Beastmaster
Karroch was born a child of the stocks, his mother having died during childbirth. His father, a farrier for the mad king of Slom, was a man of quiet dignity, pained by his son's deformity. He was apprenticed to a wild-beast trapper, learning to read the trails of the wilderness, the signs of the seasons, and to capture the beasts of the wild.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“The wild answers to no master but those who understand its language. Speak their tongue, and they shall be your army.”
Master the Summon
Your animals are your strength. Protect the Boar, position the Hawk. When your summons fall, so does your map presence.
Vision is Victory
Information wins games. Use your Hawk to control the map, spot rotations, and set up perfect Primal Roars.
Amplify Your Impact
Wild Axes isn't just damage - it's a force multiplier. The damage amplification turns your team's hits into executions.
Roar with Purpose
Primal Roar is precision, not panic. Target the key threat, interrupt the crucial channel, create the opening your team needs.
Be the Catalyst
Your attack speed aura makes every ally stronger. Position to buff your carry, multiply your team's damage output exponentially.
Patient Predator
Wait for the perfect moment. Your cooldowns demand precision. A single well-timed roar is worth ten hasty ones.
Hero Overview
Beastmaster is a versatile initiator and pusher who commands an army of animal allies. His unique combination of ranged harass, vision control, and reliable single-target lockdown makes him invaluable in both early laning and late-game teamfights. The damage amplification from Wild Axes and the utility from his summons make him a strategic powerhouse.
Beastmaster excels at controlling the map through superior vision and sustained pressure. His gameplay centers around managing his summons for maximum efficiency, using Wild Axes to cut trees and apply damage amplification, and landing perfect Primal Roars to initiate fights or secure kills. His Inner Beast passive provides valuable attack speed to the entire team, making him a force multiplier in prolonged engagements.
Pros
- Excellent initiator with Primal Roar
- Superior vision control with Hawk
- Strong lane presence with Boar harass
- Wild Axes provides damage amplification
- Team-wide attack speed aura with Inner Beast
Cons
- Relatively long cooldowns on summons
- Summons have long respawn times when killed
- Vulnerable to heroes who can quickly kill his animals
- Mana-intensive early game
- Limited escape options without items
Ability Analysis
Wild Axes
ActiveBeastmaster sends his axes flying on a looping path, damaging each enemy they pass through. The axes also apply a damage amplification debuff that increases damage taken from all sources.
Notes: Use to cut down trees for vision improvement and to apply damage amplification before your team engages. The debuff stacks with each hit and works on Roshan. Can be used to farm jungle camps efficiently.
Call of the Wild
ActiveBeastmaster summons an animal companion to aid him. Summons a hawk for vision or a boar that slows enemies with its attacks.
Notes: Hawk provides excellent vision control and scouting. Boar doesn't draw creep aggro, allowing for safe lane harass. Keep your summons alive as their cooldown is significant. Use hawk vision to spot ganks and set up Primal Roars.
Inner Beast
PassiveBeastmaster's inner ferocity radiates, granting himself and nearby allied units increased attack speed.
Notes: This passive makes you valuable in any teamfight, especially for right-click carries. Position yourself in the center of fights to maximize the aura benefit. Works on your summons as well, making your boar even more threatening.
Primal Roar
ActiveBeastmaster releases a deafening roar that knocks back and stuns the target enemy unit, while pushing and damaging nearby enemies in a line.
Notes: Your ultimate initiation tool. Use it to catch out key targets or escape from dangerous situations. The knockback affects all enemies in the line, so aim carefully to hit multiple targets. Can be used to stun couriers and break channels.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Beastmaster is the undisputed master of animal companions and initiation. His Primal Roar is one of the most reliable single-target disables in the game, while his summoned units provide unparalleled vision and lane pressure.
Key Insights:
- Wild Axes does more than damage - the damage amp debuff is crucial
- Summons are your bread and butter - protect your Boar, position your Hawk wisely
- Primal Roar is both initiation and escape - use it to catch stragglers or save allies
Beastmaster rewards calculated aggression. Your animal army makes you a threat across the entire map!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Establish lane dominance and vision control Key: Use Hawk to spot ganks and provide vision; Harass with Boar - it doesn't draw creep aggro; Use Wild Axes to cut trees for vision and apply damage amp; Focus on last hitting and protecting your summons Items: Power Treads (stats and attack speed); Blink Dagger (mobility); Magic Wand (mana sustain) Tips: Position Hawk safely - it can draw creep aggro before 5 minutes; Use Wild Axes on nearby treeline for better vision; Keep your Boar alive - it has a long cooldown; Stack camps with Wild Axes for later farming
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Initiate teamfights and control objectives Key: Use Blink + Primal Roar for initiation; Maintain vision with Hawk for Roshan and pushes; Apply Wild Axes damage amp before team engages; Push towers with summons and team buff Items: Blink Dagger (essential for initiation); Aghanim's Scepter (permanent summons); Pipe of Insight (magic protection) Tips: Wait to summon Boar after Blink to keep it safe; Aim Primal Roar like a skillshot to hit multiple enemies; Use Hawk vision to set up ganks; Inner Beast aura benefits your carry immensely
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Perfect initiation and team utility Key: Save Primal Roar for critical targets; Use vision control to catch enemy rotations; Provide attack speed aura for team; Split push with summons when needed Items: Refresher Orb (double roar potential); Shiva's Guard (armor and utility); Assault Cuirass (team armor and attack speed) Tips: Primal Roar can break channels even if not the primary target; Position carefully - you're the team's vision provider; Wild Axes amp helps your carry burst down targets; Consider Refresher for game-changing double roars
Tips & Strategies
Vision & Summons
- Use Wild Axes to cut down trees near lane for improved vision and gank prevention.
- The Boar never draws lane creep aggro, allowing continuous harass without retaliation.
- Hawk draws creep aggro before 5 minutes - be careful with positioning during this time.
- Always kill enemy summons first as Beastmaster's animal army is his strength.
Wild Axes Mastery
- The damage amplification debuff works on Roshan - apply it before your team engages.
- Debuff stacks with each axe hit and refreshes duration, making it valuable in prolonged fights.
- Use axes to farm jungle camps efficiently and stack multiple camps.
- Can be used to scout around corners with the throwing animation.
Primal Roar Execution
- Aim like a linear skillshot to hit multiple enemies in the line of fire.
- Units in the AoE are fully disabled during knockback, breaking channels even if not primary target.
- Can stun couriers but won't damage them - useful for courier sniping.
- Wait to summon Boar after Blink-Dagger initiation to keep it safe during teamfights.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Basic stat boost and sustain for early laning. Clarity is crucial for maintaining summon mana costs.
Iron Branch, Tangos, Clarity
Core Items
Blink for initiation, Treads for stats and attack speed synergy, Aghs for permanent summons and better pushing.
Blink Dagger, Power Treads, Aghanim's Scepter
Situational Items
Pipe against magic damage, Shiva for armor and slow, Bloodstone for mana sustainability, Lotus for dispel protection.
Pipe of Insight, Shiva's Guard, Bloodstone, Lotus Orb
Counter Guide
Good With
Beastmaster synergizes best with heroes who can capitalize on his initiation and attack speed buff. Magnus creates devastating combos with Reverse Polarity after Primal Roar, while Invoker can land perfect Sunstrikes on roared targets. Earthshaker benefits from Beastmaster's ability to group enemies for massive Echo Slams, and Phantom Assassin thrives with the attack speed aura from Inner Beast. Tidehunter provides additional initiation with Ravage, creating multiple disable opportunities. Sniper can safely assassinate roared targets from distance. The key is heroes who need time to set up abilities or benefit from attack speed - Beastmaster creates the perfect environment for both.
Bad Against
Beastmaster struggles against heroes who can neutralize his summons or disrupt his game plan. Bane and Shadow Demon can quickly eliminate Beastmaster's animal companions with Brain Sap and Soul Catcher. Invoker with EMP and Cold Snap can pressure Beastmaster's limited mana pool. Razor and Viper excel at kiting Beastmaster while his summons are on cooldown. Winter Wyvern can turn Beastmaster's army against himself with Winter's Curse. Lifestealer can Feast through Beastmaster's tankiness. Necrophos with Ghost Shroud makes Beastmaster's physical threats useless. The pattern is clear: heroes who can kill summons efficiently, drain mana, or kite at range all pose significant threats.
Good Against
Beastmaster dominates heroes who rely on positioning, channeling, or are vulnerable to sustained damage. Channeling heroes like Crystal Maiden (Freezing Field), Witch Doctor (Death Ward), and Enigma (Black Hole) become easy targets for Primal Roar interruption. Illusion heroes like Phantom Lancer and Naga Siren struggle against the wild axes damage amplification and boar slows. Squishy supports such as Sniper, Drow Ranger, and Crystal Maiden are easily caught with Blink + Primal Roar. Position-dependent heroes like Tinker and Techies lose their safety when suddenly roared. Beastmaster's superior vision control makes him excellent against heroes who rely on surprise or positioning advantages. His combination of reliable initiation, vision control, and team utility makes him a nightmare for these vulnerable hero types.