Dispel

A dispel is the term used for the forced removal of status effects.

Dispels usually come together with other mechanics and are rarely seen as a primary mechanic of an ability.

A list of buffs/debuffs which can or cannot be dispelled is stated in the ability notes.

Definition

Dispel Type	Definition	Examples
Basic	Removes most basic stats-altering effects (e.g. movement speed slow, damage bonus or silences). However, they are unable to remove most hard disables (e.g. stuns, forced movement sources).	Cyclone
Strong	Removes all types of debuffs, except for those only dispellable by Death.	False Promise
Death	Death removes most buffs and debuffs unless explicitly stated in the ability notes.	Reincarnation
Undispellable	The ability effects persist death.	Time Lapse

Mechanics

Sven using Eul's Scepter of Divinity to dispel various negative status effects.

Dispels remove status effects based on whether the casting unit is an ally or an enemy, and whether the status effect is positive or negative. Applying a dispel on an allied unit only removes negative effects, also known as debuffs. Positive effects, or buffs, are never removed. Vice versa, applying a dispel on an enemy unit only removes buffs, debuffs are not removed.

There are currently 3 different types of dispel with varying strengths: Basic Dispel < Strong Dispel < Death

Undispellable

Main Article: Aura

Generally, all buffs and debuffs placed by auras are not dispellable, except by death.

Aura effects only disappear when getting out of range, no longer being affected by their source, or when no longer meeting their requirements. However, almost every aura's buff/debuff lingers for a short time (usually 0.5 seconds). Only a few aura effects end immediately when their source dies or disappears.

Other permanent effects have inconsistent behaviors with dispels. Some of them cannot be removed, while others can. However, since they are permanent effects, they almost always immediately reapply their buffs/debuffs when it gets dispelled.

Can't be Dispelled

• Alchemist – Aghanim's Scepter Synth
• Alchemist – Greevil's Greed
• Bristleback – Warpath ⁴

Bonus for Kill

• Axe – Coat of Blood
• Lion – Finger of Death Kills
• Legion Commander – Duel Victory Damage
• Muerta – Pierce the Veil Spell Amp
• Necrophos – Reaper's Scythe
• Pudge – Flesh Heap
• Silencer – Brain Drain
• Slark – Permanent Agility
• Tidehunter – Kraken Swell³

Items

• Moon Shard – Consume

³ Requires selecting the corresponding facet.

⁴ Due to bug, if final hit to Bristleback gives him charge, that charge will stay for whole game (up to 12 perm charges).

Sources

These abilities listed below provide a form of dispelling.

Basic

Basic Dispel can be categorized into 3 types as follows:

• Allies affecting Dispel.
• Enemies affecting Dispel.
• Dispel applicable to both allies and enemies.

Allies

Basic Dispel Sources

• Alchemist – Chemical Rage
• Alchemist – Berserk Potion
• Chaos Knight – Phantasm
• Elder Titan – Astral Spirit^2a
• Grimstroke – Ink Swell^2b
• Huskar – Life Break
• Juggernaut – Blade Fury
• Juggernaut – Swiftslash
• Juggernaut – Omnislash
• Kez – Raven's Veil
• Kez – Raptor Dance
• Lifestealer – Infest
• Lifestealer – Rage
• Lone Druid – Savage Roar^2b
• Muerta – Pierce the Veil
• Spirit Bear – Savage Roar^2b
• Lifestealer – Infest
• Marci – Unleash^2a
• Meepo – Dig
• Naga Siren – Mirror Image
• Pangolier – Rolling Thunder
• Phantom Lancer – Doppelganger
• Primal Beast – Uproar¹
• Riki – Tricks of the Trade¹
• Shadow Demon – Demonic Cleanse
• Tinker – Defense Matrix³
• Templar Assassin – Refraction¹
• Troll Warlord – Whirling Axes (Melee)^2a
• Troll Warlord – Battle Trance
Items
• Black King Bar – Avatar
• Bloodstone – Bloodpact
• Guardian Greaves – Mend
• Lotus Orb – Echo Shell
• Manta Style – Mirror Image
• Satanic – Unholy Rage
• Runes – Illusion

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

³ Requires selecting the corresponding facet.

Enemies

Basic dispels that only affect enemies also affect neutral units.

Basic Dispel Sources

• Chen – Holy Persuasion
• Doom – Doom
• Enchantress – Enchant
• Helm of the Dominator – Dominate
• Helm of the Overlord – Dominate
• Invoker – Tornado
• Demonic Archer (Book of the Dead) – Purge
• Nullifier – Nullify
• Shadow Demon – Demonic Purge
• Sven – Storm Hammer (Alt-Cast)^2a
• Techies – Reactive Tazer
• Troll Warlord – Whirling Axes (Ranged)^2a
• Winter Wyvern – Winter's Curse

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Affect Any Unit

The following basic Dispel sources affect all valid units stated in their respective ability notes.

Basic Dispel Sources

• Eul's Scepter of Divinity – Cyclone
• Oracle – Fortune's End
• Satyr Banisher – Purge
• Storm – Dispel Magic
• Wind Waker – Cyclone

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Strong

Strong Dispel Sources

• Abaddon – Aphotic Shield
• Abaddon – Borrowed Time
• Aeon Disk – Combo Breaker
• Chen – Hand of God¹
• Dazzle – Nothl Projection
• Juggernaut – Blade Fury
• Keeper of the Light – Chakra Magic¹
• Legion Commander – Press the Attack
• Legion Commander – Winning Duel ³
• Oracle – False Promise
• Outworld Destroyer – Essence Flux^2a
• Phoenix – Supernova
• Roshan – Roar of Retribution
• Ringmaster – Escape Act¹
• Slark – Dark Pact
• Shadow Shaman – Fowl Play
• Tidehunter – Blubber
• Troll Warlord – Battle Trance¹
• Ursa – Enrage
• Ursa – Earthshock^2b
• Weaver – Time Lapse

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

³ Requires selecting the corresponding facet.

Death

Main Article: Death

When a unit dies, most temporary buffs and debuffs on it are removed. Reincarnation counts as death for the purposes of dispelling both buffs and debuffs.

Death is usually the strongest dispel, but some rare effects persist in death even if they can be dispelled otherwise.

Non-obvious dispels

Ally Buffs Dispel

Dispels Ally Buffs

• Clockwerk - Hookshot
  
  Dispels Jetpack from caster after hit.
• Doom - Doom
  

  
  If casted on ally, dispells buffs from him.
• Kunkka - Return
  
  Dispels ally X Marks the Spot instance(s).
• Lifestealer - Infest
  
  Dispels buffs from caster.
• Phoenix - Supernova
  
  Dispels Battle Trance and Shallow Grave.
• Terrorblade - Metamorphosis
  
  Dispels Demon Zeal from caster.

Dispels Enemy Buffs

• Kunkka - X Marks the Spot
  
  Dispels enemy X Marks the Spot instance(s).

Dispelling Enemy Min Health Protect

• Axe - Culling Blade
  
  Dispels Borrowed Time, Shallow Grave, False Promise, Battle Trance if the target's health is under the instant kill threshold.

Dispel by breaking distance

Some abilites can be dispelled by increasing distance between units.

Dispellable by breaking distance

• Huskar – Life Break
• Legion Commander – Duel
• Shadow Shaman – Shackles (Ally) ^2a

Spell Immune Dispel

Spell Immunity dispels these abilities

• Necrophos – Ghost Shroud
• Grimstroke – Phantom's Embrace
• Lion – Mana Drain
• Shadow Shaman – Shackles (vs enemy)
• Primal Beast – Pulverize
• Pugna – Life Drain (vs enemy)

Dispelled by enemy near

Some buffs are dispelled if an enemy hero or building gets too close.

• Ninja Gear – Solitary Disguise
• Phantom Assassin – Blur¹
• Smoke of Deceit – Disguise

¹ Only reacts to these buildings: Tower/Ancient.

Dispelled by damage

Some buffs are dispelled after receiving damage from an enemy hero, player-controlled unit, Fountain or Roshan.

• Aegis of the Immortal – Regeneration
• Bottle – Regenerate
• Clarity – Replenish
• Juggernaut – Bladeform
• Healing Salve – Salve
• Mana Draught – Bottoms Up
• Urn of Shadows – Soul Release
• Ringmaster – Unicycle
• Spirit Vessel – Soul Release

Dispel Castable While Stunned/Taunted/Sleeped

List

• Abaddon – Borrowed Time
• Lone Druid – Savage Roar^2b
• Spirit Bear – Savage Roar^2b
• Oracle – Fortune's End ⁴
• Ursa – Enrage ^2a
• Templar Assassin – Refraction ¹
• Troll Warlord – Battle Trance ¹

¹ Requires Talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

⁴ If interrupted during channeling, still casts spell.

Patch History

Patch

Description

15 Dec 2025

• Updated generic particle effects for basic and strong dispels. [?]