown reduced to -50s

Patch 7.30c

  • ▼
    Base stats Base HP regen reduced from 2.25 to 2.0
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +50 Dark Ascension damage reduced to +40
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +25 Strength reduced to +20

Patch 7.30

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Damage increased by 2
  • ▼
    Dark Ascension Cooldown increased from 140/130/120 to 150/140/130
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +6 armor replaced with +10 Dark Ascension Duration
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +12 Strength replaced with +50 Dark Ascension Damage
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +35 damage replaced with +25 Strength

Patch 7.29

  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Shard is no longer restricted from player units (cannot affect special units like Golems or Spirit Bears)
  • ◆
    Hunter in the Night Shard can now be cast during the day on non-ancient units
  • ▲
    Hunter in the Night Shard healing increased from 25% to 35%
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from +4 Armor to +6
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from +30 Movement Speed to -4s Crippling Fear Cooldown

Patch 7.27b

  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +150 Mana to +45 Void Damage
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +150 Health to +7% Hunter in the Night movement speed

Patch 7.26c

  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent increased from -50s Dark Ascension Cooldown to -60s

Patch 7.26a

  • ▼
    Base stats Base movement speed reduced from 300 to 295
  • ◆
    Info Part of the boots changes

Patch 7.25a

  • ▼
    Base stats Strength gain reduced from 3.2 to 3
  • ▼
    Void Damage reduced from 90/160/255/335 to 80/160/240/320
  • ▼
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent reduced from +110 Hunter In The Night Attack Speed to +100

Patch 7.25

  • ▲
    Base stats Base intelligence increased by 2
  • ▲
    Base stats Base health regen increased by 0.5
  • ▲
    Base stats Movement speed increased from 295 to 300
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from +15% Lifesteal to +25%
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent increased from -40s Dark Ascension Cooldown to -60s

Patch 7.22h

  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Attack speed reduced from 30/50/70/90 to 20/40/60/80
  • ▼
    Crippling Fear Duration reduced from 5/6/7/8 to 4/5/6/7
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent reduced from +50 Damage to +40
  • ▼
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent reduced from +140 Hunter in the Night to +110

Patch 7.22g

  • ▼
    Void No longer does half damage during daytime

Patch 7.22f

  • ▲
    Base stats Base movement speed increased by 5

Patch 7.22

  • ▲
    Aghanim's upgrade Added Scepter upgrade. Void is now applied in a 900 AoE around you. Increases the Void ministun duration from 0.1 to 0.6 and reduces cooldown by 2 seconds.

Patch 7.21b

  • ▼
    Base stats Strength gain reduced from 3.6 to 3.2

Patch 7.21

  • ▲
    Hunter in the Night Movement speed bonus increased from 20/25/30/35 to 22/28/34/40%
  • ◆
    Aghanim's upgrade Removed Scepter
  • ▲
    Dark Ascension Now provides full unobstructed vision, instead of only 900 range
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +150 Cast Range to +15% Lifesteal

Patch 7.20e

  • ▲
    Dark Ascension Cooldown reduced from 160/140/120 to 140/130/120

Patch 7.20 Crippling Fear reworked

  • ◆
    Crippling Fear Has been reworked
  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night No longer has an active
  • ◆
    Darkness replaced with Dark Ascension
  • ◆
    Level 25 changed from -8s Crippling Fear Cooldown to -40s Dark Ascension cooldown

Patch 7.18

  • ▲
    Void Now deals half damage during day
  • ▼
    Base stats Base movement speed reduced from 290 to 285

Patch 7.17

  • ▼
    Crippling Fear Cooldown increased from 12 to 24/20/16/12
  • ▼
    Void Cooldown increased from 8 to 11/10/9/8

Patch 7.16

  • ▼
    Void No longer applies a ministun during the day
  • ▼
    Darkness no longer sets enemy vision to a fixed amount
  • ◆
    Darkness now reduces enemy unit and ward vision by 25% (doesn't affect buildings)

Patch 7.07d

  • ◆
    Hunter in the Night Hunter in the Night attack speed rescaled from 45/60/75/90 to 30/50/70/90

Patch 7.07c

  • ◆
    Darkness vision limit against buildings and wards changed from 675 to 800
  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Flight Vision reduced from 1200 to 1000

Patch 7.06e

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Intelligence reduced from 16 to 13
  • ▼
    Hunter in the Night Hunter In The Night cooldown increased from 26/22/18/14 to 30/26/22/18

Patch 7.06d

  • ▲
    Hunter in the Night Hunter in the Night manacost increased from 50 to 80
  • ▼
    Void Void day slow duration reduced from 2 to 1.25 seconds