What Are Innate Abilities In Dota 2?

The mechanics get more and more complex as time passes in Dota 2, and one often overlooked yet essential aspect is innate abilities. Innate abilities are unique traits that heroes possess from the start of every match. Here’s a breakdown of what innate abilities are and how they work in Dota 2.

What Are Innate Abilities In Dota 2?

Innate abilities in Dota 2 are passive traits that a hero has from level one without needing to invest any skill points. Unlike your typical abilities, which need to be unlocked and leveled up, innate abilities are already active when the game starts and cannot be upgraded.

These innate abilities provide each hero with unique effects that either define how the hero is played or create a specific synergy with their abilities and playstyle.

How Do Innate Abilities Usually Work?

Generally, most Dota 2 innate abilities are passive or stat-based, so you don’t have to worry about having more buttons to press. However, rare cases like Chen receive an additional active ability from their innates. 

A handful of innate abilities are linked to a hero’s actual abilities. For example, Clinkz’s innate ability, Bone and Arrow, levels with his ultimate, Skeleton Walk. In this case, the innate ability doesn’t activate until Clinkz skills his ultimate. 

In several cases, some heroes simply had their former passive abilities shifted to their innate, essentially giving them said ability for free. For example, Alchemist’s old passive ability, Greevil’s Greed, is now his innate ability. 

Some unique heroes, such as Night Stalker and Dawnbreaker, have innate abilities influenced by the time of day. Night Stalker gets increased health regeneration during night and loses it during the day. Meanwhile, Dawnbreaker reveals vision of the entire map when it turns daytime. 

How Many Innate Abilities Does A Hero Have?

Unlike hero facets in Dota 2, where a hero can have two or more variations, every hero is only equipped with a single innate ability. 

The innate ability remains consistent across all of a hero’s facets. This means that while a hero’s abilities might change based on the facet selected, the innate trait remains the same across all versions of the hero. 

The design of singular innate abilities ensures that every Dota 2 hero retains a core identity and playstyle. 

Where Can I Read A Hero’s Innate Ability?

With so many things to memorize in Dota 2, it’s natural to forget what innate abilities heroes are equipped with. Fortunately, you can always glance at a hero’s innate ability through the main menu or while in a game. 

The information of a hero’s innate ability can always be seen between the hero’s talent tree and regular abilities. When checking it in a game, it is always located under the facet. All you need to do is hover over the innate ability icon, and the game will display all of its information. 

Overall, innate abilities add a unique touch and layer of depth to Dota 2, making each hero feel more distinct.