Since you last played
Tuned 17 times25 lines of changes across 17 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.
6 buffs and 9 nerfs in total: roughly even.
Cost and recipe
- ▼Recipe cost increased from 925 to 1050. Total cost increased from 3600 to 3725changed 6 times across 6 patches, net nerf
Biggest changes
- ◆Armor bonus decreased from +8 to +6adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
- ▲Cooldown reduced from 40 to 35adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net buff
- ◆Guard base damage block rescaled from 70 for all units to 70 on melee heroes and buildings and 45 on ranged heroes
- ▼Guard Duration decreased from 12s to 8s
- ▲Damage Block increased from 70/35 to 75/50
- ◆Guard Blocked Damage rescaled from 75 to 70 + 60% of caster's Strength
- ▼Guard additional damage block based on caster’s max health decreased from 2.5% to 2.2%
- ▲Block chance increased from 50% to 60%
- ▼Guard Strength to blocked damage decreased from 60% to 50%
- ▼Guard cooldown increased from 35s to 40s
- ▼Guard duration decreased from 8s to 7s
- ▼Guard max health damage block decreased from 2.2% to 2%
- ▲Active damage block increased from 70 to 75
- ▼No longer provides +3 All Stats
- ◆Guard now costs 75 mana to activate
- ◆Guard Damage Block now equals to 70 + 2.5% of the caster's max health, instead of Strength
- ▼Guard buff is no longer dispellable
Most recent change patch 7.41, Mar 2026
- ◆Guard base damage block rescaled from 70 for all units to 70 on melee heroes and buildings and 45 on ranged heroes
- ▼Armor bonus decreased from +8 to +6
- ▼Guard max health damage block decreased from 2.2% to 2%
What it does now
- + 250 Health
- + 12 Health Regeneration
- + 6 Armor
- Guard Active 40s cooldownFor 7 seconds, grant nearby allied heroes and buildings a 100% chance to block damage equal to 70 plus 2% of the caster's max health value from each incoming attack. Radius: 1200
- Damage Block PassiveGrants a 60% chance to block 75 damage from incoming attacks on melee heroes, and 50 damage on ranged.
Built from Vanguard, Helm of Iron Will plus a 1,050 gold recipe.
Heroes that buy Crimson Guard
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota). Public games can differ.