Anti-Mage
Raised from the dead by a mages' spell in a forbidden ritual, Anti-Mage dedicated his life to the eradication of magic. He trained in the hidden monasteries of Turstarkuri, learning to harness the power of void itself.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“Magic is a corrupting force. Those who wield it are blinded by power. I am the cure, the purifier, the end of their corruption.”
Patience is Power
Your early game weakness is temporary. Every second spent farming brings you closer to invincibility. Endure, and your patience will be rewarded with dominance.
Economy of Motion
Blink is not just movement - it's art. Position perfectly, escape flawlessly, strike unexpectedly. Every Blink should have purpose, every mana point precious.
Hunt the Casters
Mages are your prey. They build their strength on mana; you take it from them. Focus those who rely on spells, and watch their power crumble.
Master the Void
Mana Void is your ultimate statement. It's not just damage - it's justice for every spell cast against you. Target wisely, and win battles with a single cast.
Become Elusive
Trees are your sanctuary, Blink your shield. Never fight fair - always fight on your terms. Be where they expect you least, strike when they feel safest.
The Final Strike
You are the answer to magic. When enemies believe their spells make them invincible, you are the reminder that power corrupts, and all corruption must end.
Hero Overview
Anti-Mage is the ultimate anti-magic carry, designed to dismantle spell-heavy compositions through mana destruction and unmatched mobility. His low cooldown Blink makes him incredibly elusive, while Mana Break gradually drains enemies of their ability to cast spells while dealing substantial damage.
His gameplay centers around surviving the early game through smart positioning, then farming efficiently with Battle Fury before becoming a terror in the late game. A well-timed Mana Void can win teamfights single-handedly, especially against heroes with large mana pools. Counterspell adds both defensive and offensive utility, making him difficult to lock down.
Pros
- Unmatched mobility with low-cooldown Blink
- Devastating against magic-reliant heroes
- Excellent farming speed with Battle Fury
- Strong late-game scaling and split-pushing
- Mana Void can be game-changing in teamfights
Cons
- Very weak early game laning
- Highly item-dependent to reach power spike
- Vulnerable to physical damage and disables
- Requires excellent positioning and game sense
- Struggles against heroes with minimal mana pools
Ability Analysis
Mana Break
PassiveAnti-Mage's attacks burn the target's mana. For each point of mana burned, deals damage to the target.
Notes: Core ability that makes you a nightmare for casters. Focus on intelligence heroes to maximize impact. The damage component makes it effective even against heroes with low mana pools.
Blink
ActiveTeleports to a target point up to 1200 units away.
Notes: Your signature ability. Use it for initiation, escape, and positioning. The mana cost is high early, so use it strategically. Practice tread switching to maximize mana efficiency.
Counterspell
ActiveForces a targeted enemy unit to attack Anti-Mage. If they cast a spell, Counterspell reflects it back at them. Provides magic resistance.
Notes: Defensive and offensive tool. Active use can bait out enemy spells. The passive magic resistance makes you tanky against magic damage. Blocks and reflects single-target spells when timed correctly.
Mana Void
ActiveCreates a void of pure energy that damages and stuns an enemy unit based on their missing mana.
Notes: Game-changing ultimate. Best used on out-of-mana targets with large mana pools. The AoE stun can win teamfights. Can be used on creeps to stun nearby enemies with Linken's Sphere.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Anti-Mage is the quintessential late-game carry who specializes in punishing magic-reliant lineups. His Mana Break makes him a nightmare for casters, while Blink provides unparalleled mobility and escape potential.
Key Insights:
- Master Blink positioning for maximum effectiveness
- Use Counterspell strategically to block and reflect key abilities
- Mana Void isn't just a finisher - it's a game-changing teamfight ability
Anti-Mage rewards patience and precision. Your early game weakness is compensated by incredible late-game scaling.
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Survive the lane and secure Battle Fury Key: Play extremely conservatively in lane; Use trees and Blink for escape; Focus on last hits over harassment; Practice tread switching to conserve mana Items: Battle Fury (Priority #1); Power Treads; Quelling Blade for jungle Tips: Don't be afraid to abandon lane if too pressured; Use Blink to escape into trees, not back to lane; Farm jungle camps when lane is unsafe; Stack camps when possible for faster farming
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Farm efficiently and start split-pushing Key: Use Battle Fury for rapid farming; Apply map pressure through split-pushing; Join teamfights only when necessary; Build towards Manta Style Items: Manta Style (Core fighting item); Yasha/Kaya; Magic Wand Tips: Always have TP scroll for gank defense; Use illusions to scout and dispel; Don't fight without items; Prioritize farming over fighting
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Carry teamfights and end the game Key: Target high-mana support heroes first; Use Mana Void for maximum impact; Maintain perfect positioning; Split-push to create pressure Items: Linken's Sphere (Survivability); Butterfly (Damage/Evasion); Abyssal Blade (Lockdown) Tips: Focus on backline squishy targets; Use Blink trees for escape routes; Mana Void can win fights from disadvantage; Never fight without buyback
Tips & Strategies
Blink Master
- Blink into trees when escaping, never back to lane where enemies expect you
- Practice tread switching: INT before Blink, AGI immediately after
- Use Blink's short cooldown to reposition during fights
- Blink can be used to dodge projectiles with proper timing
Counterspell Usage
- Walk towards enemies with Counterspell active to bait spells
- Can block and reflect single-target spells like Laguna Blade
- Use it proactively against heroes with critical single-target spells
- Remembers it provides passive magic resistance when not active
Mana Void Strategy
- Target low-mana supports for maximum AoE stun duration
- Use on creeps to stun enemies with Linken's Sphere nearby
- Don't save it only for kills - the AoE stun is more valuable
- Perfect against heroes who burn through their mana quickly
Item Guide
Starting Items
Basic survivability and last-hitting ability for a challenging early game.
Tango, Quelling Blade, Slippers of Agility
Core Items
Power Treads for stats and tread switching, Battle Fury for farming speed, Manta Style for fighting and dispelling.
Power Treads, Battle Fury, Manta Style
Situational Items
Linken's against single-target lockdown, Abyssal for lockdown, Butterfly for damage and evasion, BKB against heavy magic.
Linken's Sphere, Abyssal Blade, Butterfly, BKB
Counter Guide
Good With
Anti-Mage excels when paired with heroes who can protect him during his weak early game and provide space for farming. Keeper of the Light grants mana and vision, while Shadow Shaman provides lockdown for kills. Dazzle offers both protection through Shallow Grave and armor reduction. Windranger can provide stuns and control, while heroes like Ancient Apparition help counter enemies who would otherwise escape through healing. Nature's Prophet can global push while AM farms, creating constant pressure. Supports who can zone enemies and provide vision are invaluable - they allow AM to farm safely and reach his power spike. The key is heroes who understand AM needs time to scale and can enable that through protection and pressure creation elsewhere on the map.
Bad Against
Anti-Mage struggles against heroes who can neutralize his mobility or create overwhelming pressure early. Shadow Demon creates illusions that burn AM's mana, while Axe forces him to fight through Berserker's Call. Naga Siren and Phantom Lancer create illusions that are difficult to deal with and drain mana. Batrider can lasso and disable AM despite his Blink. Storm Spirit can chase down AM anywhere on the map. Heroes with break effects like Viper and Slardar disable Counterspell and Mana Break. Necrophos with Reaper's Scythe prevents buyback, crippling AM's late-game strategy. Ancient Apparition makes AM vulnerable through Ice Blast preventing healing and mana regen. The pattern is clear: heroes who can lock down AM, create overwhelming pressure early, or disable his key abilities pose serious threats to his game plan.
Good Against
Anti-Mage dominates heroes who rely heavily on mana and spells. Intelligence heroes like Invoker, Storm Spirit, and Pudge burn through mana and become helpless against Mana Break. Crystal Maiden and Witch Doctor find their mana pools rapidly depleted while being vulnerable to Mana Void. Medusa and Tiny who need mana for their key abilities struggle against AM's mana destruction. Outworld Destroyer loses both his mana pool and damage output against AM. Tinker who relies on constant Rearm and spell casting becomes a prime target. Heroes with large mana pools like Lina and Leshrac are vulnerable to Mana Void's scaling damage. Even fighters who need mana for abilities like Sven and Wraith King find their combat effectiveness reduced. AM's ability to drain mana while dealing damage makes him the perfect counter to magic-reliant compositions, especially in prolonged fights where he can exhaust entire enemy mana pools.