Enigma
Nothing is known of Enigma's background. There are only stories and legends, most of them apocryphal, passed down through the ages.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“The fundamental forces bend to my will. Master these principles, and the battlefield becomes your gravitational domain.”
Patience Creates Opportunity
Black Hole is not just an ability - it's a moment. Wait for the perfect setup. One good Black Hole is worth ten mediocre ones. Time is your ally.
The Jungle is Your Domain
Efficiency in the jungle translates to impact in teamfights. Master Eidolon management, stack camps, and maintain constant farm acceleration. Your timing matters more than theirs.
Positioning is Power
Blink positioning determines Black Hole success. Think three steps ahead: Blink angle, Midnight Pulse placement, Black Hole coverage. Geography is your weapon.
Gravity Draws All Things
Your presence warps the enemy's movement. They must respect Black Hole's threat range. Use this psychological pressure to control objectives and force favorable engagements.
The Swarm Serves
Eidolons are extensions of your will. Use them for vision, pushing, farming, and scouting. They multiply your presence across the map when you cannot be everywhere at once.
Darkness Before Dawn
Midnight Pulse + Black Hole is devastation incarnate. Master this combination, understand its timing, and you hold the power to end games in a single moment.
Hero Overview
Enigma is a versatile jungler and initiator whose mastery over dark magic allows him to control the battlefield through gravitational manipulation and demonic summoning. His unique ability to efficiently farm the jungle while maintaining map presence makes him one of the most impactful heroes in the right hands.
Enigma's gameplay revolves around efficient jungle farming with Eidolons to secure crucial items like Blink Dagger, then transitioning into a teamfight controller. The perfect Midnight Pulse into Black Hole combo can devastate entire enemy teams, while his Eidolons provide constant push pressure and vision control across the map.
Pros
- Exceptional jungle farming efficiency
- Game-changing Black Hole ultimate
- Strong push potential with Eidolons
- Self-sufficient gold and experience generation
- Midnight Pulse bypasses magic immunity
Cons
- Black Hole is easily interrupted
- Highly dependent on positioning
- Vulnerable to long-range disables
- Requires precise timing and coordination
- Falls off if behind in farm timing
Ability Analysis
Demonic Conversion
Target UnitEnigma converts a creep into three Eidolons under his control. Eidolons multiply when they attack, but have limited lives.
Notes: Your primary farming and pushing tool. Use on large neutrals for maximum efficiency. Spread Eidolons out in fights to avoid AoE damage. Remember that attacks on buildings count towards multiplication but don't consume attacks.
Malefice
Target UnitFocuses Enigma's hatred on an enemy unit, causing it to take damage and become stunned for multiple instances.
Notes: Multi-instance stun that goes through BKB on initial cast. Perfect for interrupting channeled spells or securing kills. The damage instances can trigger items like Urn or Vessel charges.
Midnight Pulse
Point TargetSteeps an area in dark magic, causing all enemies in the area to take damage as a percentage of their max health.
Notes: Deals pure damage based on current HP, bypassing all resistances including BKB. Combos perfectly with Black Hole. Also destroys trees in a massive area - use this for positioning or counter-ganking.
Black Hole
Point TargetSummons a vortex that sucks in nearby enemy units, stunning and damaging them. Enigma must channel to maintain the effect.
Notes: The game-changing ultimate. Pierces spell immunity and prevents most escape mechanisms. Combine with Midnight Pulse for maximum damage. Position carefully - you're vulnerable while channeling. BKB is essential to avoid interruption.
Demonic Conversion (Shard Upgrade)
Target UnitGrants Splitting Image facet: Eidolons spawn additional copies when Enigma takes damage, including self-damage from items like Soul Ring.
Notes: The Shard enables the Splitting Image facet, creating more Eidolons when you take damage. Soul Ring becomes incredibly valuable as self-damage triggers free Eidolons. Great for farming acceleration and teamfight presence.
Black Hole (Aghanim's Scepter)
Point TargetCreates a Black Hole that pulls in enemies from a much larger area and affects more targets simultaneously.
Notes: Dramatically increases the pull radius and target capacity. Makes it much easier to catch multiple heroes and creates opportunities for game-winning team wipes. Essential for late-game teamfights where positioning becomes crucial.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Enigma is the master of gravitational force and jungle control. His Black Hole isn't just an ultimate - it's a game-defining moment that can single-handedly turn losing fights into victories.
Key Insights:
- Jungle efficiency determines your impact timing
- Eidolons are your economy and your army
- Midnight Pulse + Black Hole creates devastating damage zones
Enigma rewards patience and positioning. One perfect Black Hole is worth more than ten mediocre ones. Master the art of the perfect moment!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Efficient jungle farming and Blink Dagger acquisition Key: Start jungling immediately with Demonic Conversion; Stack multiple neutral camps for Eidolon farming; Maintain jungle efficiency while watching for gank opportunities; Secure runes and help with objectives when possible Items: Soul Ring (Essential for mana sustainability); Blink Dagger (Priority #1 - aim for 12-15 minutes); Basic boots for mobility Tips: Always convert the largest neutral creep for maximum Eidolons; Spread Eidolons to avoid AoE damage from jungle creeps; Use A-click to drop neutral aggro from individual Eidolons; Position Eidolons on cliff edges for vision and safety
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Teamfight initiation and objective control Key: Look for 2+ hero Black Hole opportunities; Combine Midnight Pulse with Black Hole for maximum damage; Use Eidolons for push pressure and map control; Coordinate with team for follow-up damage Items: Black King Bar (Essential for uninterrupted channeling); Aghanim's Scepter (Increased Black Hole impact); Force Staff or mobility items Tips: Always cast Midnight Pulse before Black Hole when possible; Position behind trees or on high ground for safety; Use Malefice to interrupt enemy channeled abilities; Smoke with team for surprise Black Hole initiations
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Game-winning Black Hole execution Key: Prioritize catching enemy cores in Black Hole; Use Refresher Orb for double Black Hole potential; Provide vision control with Eidolons; Focus on perfect positioning over aggressive plays Items: Refresher Orb (Game-changing double ultimate); Overwhelming Blink (Enhanced initiation); Octarine Core (Cooldown reduction) Tips: Patience is key - wait for perfect moment; Buy detection and maintain vision control; Use Eidolons to scout ahead safely; Consider defensive Black Holes to save teammates
Tips & Strategies
Eidolon Mastery
- Self-damage from Soul Ring triggers Splitting Image facet for free Eidolons.
- Jungle creeps cast spells when 3+ units are nearby - spread Eidolons to avoid this.
- Drop neutral aggro by A-clicking allied units, just like tower aggro.
- Single Eidolon can be positioned on cliffs by targeting Demonic Conversion at cliff edges.
Black Hole Execution
- Black Hole pierces BKB and silences enemies, preventing Abaddon's Borrowed Time and similar abilities.
- Always combine with Midnight Pulse for maximum damage output.
- Position behind trees or use Midnight Pulse to clear paths for safe channeling.
- Multiple Midnight Pulse instances don't stack - avoid casting multiple in same area.
Advanced Techniques
- Midnight Pulse destroys trees in massive AoE - use against Nature's Prophet or for positioning.
- Midnight Pulse deals full damage to BKB'd enemies but not to Roshan.
- Use multiplied Eidolons before solo kill attempts for guaranteed damage.
- Eidolon attacks on buildings count for multiplication timing but don't consume attack charges.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Soul Ring provides mana sustainability for constant Eidolon creation and jungle farming efficiency.
Soul Ring, Clarity, Tangos
Core Items
Blink for positioning, BKB to prevent Black Hole interruption, and Aghs for teamfight-winning ultimate upgrades.
Blink Dagger, Black King Bar, Aghanim's Scepter
Situational Items
Refresher for double Black Hole combos, Shiva's for teamfight control, mobility items for positioning safety.
Refresher Orb, Shiva's Guard, Force Staff, Glimmer Cape
Counter Guide
Good With
Enigma excels with heroes who can capitalize on his Black Hole setups and provide additional teamfight control. Invoker can land devastating Meteor + Deafening Blast combinations on grouped enemies, while Crystal Maiden benefits from the positioning control to safely channel Freezing Field. Jakiro and Witch Doctor provide complementary AoE damage that synergizes perfectly with Black Hole's grouping effect. Magnus creates additional setup opportunities with Reverse Polarity, and Warlock can follow up with Chaotic Offering for extended crowd control. The key synergy comes from heroes who need enemies to be stationary and grouped - Enigma's Black Hole delivers exactly that window of opportunity for maximum damage output.
Bad Against
Enigma faces serious challenges against heroes with long-range interrupts and positioning abilities that can disrupt his channeled ultimate. Silencer's Global Silence cancels Black Hole even through BKB, making him a nightmare counter. Pudge can hook Enigma out of position or interrupt channeling from long range, while Rubick can steal Black Hole and use it against Enigma's team. Clockwerk's Hookshot and Vengeful Spirit's Nether Swap provide BKB-piercing disables from long range. Beastmaster can stun through BKB with Primal Roar, and Treant Protector's Overgrowth works through immunity. These heroes all share the ability to interrupt Black Hole from safe distances or through magic immunity, neutralizing Enigma's primary teamfight contribution.
Good Against
Enigma dominates heroes who rely on grouping up, illusions, or lack mobility to escape his combinations. Illusion heroes like Phantom Lancer, Chaos Knight, and Naga Siren suffer tremendously as Black Hole groups all illusions together for easy identification and elimination, while Midnight Pulse melts through their high HP pools. Meepo is particularly vulnerable since all clones get caught in Black Hole simultaneously. Heroes with channeled ultimates like Templar Assassin (Psi Blades positioning), Sniper, and Drow Ranger lack escape mechanisms to avoid Blink + Black Hole combinations. Squishy supports without mobility like Crystal Maiden, Witch Doctor, and Shadow Shaman become easy targets for solo pickoffs. Enigma's ability to force positioning, deal percentage-based damage, and control large areas makes him excellent against heroes who need specific positioning or rely on staying spread out.