UniversalSince you last played
Reworked in 7.33Reworked in 7.33 Apr 2023
Nyx Assassin changed enough that old habits may not hold. The kit further down is how Nyx Assassin plays now.
- ◆Mana Burn Ability removed
- ◆Mind Flare New basic ability
- ▲Impale Now deals damage on start of being impaled, instead of on landing
- ◆Vendetta Now removes 50% of the target's max mana on hit
- ◆Burrow Now increases Mind Flare cast range by 400
22 buffs and 17 nerfs since the rework: roughly even.
Biggest ability changes
- ▲Spiked Carapace Stun Duration increased from 0.4/0.8/1.2/1.6s to 0.7/1.0/1.3/1.6sadjusted 6 times across 5 patches, net buff
- ▼Mind Flare Now burns 9/12/15/18% of the target's Max Manaadjusted 13 times across 7 patches, net nerf
- ◆Vendetta Duration decreased from 60s to 45/50/55sadjusted 8 times across 5 patches, roughly even
- ▼Burrow Spiked Carapace AoE increased from 300 to 400adjusted 6 times across 2 patches, net nerf
- ▲Impale Mana Cost decreased from 100/110/120/130 to 90/100/110/120adjusted 3 times across 2 patches, net buff
- ◆Mana Burn Damage reflected with Spiked Carapace also countsadjusted 3 times across 1 patch, roughly even
- ◆Assassin Vendetta Info The Break is applied before the bonus damage
Innate
- ◆Nyxth Sense Innate removed (it was added in 7.36)
Aghanim’s upgrades
- ▼Shard Aghanim's Shard reworkedchanged 3 times, latest shown
Base stats
- ▲Base Damage increased by 14adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net buff
- ▲Agility gain increased from 2.3 to 2.9adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net buff
- ▼Damage gain per level decreased from +5.1 to +3.7
- ▼Damage at level 30 decreased by 52 (from 228-232 to 176-180)
- ▲Strength gain increased from 2.5 to 2.7
- ▲Intelligence gain increased from 2.5 to 2.6
- ◆Damage at level 1 unchanged (51-55)
Talents changed
- ◆Lv10 talent +40 Vendetta Damage replaced with +25% Spiked Carapace Damage Reflect
- ◆Lv15 talent +0.5s Spiked Carapace Reflect Duration replaced with +50 Vendetta Damage
- ◆Lv20 talent Spiked Carapace Stun Duration increased from +0.5s to +0.6s
- ◆Lv25 talent Vendetta Applies Break replaced with +80 Agility
Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Nyx Assassin had 8 facet changes in between.
Most recent change patch 7.41b, Apr 2026
- ▼Vendetta Duration decreased from 60s to 45/50/55s
Current abilities
ImpaleRock spikes burst from the earth along a straight path. Enemy units take damage, then are hurled into the air and stunned.
Mind FlareDeals damage equal to a percentage of the target's Max Mana and burns part of it away. Deals additional damage equal to a percentage of the damage the target has taken from Nyx Assassin in the last 15s. Resets accumulated damage before applying damage.
Spiked CarapaceWhen activated while above ground, Spiked Carapace reflects and negates damage dealt to Nyx Assassin (max once from each source), as well as stunning the source of the damage. Activating Spiked Carapace will not break Vendetta invisibility. While Burrowed, Spiked Carapace instantly stuns nearby enemies when cast.
BurrowNyx Assassin buries himself beneath the battlefield over a short duration. Once burrowed, Spiked Carapace instantly stuns nearby enemies when cast, the range of Mind Flare and Impale is increased, and Impale's cooldown is decreased. While burrowed, Nyx Assassin is stationary, unable to attack, and invisible. Nyx Assassin gains damage reduction from all damage sources.
Mana Burn innateNyx Assassin's damage on enemies also burns mana as a percentage of the damage dealt.
VendettaNyx Assassin becomes invisible and gains a speed bonus. If Nyx Assassin attacks to break the invisibility, massive bonus damage is dealt with the attack that applies a break to the target. Nyx Assassin has 75 additional attack range and a 70% faster attack animation for this attack.
UnburrowEmerge from the burrow.
What players buy on Nyx Assassin
Starting items
Early game
- Tranquil Boots 900g
- Urn of Shadows 825g
Mid game
Mana for casting, or a stat switch if mana is not a problem
- Dagon 3000g
Late game
- Aeon Disk 3000g
- Aghanim's Scepter 4200g
- Force Staff 2200g
Pushes you or an ally out of trouble or into reach
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.