Dota 2

Phantom Assassin

Agility melee hero, often played as a carry or escape hero.

Phantom Assassin
Agility

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Full history

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Since you last played

Coup de Grace reworked in 7.34

168 lines of changes across 53 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.

46 buffs and 29 nerfs in total: trending stronger.

Biggest ability changes

  • ▼
    Coup de Grace Critical Damage increased from 200/300/400% to 200/325/450%adjusted 7 times across 6 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Blur Now cannot be dispelledadjusted 34 times across 19 patches, net buff
  • ▼
    Phantom Strike Bonus Attack Speed rescaled from 100/130/160/190 to 80/120/160/200adjusted 22 times across 14 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Immaterial Bonus Evasion increased from 20/30/40/50% to 25/35/45/55%adjusted 5 times across 4 patches, net buff
  • ▲
    Stifling Dagger Movement Slow Duration decreased from 2.2/2.8/3.4/4s to 2.1/2.4/2.7/3sadjusted 9 times across 9 patches, net buff
  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Now pierces Debuff Immunityadjusted 11 times across 7 patches, net buff

Innate

  • ◆
    Immaterial Phantom Assassin starts with 15% Evasion and gets +1.5% per leveladjusted 2 times across 1 patch, roughly even

Aghanim’s upgrades

  • ▲
    Scepter Now granted by Aghanim's Scepterchanged 5 times, latest shown
  • ▲
    Shard Now upgraded with Aghanim's Shardchanged 4 times, latest shown

Base stats

  • ▲
    Base damage increased by 2adjusted 4 times across 4 patches, net buff
  • ▲
    Base HP Regeneration increased from 0.25 to 0.75
  • ▲
    Turn Rate improved from 0.6 to 0.8
  • ▲
    Base Damage increased by 2adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net buff
Talents changed
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Phantom Strike Duration increased from +0.6 to +0.8s
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Immaterial Evasion increased from +15% to +20%
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent +20% Stifling Dagger Damage replaced with +200 Phantom Strike Cast Range
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Coup de Grace Proc chance increased from +7% to +10%

Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Phantom Assassin had 9 facet changes in between.

Most recent change patch 7.41e, Jul 2026

  • ◆
    Blur Now cannot be dispelled
Current abilities

Facets: Veiled One, Methodical, Sweet Release

  • Stifling DaggerThrows a dagger slowing the enemy unit's movement speed, dealing 65+30% of Phantom Assassin's attack damage as physical damage and applying attack effects from items and abilities.
  • Phantom StrikeTeleports to a unit, friendly or enemy, and grants bonus attack speed while attacking if it's an enemy unit.
  • Blur innatePhantom Assassin blurs her body, disjointing incoming projectiles, increasing her movement speed, causing her to be impossible to see until she comes near enemy heroes or towers.
  • Fan of KnivesPhantom Assassin releases sharp blades around her, dealing a percentage of each victim's max health on impact and applying Break.
  • ImmaterialPhantom Assassin focuses inward, increasing her ability to evade enemy attacks. Stacks diminishingly with other sources of Evasion.
  • Coup de GracePhantom Assassin refines her combat abilities, acquiring a chance of gaining Deadly Focus with each attack. When attacking with Deadly Focus, Phantom Assassin will consume the buff and guarantee a critical hit. Stifling Dagger has a bonus chance to cause Deadly Focus.

What players buy on Phantom Assassin

Starting items

Early game

Mid game

  • Battle Fury 3900g

    Cleave and fast farming for a melee carry

  • Desolator 3500g

    Armor reduction to burst through tanks

  • 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 Phantom Assassin change, patch by patch

All 168 changes Valve listed for Phantom Assassin since patch 7.10, newest first. Coup de Grace reworked in 7.34. Last changed in 7.41e (Jul 2026).

Patch 7.41e

  • ◆
    Blur Now cannot be dispelled

Patch 7.41c

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Agility increased from 21 to 22
  • ▲
    Base stats Damage at level 1 increased from 56-58 to 57-59
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Phantom Strike Duration increased from +0.6 to +0.8s

Patch 7.41b

  • ▲
    Base stats Strength gain increased from 2.0 to 2.2
  • ▲
    Phantom Strike Duration increased from 2.5s to 3s
  • ◆
    Phantom Strike Bonus Attack Speed rescaled from 100/130/160/190 to 80/120/160/200
  • ▲
    Coup de Grace Critical Damage increased from 200/300/400% to 200/325/450%

Patch 7.41

  • ▼
    Blur No longer levels with Coup de Grace
  • ◆
    Blur Vanish Radius rescaled from 625/550/475/400 to 500
  • ◆
    Blur Vanish Buffer rescaled from 0.4/0.6/0.8/1s to 0.8s
  • ◆
    Blur Active Movement Speed changed from 6/9/12/15% to 9.5% + 0.5% per level

Patch 7.40c

  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Stifling Dagger Cooldown Reduction increased from 1.5s to 2s

Patch 7.40b

  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Now pierces Debuff Immunity
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Phantom Strike Duration increased from +0.5s to +0.6s

Patch 7.40

  • ▲
    Blur Active Movement Speed increased from 3/6/9/12% to 6/9/12/15%
  • ◆
    Phantom Strike 11/9/7/5s cooldown replaced with 2 charges with 21/18/15/12s base charge restore time

Patch 7.39e

  • ▲
    Immaterial Bonus Evasion increased from 20/30/40/50% to 25/35/45/55%

Patch 7.39d

  • ▲
    Blur Cooldown decreased from 50s to 45s
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Immaterial Evasion increased from +15% to +20%

Patch 7.39c

  • ◆
    Blur Cooldown rescaled from 60/55/50/45s to 50s
  • ▼
    Fan of Knives Break debuff is no longer dispellable

Patch 7.39

  • ◆
    Blur Now is an innate ability that improves with Coup de Grace level
  • ▼
    Blur No longer dispelled when near enemy Outposts, Watchers or base buildings (other than Towers/Ancient)
  • ◆
    Blur Now dispelled when attacking Roshan or enemy Barracks
  • ◆
    Blur Now upgraded with Aghanim's Shard
  • ◆
    Blur Decreases cooldown from 60/55/50/45s to 50/45/40/35s. Any time Phantom Assassin gets a hero kill, her ability cooldowns advance 60% of their max cooldown values
  • ◆
    Assassin Blur Info Values were not changed
  • ◆
    Immaterial Now is a basic ability
  • ◆
    Immaterial Bonus Evasion changed from 20% + 1% per hero level to 20/30/40/50%
  • ◆
    Fan of Knives Now granted by Aghanim's Scepter
  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Max Health Damage increased from 28% to 30%
  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Break Duration increased from 3s to 4s
  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Cooldown decreased from 20s to 14s

Patch 7.38c

  • ▼
    Phantom Strike Cast Range decreased from 1000 to 650/750/850/950

Patch 7.38

  • ◆
    Removed Veiled One Facet
  • ▼
    Facet Critical Damage decreased from 325/450/575% to 300/400/500%
  • ◆
    Facet Whenever a dagger hits and does not kill an enemy, it leaves a stacking debuff that lasts for 6 seconds. When the debuffed unit dies, they launch one Stifling Dagger per stack at random enemies around the target, prioritizing heroes. These daggers have 50% damage and slow duration values
  • ◆
    Facet Stacks can't be dispelled and each new dagger refreshes the duration of all current stacks. Recast range equals Stifling Dagger's cast range centered around the debuffed enemy
  • ▼
    Immaterial Bonus Evasion per level decreased from 1.5% to 1%
  • ▼
    Stifling Dagger Movement Slow Duration decreased from 2.2/2.8/3.4/4s to 2.1/2.4/2.7/3s
  • ◆
    Blur Now isn't removed on attack by default
  • ▼
    Coup de Grace Critical Damage decreased from 200/325/450% to 200/300/400%
  • ▼
    Fan of Knives Cooldown increased from 15s to 20s
  • ▼
    Fan of Knives Mana Cost increased from 50 to 80
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Stifling Dagger Cooldown Reduction decreased from 2s to 1.5s
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +200 Phantom Strike Cast Range replaced with +15% Stifling Dagger Damage
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +20% Stifling Dagger Damage replaced with +200 Phantom Strike Cast Range

Patch 7.37

  • ◆
    Blur Now disjoints projectiles
  • ▼
    Blur Cast time decreased from 0.4s to 0.3s

Patch 7.36c

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Damage increased by 2
  • ▲
    Immaterial Starting Evasion increased from 15% to 20%

Patch 7.36b

  • ▲
    Facet Critical Damage increased from 300/425/550% to 325/450/575%
  • ▲
    Blur Now also provides 3/6/9/12% bonus movement speed while active

Patch 7.36a

  • ◆
    Facet Stifling Dagger now counts as 2 attacks

Patch 7.36

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Damage increased by 2
  • ▲
    Base stats Base Attack Speed increased from 100 to 110
  • ◆
    Immaterial New Innate ability. Passive, improves with Phantom Assassin's level
  • ◆
    Immaterial Phantom Assassin starts with 15% Evasion and gets +1.5% per level
  • ▼
    Facet No longer dispelled on attack. While Blur is active, all mana costs are reduced by 30%. After Blur is dispelled, all abilities and items have no mana cost for 5s
  • ▲
    Facet Critical Damage increased from 200/325/450% to 300/425/550%
  • ▼
    Facet No longer has random procs. Instead, triggers on the 6th attack on the same Hero or on the 4th attack on the same creep. Attack counter lasts for 6/8/10 seconds
  • ◆
    Facet Level 25 Talent +7% Coup de Grace Proc Chance replaced with -1 Attacks to Trigger Coup de Grace
  • ▼
    Blur No longer grants evasion
  • ▼
    Blur No longer makes Phantom Assassin invisible
  • ◆
    Blur Still hides her on the minimap
  • ▼
    Blur No longer allows to attack without dispelling Blur by default
  • ◆
    Blur Still allows to cast Stifling Dagger without dispelling Blur
  • ◆
    Blur Now enemies can see ghostly silhouette of Phantom Assassin when she's within their vision, but she is still untargetable until Blur is dispelled
  • ◆
    Blur Vanish Radius rescaled from 500 to 625/550/475/400
  • ◆
    Blur Vanish Buffer rescaled from 0.5s to 0.4/0.6/0.8/1.0s
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Phantom Strike Cast Range decreased from +250 to +200
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +25% Blur Evasion replaced with +15% Immaterial Evasion
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Coup de Grace Proc chance increased from +7% to +10%

Patch 7.35c

  • ▲
    Base stats Agility gain increased from 3.2 to 3.4
  • ▲
    Stifling Dagger Cast Range increased from 550/750/950/1150 to 700/850/1000/1150

Patch 7.35b

  • ▲
    Stifling Dagger Attack Damage increased from 25/40/55/70% to 30/45/60/75%
  • ▲
    Phantom Strike Bonus Attack Speed increased from 80/110/140/170 to 100/130/160/190
  • ▲
    Blur Duration increased from 25s to 30s
  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Max Health Damage increased from 25% to 28%

Patch 7.35

  • ▲
    Base stats Intelligence gain increased from 1.4 to 1.7
  • ▲
    Base stats Base Movement Speed increased from 305 to 310
  • ▼
    Phantom Strike No longer provides lifesteal
  • ▲
    Phantom Strike Duration increased from 2s to 2.5s
  • ◆
    Fan of Knives Damage type changed from Pure to Physical
  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Max Health Damage increased from 16% to 25%

Patch 7.34d

  • ▲
    Blur Vanish Radius increased from 400 to 500
  • ◆
    Blur Aghanim's Scepter Cooldown rescaled from 10s to 50% of the current cooldown
  • ▼
    Blur Aghanim's Scepter no longer increases Vanish Buffer
  • ▼
    Coup de Grace Chance of Deadly Focus decreased from 20% to 17% (40% to 34% for Stifling Dagger)

Patch 7.34b

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Agility decreased by 2
  • ◆
    Phantom Strike Lifesteal now has a 40% penalty on creeps

Patch 7.34 Coup de Grace reworked

  • ◆
    Coup de Grace Ability reworked
  • ◆
    Coup de Grace Phantom Assassin refines her combat abilities, acquiring a 20% chance of gaining Deadly Focus buff with each attack. While Phantom Assassin is focused, her next attack will deal a guaranteed critical hit with 200/325/450% damage and consume the buff. Stifling Dagger has a 40% chance to gain Deadly Focus. The hit that lands a guaranteed crit may also activate a Deadly Focus buff, making consecutive crits possible. Deadly Focus Duration: 6s

Patch 7.32e

  • ▲
    Stifling Dagger Base Damage increased from 65 to 65/70/75/80
  • ▼
    Blur Dispel Radius decreased from 600 to 400

Patch 7.32d

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Health Regen increased from 0.75 to 1
  • ▲
    Phantom Strike Mana Cost decreased from 35/45/55/65 to 35/40/45/50

Patch 7.32c

  • ▲
    Base stats Turn Rate improved from 0.6 to 0.8
  • ▲
    Phantom Strike Attack Speed Bonus increased from 75/100/125/150 to 80/110/140/170

Patch 7.32b

  • ▼
    Base stats Strength decreased from 21 + 2.2 to 19 + 2
  • ▼
    Base stats Agility Gain reduced from 3.4 to 3.2
  • ▼
    Base stats Base Damage reduced by 1
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Phantom Strike Duration decreased from +1s to +0.5s

Patch 7.32

  • ▲
    Phantom Strike Now grants 10/15/20/25% lifesteal for its duration
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent 15% Lifesteal replaced with +25% Blur Evasion
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +25% Blur Evasion replaced with +60 Phantom Strike Attack Speed

Patch 7.31

  • ▼
    Phantom Strike Mana cost increased from 35/40/45/50 to 35/45/55/65
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +12% lifesteal increased to 15%
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent -3 Armor Corruption replaced with +20% Stifling Dagger damage

Patch 7.30d

  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Cooldown reduced from 20 to 15

Patch 7.30c

  • ▲
    Base stats Base HP Regeneration increased from 0.25 to 0.75
  • ▲
    Blur Evasion increased from 15/25/35/45% to 20/30/40/50%

Patch 7.30

  • ▲
    Stifling Dagger Slow duration increased from 1.75/2.5/3.25/4s 2.2/2.8/3.4/4s
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +175 Health replaced with +1s Phantom Strike Duration

Patch 7.29b

  • ▲
    Base stats Base damage increased by 2
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from -1.5s Stiffling Dagger Cooldown to -2s
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from +150 Health to +175

Patch 7.29

  • ◆
    Stifling Dagger Range rescaled from 525/750/975/1200 to 550/750/950/1150
  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Shard damage increased from 12% to 16%
  • ▲
    Fan of Knives Shard mana cost reduced from 125 to 50
  • ◆
    Fan of Knives Shard impact time now matches the projectile visuals
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from -1s Stifling Dagger Cooldown to -1.5s
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent reduced from +300 Phantom Strike Cast Range to +250

Patch 7.28a

  • ▼
    Phantom Strike Attack speed reduced from 100/125/150/175 to 75/100/125/150

Patch 7.27b

  • ▲
    Base stats Base damage increased by 3
  • ▲
    Blur Scepter cooldown reduced from 12 to 10
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +12 Damage to -1s Stifling Dagger Cooldown
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +25% Cleave to +350 Phantom Strike Cast Range
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from +30% Blur Evasion to +35%

Patch 7.26c

  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from +20% Cleave to +25%
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from +24% Blur Evasion to +30%
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent changed from +8% Coup de Grace to +100% Coup de Grace Critical Damage

Patch 7.24

  • ▲
    Base stats Base damage increased by 3

Patch 7.22f

  • ▲
    Base stats Base damage increased by 1
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from +200 Health to +225

Patch 7.22e

  • ◆
    Fixed Stifling Dagger slow lasting for 1/2/3/4 seconds instead of 1.75/2.5/3.25/4 seconds

Patch 7.22d

  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from +150 Health to +200
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from +20% Blur Evasion to +25%
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent increased from +5% Coup de Grace to +10%

Patch 7.22

  • ▲
    Aghanim's upgrade Added Scepter upgrade. Blur now has instant cast time and applies a dispel. Anytime you get a hero kill, your abilities are refreshed. Reduces Blur cooldown to 12 seconds.

Patch 7.21c

  • ▼
    Base stats Agility gain reduced from 3.7 to 3.4

Patch 7.21

  • ◆
    Rearranged Level 15 Talents - +25% Cleave vs +15% Lifesteal
  • ◆
    Rearranged Level 20 Talents - +20% Blur Evasion vs -4 Armor Corruption
  • ◆
    Rearranged Level 25 Talents - +5% Coup de Grace vs Triple Strike Stifling Dagger

Patch 7.20e

  • ▼
    Phantom Strike Duration reduced from 2.25 to 2
  • ▲
    Stifling Dagger Manacost increased from 30/25/20/15 to 30
  • ▼
    Coup de Grace Critical damage reduced from 210/330/450% to 200/325/450%
  • ▲
    Blur Manacost increased from 30 to 50

Patch 7.20d

  • ▼
    Phantom Strike Attack speed duration reduced from 2.5 to 2.25
  • ◆
    Blur Now has a 0.4 second cast point
  • ▼
    Coup de Grace Damage reduced from 230/340/450% to 210/330/450%

Patch 7.20c

  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent reduced from -4 Armor to -3
  • ▲
    Blur Manacost increased from 20 to 30

Patch 7.20

  • ◆
    Phantom Strike Cooldown rescaled from 14/11/8/5 to 11/9/7/5
  • ▲
    Phantom Strike Cast point reduced from 0.3 to 0.25
  • ◆
    Phantom Strike Attack Speed rescaled from 130 to 100/125/150/175
  • ▼
    Phantom Strike No longer has an attack limit
  • ◆
    Phantom Strike Attack Speed bonus now lasts for 2.5 seconds
  • ◆
    Phantom Strike Manacost rescaled from 50 to 35/40/45/50
  • ▼
    Phantom Strike Attack Speed bonus no longer depends on attacking the specific target
  • ◆
    Blur S non-evasion passive component has been changed into an active

Patch 7.17

  • ◆
    Stifling Dagger Slow rescaled from 1/2/3/4 seconds to 1.75/2.5/3.25/4
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent improved from Double Strike Stifling Dagger to Triple Strike Stifling Dagger

Patch 7.16

  • ◆
    Blur Now only triggers on real heroes
  • ◆
    Blur Now always triggers on Invisible and Spell Immune enemies

Patch 7.12

  • ◆
    Stifling Dagger Can be targeted on Spell Immune (the slow won't have any effect, but the physical damage will go through)

Patch 7.10

  • ◆
    Stifiling Dagger Talent now has a 300 cast range buffer for the secondary target