Dota 2

Io

Universal ranged hero, often played as a support, escape hero or nuker.

Io
Universal

When did you last play?

Full history

Until you pick a month the page shows every change. Pick the month you last played to keep only what is new to you. The date is shared by every hero page.

Since you last played

Spirits reworked in 7.21b

177 lines of changes across 43 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.

30 buffs and 42 nerfs in total: roughly even.

Biggest ability changes

  • ▲
    Spirits Now remembers the radius of the spirits between castsadjusted 24 times across 13 patches, net buff
  • ▼
    Tether HP/Mana Transfer decreased from 60/80/100/120% to 55/75/95/115%adjusted 31 times across 19 patches, net nerf
  • ▼
    Overcharge Now also provides 35/60/85/110 Attack Speed and 8/10/12/14% Spell Amplification to Io and any tethered Alliesadjusted 13 times across 8 patches, net nerf
  • ▲
    Relocate Cooldown decreased from 100/90/80s to 90/80/70sadjusted 7 times across 5 patches, net buff
  • ▼
    Equilibrium Max Damage Amp and Max Heal Amplification decreased from 5 + 0.5% per level to 4 + 0.4% per leveladjusted 3 times across 2 patches, net nerf
  • ◆
    Spirits In Out is just one ability now, alternates the direction (has a 1.5 second cooldown, same hotkey as spirits ability)

Innate

  • ◆
    Sight Seer Innate removed (it was added in 7.36)

Aghanim’s upgrades

  • ▲
    Scepter Aghanim's Scepter Movement Slow increased from 15% to 25%changed 4 times, latest shown
  • ▼
    Shard No longer upgraded with Aghanim's Shardchanged 8 times, latest shown

Base stats

  • ▲
    Strength gain increased from 2.7 to 3.0adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net buff
  • ▼
    Base Damage increased by 7adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net nerf
  • ◆
    Damage gain per level decreased from +4.2 to +2.8adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
  • ◆
    Base movement speed increased from 280 to 320adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
Talents changed
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Strength increased from +7 to +8
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Spirits Damage decreased from +50% to +40%
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Relocate Cooldown Reduction increased from 25s to 30s
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Attack Tethered Ally's Target Damage decreased from 75% to 50%

Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Io had 5 facet changes in between.

Most recent change patch 7.41f, Sep 2026

  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Spirits Damage decreased from +50% to +40%
Current abilities
  • TetherTethers Io to an allied unit, granting bonus movement speed to both. When Io restores health or mana, the tethered unit gains a portion of that amount. The tether breaks when the allied unit moves too far away, or Io cancels the tether. Tether slows enemies touching it.
  • SpiritsSummon five particle spirits that dance in a circle around Io. If a particle collides with an enemy hero, it explodes, damaging all enemy units in an area around it. Creeps take minor damage from touching a particle spirit, but do not cause them to explode. When its duration ends, any remaining Spirits explode.
  • OverchargeIo gains attack speed, spell amplification, and health regeneration based on max health. If Io is Tethered to an ally, that unit also gains any bonuses granted by Overcharge.
  • Spirits InSends the spirits closer to you. Can be toggled on and off.
  • Spirits OutSends the spirits farther away from you. Can be toggled on and off.
  • RelocateTeleports Io and a tethered ally to any location. After the spell expires, Io and the tethered ally will return to their original location. Double-click to teleport to your team's base fountain.
  • Break TetherBreak the link to the tethered unit.
  • Equilibrium innateIo gains outgoing damage amplification the closer it is to full health, and Health Restoration and Healing Amplification the closer it is to zero health.

What players buy on Io

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 Io change, patch by patch

All 177 changes Valve listed for Io since patch 7.06d, newest first. Spirits reworked in 7.21b. Last changed in 7.41f (Sep 2026).

Patch 7.41f

  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Spirits Damage decreased from +50% to +40%

Patch 7.41c

  • ▼
    Tether HP/Mana Transfer decreased from 60/80/100/120% to 55/75/95/115%
  • ◆
    Spirits Now remembers the radius of the spirits between casts

Patch 7.41a

  • ▼
    Equilibrium Max Damage Amp and Max Heal Amplification decreased from 5 + 0.5% per level to 4 + 0.4% per level
  • ▼
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Attack Tethered Ally's Target Damage decreased from 75% to 50%

Patch 7.41

  • ◆
    Removed Wellspring innate ability
  • ◆
    Equilibrium New innate ability
  • ◆
    Equilibrium Io always has bonus Outgoing Damage Amp which linearly scales with its health, reaching a maximum of 5% + 0.5% per level at 100% Health. At the same time, Io has Health Restoration and Healing Amplifications which also linearly scale with its health, but reach a maximum of 5% + 0.5% per level at zero Health
  • ▲
    Overcharge Now also provides 35/60/85/110 Attack Speed and 8/10/12/14% Spell Amplification to Io and any tethered Allies
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Strength increased from +7 to +8
  • ▼
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Relocate Cast Delay Reduction increased from 1.5s to 2s

Patch 7.40

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Strength increased from 17 to 19
  • ▼
    Base stats Base Intelligence decreased from 23 to 21
  • ◆
    Base stats Damage at level 1 unchanged (45–51)
  • ▲
    Spirits Mana Cost decreased from 100/110/120/130 to 90/100/110/120
  • ▲
    Spirits Cooldown decreased from 22/21/20/19s to 15s
  • ▼
    Spirits Duration decreased from 19s to 15s
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +12 Attack Damage to Tethered Units replaced with +7 Strength
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +60 Spirits Hero Damage replaced with +50% Spirits Damage
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Unslowable during Overcharge replaced with -1.5s Relocate Cast Delay

Patch 7.39d

  • ▲
    Spirits Cooldown decreased from 26/24/22/20s to 22/21/20/19s

Patch 7.39

  • ◆
    Sight Seer Innate removed (it was added in 7.36)
  • ◆
    Wellspring: New Innate Ability. Passive, can't be leveled up
  • ◆
    Consumable items and item abilities that restore Health and Mana over time affect Io twice as fast. Total amount of restored health or mana remains the same
  • ◆
    This applies to Healing Salve, Tango, Clarity, Bottle, Urn of Shadows, Spirit Vessel, Pollywog Charm, and Mana Draught
  • ◆
    Example: Usually Clarity restores 150 mana over 25s. For Io it will restore 150 mana over 12.5s
  • ▲
    Spirits Aghanim's Scepter Movement Slow increased from 15% to 25%
  • ▲
    Relocate Cooldown decreased from 100/90/80s to 90/80/70s

Patch 7.38

  • ▲
    Base stats Base Damage increased by 7
  • ▲
    Base stats Damage at level 1 increased by 4 (from 41-47 to 45-51)
  • ▲
    Base stats Strength gain increased from 2.7 to 3.0
  • ▼
    Base stats Damage gain per level decreased from +4.2 to +2.8
  • ▼
    Base stats Damage at level 30 decreased by 46 (from 192-198 to 146-152)
  • ◆
    Tether Upon casting Tether, Io now has a buff that shows Tether's remaining cooldown. This buff is only visible to Io and Io's allies
  • ▲
    Tether Enemy Move/Attack Slow increased from 10/20/30/40% to 15/30/45/60%
  • ▼
    Tether No longer deals 15/25/35/45 Damage per second to enemies by default
  • ◆
    Tether Now upgraded with Aghanim's Shard
  • ◆
    Tether Deals 120 damage per second to enemies touching it. 50% of the damage dealt heals Io. This is considered a pseudo-lifesteal
  • ◆
    Tether It's amplified by spell lifesteal and healing amplification but does not have a creep penalty
  • ▼
    Overcharge No longer upgraded with Aghanim's Shard
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +15% Tether Enemy Slow replaced with +1.5s Overcharge Duration
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent +400 Health to Tethered Units replaced with Unslowable during Overcharge

Patch 7.36b

  • ▲
    Facet Armor increased from 3/6/9/12 to 4/7/10/13
  • ▲
    Facet Magic Resistance increased from 10/15/20/25% to 12/18/24/30%

Patch 7.36

  • ◆
    Sight Seer New Innate ability. Passive, can't be leveled up
  • ▲
    Sight Seer Io's team takes 1s less to channel Watchers. When Watcher is under their control, its vision radius is increased by 300
  • ◆
    Facet Grants 35/60/85/110 Attack Speed and 8/10/12/14% Spell Amplification
  • ◆
    Facet Unchanged
  • ◆
    Facet Grants 3/6/9/12 Armor and 10/15/20/25% Magic Resistance
  • ▲
    Tether Damage per second increased from 10/20/30/40 to 15/25/35/45
  • ▼
    Tether Enemy Move/Attack Slow decreased from 15/25/35/45% to 10/20/30/40%
  • ▲
    Spirits Creep Collision Damage increased from 10/15/20/25 to 12/18/24/30
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent Attack Damage to Tethered Units decreased from +15 to +12
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Tether Movement Speed decreased from +6% to +5%
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Spirits Hero Damage increased from +55 to +60
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Relocate Cooldown Reduction increased from 25s to 30s
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent Attack Tethered Ally's Target now applies a 25% damage penalty on Io's attacks

Patch 7.35

  • ▲
    Tether Now deals 10/20/30/40 damage per second to enemies caught in the tether. Tick rate: 0.5s

Patch 7.34

  • ▼
    Overcharge Aghanim's Shard no longer grants bonus spell amplification
  • ▲
    Overcharge Aghanim's Shard now grants 30% slow resistance

Patch 7.33c

  • ▼
    Base stats Base Damage decreased by 3 (Level 1 damage increased by 2)

Patch 7.33

  • ◆
    Now is a Universal Hero
  • ▼
    Base stats Base Damage decreased from 13-19 to 7-13
  • ▼
    Base stats Strength gain decreased from 3.0 to 2.7
  • ▼
    Base stats Damage on level 1 decreased by 6 (from 45-51 to 39-45)
  • ▲
    Base stats Damage gain per level increased from +2.7 to +3.6
  • ▲
    Spirits With Aghanim's Scepter the ability can now be activated to explode the spirits, after which they begin spawning again. Cooldown is decreased by 50%. Cannot be activated if the ability is on cooldown

Patch 7.32

  • ▼
    Tether Heal/Mana Transfer decreased from 75/90/105/120% to 60/80/100/120%
  • ▲
    Spirits Mana Cost decreased from 120/130/140/150 to 100/110/120/130
  • ◆
    Overcharge Attack Speed rescaled from 25/55/85/115 to 35/60/85/110
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +4 Health Regen replaced with +15% Tether Enemy Move/Attack Slow
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent Spirits Hero Damage increased from +45 to +55

Patch 7.31d

  • ◆
    Overcharge Attack Speed Bonus rescaled from 50/70/90/110 to 25/55/85/115

Patch 7.31

  • ◆
    Tether Heal transfer rescaled from 70/90/110/130% to 75/90/105/120%
  • ◆
    Spirits Scepter now also causes Spirits to apply a 15% slow for 0.3 seconds when impacting an enemy hero
  • ▼
    Overcharge Cooldown increased from 22/20/18/16s to 25/22/19/16s
  • ▼
    Overcharge Spell Amplification reduced from 10/12/14/16% to 8/10/12/14%
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent +30 damage replaced with +15 damage to Tethered units
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +15% spell lifesteal replaced with +6% Tether movement speed
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent +300 Spirits max range replaced with +45 spirit damage
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent +60 Spirit damage replaced with +0.2 Overcharge max HP regen bonus
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent +900 health replaced with +400 health to Tethered units
  • ◆
    Aghanim's upgrade Reworked Shard. Passively grants Io 10% spell lifesteal. Increases Overcharge spell amplification by 10% and causes it to also share Io's current spell lifesteal with any Tethered units

Patch 7.30e

  • ▼
    Tether Shard speed bonus reduced from 10% to 8%
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent reduced from 5 Health Regen to 4
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent reduced from -30s Relocate CD to -25

Patch 7.30

  • ▲
    Max Tether distance increased from 900 to 1000
  • ▲
    Tether Heal Amplification increased from 0.6/0.8/1.0/1.2 to 0.7/0.9/1.1/1.3

Patch 7.29

  • ▼
    Tether Cast range reduced from 1800 to 1600
  • ▼
    Tether No longer unlocks max movement speed
  • ◆
    Tether Shard now stuns upon connecting with the Tether, rather than on Tether Break. Does not affect the same unit more than once every 7 seconds.
  • ▼
    Spirits Max distance reduced from 700 to 650
  • ▼
    Spirits Collision damage reduced from 10/20/30/40 to 10/15/20/25
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent reduced from +35 Damage to +30
  • ▲
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent increased from +4 Health Regen to +5
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent reduced from +325 Spirits Max Range to +300
  • ▲
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent increased from +10% Spell Lifesteal to +15%
  • ▲
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent increased from -25s Relocate Cooldown -30s
  • ▲
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent increased from +700 Health to +900
  • ◆
    Level 25 Attack Talent now only attacks if Io is capable of attacking (not when stunned/disarmed/etc)

Patch 7.28b

  • ▲
    Tether Shard movement bonus increased from +5% to +10%

Patch 7.27b

  • ▲
    Base stats Base movement speed increased from 280 to 320

Patch 7.26c

  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from +12 Armor to -25s Relocate Cooldown
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent changed from -24s Relocate Cooldown to +700 Health

Patch 7.24b

  • ◆
    Overcharge Regen from 0.55/0.7/0.85/1% to 0.5/0.6/0.7/0.8%

Patch 7.24

  • ▼
    Overcharge Heal reduced from 0.6/0.8/1/1.2% to 0.55/0.7/0.85/1%
  • ▼
    Overcharge Cooldown increased from 16 to 22/20/18/16
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +120 Gold/Min to +400 Spirits Max Distance

Patch 7.22g

  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from Spirits Apply Slow to +90 Gold/Min
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from +75 Spirits Hero Damage to Spirits Apply Slow
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from +150 Gold/Min to +75 Spirits Hero Damage

Patch 7.22e

  • ▼
    Tether Heal/restore transfer reduced from 90/110/130/150% to 60/90/120/150%

Patch 7.22d

  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from Tether Grants Scepter Bonus to +15 Armor

Patch 7.22c

  • ▼
    Base stats Attack range reduced from 575 to 500
  • ▲
    Base stats Base armor increased by 1
  • ▲
    Base stats Strength gain increased from 2.5 to 3
  • ▼
    Tether Regen reduced from 105/120/135/150% to 90/110/130/150%
  • ◆
    Tether Cancel now has a 0.25s cooldown to prevent accidental uses
  • ▼
    Spirits No longer slow
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +20% XP Gain to Spirits Apply Slow

Patch 7.22

  • ▲
    Added to Captains Mode
  • ▲
    Aghanim's upgrade Added Scepter upgrade. Spirits now passively spawn around you constantly every second (max of 5 spirits at a given time)
  • ◆
    Tether Pull can now be interrupted if stunned during it (like Timber Chain)

Patch 7.21b Spirits reworked

  • ▼
    Tether No longer makes you unslowable
  • ▼
    Spirits No longer has a toggle cooldown
  • ▲
    Spirits Min range increased from 100 to 200
  • ◆
    Spirits Rotation interval from every 2.4 seconds to 2.7
  • ▼
    Spirits No longer does a micro animation interruption when initially casting (already has zero cast point)
  • ▼
    Overcharge Damage reduction reduced from 15/20/25/30% to 5/10/15/20%
  • ▲
    Relocate Manacost increased from 100 to 175
  • ◆
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent changed from Tether Grants Scepter Bonus to +8 Health Regen
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from +16 Health Regen to Tether Grants Scepter Bonus

Patch 7.21

  • ◆
    Temporarily removed from Captains Mode
  • ◆
    Tether Now transfers health and mana even when Io is at max hp/mp
  • ▼
    Overcharge Now has an 18 second cooldown and an 8 second duration. No longer has a 2 second toggle.
  • ▼
    Overcharge Now costs 40/60/80/100 mana to cast. No longer cost 6% of health and mana per second.
  • ▲
    Overcharge Attack speed bonus increased from 40/50/60/70 to 50/80/110/140
  • ▲
    Overcharge Damage reduction increased from 5/10/15/20% to 15/20/25/30%
  • ▼
    Relocate Delay increased from 2.7/2.35/2 to 3.5/3.25/3
  • ▲
    Relocate Cooldown reduced from 130/110/90 to 90/75/60
  • ◆
    Relocate Is now cast delay again instead of channeling (being interrupted, silenced, rooted, etc will cancel the ability)
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent changed from -60s Relocate Cooldown to -30s

Patch 7.20d

  • ◆
    Tether Heal/mp transfer rate from 1.2/1.3/1.4/1.5 to 1.05/1.2/1.35/1.5

Patch 7.20

  • ▼
    Spirits Cooldown increased from 26/22/18/14 to 26/24/22/20

Patch 7.19b

  • ◆
    Spirits Cooldown from 20/18/16/14 to 26/22/18/14
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent reduced from +25% XP to +20%

Patch 7.18

  • ◆
    Relocate Now has channel time instead of a cast delay

Patch 7.17

  • ▼
    Spirits Damage reduced from 25/50/75/100 to 20/40/60/80
  • ▼
    Tether Movement speed reduced from 7/10/13/16 to 5/8/11/14%
  • ▼
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent reduced from +60 Damage to +45
  • ▼
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent reduced from +20 Health Regen to +15

Patch 7.16

  • ▼
    Base stats Base movement speed reduced from 290 to 280
  • ▼
    Lv15 talent Level 15 Talent reduced from +90 Spirits Damage to +75
  • ◆
    Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent changed from Attacks Tether Ally's Target to +20 Health Regen
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent changed from +50 Health Regen to Attacks Tether Ally's Target

Patch 7.14

  • ◆
    Tether Can now target Spell Immune allies
  • ◆
    Tether Cast point changed from 0.001 to 0
  • ▼
    Tether No longer applies slow on impact
  • ◆
    Spirits Now apply a 20/40/60/80% movement speed slow on impact for 0.3 seconds
  • ▼
    Spirits Now have two fixed positions they go to, 700 and 100 (No longer granular with toggles, but just a single press action)
  • ▲
    Spirits Creep damage increased from 8/14/20/26 to 10/18/26/34
  • ◆
    Spirits Manacost from 150 to 120/130/140/150
  • ▲
    Spirits Collision AoE increased from 70 to 110
  • ▲
    Spirits Explosion damage AoE increased from 300 to 360
  • ◆
    Spirits In Out is just one ability now, alternates the direction (has a 1.5 second cooldown, same hotkey as spirits ability)
  • ◆
    Spirits In Info Base cooldown/duration is still the same
  • ◆
    Lv10 talent Level 10 Talent changed from +400 Spirits Max Range to +25% XP
  • ◆
    Lv25 talent Level 25 Talent changed from Tether Stuns to -60s Relocate Cooldown

Patch 7.12

  • ◆
    Tether Now sets your movement speed to match the tethered target's speed
  • ▼
    Tether No longer has a duration
  • ◆
    Tether Movement speed rescaled from 10/12/14/16% to 7/10/13/16%
  • ◆
    Tether Regen sharing rescaled from 1.5x to 1.2/1.3/1.4/1.5
  • ▼
    Relocate Cooldown increased from 120/100/80 to 130/110/90
  • ▼
    Base stats Base damage reduced by 4

Patch 7.10

  • ▲
    Tether Duration increased from 12 to 14

Patch 7.06e

  • ▲
    Spirits Spirits manacost increased from 120/130/140/150 to 150

Patch 7.06d

  • ▼
    Tether Tether movement speed reduced from 13/14/15/16% to 10/12/14/16%