Axe
From Liquipedia Dota 2 Wiki
Axe
25 + 2.8
20 + 1.7
18 + 1.6
| Grants the following bonuses per level: | |
|
+61.6HP and +0.28HP regeneration +2.8 Main Attack Damage |
|
+0.28 armor and 1.7 attack speed |
|
+19.2MP and +0.08MP regeneration +0.1% base magic resistance |
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Instant Projectile Speed
| ||
100 (120)
(1.7 BAT) | ||
0.4 + 0.5
| ||
0.6
| ||
Default
Gib Type | ||
2010-11-01
Released | ||
2005-03-01
(6.00) | ||
Competitive Span
2010-11-01 — Present | ||
Version Control This article has been updated to the latest version (7.40b) and is mostly accurate. |
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This article is about the hero. For other uses, see Axe (disambiguation)
| Taunts and forces enemies to attack him. | |
|---|---|
| One by one the soldiers of the Red Mist fell, some in battle, others to Mogul Khan's ambitions, until the self-declared general found himself a commander without troops. “No matter”, Axe thought, “For a one-man army is the best army of all.” — Leaping into battle, Mogul Khan compels nearby foes to attack him with a taunting Berserker's Call. Absorbing blows from every direction, the indomitable Axe reacts by swinging his axe full circle in a Counter Helix, easily dispatching the swarm he had gathered. But alas, not all stay long enough to meet their end. The few limping away from Mogul Khan feel an inexplicable Battle Hunger, a hunger never sated before Axe slams his Culling Blade through a weakened enemy, sending them to an early grave. Axe, Axe is always charging onward. | |
      | |
| Roles: |  Initiator  Durable  Disabler  Carry |
| Adjectives | Bearded, NicePecs, Red, Nose Legs ( 2 ) |
One Man Army
Grants Axe temporary 
strength based on Axe's current armor.
Allied heroes venturing too close to Axe passively disables this effect linearly.
strength based on Axe's current armor.Allied heroes venturing too close to Axe passively disables this effect linearly.
Call Out
Berserker's Call grants affected enemy units bonus attack speed, while granting Axe additional bonus armor for the duration.
+45 Enemy Attack Speed
+6 Self Armor
+6 Self Armor
Upgrades
[edit]Aghanim's
[edit]
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:
After a set number of attacks, Axe performs a helix counter attack.
The required attacks and incoming attacks per Counter Helix proc works simutaneously.
The required attacks and incoming attacks per Counter Helix proc works simutaneously.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:
Berserker's Call now applies Battle Hunger to affected units within the radius.
Talents
[edit] | ||
|---|---|---|
| +150 Culling Blade Damage | 25 | +85 Berserker's Call Radius |
| +40 Counter Helix Damage | 20 | +15 Strength |
| +10 Berserker's Call Armor | 15 | +10 Battle Hunger Damage per Second |
| +8% Self Move Speed per Battle Hunger Debuff | 10 | +3s Culling Blade Speed Duration |
| ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ +2 All / / Attributes | ||
Bio
[edit]Axe is all the reinforcement this army needs!▶️Mogul Khan, the Axe
Lore:
As a grunt in the Army of Red Mist, Mogul Khan set his sights on the rank of Red Mist General. In battle after battle he proved his worth through gory deed. His rise through the ranks was helped by the fact that he never hesitated to decapitate a superior. Through the seven year Campaign of the Thousand Tarns, he distinguished himself in glorious carnage, his star of fame shining ever brighter, while the number of comrades in arms steadily dwindled. On the night of ultimate victory, Axe declared himself the new Red Mist General, and took on the ultimate title of 'Axe.' But his troops now numbered zero. Of course, many had died in battle, but a significant number had also fallen to Axe's blade. Needless to say, most soldiers now shun his leadership. But this matters not a whit to Axe, who knows that a one-man army is by far the best.
Voice:
Coat of Blood
[edit] Coat of Blood 
Passive
Affects
Self
Grants bonus armor retroactively per hero kill credited to Axe.
Armor Bonus per Kill: 0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5
Culling Blade grants additional bonus armor per hero kill credited to Axe.
Armor Bonus per Kill: 0.6/0.9/1.2/1.5
This ability levels up with Culling Blade.
axe_coat_of_blood
- Grants a permanent bonus armor buff on the HUD upon culling an enemy hero for the first time.
- Subsequent kills update the buff.
Forced kill sources grants a stack.- Considers the following kill credits of Axe's units as Axe's:
- Does not grant permanent stacks from the following sources:
- Wraith Delay.
Reincarnation sources.- Considers the following kills as enemy creep kills:
modifier_axe_coat_of_blood
Hidden Modifier
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUSMODIFIER_EVENT_ON_HERO_KILLEDOne Man Army
[edit]
- Selecting the
facet unlocks this ability.
- Checks for nearby allied heroes in 0.1-second intervals.
- The temporary bonus strength adapts immediately and is lost over its linger duration.
- Considers allied
clones, 
illusions, and 
creep-heroes as creeps. 
- The following allied heroes disable the aura:
Hidden heroes.
Invulnerable heroes.
- The following allied heroes disable the aura:
- The ability values reduce per
server tick linearly to nil throughout the aura linger duration.
- The ability values reduce per
Bestows this ability.
However, the ability does not grant the created illusions strength bonus because they cannot utilize bonus armor by design.
However, the ability does not grant the created illusions
strength bonus because they cannot utilize bonus armor by design. modifier_axe_one_man_Army
One Man Army: Axe is gaining x Strength as a percentage of his current armor as long as he is alone.
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_STATS_STRENGTH_BONUS
Hero Model
[edit]
Details
Hidden Innate Abilities
Tap on the 
innate abilities for more details.
innate abilities for more details.Abilities
[edit]Berserker's Call
[edit]
No
Affects
Enemy Units / Self
Axe taunts nearby enemy units, forcing them to attack him, while he gains bonus armor for the duration.
Cast Animation: 0.3 + 0.5
Radius: 
315 (
400)
315 ( 400) Armor Bonus: 12/13/14/15 (
22/23/24/25)
22/23/24/25) Duration: 2.1/2.4/2.7/3
All ability components are dispelled upon the caster's death.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Berserker's Call now applies Battle Hunger to affected units within the radius.
Berserker's Call now applies Battle Hunger to affected units within the radius.
18/16/14/12
90/100/110/120
Mogul Khan's warcry taunts opponents into engaging in an unconquerable battle with the Axe.
Call Out
Grants affected enemy units bonus attack speed for the duration.
Enemy Attack Speed Bonus: 45
Grants Axe a greater bonus armor with the selected facet.
Armor Bonus: 18/19/20/21 (
28/29/30/31)
28/29/30/31)
Has the following priorities among 
taunt sources.
taunt sources.- The ability has two main components:
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
axe_berserkers_call- Affected units within the radius cannot act and are forced to attack Axe.
- Does not apply
silence. 
Active attack modifiers with 
autocast on are still applied.- Grants the debuff-affected enemy unit flat bonus
attack speed.
- Does not apply
- Reapplying the debuff refreshes the duration.
- Affects the following enemy units:
Fogged units.
Invisible units.
- Does not affect the following enemy units:
Buildings
Couriers
Lane creeps of the first wave spawn, until they meet the opposing faction's creeps in their respective lanes.- Hidden units.
- Invulnerable units.
- Uncontrollable
player-controlled units, despite the debuff application on these units. 
Ward-type units.
- Affected units within the radius
- Additionally applies the Battle Hunger debuff corresponding to its level on affected units within the radius at the same time.
- Works independently of Battle Hunger's cooldown, and does not cost
mana. - Does not proc on-cast effects.
- Works independently of Battle Hunger's
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
-
axe_berserkers_call_armor- Grants flat bonus armor.
- Grants flat
Requires Battle Hunger drafted to be passively applied. modifier_axe_berserkers_call_armorBerserker's Call Armor: x bonus armor
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUSMODIFIER_EVENT_ON_TAKEDAMAGE modifier_axe_berserkers_callBerserker's Call: You are forced to attack Axe
MODIFIER_STATE_TAUNTEDMODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACKSPEED_BONUS_CONSTANTMODIFIER_EVENT_ON_TAKEDAMAGEBattle Hunger
[edit]
Enrages an enemy unit, causing it to take damage over time until it kills another unit or the duration ends.
The debuff-affected enemy unit is slowed as long as it is facing away from Axe.
The debuff-affected enemy unit is slowed as long as it is facing away from Axe.
Cast Animation: 0.3 + 0.5
Cast Range: 
700/775/850/925
700/775/850/925 Damage per Second: 12/18/24/30 (
22/28/34/40)
22/28/34/40) Facing Angle: 90°
Move Speed Slow: 18%/22%/26%/30%
Duration: 12
Self Move Speed Bonus per Enemy: (
8%)
8%) Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Enables the debuff applied to be stackable.
Reapplying the debuff now creates an independent debuff instance.
Enables the debuff applied to be stackable.
Reapplying the debuff now creates an independent debuff instance.
20/15/10/5
50/60/70/80
Ordinary heroes cannot withstand Mogul Khan's rage for battle, such that it injures them until it is satisfied.
-
axe_battle_hunger
- All ability components consider clones as heroes; creep-heroes and illusions as creeps.
- The debuff applied has three main components:
-
- Disables the offensive movement speed slow component in the following conditions:
-
- As long as the affected enemy is not within 18%/22%/26%/30% in front of Axe's current facing angle as visualized above.
- Affects the following units:
- As long as the affected enemy is not within 18%/22%/26%/30% in front of Axe's current
- The movement speed slow increasing talent does not update the current debuff instances.
- Disables the offensive movement speed slow component in the following conditions:
-
- Has the following debuff dispel properties:
- Can be dispelled by killing any unit, including
denies, except illusions. - The affected enemy has to be credited for the last hit, excluding the enemy's player-controlled units, including illusions.
- Can be dispelled by killing any unit, including
- Has the following debuff dispel properties:
- Reapplying the debuff refreshes its duration and adapts the ability values correspondingly.
- This restriction is removed upon acquiring the ability upgrade, and enables the debuff applied to be stackable per application.
- Reapplying the debuff now applies an independent debuff.
- This restriction is removed upon acquiring the
- Reapplying the debuff refreshes its duration and adapts the ability values correspondingly.
- All ability components consider
_icon.png){kind=icon}
-
axe_battle_hunger_self_movespeed- Grants bonus movement speed correspondingly to the amount of active debuff applied.
- Grants bonus
The passive axe_battle_hunger application via Berserker's Call does not proc Spell Reflection sources. modifier_axe_battle_hunger_self_movespeedBattle Hunger: Gaining x% bonus movement speed.
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGE modifier_axe_battle_hungerBattle Hunger: Dealing x damage per second, reducing movement speed by x%.
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGEMODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUSMODIFIER_EVENT_ON_DEATHMODIFIER_PROPERTY_TOOLTIP- The self movement speed bonus per enemy debuff talent grants Axe a buff that keeps track of debuff-affected enemy units at all times.
- The buff is hidden when no debuffs are applied.
Counter Helix
[edit]
After a set number of incoming attacks, Axe performs a helix counter attack, dealing pure damage to all nearby enemies.
Radius: 275
275 Required Incoming Attacks: 7/6/5/4
Damage: 100/120/140/160 (
140/160/180/200)
140/160/180/200) 
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
After a set number of attacks, Axe performs a helix counter attack.
The required attacks and incoming attacks per Counter Helix proc works simutaneously.
After a set number of attacks, Axe performs a helix counter attack.
The required attacks and incoming attacks per Counter Helix proc works simutaneously.
Required Attacks: ( 7/6/5/4)
7/6/5/4) Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Applies a stacking debuff on affected enemies within the radius that causes them to deal less total attack damage to Axe.
Removes cooldown.
Applies a stacking debuff on affected enemies within the radius that causes them to deal less total attack damage to Axe.
Removes cooldown.
Max Stacks: ( 5)
5) Damage Reduction per Stack: ( 12%)
12%) Duration: ( 6)
6) 0.3 ( 0)
0)Axe is the only reinforcement this army needs.
- The required incoming attacks tally reduces by 1 per successful attack applied to Axe, this includes the following sources:
Instant attack sources.
Secondary attack sources.
-
- Once the tally counter reaches
TallyValue - 1, the next successful incoming attack procs all ability effects centered around Axe, and the tally buff is removed. - The tally counter last indefinitely and persists through
death, except for the following conditions:
- Upon Axe respawns.
- Upon reincarnation source procs.
- Upon leveling up Counter Helix.
- Once the tally counter reaches
- The required incoming attacks tally reduces by 1 per successful attack applied to Axe, this includes the following sources:
- The ability upgrade has two main components:
-
- Both successful incoming attacks and Axe's successful outgoing attacks now reduce the tally by 1 simultaneously.
- Other tally notes apply.
- The required attacks tally reduces by 1 per successful attack applied to Axe, this includes the following sources:
- Instant attack sources, except sources that cannot proc attack modifiers:
- Split Shot (without the ability upgrade).
- Flak Cannon
- Split Shot (without the
- Secondary attack sources.
- Attacking the following units do not reduce the tally counter:
- Allied units.
- Buildings
- Ward-type units.
- Both successful incoming attacks and Axe's successful outgoing attacks now reduce the tally by 1 simultaneously.
-
axe_counter_helix_damage_reduction
- Applies a debuff instance on enemy units that only affects its
total outgoing attack damage against Axe within the radius, including the following sources against Axe:
- Neither reduces any other damage types nor outgoing attack damage against other targets.
-
- Reapplying the debuff refreshes the entire stack duration.
- Applies a debuff instance on enemy units that only affects its
The incoming attack fully procs all ability effects before the passive is disabled.
modifier_axe_counter_helixCounter Helix: Attacks remaining to perform a counter attack.
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACKSPEED_BONUS_CONSTANTMODIFIER_PROPERTY_INCOMING_MODIFIER_EVENT_ON_ATTACK_LANDED modifier_axe_counter_helix_damage_reductionCounter Helix Damage Reduction: Reducing Attack Damage by x%
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_TOOLTIP-
-
axe_counter_helixis always displayed on the HUD upon learning the ability.
-
axe_counter_helix_damage_reduction- Can reduce up to 12%/24%/36%/48%/60% total outgoing attack damage per 1/2/3/4/5 stack.
- Can reduce up to 12%/24%/36%/48%/60%
Culling Blade
[edit]
Axe spots a weakness and strikes, dealing pure damage.
Cast Animation: 0.3 + 0.5
Cast Range: 175
175 Damage: 275/375/475 (
425/525/625)
425/525/625) Grants nearby allied units bonus movement speed and armor when an enemy hero is killed with Culling Blade.
Damage to Kill Threshold Factor: 1
Buff Radius: 900
900 Move Speed Bonus: 20%/25%/30%
Armor Bonus: 10/15/20
Duration: 6 (
9)
9)Resets the cooldown when an enemy hero is killed with Culling Blade.
Cooldown on Kill: 0
0 80/75/70
100/125/150
Mogul Khan is the embodiment of battle and fury, launching into a gruesome fatality against those who dare engage the Axe in combat.
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
-
- Dispels the following sources, except Wraith Delay:
- Utilizes the
spell damage to kill threshold value (k) and checks for the following conditions:khas the following properties:- Can only be increased upon leveling up the ability, and learning the damage increasing
talent. - Not affected by
outgoing spell damage sources sourced to Axe.
- Can only be increased upon leveling up the ability, and learning the damage increasing
- EXPR
when UnitCurrentHP > k- Applies
kas a
pure spell damage instance. - Does not affect the following units:
- The
Tormentor.
- The
- Applies
- EXPR
when UnitCurrentHP ≤ k- Procs the
instant kill component. -
axe_culling_blade_boost
- Considers clones and illusions kill as hero kills, creep-heroes kill as creep kills.
- Grants allied heroes within the radius, with the following ability effects upon an instant kill proc:
- Flat bonus armor.
- Bonus movement speed.
- The speed buff component
- Flat
- Does not affect the following allied units:
- Invulnerable units.
- Hidden units.
- Reapplying the buff refreshes its duration and updates its ability values.
- Considers
- Procs the
-
- Resets Culling Blade's cooldown if the kill is credited to Axe. This includes the following sources:
- Allied hero kills.
- Reincarnation sources.
- Self-denying with lethal self-damage sources.
- Resets Culling Blade's cooldown if the kill is credited to Axe. This includes the following sources:
The ability cooldown resets if the spell damage instant kills the primary 
unit-targeted enemy.
Applies the
cooldown resets if the spell damage instant kills the primary unit-targeted enemy.Applies the
culling_blade_boost within the radius, with the ability going on cooldown if only the secondary target dies. modifier_axe_culling_blade_boostCulling Blade: Axe releases a war cry, giving all nearby allies x% bonus movement and x bonus attack speed
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGEMODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUS modifier_axe_culling_blade_jungle_weapon_gestureHidden modifier
-
- COSMETICThe
culling_blade_jungle_weapon_gesturegrants Axe a 0.26-second buff that plays the custom ability effects used by
Axe Unleashed.
Recent Matches
[edit]Main Article: Axe/Matches
| Date | Tier | Tournament | Picks | Score | vs. Picks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 9, 2026 - 20:00 EET | Qualifier |   | EEU CQ DreamLeague S28 |      |  | 1 : 0 |  |      | |
| January 9, 2026 - 20:00 EET | Qualifier | | EEU CQ DreamLeague S28 |     |  | 0 : 1 |   |    | |
| January 9, 2026 - 16:00 CET | Qualifier | | WEU CQ DreamLeague S28 |     |   | 1 : 0 |   |      | |
| January 9, 2026 - 20:00 SGT | Qualifier | | SEA CQ DreamLeague S28 |  |  | 1 : 0 |  |   | |
| January 9, 2026 - 12:15 EET | Qualifier | | EEU CQ DreamLeague S28 |   | | 1 : 0 |  |     |
- Axe has won the following final matches in The International of the following years:
Recent Changes
[edit]Description
Talents:
- LVL 15 +12 Battle Hunger damage per second reduced to +10.
- Berserker's Call
- Increased duration from 1.8/2.2/2.6/3 to 2.1/2.4/2.7/3.
- Increased cooldown from 17/15/13/11 to 18/16/14/12.
- Battle Hunger
- Talents:
- LVL 15 +10% Battle Hunger movement speed slow ➜ +12 Battle Hunger damage per second.
- LVL 20 +30 Counter Helix damage increased to +40.
- LVL 20 +100 Culling Blade damage/kill threshold ➜ +15 strength .
- LVL 25 +2x Battle Hunger armor multiplier ➜ +150 Culling Blade damage/kill threshold.
- Increased Berserker's Call mana cost from 80/90/100/110 to 90/100/110/120.
- Reduced Culling Blade kill armor bonus from 20/25/30 to 10/15/20.
Dota Plus Progress
[edit]Main Article: Hero Challenges
Relics track a hero's actions and statistics, and display in-game notifications when a milestone is reached. They are only available to Dota Plus subscribers.
| Axe's Relics | Voice Lines | |
|---|---|---|
 Mega Kill Streaks Kill Assists Kills |
 Bronze |
|
 Silver |
||
 Gold |
||
 Platinum |
| |
 Master |
| |
 Grandmaster |
| |
Equipment
[edit]| Sets | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | |
| Head | |
| Armor | |
| Belt | |
| Misc | |
| Taunt | |
 | "Template:Navbox/old" is deprecated! Please use Template:NavBox instead. |
Trivia
[edit]- Axe, Disruptor, and Warlock are all related as they come from the Oglodi race.
- Axe's phrase ▶️ "Better red than dead!" is a reversed reference to an American Cold War slogan.
- Several of Axe's deny and Culling Blade killing blow responses (e.g. ▶️ "You get nothing. Good day, sir!") are references to Willy Wonka's infamous rage scene in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.[1]
- Axe's name, lore, and "one-man army" image may have been inspired by Khan Noonien Singh in the "Star Trek" series, who was also described as a "one-man army" and killed uncooperative subordinates, along with used-to wearing a red shirt.
- Axe was once the mascot of Dota 2, featuring only himself in several Dota 2 pages and game arts. This was removed in November 2013 for unknown reasons.
- Such was his popularity that Valve once considered creating a Dota 2 spinoff RPG, before coming up with a single-player RPG featuring him as the main character, dating way back in 2013 when Valve was preparing new games for the Source 2 engine. This never left the conceptual stage, however.[2]
- In The Lab, a VR game by Valve, there are some Bendies who wield Axe's war axe, along with other Dota 2 weapons like a Stout Shield, Huskar's spear and Legion Commander's sword.
- In Deadlock, Shiv's Killing Blow ability may be inspired by Axe's Culling Blade, instantly killing a target below a health threshold, or dealing heavy damage otherwise.
- Warcraft 3 similarities:
- In DotA, Axe uses the model of Grommash Hellscream in his possessed state, a campaign-only variant of the Orc Blademaster hero.
- Berserker's Call is inspired by the Mountain Giants' Taunt.
- Axe has a 1/7 chance to spawn in with the name "Mogul Kahnt Touch This", referencing the song U Can't Touch This from MC Hammer.
Gallery
[edit]
Crystal Maiden and Axe cartoon art
Model and icons before November 21, 2013 Patch
Ability icon progress
Hero icon progress
Axe illustration
Axe T-shirt design
Axe on the Replay Takeover splash art in the New Bloom 2014 update.
Axe on Ringmaster's teaser trailer.
Bone Harvest sprite - alive
Bone Harvest sprite - dead
