▶️ Spellblock from Linken's Sphere

Spell Block is a defensive ability that protects the unit from most single target abilities, ranging from basic small abilities to the strongest single target ultimates.

Definition

Mechanic Type	Definition	Examples
Spell Block	Blocks the offensive unit-targeted ability.	Spellblock
Spell Reflection	Reflects the offensive unit-targeted ability from the targeted unit to its caster.	Echo Shell
Spell Redirection	Redirects the unit-targeted ability from the intended targeted unit to another unit.	Soulbind
All three mechanics work independently of each other.

Mechanics

Spell Block acts as a passive effect, activating automatically when a blockable single target spell is targeted at the unit. It may also come in form of a buff, protecting the unit while the buff is active. All Spell Blocks have a down time and go on cooldown after blocking a spell. It does not provide permanent protection against single target spells. Spell Block only blocks spells upon cast, it does not cancel already ongoing cast when going off cooldown while already affected by a single target spell.

With a very few exceptions, Spell Block does not protect against area of effect spells. It also does not protect against single target spells when hit as a secondary target. The unit must be the primary targeting order to block the spell. If a single target spell has an area effect, Spell Block also completely negates the area effect, effectively protecting nearby allies as well, but again, there are exceptions to this. Projectile-based spells are usually blocked upon impact, and not upon cast, with a few exceptions.

A spell's interaction against Spell Block may change if the ability gets changed by other abilities, talents or by Aghanim's Scepter. For example, when a single target turns into a non-targeted spell, Spell Block may no longer block it.

Spell Block does not block any active attack modifier and does not block any abilities of allies.

Spell Block Sources

Anti-Mage - Counterspell

Decoy and Linken's Sphere do not trigger while this ability is active.
Hoodwink - Decoy

Has a higher priority than Transfer Spellblock and Spellblock.
Linken's Sphere - Transfer Spellblock

Has a higher priority than Spellblock.
Temporarily removes Spellblock from the item's owner and transfers the buff to an allied unit.
Linken's Sphere - Spellblock
Roshan - Spell Block
Spirit Breaker - Planar Pocket

Has a higher priority than Counterspell, Transfer Spellblock and Spellblock.
Redirected spells are still subject to all other sources of Spell Block.

Talents

Spell Block

▶️

Ability

Passive

Affects

Self

Blocks most targeted spells once.

Varies

The following heroes have a talent that grants them Spell Block.

Bonus	Level 10		Level 15		Level 20		Level 25
Bonus	Left	Right	Left	Right	Left	Right	Left	Right
Spell Block

Blocking

Not-blocked Unit Target Abilities

Hero Abilities: Unit and Ground Targetable

Other Hero Abilities

Creep Abilities ¹

Item Abilities

Neutral Item Abilities ²

¹ Missing from the in-game extended ability description.

² Neutral Items abilities can't be blocked.

³ Requires selecting the corresponding facet.

Auto-casting abilities with an active attack modifier do not trigger Spell Block.

Active Attack Modifiers

Ancient Apparition – Chilling Touch
Bounty Hunter – Jinada ⁴
Clinkz – Searing Arrows
Doom – Infernal Blade
Drow Ranger – Frost Arrows
Enchantress – Impetus
Huskar – Burning Spear
Jakiro – Liquid Fire
Jakiro – Liquid Frost
Kunkka – Tidebringer ⁴
Omniknight – Hammer of Purity ⁴
Outworld Destroyer – Arcane Orb
Silencer – Glaives of Wisdom
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Tusk – Walrus PUNCH!
Treant Protector – Leech Seed ⁴
Viper – Poison Attack
Weaver – Geminate Attack ⁴

Bounce

Unit target abilities that bounce between multiple targets usually only trigger spell block on the primary target. If blocked will continue to bounce.

Blockable Abilities before the first bounce

¹ Requires a

Talent.

^2a Requires

Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires

Aghanim's Shard.

These abilities that bounce between multiple targets can trigger spell block from any unit.

Blockable Abilities at any hit

Bounty Hunter - Shuriken Toss

After blocking it doesn't bounce anymore
Warpine Raider - Seed Shot

Continues to bounce after being blocked. Can be blocked multiple times.

Multiple Target

Abilities that fire individual tracking projectiles at targets to apply the same effect to all units hit trigger spell block independently.

Blockable Multiple Target Abilities independently by each target

Point Target

Blockable Ground Target Abilities

¹ Requires a

Talent.

^2a Requires

Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires

Aghanim's Shard.

³ If ground targeted, can still be blocked before the first bounce. WIll continue to bounce even if blocked.

⁴ If ground targeted, can still be blocked. Vision is blocked only if unit-targeted. Bolts from the

Nimbus are not blocked.

Nature's Prophet - Sprout

Blocked fully only when directly targeted. Does not block when ground targeted.

Projectile

Projectile abilities usually blocked upon impact.

However, hero-based projectile abilities are blocked upon cast.

Blockable upon cast: Hero-Based Projectile Abilities

Partially Blocking

Undying - Soul Rip

Units counted towards damage still lose health.
Zeus - Lightning Bolt

Vision is blocked only when unit-targeted.

Other Unique Interactions

Bane - Nightmare

Blocked upon cast and upon attacking a unit affected by an enemy Nightmare.
Ogre Magi - Fireblast

When blocked, ends Multicast, no matter if the initial cast or a multicast instance was blocked.
Ogre Magi - Unrefined Fireblast

When blocked, ends Multicast, no matter if the initial cast or a multicast instance was blocked.
Spectre - Spectral Dagger

Procs only when secondary target while a hero was directly targeted. However, Spectral Dagger instantly reattempts to apply the debuff, thus wasting Spell Block's cooldown. No interaction with the primary target or when hit while the ground was targeted.

Fully blocked abilities

These abilities are fully blocked by Spell Block.

Hero abilities

Abaddon – Mist Coil¹
Alchemist – Unstable Concoction Throw^{1 2}
Ancient Apparition – Cold Feet⁴
Anti-Mage – Mana Void³
Arc Warden – Flux
Axe – Battle Hunger
Axe – Culling Blade³
Bane – Enfeeble
Bane – Brain Sap
Bane – Fiend's Grip
Batrider – Flaming Lasso³
Beastmaster – Primal Roar³
Bloodseeker – Rupture
Bounty Hunter – Shuriken Toss^{1 2 5}
Bounty Hunter – Track
Bristleback – Viscous Nasal Goo^{1 4}
Broodmother – Spawn Spiderlings¹
Centaur Warrunner – Double Edge³
Chaos Knight – Chaos Bolt¹
Chaos Knight – Reality Rift
Chen – Penitence¹
Crystal Maiden – Frostbite
Dark Willow – Cursed Crown
Dazzle – Poison Touch³
Death Prophet – Spirit Siphon
Disruptor – Thunder Strike³
Disruptor – Glimpse
Doom – Doom
Dragon Knight – Dragon Tail¹
Earth Spirit – Boulder Smash³
Earth Spirit – Enchant Remnant
Enchantress – Enchant
Enigma – Malefice
Grimstroke – Phantom's Embrace
Grimstroke – Soulbind³
Grimstroke – Dark Portrait
Gyrocopter – Homing Missile¹
Huskar – Life Break¹
Invoker – Cold Snap
Juggernaut – Omnislash^{3 5}
Kunkka – X Marks the Spot
Legion Commander – Duel
Leshrac – Lightning Storm³
Lich – Frost Blast^{3 6}
Lich – Sinister Gaze⁴
Lich – Chain Frost^{1 3 5}
Lifestealer – Open Wounds
Lina – Laguna Blade⁶
Lion – Hex⁴
Lion – Mana Drain³
Lion – Finger of Death^{3 6}
Luna – Lucent Beam
Medusa – Mystic Snake^{1 2 5}
Morphling – Adaptive Strike (Agility)^{1 2}
Morphling – Adaptive Strike (Strength)^{1 2}
Morphling – Morph
Naga Siren – Ensnare¹
Necrophos – Reaper's Scythe
Night Stalker – Void
Nyx Assassin – Mind Flare
Ogre Magi – Ignite^{1 2}
Oracle – Fortune's End^{1 3}
Oracle – Fate's Edict
Oracle – Purifying Flames
Outworld Destroyer – Astral Imprisonment
Phantom Assassin – Stifling Dagger^{1 2}
Phantom Assassin – Phantom Strike
Phantom Lancer – Spirit Lance^{1 2}
Pudge – Dismember
Pugna – Decrepify
Pugna – Life Drain
Queen of Pain – Shadow Strike^{1 3}
Razor – Static Link
Riki – Blink Strike
Rubick – Telekinesis³
Rubick – Fade Bolt³
Rubick – Spell Steal
Shadow Demon – Disruption
Shadow Demon – Demonic Purge
Shadow Shaman – Ether Shock³
Shadow Shaman – Hex
Shadow Shaman – Shackles
Silencer – Last Word⁴
Skywrath Mage – Arcane Bolt^{1 2}
Skywrath Mage – Ancient Seal³
Slardar – Corrosive Haze
Sniper – Assassinate¹
Spirit Breaker – Charge of Darkness³
Spirit Breaker – Nether Strike³
Storm Spirit – Electric Vortex⁴
Sven – Storm Hammer^{1 3}
Terrorblade – Sunder
Tidehunter – Gush^{1 4}
Tinker – Laser³
Treant Protector – Leech Seed
Tusk – Snowball
Tusk – Walrus Kick
Vengeful Spirit – Magic Missile¹
Vengeful Spirit – Nether Swap
Viper – Viper Strike¹
Visage – Grave Chill
Visage – Soul Assumption^{1 2}
Warlock – Fatal Bonds³
Warlock – Shadow Word⁴
Windranger – Shackleshot^{1 3}
Windranger – Focus Fire
Winter Wyvern – Splinter Blast^{1 3 6}
Winter Wyvern – Winter's Curse³
Witch Doctor – Paralyzing Cask^{1 2 5}
Wraith King – Wraithfire Blast^{1 2}
Zeus – Arc Lightning³

Item abilities

Unit abilities

¹ Projectile-based abilities, these are blocked upon impact, not upon cast.

² These abilities can hit multiple targets, and are blocked for everyone hit by them.

³ These abilities can hit multiple targets, but are only blocked when primary target. When blocked, the spell gets completely negated, including its area effects.

⁴ These abilities can be upgraded by talents and/or Aghanim's Scepter so that they are no longer blocked by Spell Block.

⁵ These bouncing spells do not stop bouncing when blocked.

⁶ Despite being blocked, the particle effects of these spells still fully appear.