Lycan Dota 2: A Guide to Winning with the Feral Lord

Lycan is a hero in Dota 2 who is known for his ability to shapeshift into a ferocious wolf. He is a melee hero who excels at pushing lanes and taking down towers. Lycan’s abilities include Summon Wolves, Feral Impulse, Howl, and Shapeshift.

Summon Wolves allows Lycan to summon two wolves to fight for him. These wolves are permanent and can be used to push lanes and take down towers. Feral Impulse is a passive ability that increases the damage and attack speed of Lycan and his nearby allies. Howl is an active ability that gives Lycan and his allies bonus damage and health regeneration. Shapeshift is Lycan’s ultimate ability, which allows him to transform into a wolf and gain increased movement speed, critical strike chance, and attack speed.

Players who choose to play as Lycan should focus on pushing lanes and taking down towers. His Summon Wolves ability is particularly useful for this, as it allows him to quickly summon wolves to push lanes and take down towers. Additionally, his Feral Impulse ability can help him and his allies deal more damage to enemy structures. Overall, Lycan is a versatile hero who can be a valuable asset to any team.

Lycan’s Origin

Creation

Lycan, also known as Banehallow, is a melee strength hero in Dota 2. He was created by Icefrog, the lead designer of Dota 2, and was introduced in version 6.60 of the game. Lycan’s design was inspired by the werewolf archetype, and his abilities are based on his ability to transform into a wolf and summon wolf units to aid him in battle.

Background Story

According to Lycan’s lore, he was once a nobleman named Banehallow who lived in the kingdom of Slom. Banehallow’s family was betrayed by the king of Slom, who had them all executed. Banehallow was the only survivor, and he was left to rot in the dungeons of the castle.

While he was imprisoned, Banehallow was bitten by a werewolf, which transformed him into a wolf. He used his new form to escape from the castle and fled into the wilderness. Banehallow eventually learned to control his transformation and became known as Lycan, the Wolf King.

Lycan now wanders the land seeking revenge against the king of Slom and anyone else who would dare to cross him. He is a fierce warrior and a skilled hunter, and his wolf form gives him incredible strength and speed.

Overall, Lycan’s origin story is one of tragedy and revenge. He was once a nobleman who was betrayed and left for dead, but he rose from the ashes as a powerful werewolf warrior. His story is a testament to the power of determination and the will to survive.

Lycan’s Abilities

Lycan is a versatile hero in Dota 2 with a unique set of abilities that allow him to excel in different roles. Here are the details of Lycan’s abilities:

Summon Wolves

Lycan’s first ability is Summon Wolves, which allows him to summon two wolves to fight for him. These wolves have a permanent invisibility at level 3-4 and a cripple that gives a 20% chance to cripple the target, causing 8 damage per second and losing 60 attack speed for 4 seconds at level 4. The very enchantment that twisted his being also summons canine familiars.

Howl

Lycan’s second ability is Howl, which grants bonus damage and health to Lycan and all allied heroes within 1200 range. The bonus damage and health increase with the level of the ability, with a maximum of 30 bonus damage and 600 bonus health at level 4.

Feral Impulse

Lycan’s third ability is Feral Impulse, which grants bonus damage and attack speed to Lycan and all allied units within 900 range. The bonus damage and attack speed increase with the level of the ability, with a maximum of 30 bonus damage and 30 bonus attack speed at level 4.

Shapeshift

Lycan’s ultimate ability is Shapeshift, which allows him to assume his lupine form, granting him and his units critical strikes and added vision at night. During Shapeshift, Lycan and all units under his control move at increased speed, cannot be slowed, and have a 40% chance to deal a critical strike doing 160%, 190%, or 220% damage depending on the level of the ability.

Overall, Lycan’s abilities allow him to be a formidable hero in the game, with the ability to summon wolves, buff his allies, and deal critical strikes in his lupine form.

Gameplay Strategy

Early Game

Lycan is primarily played in the safe lane as a carry. In the early game, it is important to focus on last hitting and denying creeps to gain gold and experience. Lycan’s starting abilities should be Feral Impulse or Howl for bonus attack speed to last hit with. Adding a Quelling Blade on top of that can also be helpful.

Summon Wolves is not as useful in the early game since they do not deal enough damage and cost too much mana. However, it can still be used for scouting or to harass enemy heroes.

Mid Game

In the mid game, Lycan’s Summon Wolves ability becomes much more useful for farming and pushing towers. Lycan can also use his ultimate ability, Shapeshift, to increase his movement speed and attack speed. This can be used to quickly take down towers or to escape from dangerous situations.

It is important to continue farming and pushing towers in the mid game to maintain a gold and experience advantage. Lycan can also participate in team fights with his Howl ability, which reduces armor and attack damage of all enemies within 2000 range.

Late Game

In the late game, Lycan becomes a powerful force to be reckoned with. He can push towers quickly and take down enemy heroes with ease. His Feral Impulse ability increases the damage and health regeneration of Lycan and all units under his control, making him even more formidable.

Lycan should continue to push towers and participate in team fights in the late game. It is important to focus on objectives and not get caught out of position, as Lycan can be easily killed if he is caught alone.

Overall, Lycan is a strong carry hero with the ability to push towers quickly and take down enemy heroes. By focusing on farming and pushing objectives, Lycan can quickly become a powerful force in the game.

Lycan’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Advantages

Lycan is a versatile hero that can be played in multiple roles, including carry, jungler, and pusher. He is a strong laner with high damage output and good survivability. Lycan’s Summon Wolves ability allows him to farm quickly and effectively, while also providing him with scouting and pushing capabilities.

In team fights, Lycan can be a formidable force, especially when he has his ultimate ability, Shapeshift, available. This ability transforms him into a wolf, increasing his movement speed, attack speed, and critical strike chance. Lycan’s Feral Impulse ability also provides him and his allied units with bonus damage and health regeneration, making him a great team player.

Disadvantages

Lycan’s main weakness is his lack of crowd control abilities. He has no stuns, slows, or disables, which makes him vulnerable to kiting and ganking. Lycan also has a relatively weak early game, which means he can be shut down easily by aggressive laners.

Another weakness of Lycan is his reliance on his ultimate ability. Shapeshift has a long cooldown and a short duration, which means Lycan needs to time it carefully to make the most of its benefits. If his ultimate is on cooldown, Lycan can be significantly less effective in team fights and ganks.

Overall, Lycan is a strong and versatile hero with many advantages, but he also has some notable weaknesses that can be exploited by skilled opponents.

Itemization

Starting Items

Lycan is a hero that benefits greatly from early game items to help him dominate the laning phase. Starting items such as Quelling Blade, Stout Shield, and Tangoes are essential to help Lycan last hit and deny creeps effectively. Players can also consider purchasing a Healing Salve to help sustain Lycan’s health in the lane.

Core Items

Lycan’s core items are essential to his playstyle and are necessary to maximize his potential in the game. Helm of the Dominator is a must-have item for Lycan as it allows him to dominate a creep and use it to stack camps or push towers. Power Treads are also important as they give Lycan the attack speed and mobility he needs to chase down enemies and farm effectively. Medallion of Courage is another core item for Lycan as it amplifies his damage output and helps him take down Roshan early on.

Situational Items

Lycan has a variety of situational items that he can purchase depending on the game’s circumstances. Assault Cuirass is a great item for Lycan when he needs to increase his armor and attack speed. Black King Bar is essential when playing against a team with a lot of crowd control abilities. Blade Mail is also a great item for Lycan when he needs to reflect damage back to his enemies. Finally, Abyssal Blade is a great item for Lycan when he needs to lockdown a high priority target.

Overall, Lycan’s itemization is crucial to his success in Dota 2. Players should focus on purchasing items that complement his playstyle and help him achieve his goals in the game.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Lycan is a versatile hero that can be played in various roles and positions. However, many players make some common mistakes while playing Lycan that can cost them the game. Here are some of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Not Using Summon Wolves Effectively

Summon Wolves is Lycan’s bread and butter ability that allows him to summon two controllable wolves to aid him in combat. Many players make the mistake of using Summon Wolves only for farming and last-hitting, but it can be used for much more than that. The wolves can be used for scouting, lane pressure, body-blocking, and even for taking down towers. Therefore, it is essential to use Summon Wolves effectively to maximize Lycan’s potential.

Not Building the Right Items

Lycan is a hero that benefits greatly from building the right items. Many players make the mistake of building the wrong items or not building the right items at the right time. For example, building a Hand of Midas on Lycan can be a mistake as it delays his power spike. Similarly, not building a Necronomicon can be a mistake as it provides Lycan with additional pushing power. Therefore, it is important to build the right items on Lycan to maximize his potential.

Not Using Shapeshift Effectively

Shapeshift is Lycan’s ultimate ability that transforms him into a wolf, granting him increased movement speed, critical strike chance, and immunity to slows. Many players make the mistake of using Shapeshift at the wrong time or not using it effectively. For example, using Shapeshift to escape a gank can be a mistake as it is a long cooldown ability. Similarly, not using Shapeshift to initiate a team fight can be a mistake as it provides Lycan with increased mobility and damage. Therefore, it is important to use Shapeshift effectively to maximize Lycan’s potential.

In conclusion, Lycan is a hero that requires skill and knowledge to play effectively. By avoiding these common mistakes, players can maximize Lycan’s potential and lead their team to victory.

Lycan’s Role in a Team

Lycan is a versatile hero in Dota 2 who can be played in multiple roles. He is known for his ability to push lanes and take down towers quickly, making him a valuable asset to any team. In this section, we will discuss Lycan’s role in a team and how he can be played as a pusher, carry, and jungler.

Pusher

Lycan is an excellent pusher due to his ability to summon wolves. These wolves can quickly take down enemy creeps and towers, allowing Lycan to push lanes and take objectives. He can also use his ultimate ability, Shapeshift, to increase his movement speed and attack speed, making him even more effective at pushing.

Carry

Lycan can also be played as a carry. His high damage output and ability to quickly take down towers make him a formidable opponent in the late game. He can also use his wolves to scout out the map and provide vision for his team.

To be an effective carry, Lycan needs to farm early and often. He should focus on getting items that increase his damage output, such as Desolator and Assault Cuirass. He should also consider getting a Black King Bar to protect himself from enemy spells.

Jungler

Lycan is a decent jungler due to his ability to summon wolves. These wolves can tank creeps and provide Lycan with additional damage output. He can also use his Howl ability to increase the damage output of himself and his wolves.

To be an effective jungler, Lycan should focus on farming and ganking. He should consider getting a Blink Dagger to initiate fights and catch enemies off guard. He should also be aware of enemy wards and use Smoke of Deceit to avoid detection.

Overall, Lycan is a versatile hero who can be played in multiple roles. Whether you need a pusher, carry, or jungler, Lycan has something to offer. With his ability to quickly take down towers and his high damage output, he is a valuable asset to any team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What lane is best for Lycan in Dota 2?

Lycan is usually played in the offlane or jungle position. He can be played as a carry or pusher, depending on the team’s strategy. In the offlane, Lycan can use his wolves to harass the enemy carry and support, while in the jungle, he can farm quickly and efficiently.

Who is the wolf character in Dota 2?

Lycan is the wolf character in Dota 2. He is a melee strength hero who can transform into a wolf, gaining increased movement speed, critical hit chance, and bonus health. Lycan is known for his pushing abilities and can quickly take down towers with his ultimate ability, Shapeshift.

What are some good items for Lycan in Dota 2?

Lycan benefits from items that increase his attack speed, damage, and mobility. Some good items for Lycan include Vladimir’s Offering, Assault Cuirass, Black King Bar, and Abyssal Blade. These items can help Lycan push faster, deal more damage, and survive team fights.

How do I counter Lycan in Dota 2?

Lycan can be countered with heroes who have crowd control abilities or can slow him down. Heroes like Lion, Shadow Shaman, and Winter Wyvern can disable Lycan, making him vulnerable to attacks. Additionally, heroes with high mobility, such as Anti-Mage or Weaver, can easily escape from Lycan’s pursuit.

What is the role of Lycan in Dota 2?

Lycan is a versatile hero who can be played as a carry, pusher, or initiator. His main role is to push lanes and take down towers quickly, using his ultimate ability, Shapeshift, to gain increased movement speed and critical hit chance. Lycan can also initiate team fights with his Howl ability, which increases the attack damage of all allied heroes.

What are some good heroes to pair with Lycan in Dota 2?

Lycan pairs well with heroes who can increase his mobility or deal damage from a distance. Heroes like Drow Ranger, Vengeful Spirit, and Sniper can provide Lycan with increased attack range and damage, while heroes like Earthshaker or Magnus can help him initiate team fights. Additionally, heroes like Tusk or Spirit Breaker can provide Lycan with additional mobility and crowd control abilities.