How to Play Invoker in Dota 2 [Ultimate Beginner’s Guide]

Invoker is one of Dota 2’s most iconic heroes, famous for being one of the hardest characters to master in any MOBA game. Instead of leveling up normal abilities like every other hero, he uses three orbs to invoke one of 10 unique spells, with each being suited for different situations. In this article, we’ll learn everything you need to know to get started with Invoker. 

Invoker in a Nutshell

Invoker is Dota 2’s most intense spellcaster and has a unique way of working. He has three elemental orbs floating around him: Quas, Wex, and Exort. He uses a combination of these three orbs to invoke different spells, allowing him to use a total of 10 abilities. 

Each of his spells does different things – from dealing damage, controlling teamfights, to buffing allies and himself. This makes Invoker one of Dota 2’s most difficult heroes to play, because you have to memorize all of his different combinations while your fingers keep up with actually casting the spells. 

What Role is Invoker Played As?

Invoker has always worked best as a mid-laner. He is a hero who requires a lot of experience points, which is why going into his lane alone can help him get a good start. His many spells also allow for lots of utility and impact, allowing him to help his sidelines and control fights. 

However, though rare, Invoker can also be played as a Soft Support. Instead of looking to scale, support Invokers focus on using spells that provide utility for the team. 

Invoker’s Abilities Explained

As mentioned earlier, there’s a lot to discuss regarding Invoker’s abilities. His spells revolve around his three orbs: Quas, Wex, and Exort. Here’s what you need to know. 

Invoker’s Orbs and What They Do

Each of Invoker’s orbs provides a passive bonus and contributes to the spells he can invoke:

• Quas (blue) grants Invoker health regeneration and bonus strength.
• Wex (purple) grants Invoker attack speed, movement speed, and bonus agility.
• Exort (orange) grants Invoker attack damage and bonus intelligence.

Invoker’s ultimate ability is Invoke, which is available to him from level 1. To create a spell, you select three orbs, then press Invoke – this will turn that specific combination into a usable spell. 

Invoker also gains the stat bonuses from his orbs just by having them floating around him. He doesn’t need to cast Invoke to get these bonuses – you can either hold orbs for their stats or use them to create spells. The choice is entirely yours. 

Orbs can be switched freely. They do not cost any mana or have any cooldowns. Invoke also costs no mana, but it has a 7-second cooldown. But remember, Invoker can only hold two spells at a time, so you constantly need to invoke new ones. 

For example, using Quas + Quas + Wex (QQW) and then pressing Invoke will give you Ghost Walk, while Exort + Exort + Wex (EEW) will give you Chaos Meteor. Note that the order of the orbs doesn’t matter – doing QQW, QWQ, or WQQ will give you the same results!

All of Invoker’s Spells

Now, let’s go over all of Invoker’s spells and the orb combinations needed to get them online. Instead of calling each orb by its full name, most players simply refer to the orbs by their first letters – Q, W, and E – which also match their keyboard hotkeys. 

Quas-Based Spells (Control and Survivability)

Invoker’s Quas spells don’t provide him with much damage, but are amazing for controlling teamfights and his own survivability. 

Cold Snap (QQQ)

Quas is a point target spell that chills an enemy. Every time an enemy takes an instance of damage, they take damage and get mini-stunned. 

These instances include damage from Invoker’s right-clicks, spells, items, and even incoming damage from his teammates. This is why Urn of Shadows is a popular item on Invoker. 

Ghost Walk (QQW)

Ghost Walk is a utility spell that allows Invoker to go invisible. While invisible, Invoker gets additional movement speed, health regen, and mana regen. It also slows nearby enemies.

Overall, Ghost Walk allows Invoker to rotate around the map undetected and is a good way for him to regenerate health and mana. However, the slow Ghost Walk applies can also give away his position, since enemies will realize they are being affected and that Invoker is nearby. 

Ice Wall (QQE)

Invoker drops a wall of solid ice on the ground right in front of him. Enemies walking in this area are heavily slowed and take damage per second. 

Ice Wall is a great way to control fights and slow down enemies in a large area. It can be used both offensively and defensively, giving you a lot of flexibility. Ice Wall’s damage instances also work with Cold Snap. 

Wex-Based Spells (Mobility and Mana Control)

Wex spells are focused on mobility, setup, and being annoying in teamfights. 

E.M.P. (WWW)

Invoker places a charge of electromagnetic energy on the ground, which takes 2.9 seconds to detonate. Enemies affected by its explosion will take damage and have their mana drained. Invoker also steals a percentage of the mana drained from enemies. 

E.M.P. doesn’t deal too much damage and shouldn’t be used as a reliable damage dealer. Instead, it’s mainly used to be annoying in fights and allow Invoker to replenish mana. Invoker can use tools like Cold Snap, Ice Wall, and other abilities discussed later to keep enemies in place for the detonation. 

Tornado (WWQ)

Tornado is one of Invoker’s most iconic spells. He sends out a fast-moving tornado that picks up enemy units in its path. Affected enemies will be thrown in the air before they drop to the ground.

You’ll notice that many of Invoker’s spells require time to fully take effect. This is why Tornado acts as such an important setup tool. It holds enemies in the air long enough for abilities like E.M.P., Chaos Meteor, and Sun Strike to land reliably. 

Alacrity (WWE)

Alacrity is a point target spell used on Invoker himself or allies. It infuses the target with a surge of energy that increases their attack speed and damage. 

Alacrity is a useful spell that can be used on Invoker’s carry to allow them to deal more damage. However, he can also use it on himself, which pairs well with Cold Snap. Alacrity can also be used as a farming tool, allowing Invoker to kill creeps efficiently. 

Exort-Based Spells (Damage and Scaling) 

Now comes the fun part. Invoker’s damage spells primarily come from Exort, which is what we’re going to check out. 

Sun Strike (EEE)

Sun Strike is another one of Invoker’s most recognizable spells. Invoker calls down a beam of light anywhere on the map, and after a short delay, it deals damage to all enemies in a small area.

What makes Sun Strike special is that it has global range, so you can cast it from anywhere. It helps Invoker secure kills and assist allies without being there himself. However, it requires good prediction and setup, which is why Invoker works well with teammates who have stuns. 

An important thing to note is that Sun Strike’s damage is spread evenly over all enemies in the radius. 

Forge Spirit (EEQ)

Invoker summons controllable spirits that can move around and attack units. These spirits deal decent damage and reduce enemy armor. 

Overall, Forge Spirit is primarily used as a farming tool, but can also come in handy during teamfights. Remember that Forge Spirit attacks also contribute to Cold Snap. He can summon up to 3 of them based on his current levels. 

Chaos Meteor (EEW)

Chaos Meteor is another fun spell. Invoker calls down a huge flaming meteor from space that rolls forward, dealing heavy damage over time to all enemies in its path, also burning them as it moves. 

However, the meteor travels slowly, making it difficult to land. This is where spells like Tornado or Cold Snap come in – they keep enemies in place, setting up for the meteor. Again, the burn damage also reapplies Cold Snap. 

Hybrid Spell (All Three Orbs)

Invoker’s final spell is a combination of all three orbs, making it a true hybrid ability. 

Deafening Blast (QWE)

Deafening Blast releases a powerful wave of energy that deals damage, disarms enemies, and knocks them back. This spell is often used at the end of Invoker’s combo to push enemies away. 

Deafening Blast works incredibly well with Chaos Meteor, as Invoker can push enemies away while the meteor continues to travel. There’s so much flexibility with this ability. 

And that covers all of Invoker’s spells. An important thing to remember is that their damage and scaling depend on the current levels of his Quas, Wex, and Exort orbs. So, it’s crucial to prioritize spells that have higher orb levels. 

Invoker Facets

Invoker is equipped with three different Facets, and each one is focused on one of his three orbs. 

• Scholar of Koryx focuses on Quas and improves Ice Wall and Ghost Walk.
• Mind of Tornarus focuses on Wex and improves Tornado and E.M.P.
• Agent of Gallaron focuses on Exort and improves Sun Strike.

So, you’re pretty much just choosing which spells to upgrade. Generally, you pick the Facet that corresponds to the orb you’re going to max out first. Typically, it’s best to choose between Mind of Tornarus or Agent of Gallaron.

Invoker Aghanim’s Scepter and Shard

Similar to his facets, Invoker has differing Aghanim’s Scepter and Aghanim’s Shard upgrades, and they’re dependent on the facet he selects. 

Here is what his Aghanim’s upgrades do based on the facet he chooses:

Scholar of Koryx (Quas)

Aghanim’s Scepter Upgrade:

• Allows Ice Wall to be vector targeted
• Units that stay within the Ice Wall for more than 2.5 seconds will be rooted

Aghanim’s Shard Upgrade:

• Ghost Walks applies Ice Wall damage per second to nearby enemies

Mind of Tornarus (Wex)

Aghanim’s Scepter Upgrade:

• Tornado creates smaller twisters every 300 units
• These twisters linger on the ground and deal damage

Aghanim’s Shard Upgrade:

• Increases E.M.P.’s damage
• E.M.P. also pulls heroes into the center of its radius

Agent of Gallaron (Exort)

Aghanim’s Scepter Upgrade:

• Upgrades Sun Strike, enabling Cataclysm
• If Sun Strike is pressed twice, Invoker automatically casts two Sun Strikes next to every enemy hero on the map
• The Cataclysm Sun Strikes deal 75% damage

Aghanim’s Shard Upgrade:

• If Sun Strike connects on an enemy hero, a Forge Spirit will spawn next to them

Overall, Aghanim’s upgrades for Scholar of Koryx aren’t too appealing. However, the Aghanim’s Scepter upgrades for both Mind of Tornarus and Agent of Gallaron are extremely effective, making it a core item for Invoker. 

Understanding Invoker Skill Builds – Quas-Wex vs. Quas-Exort

Like many things in this world, Invoker has lots of spells to work with, but has limited resources. Even though you can use 10 different spells, it’s always a bad idea to spread your levels evenly between all three orbs. 

The key is to focus on two orbs at a time, which is why you’ll hear “Quas-Wex” and “Quas-Exort” Invoker all the time. These are the two different Invoker playstyles, and we’re going to discuss them below.

Quas-Wex (Tempo and Utility)

The Quas-Wex build is focused on being active in the early game, meaning Invoker looks to rotate to the sidelanes and make plays happen. 

Quas and Wex give Invoker access to Tornado, Cold Snap, and E.M.P., which are very effective spells for ganking heroes in the early game. He also has Ghost Walk which allows him to walk around the map undetected while he gets mana and health regen to stay healthy. 

When going for Quas-Wex, one of the best items you can buy is Urn of Shadows, which can later be upgraded to Spirit Vessel. Since you’re looking to go for kills with this playstyle, Urn of Shadows works well since you can rake in charges, and Soul Release can be used to keep reapplying Cold Snap.

However, there is a huge downside to the Quas-Wex build, and that’s farming speed. Invoker farms terribly slow when going this route. So, if you fail to find impact through kills, it’s going to be very difficult to farm your way back into the game. 

Quas-Exort (Damage and Scaling)

Quas-Exort is the other playstyle, and this one is much more passive. This build focuses on late-game scaling, as Invoker spends most of his time in the early game farming levels. 

With Quas and Exort, Invoker gets Forge Spirit, Sun Strike, and Ice Wall – not the greatest abilities for ganking lanes. So, when going for this build, Invoker looks to farm and gain levels, aiming to play for the late game.

Since Invoker goes for a slower approach, most players usually go for Hand of Midas. You’re mostly farming while trying to help the team by globally using Sun Strike. 

Though this build turns Invoker into a late-game monster, the question is whether he can reach that point. Quas-Exort Invokers are less active in the early game, meaning the team doesn’t have a reliable mid-laner that can gank their lanes. 

Basic Invoker Combos – Must-Know

Invoker players like Miracle- can go ham with combos, with many of them including more than 5 spells at a time. However, we’ll keep things simple and go over some beginner-friendly Invoker combos that you should try out. 

E.M.P. → Tornado → Cold Snap

These three spells are the bread and butter for Quas-Wex Invoker. The idea is to place E.M.P. on the ground, then Tornado enemies in the air to buy time for it to detonate. Once they land, use Cold Snap and auto-attack them to keep them in place. 

Tornado → Chaos Meteor → Deafening Blast

If damage is what you’re looking for, this 3-spell combo is one of the easiest ones to perform. First, we’re going to Tornado enemies into the air and drop the Chaos Meteor. The Tornado is going to buy time for the meteor to land. To finish the combo, use Deafening Blast to push enemies into the rolling meteor. 

Alacrity → Cold Snap → Forge Spirit

If you’re looking for a simple combo without needing Tornado, this one is for you. The idea is to have Alacrity boost your attack speed and summon Forge Spirits to attack the enemy. With Cold Snap, you’re issuing lots of auto-attacks that will keep reapplying the ministuns. 

Tornado → Sun Strike (→ Deafening Blast)

This combo is pretty simple and is typically used to finish off enemies that are low on HP. You’re just throwing them into the air with Tornado and using Sun Strike to finish them off. Deafening Blast at the end is optional to deal that extra bit of damage for the final blow. But make sure you’re not pushing them out of the Sun Strike!

These are some very basic combos, but you’ll notice that many of these spells intertwine. That’s the beauty of Invoker – all of his spells are very flexible, and most of them can be included in a combo. For example, if Cold Snap is on cooldown, you can revert to Ice Wall to keep enemies in place. If you need damage and Chaos Meteor is on cooldown, you can use Alacrity and Forge Spirits instead. 

Alternatively, if these combinations are too complicated, you can also use items instead of Tornado to set up, which will be discussed in the next section. 

Best Invoker Item Builds

Items play a crucial role in how Invoker functions, so it’s important to purchase the correct ones. Though some builds slightly differ between Quas-Wex and Quas-Exort, many of the items can be used on both styles. Here are the most common items you see on Invoker:

Urn of Shadows

Urn of Shadows works really well on Quas-Wex Invoker in particular. The Soul Release damage counts as instances for Cold Snap, allowing you to lock down enemy targets and deal damage in the early game. 

Hand of Midas

Invoker has farming issues when playing Quas-Wex, which can be solved by Hand of Midas. On the other hand, Quas-Exort Invokers also love picking up Midas to accelerate their farm. They’re already playing passively, so they might as well go all-in on greed and go for this item. Overall, Midas works on both styles. 

Aghanim’s Scepter

Aghanim’s Scepter on Mind of Tornarus is extremely impactful. The little twisters provide immense utility in teamfights, and Scepter should almost always be purchased as a second item when going for this Facet. 

Scepter on Agent of Gallaron is also potent, as Cataclysm provides insane damage in the late game. Though Invoker players with this Facet should also buy Aghanim’s Scepter, it is typically purchased later in the game. 

Rod of Atos

Invoker’s spells can be difficult to land, even for high-ranked players. Rod of Atos allows Invoker to root opponents, setting up for easy Sun Strike or Chaos Meteor connections. It can later be upgraded to Gleipnir to hit multiple units, too.

Eul’s Scepter of Divinity [Beginner-Friendly Item]

If you’re new to Invoker and are struggling to land combos, you can purchase Eul’s Scepter to make things easier. One of the easiest, yet deadly combinations to do is: Eul’s Scepter → Chaos Meteor → Sun Strike → Deafening Blast.

So, you’re pretty much replacing Tornado with Eul’s Scepter to make the combo easier to land!

Late Game Items

When entering the late game, Invoker has lots of flexibility. Some of the most popular items include Black King Bar, Shiva’s Guard, Octarine Core, Scythe of Vyse, and Refresher Orb. Pick and choose what you think is best!