Drow Ranger
Traxex, a skilled archer from the depths of the ice wastes, channels the power of frost into devastating attacks that pierce through even the toughest defenses.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“Distance is power. From afar, she rains death. Up close, she is but prey. Master your range, master the battle.”
Respect the Range
Your power lives at distance. Every step closer is a step toward defeat. Use Glacier, Pike, positioning - whatever it takes to maintain your killing zone.
Tactical Terrain
Glacier is not just ice - it's high ground on demand. Create advantages where none exist. Turn flat battlegrounds into fortress walls.
The Slow Kill
Frost Arrows are death by inches. Each arrow is not just damage - it's a cage closing around your enemy. Patience wins more fights than haste.
Vision is Victory
What you see, you can kill. What sees you, can kill you. Master sight lines, use Gust for revelation, hide on Glacier's elevated ground.
True Strike Justice
Marksmanship pierces falsehood. Evasion, blind, high ground - meaningless before your bow. Your aim is truth, and truth always finds its mark.
Team Synergy
You need time and space to kill. Your team provides both. Communicate needs, coordinate positioning, and together you'll create the perfect slaughter.
Hero Overview
Drow Ranger is a ranged agility carry who excels at dealing consistent physical damage from safe distances. Her Precision Aura benefits the entire team, while her kit provides excellent kiting, vision control, and high ground manipulation. The Aghanim's Shard Glacier ability introduces unique tactical depth, allowing her to create advantageous positions anywhere on the map.
Drow Ranger's gameplay revolves around maintaining optimal positioning to maximize damage output while staying safe from threats. Her Frost Arrows provide exceptional kiting and harassment capabilities, while Multishot offers wave clear and teamfight damage. The Glacier from Aghanim's Shard creates game-changing scenarios by providing instant high ground advantage, making siege and escape situations much more manageable.
Pros
- Excellent range advantage with Marksmanship
- Built-in accuracy counters evasion heroes
- Strong kiting potential with Frost Arrows
- Aghanim's Shard provides tactical positioning
- Team-wide benefits from Precision Aura
- Great vision control with abilities
Cons
- Vulnerable when enemies get close
- Marksmanship disabled by nearby heroes
- Relies heavily on positioning
- Can struggle against gap-closing heroes
- Requires good map awareness for Glacier usage
Ability Analysis
Frost Arrows
OrbDrow Ranger fires a chilling arrow that slows enemy movement and attack speed.
Notes: Manually casting on heroes prevents creep aggro. Essential for kiting and chase scenarios. The slow duration makes it powerful for controlling enemy positioning in teamfights.
Gust
ActiveReleases a wave of frost that damages and silences enemies while pushing them back.
Notes: Reveals invisible units during silence duration. The knockback can cancel channeling abilities and mobility spells. Use 'Gust Self Movement Speed' talent for escape even without hitting targets.
Multishot
ActiveDrow Ranger fires a volley of arrows in a cone, dealing damage to all enemies in the area.
Notes: Provides flying vision over projectiles. Scales with base damage, not bonus green damage. With 'Sidestep' facet, you can auto-attack during Multishot if standing still and not issuing attack commands.
Marksmanship
PassiveDrow Ranger gains bonus damage and attacks more rapidly at range. Provides true strike on critical attacks.
Notes: Disabled when enemy heroes are within 400 range. Procs provide true strike that bypasses evasion. Particle effect disappearance can detect invisible heroes hugging you. Remains active when standing on Agh's Shard Glacier.
Glacier (Aghanim's Shard)
ActiveCreates a patch of ice that grants bonus attack range and true strike to units standing on it. Counts as high ground for vision.
Notes: All units benefit from attack range bonus, including enemies and creeps. Standing on Glacier counts as two levels of high ground - enemies need significantly elevated vision to see you. Provides true strike against buildings when sieging. Can be activated during Multishot without canceling it.
Precision Aura
PassiveGrants bonus agility to allied heroes within range.
Notes: Creep-heroes like Visage's Familiars show buff indicator but cannot benefit from AGI. Aura affects your illusions as well, making them more threatening.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Drow Ranger thrives on positioning and range advantage. Her Marksmanship provides built-in accuracy and bonus damage at range, while Frost Arrows offer incredible kiting potential. The Aghanim's Shard Glacier creates game-changing tactical advantages by providing high ground positioning anywhere.
Key Insights:
- Maintain distance to keep Marksmanship active
- Use Glacier for instant high ground advantage
- Manual cast Frost Arrows to avoid creep aggro
Drow Ranger rewards calculated positioning and smart ability usage. Master the balance between aggression and safety, and you'll dominate from the backlines!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Safe lane farming with harassment Key: Use manual Frost Arrows for harassment without creep aggro; Maintain range to benefit from Precision Aura; Farm core items while controlling lane equilibrium; Use Gust for vision and silence when needed Items: Power Treads (Core mobility); Wraith Band (Early damage); Dragon Lance (Range extension) Tips: Position aggressively but safely in lane; Save Gust for escape or gank setups; Build towards Mask of Madness if winning lane; Consider early Silver Edge against blink heroes
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Teamfight positioning and objective control Key: Use Glacier for high ground advantage during sieges; Maintain range in teamfights to keep Marksmanship active; Kite threats with Frost Arrows and proper positioning; Coordinate Gust timing with team disables Items: Hurricane Pike (Positioning tool); Mask of Madness (Burst damage); Silver Edge (Counter initiation) Tips: Save Pike for enemy gap-closers; Use Glacier to create instant high ground for team; Position near trees for escape routes; Watch for heroes trying to close distance
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Maintain range advantage and maximize damage output Key: Use Glacier for zone control and vision advantage; Stay at maximum range for Marksmanship damage; Coordinate with team for perfect positioning; Make use of true strike against evasion heroes Items: Butterfly (Evasion and damage); Daedalus (Critical damage); Satanic (Survivability) Tips: Never get caught alone without vision; Use Glacier's high ground for defensive positioning; Maintain perfect positioning in teamfights; Buy back for crucial late game fights
Tips & Strategies
Ability Mastery
- Manual cast Frost Arrows on heroes to avoid drawing creep aggro while harassing
- Gust reveals invisible units for the silence duration - use it against Riki, Treant, etc.
- The 'Gust Self Movement Speed' talent works even if you don't hit enemies - perfect for quick escapes
- Multishot gives flying vision over projectiles - use it to scout areas over cliffs
Glacier Tactics
- Standing on Glacier counts as two levels of high ground - enemies need very elevated vision to see you
- All units (including enemies and creeps) benefit from Glacier's attack range bonus
- Glacier provides true strike against buildings - perfect for high ground sieges
- Use Glacier to walk over cliffs by aligning it with terrain edges like Spectre's Spectral Dagger
Positioning Fundamentals
- Always maintain distance from enemies to keep Marksmanship active - it's your main damage source
- Use Marksmanship particle effect disappearing to detect invisible heroes hugging you
- With 'Sidestep' facet, you can auto-attack during Multishot by standing still and not moving
- Enemies getting close means you lose Marksmanship - prioritize escaping over fighting at point blank
Item Guide
Starting Items
Early stats for laning aggression with regeneration for sustainability. Build into Wraith Band for additional damage output.
Slippers, Tangos, Circlet
Core Items
Treads for stats and attack speed, Mask for burst damage, Dragon Lance for range advantage. These create your core damage profile.
Power Treads, Mask of Madness, Dragon Lance
Situational
Counter Guide
Good With
Drow Ranger excels with heroes who can provide space, setup kills, or benefit from her range advantage. Crystal Maiden provides mana regeneration and can safely channel Freezing Field behind Drow's positioning. Warlock offers tankiness and AoE damage that complements Drow's single-target focus through Fatal Bonds. Shadow Shaman provides disables that let Drow kite safely with Frost Arrows. Witch Doctor can channel Maledict while Drow provides sustained damage from range. The key is heroes who can control the fight or provide setup, allowing Drow to maintain her preferred distance while maximizing damage output. Lich and Winter Wyvern offer additional slows and armor reduction that synergize perfectly with Frost Arrows. Heroes who provide space or lockdown enable Drow to operate at her optimal range without being pressured.
Bad Against
Drow Ranger struggles against heroes who can close distance quickly or disable her primary advantages. Phantom Assassin with Blink Strike and evasion can bypass Marksmanship range while forcing Drow into unfavorable trades. Riki cloaks his approach and can permanently disable Marksmanship by hugging her. Spirit Breaker charges through positioning to initiate on Drow from anywhere on the map. Storm Spirit and Queen of Pain can blink or fly directly onto Drow, ignoring her range advantage entirely. Anti-Mage blinks in and burns mana, preventing Frost Arrow harassment and escape abilities. ** Axe** revels in getting close, completely disabling Marksmanship while forcing unfavorable trades. Heroes with gap-closing abilities, invisibility, or strong mobility pose the greatest threat - they invalidate Drow's core advantage of range and force her into situations she cannot win.
Good Against
Drow Ranger dominates heroes who lack mobility and rely on positioning to function. Sniper suffers from Drow's superior range and Frost Arrow kiting, unable to escape once engaged. Crystal Maiden and Witch Doctor become easy prey with Gust interrupts and Frost Arrow slow, unable to channel their key abilities. Invoker loses his positioning advantage and spellcasting freedom to Gust's silence. Shadow Fiend cannot escape Frost Arrow harassment after using his spells, steadily wearing down. Dazzle and Lich lack mobility to escape kiting once committed to fights. Terrorblade suffers when his illusions are slowed by Frost Arrows, preventing effective split pushing. Drow excels against immobile casters, squishy supports, and heroes who need to position carefully - she locks them down with Frost Arrows and Gust while maintaining safe distance with superior range. Her true strike from Marksmanship also counters evasion heroes like Phantom Assassin who rely on dodge for survival.