Doom
Once a savage of the Infernal planes, Doom consumes both flesh and fate. Where he walks, spells fall silent.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“You don't just kill a hero — you remove their usefulness. Doom is about shutting windows, not always getting the final blow.”
Pick the Right Neutral
Devour is your toolbox. Choose neutral abilities that fill gaps for your team or counter the enemy composition.
Value Silence Over Kill
A well-timed Doom on a support or channeler can win fights even without immediate kills. Denying spells and heals is often the highest impact play.
Be Patient with Ult
Doom's cast is long. If you cannot safely finish it, use Infernal Blade or a blink initiation to guarantee follow-up and avoid interrupts.
Use Aghs Intentionally
Aghanim's Scepter changes your role from single-target shutdown to area pressure. Build it when your team needs persistent control and space rather than an additional instant kill.
Hero Overview
Doom is a tanky disabler who excels at neutral-farm scaling and single-target shutdowns. He jungle-farms efficiently with Devour, converts selected neutral creep abilities into tools, and uses his ultimate to neutralize high-impact enemy heroes.
Doom's gameplan is simple: farm neutrals early, pick the right neutral ability for the situation, and then use Doom (and Infernal Blade) to lock out key enemy heroes during fights or pickoffs. Scorched Earth helps him survive in fights and while sieging; Infernal Blade provides reliable lockdown and damage over time.
Pros
- Single-target shutdown that removes spells and healing
- Very strong jungle clear and timings via Devour
- Flexible: can be played front-line or space-creating offlaner
- Aghanim's Scepter adds map pressure with an overlapping Doom aura
Cons
- Long ultimate cast animation — can be interrupted
- Devour gold can be delayed/unreliable
- Item and neutral choice dependent (needs utility items to fit team)
- Linken's Sphere and certain hero abilities can counter or limit Doom's effectiveness
Ability Analysis
Devour
ActiveDevour consumes a neutral creep to gain bonus gold (granted when the buff expires) and, when alt-cast, steals the creep's ability.
Notes: Alt-cast to steal neutral abilities; toggle it off to consume a creep without replacing an existing stolen spell. Learn key neutral abilities and plan which camps to kill at each stage: early regen/mana creeps, mid-game stuns/ensnares, late-game damage auras or crits. Devour's gold arrives on expiration — don't rely on instant payout.
Scorched Earth
ActiveDoom surrounds himself with searing flames that grant movement speed and health regeneration while burning nearby enemies.
Notes: Use Scorched Earth when Sieging, escaping, or tanking Roshan. The heal + speed lets you stay in fights longer and chase down Doomed targets. Turn it on before committing to trades to buy time for Infernal Blade or to hold position under tower.
Infernal Blade
Passive / Attack ModifierDoom's attacks (or an active attack) apply a burning damage-over-time and short stun to the target.
Notes: Because Doom has a long ult animation, starting fights with Infernal Blade + stun into Doom can be more reliable. Infernal Blade also helps secure kills on runaways and amplifies Doom’s single-target threat.
Doom
Target UnitA crippling single-target effect that silences, dispels, prevents healing and item usage, and applies a damaging doom over time while the debuff lasts.
Notes: Doom dispels on cast and prevents most forms of healing — use it on enemy cores, channelers or on supports who enable lifesteal/healing. Be mindful of the long cast animation. If enemies carry Linken's Sphere or other protections, use a neutral targeted spell or a pre-pop to ensure Doom lands.
Doom (Aghanim's Scepter)
UpgradeAghanim's Scepter grants Doom additional functionality: self-casting turns Doom into a mobile aura that applies Doom effects in an area around you (you are not doomed by self-cast).
Notes: Self-cast Aghs Doom doesn't Doom you — it creates a persistent AoE pressure zone. Use it to siege, control Roshan area, or deny enemy formations. It also forces opponents to carry purge items or additional defensive tools.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Doom is a macro-focused hero: your value comes from denying enemy heroes access to spells, healing and utility rather than raw DPS. Devour is your toolbox — choose neutral abilities to complement your game plan. Timing on Doom (ultimate) and proper use of Scorched Earth and Infernal Blade define success.
Key insights:
- Treat Devour as both a gold and utility source; alt-cast to steal useful neutral spells.
- Use Infernal Blade to start fights if the ultimate's cast animation would fail.
- Aghanim's Scepter self-cast turns Doom into a mobile AoE pressure tool — use it when you need constant zone control.
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-12 minutes Objective: Get reliable Devour targets and secure neutral abilities that fit your plan Key: Prioritize safe jungle farm and pick neutral spells that match your role; Use Devour's alt-cast to steal utility spells (regen, mana, stuns) when useful; Avoid risky solo teamfights until you have a reliable way to finish casts Items: Quelling Blade / jungling tool; Tangos & sustain; Early magic resistance/regen if contested (branches into Hood/Headdress) Tips: Identify which neutral abilities you want for early aggression (e.g., mana/HP regen, harpy chain lightning).; If you need lane presence, swap Devour choices to utility that helps trades.; Devour gold is given when the buff ends — don't assume instant payout.
Mid Game
Timeframe: 12-25 minutes Objective: Convert farm and neutral abilities into map pressure and single-target shutdowns Key: Use Doom on priority enemy cores or key channelers; Coordinate with initiators or pick off isolated targets with Blink + Infernal Blade + Doom; Use Scorched Earth to tank up during objectives and while contesting Roshan Items: Blink Dagger; Aghanim's Scepter (timing-dependent); Pipe / Hood for survivability Tips: If enemies carry Linken's, pre-pop with a neutral targeted spell or use a ranged neutral ability to break it.; Alt-cast Devour only when you want the neutral ability; otherwise consume for safe gold and stats.; Use Infernal Blade to secure stuns when Doom's cast might be interrupted.
Late Game
Timeframe: 25+ minutes Objective: Deny enemy utility and healing, control space and force bad fights for the enemy Key: Target enemy healers, save Doom for game-changing targets; Self-cast Aghs Doom (if built) to apply persistent pressure while sieging; Buy situational defensive items to survive the initial burst so you can do your job Items: Aghanim's Scepter; Shiva's Guard / Heart; Force Staff / utility items Tips: Position to avoid being instantly bursted — Doom is most valuable when he lives long enough to apply his shutdown.; When you can't land Doom reliably, switch to Infernal Blade initiations and let team follow up.
Tips & Strategies
Devour & Neutral Choices
- Alt-cast Devour to steal neutral abilities; toggle it off to eat creeps without changing your stolen spell.
- Early defensive picks: big red Satyr (HP regen), blue Satyr (mana regen), blue Ogre (Ice Armor).
- Early offensive picks: Harpy Stormcrafter (Chain Lightning) or Vhoul Assassins (heal reduction) situationally.
Using Doom Effectively
- Doom dispels on cast and prevents healing and item use — prioritize channelers, healers or key spellcasters.
- Because Doom has a long cast animation, consider initiating with Infernal Blade stun followed by Doom for reliable lockdown.
- If enemies buy Linken's Sphere, pop it with a targeted neutral spell first (Harpy Chain Lightning is one of the longest-range neutral targeted spells).
Timing and Map Play
- Don't overcommit for kills that rely only on Devour gold — the payout timing is delayed.
- Self-cast Aghs Doom creates a moving AoE; it pressures space and forces enemy dispels or items.
- Check the neutral ability you have by clicking on Doom so you and your team know what to expect (stuns, auras, disables).
Item Guide
Starting Items
Sustain and early jungle tools to make Devour efficient.
Tango, Quelling Blade (or Iron Talon alternatives)
Core Items
Aghs for map pressure, Blink for initiation/gap close, Hood/Pipe to survive magic damage while you lock targets.
Aghanim's Scepter, Blink Dagger, Hood/Pipe
Situational Items
Adapt to the enemy lineup: mobility to reposition, Witch Blade for accuracy/utility, Silver Edge to bypass Linken's or apply Break, and defensive items when you need to stay in fights.
Force Staff, Witch Blade (neutral), Silver Edge, Shiva's Guard, Heart
Counter Guide
Good With
Doom pairs with heroes who can follow up on single-target control or punish grouped enemies. Magnus and Tiny amplify Doom's pick potential by converting a single locked target into a quick kill. Enigma and other AoE wombo-combos benefit when Doom pulls priority targets out of the fight or prevents counters.
Bad Against
Doom struggles versus Linken's Sphere and items that purge or prevent disables. Heroes that can remove debuffs or delay fights (Omniknight, Oracle, items like Lotus Orb) blunt Doom's value. If enemies sustain through the DoT (unique exceptions like certain forms or items), Doom's impact lessens.
Good Against
Doom excels at shutting down channeling heroes and those reliant on healing: Enigma, Witch Doctor, Io, and heroes with strong life-restoration mechanics. Use Doom to eliminate their game-changing tools in fights.