Why is Venomancer plaguing your Dota 2 Pubs?

The hero, Venomancer, has long been known for his toxic presence in games, not because he spoils matches but rather due to his abilities centered around poison. Yet, in the latest Dota 2 patch (7.37), there’s been a significant surge in interest towards Venomancer. So, what might account for this notable increase in popularity for one of Dota 2’s most irritating characters? Here’s the explanation.

Dota 2’s Lesale Deathbringer, the Venomancer – Stats from pubs

Let’s first discuss some key characteristics of Venomancer in Dota 2 before delving into why he’s causing issues in the current patch. Generally, Venomancer is either played as a Support or, less frequently, as an Offlaner. Interestingly, the support version of Venomancer has a higher win and pick rate because it doesn’t require many items to make a difference in games.

We have transferred the stats to the table below:

As a gamer playing Veno, I usually opt for utility-focused items like Force Staff and Spirit Vessel when filling the support role. But when I’m an offlaner, I lean towards building aura items, just like many other Dota 2 Offlaners today. Interestingly, both builds suit Venomancer remarkably well, as he is a versatile hero that thrives with either build’s item selections.

Venomancer’s Abilities

Initially, Venomancer may not appear threatening, but Dota 2 players often prefer him over Viper due to a misunderstanding. However, once the poison from Jidi Isle accumulates, Venomancer becomes significantly more dangerous than a flying dragon snake like Viper. His first ability, Venomous Gale, is one of the strongest level one spells in the game because it not only deals damage but also debuffs and slows enemies by 50% for an extended period of 15 seconds. If you’re hit by a Venomous Gale early on, you’ll likely find yourself returning to the fountain.

Next, we move on to Venomancer’s renowned Dota 2 skill, the passive known as Poison Sting. This ability inflicts damage over time and a slowness debuff on all Veno’s (and his wards’) attacks, lasting for a duration of 15 seconds.

The pace isn’t nearly as troublesome as Gale, with its maximum level reaching 14% and dealing 32 damage per second (dps). However, over an extended period, the poison it inflicts can certainly pose a significant inconvenience.

Working together with Poison Sting, Venomancer summons his Plague Wards. These wards attack enemies and inflict half of the damage as Poison Sting, but also apply the full slow effect.

Venomancer’s final ability is called Noxious Plague, a toxic debuff that inflicts damage based on the target’s current health. Upon taking an initial hit, the target will continue to lose 5% of their maximum health over a period of five seconds. If the target dies or the debuff runs out, surrounding enemies become infected with a non-contagious form of the plague.

Why is Venomancer so strong in 7.37?

Before the arrival of Hero Facets, Venomancer was often chosen for comedic effect rather than serious play. This was largely due to an unconventional jungle build that was popular in early Dota 2. However, the addition of two Hero Facets provided Venomancer with a renewed sense of potential. Each facet is robust, but they serve distinct purposes.

The “Patient Zero” aspect for Veno lets Noxious Plague infect an additional target without causing extra harm. While this trait enhances Veno’s abilities, it’s his “Plague Carrier” aspect that has earned him a strong reputation. Normally, Venomancer excels at controlling a specific region of the map using his wards. But with this special ability, Venomancer can place Plague wards on teammates, addressing one of Veno’s main challenges.

With the introduction of Venomancer’s latest inherent ability in Dota 2’s 7.37 Patch, he becomes capable of inflicting substantial damage. This new ability, named Septic Shock, boosts his base damage by 10% for each debuff afflicting a target. With Aghanim’s Scepter, this bonus increases to 20% per debuff. As a result, with just the casting of his spells and his wards that all induce debuffs, Venomancer, without any items, can deal an extra 100% bonus base damage to a target affected by only three Plague wards, a Gale, and a Noxious Plague.

By integrating items such as Orchid Malevolence and Eye of Skadi, which impose detrimental effects, you unlock immense damage capabilities. Dota 2 expert Wagamama conducted tests, revealing that a fully leveled build dedicated to inflicting damage can unleash up to 30,000 points of damage per second.

As a gamer, let me share my findings: In short, you’ve got a golden opportunity to wreak havoc with Venomancer in pubs, thanks to his fresh Innate Ability that amplifies his damage potential significantly. The versatility of playing Veno as either a support or carry, offering vision, inflicting max HP per second damage, and controlling crucial map areas, makes him an outstanding choice in Dota 2 public matches at the moment.

TLDR:

How to counter Venomancer in Dota 2?

Don’t worry, if you get hit by Venomancer’s venom, there are several ways to remove the negative effects and poison. The most effective strategies against Venomancer are Black King Bar, Eul’s Scepter/Wind Waker or Lotus Orb, which all eliminate the debuffs that Venomancer causes (excluding Noxious Plague).

When it comes to heroes, those who can remove negative effects (or debuffs) significantly weaken Venomancer’s power. Characters such as Oracle and Omniknight are particularly effective against his poisonous attacks because they can either eliminate the negative effects or offer protection from status ailments, allowing them to endure his debilitating conditions more easily.

As a Venomancer player in Dota 2 right now, I can tell you that he’s got some serious power on the battlefield. However, with the next patch coming up, there’s a good chance he might take a tumble a few blocks back. But until then, let’s seize this opportunity to boost our MMR and make the most of Venomancer’s current strength! Let’s dominate the battlefield!