IntelligenceSince you last played
Heavily adjusted127 lines of changes across 39 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.
38 buffs and 28 nerfs in total: roughly even.
Biggest ability changes
- ▲Maledict Level 20 Talent Maledict bursts deal 75% damage in a 800 AoE now considers illusions as creep targets and bursts from them will not deal damageadjusted 12 times across 7 patches, net buff
- ▼Paralyzing Cask Bounces rescaled from 2/4/6/8 to 3/4/5/6adjusted 19 times across 10 patches, net nerf
- ▲Voodoo Restoration Radius increased from 500/550/600/650 to 650adjusted 10 times across 6 patches, net buff
- ▲Voodoo Switcheroo Duration decreased from 3s to 2.5sadjusted 8 times across 5 patches, net buff
- ◆Death Ward Attack Range increased from 600 to 600/625/650adjusted 20 times across 16 patches, roughly even
Innate
- ▲Gris-Gris Witch Doctor starts the game with Gris-Gris, a Neutral item that cannot be dropped or placed in the backpack. When the owner dies, 100% of the gold lost from death is added to the item cost, which also passively increases by 1 gold every 3s. Can be consumed to permanently remove the item and refund the gold to Witch Doctor. For that, press right-click on the item and select the "Consume Item" optionadjusted 2 times across 1 patch, net buff
Aghanim’s upgrades
- ▼Scepter Aghanim's Scepter bounce radius decreased from 650 to 575changed 4 times, latest shown
Base stats
- ▼Strength gain decreased from 2.3 to 2.1
- ▲Base Strength increased from 18 to 20
- ▼Intelligence gain decreased from 3.3 to 3.1
- ▼Base Attack Range decreased from 600 to 550
- ▲Base armor increased by 1
- ▼Base Damage decreased by 3
Talents changed
- ◆Lv10 talent +75 Maledict AoE replaced with +200 Health
- ◆Lv15 talent +2 Paralyzing Cask bounces replaced with -3s Paralyzing Cask Cooldown
- ◆Lv20 talent +75 Death Ward Attack Range replaced with Maledict bursts deal 75% damage in a 800 AoE (each burst sends projectiles that deal 75% of its damage at all enemy units within 800 range)
- ◆Lv25 talent -6s Paralyzing Cask Cooldown replaced with +6 Paralyzing Cask Bounces
- ◆Talent +15% Maledict Burst damage increased to +20%
Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Witch Doctor had 16 facet changes in between.
Most recent change patch 7.41e, Jul 2026
- ◆Maledict Level 20 Talent Maledict bursts deal 75% damage in a 800 AoE now considers illusions as creep targets and bursts from them will not deal damage
Current abilities
Facets: Headhunter, Voodoo Festeration, Cleft Death, Malpractice
Paralyzing CaskLaunches a cask of paralyzing powder that ricochets between enemy units, stunning and damaging those it hits. Damage increases each bounce.
Voodoo RestorationWitch Doctor focuses his magic to heal nearby allied units, costing Witch Doctor mana every second Voodoo Restoration is active.
MaledictCurses all enemy Heroes and player-controlled targets in a small area, causing them to take a set amount of damage each second, as well as bursts of damage every 4 seconds based on how much health they have lost since the curse began.
Voodoo SwitcherooTurns Witch Doctor into a Death Ward briefly with reduced attack speed. He is hidden during this time.- GGGris-Gris innateWitch Doctor gets a Gris-Gris, an item that cannot be dropped or placed in the backpack. When the owner dies, 100% of the gold lost from death is added to the item, and will be refunded when the item is consumed. The value of the Gris-Gris is increased by 1 every 3s. Right-click to consume and permanently remove the item.
Death WardCHANNELED - Summons a deadly ward to attack enemy heroes within its attack range. Lasts a maximum of 8 seconds. Death Ward has 50% bonus accuracy.
What players buy on Witch Doctor
Mid game
Restores mana for you and nearby allies, which suits a support who casts a lot
- Glimmer Cape 2150g
Makes an ally hard to hit and shields magic damage
- Solar Crest 2575g
Armor shred on an enemy, or a speed-up for an ally
Late game
- Force Staff 2200g
Pushes you or an ally out of trouble or into reach
- Aeon Disk 3000g
Saves the hero from burst damage once per fight
- Vladmir's Offering 2200g
- Holy Locket 2250g
- Aghanim's Scepter 4200g
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.