Dota 2

Phantom Lancer

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

Phantom Lancer
Agility

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Full history

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Since you last played

Heavily adjusted

162 lines of changes across 57 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.

32 buffs and 29 nerfs in total: roughly even.

Biggest ability changes

  • ◆
    Illusory Armaments Min Damage increase changed from 2% per 3 level ups to 2% per 3 levelsadjusted 9 times across 6 patches, roughly even
  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Slow Duration decreased from 3.75s to 3sadjusted 13 times across 12 patches, net buff
  • ▼
    Doppelganger Mana Cost increased from 50 to 70adjusted 5 times across 5 patches, net nerf
  • ▼
    Phantom Rush Toggling is no longer disabled by silenceadjusted 18 times across 11 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Juxtapose Illusion Damage decreased from 15/17/19% to 15%adjusted 12 times across 12 patches, net buff
  • ◆
    Lancer Illusory Armaments Info This means two things: bonus damage increases 1 level earlier (on levels 3/6/9... instead of 4/7/10...) and Phantom Lancer will gain one more damage increase on level 30adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even

Innate

  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Cooldown rescaled from 13/10/7/4s to 16/13/10/7/4sadjusted 4 times across 1 patch, roughly even

Aghanim’s upgrades

  • ▼
    Shard Aghanim's Shard cooldown increased from 15s to 18schanged 8 times, latest shown
  • ▼
    Scepter Aghanim's Scepter bonus max rush distance decreased from +625 to +575changed 13 times, latest shown

Base stats

  • ▲
    Agility gain increased from 2.8 to 3.4adjusted 5 times across 5 patches, net buff
  • ▲
    Base Health Regen increased from 1.5 to 2adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net buff
  • ▲
    Base HP regen increased from 0.5 to 1.5
  • ▼
    Intelligence gain decreased from 2.0 to 1.8
Talents changed
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Spirit Lance Slow Duration decreased from +1.25s to +1s
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent +2.5s Phantom Rush Bonus Agility Duration replaced with 50% Illusion Spirit Lance Damage
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent +15% Spirit Lance Illusion Damage replaced with +100 Spirit Lance Damage
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent +20% Illusory Armaments Damage replaced with +2s Illusory Armaments Duration
  • ◆
    Talent Spirit Lances fired from illusions deal 50% of the regular damage, which is then further reduced by the illusion's outgoing damage multiplier

Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Phantom Lancer had 8 facet changes in between.

Most recent change patch 7.41e, Jul 2026

  • ▼
    Juxtapose Aghanim's Shard cooldown increased from 15s to 18s
Current abilities
  • Spirit LanceSends a magical spirit lance to a target enemy unit that damages and slows, while summoning an illusory phantom to attack the unit.
  • DoppelgangerPhantom Lancer briefly vanishes from the battlefield. After 1 second, Phantom Lancer and any of his nearby illusions reappear at a random position within the targeted location, along with two additional doppelgangers. Extends duration of all illusions. The two added doppelgangers have different properties: one takes normal damage and deals none, while the other takes 500% bonus damage and deals -80% less damage. DISPEL TYPE: Basic Dispel
  • Phantom RushWhen targeting an enemy for an attack, Phantom Lancer quickly charges into range, gaining increased movement speed and evasion.
  • Illusory Armaments innateWhenever an illusion of Phantom Lancer is created, its outgoing damage cannot go below a fixed value for 3 seconds.
  • JuxtaposePhantom Lancer has a chance to fracture his presence on an attack, creating an illusion of himself. Illusions also have a chance to fracture further. Illusions created from Phantom Lancer last for 8 seconds, while illusions created from other illusions last 4 seconds.

What players buy on Phantom Lancer

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 Phantom Lancer change, patch by patch

All 162 changes Valve listed for Phantom Lancer since patch 7.06d, newest first. Last changed in 7.41e (Jul 2026).

Patch 7.41e

  • ▼
    Juxtapose Aghanim's Shard cooldown increased from 15s to 18s

Patch 7.41c

  • ▼
    Phantom Rush Aghanim's Scepter bonus max rush distance decreased from +625 to +575
  • ◆
    Lancer Phantom Edge Info From 1225/1300/1375/1450 to 1175/1250/1325/1400

Patch 7.41a

  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Slow Duration decreased from 3.75s to 3s
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Spirit Lance Slow Duration decreased from +1.25s to +1s

Patch 7.41

  • ◆
    Illusory Armaments Min Damage increase changed from 2% per 3 level ups to 2% per 3 levels
  • ◆
    Lancer Illusory Armaments Info This means two things: bonus damage increases 1 level earlier (on levels 3/6/9... instead of 4/7/10...) and Phantom Lancer will gain one more damage increase on level 30

Patch 7.40c

  • ▼
    Illusory Armaments Min Damage at level 1 decreased from 18% to 17%
  • ◆
    Lancer Illusory Armaments Info Increment value per 3 level ups is still 2%
  • ▼
    Doppelganger Mana Cost increased from 50 to 70

Patch 7.40b

  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Damage increased from 70/140/210/280 to 100/160/220/280
  • ▼
    Phantom Rush Toggling is no longer disabled by silence

Patch 7.40

  • ▲
    Base stats Agility gain increased from 2.8 to 3.4
  • ◆
    Removed Divergence and Lancelot facets
  • ◆
    Illusory Armaments Ability Reworked
  • ◆
    Illusory Armaments Whenever an illusion of Phantom Lancer is created, it can't have less than 18% of Phantom Lancer's damage for 3s. Damage increases by 2% with every 3 Phantom Lancer's level ups
  • ▼
    Phantom Rush No Longer provides bonus Agility while active
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Cooldown rescaled from 13/10/7/4s to 15/11/7/3s
  • ▲
    Phantom Rush Now provides 20/30/40/50% evasion while rushing
  • ▼
    Phantom Rush No longer has a 2s linger effect
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Evasion bonus is lost once the target is reached or the rush is cancelled
  • ▼
    Juxtapose Illusion Damage decreased from 15/17/19% to 15%
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +10 Phantom Rush Agility replaced with +3% Juxtapose Illusion Trigger Chance
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent -1s Spirit Lance Cooldown replaced with +125 Doppelganger Cast Range
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +2.5s Phantom Rush Bonus Agility Duration replaced with 50% Illusion Spirit Lance Damage
  • ▼
    Talent Spirit Lances fired from illusions deal 50% of the regular damage, which is then further reduced by the illusion's outgoing damage multiplier
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +6% Juxtapose Damage replaced with -70% Juxtapose Illusion Damage Taken
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +15% Spirit Lance Illusion Damage replaced with +100 Spirit Lance Damage
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent +20% Illusory Armaments Damage replaced with +2s Illusory Armaments Duration

Patch 7.39c

  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Aghanim's Scepter now additionally every 600 units rushed creates a Juxtapose illusion that rushes to the target alongside Phantom Lancer
  • ▲
    Phantom Rush Aghanim's Scepter collision radius for Phantom Lancer increased from 75 to 125

Patch 7.39

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Health Regen increased from 1.5 to 2
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance No longer upgraded with Aghanim's Scepter
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Now upgraded with Aghanim's Scepter
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Increases Max Rush Distance by 625. Whenever Phantom Lancer Rushes through enemies, he creates Juxtapose illusions that attack them
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +300 Phantom Rush Range replaced with +15% Spirit Lance Illusion Damage

Patch 7.38b

  • ▲
    Juxtapose Illusion Trigger Chance increased from 8% to 9%

Patch 7.38

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Strength increased from 19 to 21
  • ◆
    Removed Convergence Facet
  • ◆
    Facet Copies of Spirit Lance created by Phantom Lancer's illusions deal 25% of ability's damage. Lance copies don't deal any damage to the enemy they bounce on with Aghanim's Scepter
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Aghanim's Scepter bounce count decreased from 2 to 1
  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Aghanim's Scepter Bonus Illusion Damage increased from 20% to 30%
  • ▲
    Juxtapose Illusion Damage Taken decreased from 625% to 600%
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +35 Spirit Lance Damage replaced with +1.25s Spirit Lance Slow Duration
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Illusory Armaments Damage increased from +15% to +20%

Patch 7.37e

  • ▲
    Phantom Rush Bonus Agility Duration increased from 1.5s to 2s

Patch 7.37d

  • ◆
    Illusory Armaments Effects that percentually change the base damage now also affect base damage bonus provided by Illusory Armaments
  • ▲
    Illusory Armaments Bonus to Base Damage for illusions increased from 65% to 70%

Patch 7.37c

  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Illusion Duration increased from 2/4/6/8s to 3.5/5/6.5/8s
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Bonus Agility is now applied during the rush as well as the 1.5s after it ends
  • ▲
    Facet Illusion Damage increased from 13/15/17% to 15/17/19%
  • ▲
    Facet Illusion Damage increased from 15/17/19% to 17/19/21%

Patch 7.37b

  • ◆
    Illusory Armaments 100% of bonus damage is converted to base damage for Phantom Lancer. Phantom Lancer illusions still convert 65% of the bonus damage
  • ▲
    Juxtapose Illusion Damage Taken decreased from 650% to 625%

Patch 7.37

  • ▼
    Facet Bonus Illusion Damage decreased from +4% to +2%
  • ◆
    Illusory Armaments New Innate ability. Passive, can't be leveled up
  • ◆
    Illusory Armaments Items that grant bonus damage instead grant base damage for 65% of the original bonus damage amount
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Illusion Damage decreased from 20% to 15%
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Aghanim's Scepter Bonus Illusion Damage decreased from 30% to 20%
  • ▼
    Phantom Rush No longer an innate ability
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Cooldown rescaled from 16/13/10/7/4s to 13/10/7/4s
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Max Rush Distance rescaled from 525/600/675/750/825 to 600/675/750/825
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Bonus Agility rescaled from 5/10/20/30/40 to 10/20/30/40
  • ▼
    Juxtapose Illusion Damage decreased from 18/20/22% to 13/15/17%
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Juxtapose Damage decreased from +10% to +6%
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent +20% Critical Strike (200%) replaced with +15% Illusory Armaments Damage

Patch 7.36b

  • ▼
    Facet Illusion Damage decreased from 24/26/28% to 22/24/26%

Patch 7.36

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Armor increased by 1
  • ▼
    Base stats Base Health Regen decreased from 2 to 1.5
  • ▲
    Base stats Base Attack Speed increased from 100 to 110
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Now is an Innate ability. Passive, can be leveled up with skill points
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Bonus Agility rescaled from 10/20/30/40 to 5/10/20/30/40
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Max Rush Distance rescaled from 600/675/750/825 to 525/600/675/750/825
  • ◆
    Phantom Rush Cooldown rescaled from 13/10/7/4s to 16/13/10/7/4s
  • ◆
    Facet Spawns an additional illusion per 25% of health that Phantom Lancer is missing
  • ◆
    Facet Illusions are uncontrollable and can spawn on any visible enemy unit in the 700 radius of the attack target, prioritizing targets without Juxtapose illusions attacking them. They can perform Phantom Rush and change targets once the original one is dead. If there are no valid targets in range, illusions disappear
  • ▲
    Facet Illusion outgoing damage increased from 18/20/22% to 24/26/28%
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Spirit Lance Damage decreased from +40 to +35
  • ▼
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Critical Strike Chance decreased from +24% to +20%

Patch 7.35

  • ▼
    Base stats Intelligence gain decreased from 2.0 to 1.8
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Aghanim's Scepter no longer increases movement slow
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +8 Strength replaced with +10 Phantom Rush Agility
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Spirit Lance Cooldown Reduction decreased from 1.5s to 1s

Patch 7.34

  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Spirit Lance Damage decreased from +50 to +40
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Spirit Lance Cooldown Reduction decreased from 2s to 1.5s

Patch 7.33d

  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Aghanim's Scepter Bonus Illusion Damage decreased from 40% to 30%
  • ▼
    Juxtapose Illusion Damage decreased from 22% to 18/20/22%
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +2.5s Phantom Rush Bonus Agility Duration replaced with +8 Strength
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +15 Strength replaced with +2.5s Phantom Rush Bonus Agility Duration

Patch 7.33c

  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Cooldown increased from 7s to 10/9/8/7s

Patch 7.33b

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Movement Speed decreased by 5
  • ▼
    Base stats Agility gain decreased from 3.2 to 2.8
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Damage decreased from 100/160/220/280 to 70/140/210/280
  • ▼
    Doppelganger Cooldown increased from 19/16/13/10s to 22/18/14/10s

Patch 7.33

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Attack Range increased from 150 to 225
  • ◆
    Spirit Lance Aghanim's Shard Upgrade moved to Aghanim's Scepter
  • ◆
    Spirit Lance Spirit Lance now bounces twice on enemies, prioritizing Heroes (can bounce back to the original target). Also increases slow amount by 10% and Spirit Lance illusion damage by 40%
  • ◆
    Juxtapose Now upgradable by Aghanim's Shard
  • ◆
    Juxtapose Allows Juxtapose to be activated to create 1 illusion at Phantom Lancer's location, giving him instant invisibility. Move Speed Bonus: 15%. Duration: 8s. Cooldown: 15s

Patch 7.32c

  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Cast Range increased from 525/600/675/750 to 600/650/700/750
  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Movement Slow increased from 10/18/26/34% to 14/21/28/35%

Patch 7.32b

  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Slow Duration increased from 3.25s to 3.75s
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +8% Juxtapose Damage increased to +10%

Patch 7.32

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Health Regen increased from 1.5 to 2.0
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +150 Health replaced with +50 Spirit Lance Damage

Patch 7.31d

  • ▲
    Doppelganger Cooldown reduced from 25/20/15/10s to 19/16/13/10s
  • ▲
    Talent Level 20 talent +5% Juxtapose damage increased to +8%

Patch 7.31

  • ▲
    Phantom Rush Cooldown decreased from 16/12/8/4 to 13/10/7/4
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +15 Attack Speed replaced with +2.5s Phantom Rush Bonus Agi Duration
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +16% Evasion replaced with +15 Strength

Patch 7.30c

  • ▲
    Talent Level 15 talent -3s Spirit Lance Cooldown reduced to -2

Patch 7.30

  • ▲
    Juxtapose Aghanim's Scepter's cooldown reduced from 60s to 40s
  • ◆
    Juxtapose Aghanim's Scepter also increases max illusion count by 2

Patch 7.29b

  • ▼
    Base stats Base damage reduced by 2
  • ▼
    Base stats Base armor reduced by 1
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Shard no longer increases cast range by 200
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Shard damage reduced from 50% to 40%
  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Shard bounce range reduced from 900 to 750
  • ▼
    Phantom Rush Agility bonus reduced from 11/22/33/44 to 10/20/30/40
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +16% Evasion to +150 Health
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +200 Health to +16% Evasion

Patch 7.29

  • ◆
    Base stats Base damage range rescaled from 52-66 to 54-64
  • ▼
    Doppelganger Cast range reduced from 600 to 575
  • ▼
    Phantom Rush Range reduced from 600/700/800/900 to 600/675/750/825
  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Shard damage increased from +30% to +50%
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from -2s Spirit Lance Cooldown to -3
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent reduced from +350 Phantom Rush Range to +300
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from +4% Juxtapose Damage to +5%

Patch 7.28b

  • ◆
    Spirit Lance Shard now also increases cast range by 200

Patch 7.28a

  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Shard illusion damage increased from +20% to +30%

Patch 7.27b

  • ▼
    Attack damage spread reduced from 48-70 to 52-66 (same average damage)
  • ▲
    Spirit Lance Damage increased from 100/150/200/250 to 100/160/220/280
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +100 Spirit Lance Damage to -1s Spirit Lance Cooldown
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from +5 Max Juxtapose Illusions to +4% Juxtapose Illusion Damage

Patch 7.26c

  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from +4 Max Juxtapose Illusions to +5

Patch 7.25c

  • ▼
    Base stats Base agility reduced by 3

Patch 7.24

  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent reduced from +275 Health to +250
  • ▼
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent reduced from -6s Doppelganger Cooldown to -5s

Patch 7.22g

  • ▲
    Juxtapose Illusions damage increased from 20% to 22%

Patch 7.22e

  • ▼
    Spirit Lance Manacost reduced from 125/130/135/140 to 110/120/130/140
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from +250 Health to +275

Patch 7.22d

  • ▲
    Juxtapose Illusion damage increased from 18% to 20%

Patch 7.22c

  • ▲
    Juxtapose Illusion damage increased from 16% to 18%
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from +15% Evasion to +20%

Patch 7.22

  • ▲
    Base stats Strength gain increased from 2 to 2.2
  • ▲
    Base stats Agility gain increased from 3 to 3.2

Patch 7.21c

  • ▲
    Phantom Rush Bonus agility increased from 9/18/27/36 to 11/22/33/44

Patch 7.21b

  • ▲
    Phantom Rush Agility bonus increased from 6/14/22/30 to 9/18/27/36

Patch 7.21

  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from +10% Evasion to +15%
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from +4 Max Juxtapose Illusions to +5

Patch 7.20

  • ▼
    Phantom Lance slow reduced from 10/20/30/40% to 10/18/26/34%
  • ▲
    Juxtapose Incoming damage increased from 600% to 650%

Patch 7.19d

  • ◆
    Spirit Lance Cast range rescaled from 750 to 525/600/675/750

Patch 7.19c

  • ▼
    Base stats Agility gain reduced from 2.8 to 2.6

Patch 7.19b

  • ▼
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent reduced from -7s Doppelganger CD to -6s

Patch 7.19

  • ▲
    Juxtapose Illusion incoming damage increased from 500% to 600%
  • ▼
    Base stats Base intelligence reduced by 2

Patch 7.18

  • ▼
    Base stats Base strength reduced by 3

Patch 7.16

  • ▼
    Doppelganger Can no longer be cast while rooted

Patch 7.10

  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent increased from -5s Doppelganger Cooldown to -7s

Patch 7.06e

  • ▲
    Base stats Agility gain increased from 2.6 to 2.8

Patch 7.06d

  • ▲
    Base stats Base HP regen increased from 0.5 to 1.5