Ember Spirit has long been a staple pick in Dota 2, consistently appearing in tournaments across different patches. His unparalleled mobility, exceptional damage potential, and ability to fit into various team compositions make him one of the most reliable midlaners in the game.
However, this hero has not been favoured in recent patches, leading to a significant decline in his popularity in pubs. Nevertheless, he remains a viable pick in high-level matches.
Now, in Patch 7.38, Valve has once again blessed Ember Spirit. Both the hero and his itemisation have received major buffs. This article will explore the best way to play him in the current meta.
Why Ember Spirit could be the strongest midlaner in Patch 7.38
The midlane is often the most crucial lane in Dota 2. It's the only lane in the game with a single hero from each side. To win the midlane, a player must simply outplay their opponent, as winning this lane often creates a huge advantage for their team, providing tempo and an opportunity to snowball.
Ember Spirit is a signature hero of many midlaners.
Unlike most midlaners, Ember is a top-tier choice thanks to his adaptability and high skill ceiling. His abilities allow players to showcase their skill and outmanoeuvre opponents when played correctly. Ember can also control runes thanks to his ultimate ability, Fire Remnant.
This hero thrives with tempo and can assist his sidelanes without spending too much time.
What makes Ember strong in Patch 7.38
Ember is one of the few heroes who received a buff in this patch. Although his first ability, Searing Chains, received a nerf, his third ability and his ultimate both received buffs. Flame Guard's damage has increased by five per level, and Fire Remnant’s cast point has been reduced from 0.2 seconds to 0.
While his other facet, Chain Gang, could still be useful, the ideal facet for Ember is Double Impact. This facet allows the hero to attack the closest enemy a second time when Sleight of Fist connects with two or more enemies.
With this facet, the Sleight of Fist and Searing Chains combo will become much stronger and could even give Ember a strong laning stage. Additionally, it helps secure kills in favourable matchups.
Moreover, Ember’s core items have been improved. In this patch, Bottle refills have been nerfed, now requiring the carrier to be physically in the fountain. As a result, Ember Spirit is one of only two midlaners who can still refill the Bottle.
The itemisation for Ember
In the past, Ember Spirit could be played as either a physical or magical damage dealer. However, nowadays, the most effective way to build him is as a hybrid damage dealer—capable of dealing both physical and magical damage. This approach allows him to scale seamlessly as the game progresses.
For starting items, Ember Spirit is a midlaner, so the smartest build is to rush Bottle, as it provides crucial mana and HP sustain. To do this, players typically start with a Quelling Blade, two Ironwood Branches, and a set of Tangos.
After securing a Bottle, the Ironwood Branches are usually upgraded into the Magic Wand. When it comes to boots, Phase Boots are the most common choice for Ember, though Power Treads can be effective in certain matchups.
One of the situational itemisation for Ember Spirit.
In the current patch, Orb of Corrosion is a strong pick for Ember, as it provides agility, a slowing effect, and armour reduction. This item also scales well into the late game.
For his first core item, players typically build Mage Slayer or Maelstrom, depending on the match. Afterwards, they often buy Black King Bar (BKB) or Linken’s Sphere to prevent Ember from getting locked down.
Eul’s Scepter of Divinity is also a viable option, as it can be used both defensively and offensively. Sometimes, a defensive item is purchased before completing Mage Slayer or Maelstrom.
Following these items, players build Shiva’s Guard or Octarine Core. However, in this meta, Aghanim’s Scepter is also an exceptional choice. Aghanim’s Shard is another strong pickup for Ember.
Nowadays, players also purchase Sange and Kaya or Sange and Yasha for status resistance on Ember. To round out the build, players often purchase Refresher Orb as it is invaluable to have the second round of spells in the late game.
Situational items for Ember include but are not limited to, Desolator, Daedalus, Yasha and Kaya, Boots Of Travels and even a Divine Raipier.
The Things To Know About Ember
Though Ember Spirit may sound fun, he is not a beginner-friendly hero in Dota 2. He requires a certain level of skill to play effectively, as he is squishy but highly reliable. Players must have impeccable positioning and a strong understanding of the game's tempo to fully utilise Ember. He's also a great hero for catching enemy backliners.
Playing Ember also teaches players important Dota 2 concepts, which include:
- Mastery of mobility mechanics – Fire Remnants require skilful usage to be effective.
- Positioning – Learning when to engage, kite, and disengage.
- Resource management – Balancing mana, cooldowns, and his Fire Remnants.
- Map awareness – Knowing where to place Remnants for quick rotations or escapes.
Mastering these mechanics makes Ember a highly effective pick in various team compositions. This is why Ember is a signature hero for many professional players, and might just be the flavour of Dota 2 Patch 7.38.
