Jakiro
Jakiro is a two-headed dragon whose heads have a symbiotic relationship - one breathes ice, the other fire. Their constant bickering hides their deadly effectiveness in battle.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“Two heads are better than one, but four heads of fire and ice are unstoppable. Zone. Control. Conquer.”
Control the Space
Macropyre is psychological warfare first, damage second. Use it to create space, dictate fight positions, and make enemies uncomfortable.
Master Positioning
Your turn rate punishes mistakes. Position for spells, not for auto-attacks. Use Ice Path vision and range to stay safe.
The Combo is Everything
Ice Path → Dual Breath is your bread and butter. Master this combo, and you master Jakiro's damage output.
Push Like a Dragon
Liquid Fire tower attack speed reduction is incredibly powerful. You're not just a teamfighter - you're a pusher.
Mind Your Mana
Four abilities make you hungry. Arcane Boots aren't optional - they're essential. Conserve spells, maximize impact.
Prevention Over Reaction
Ice Path's long active time lets you be proactive. Pre-cast against TPs, preempt abilities, and control engagement terms.
Hero Overview
Jakiro is a ranged intelligence support who excels at zone control, lane dominance, and tower pushing. His unique Double Trouble passive grants him two attacks per auto-attack, making him surprisingly effective at harassing and taking objectives. With four active abilities that all provide different forms of control or damage output, Jakiro can adapt to virtually any situation.
Jakiro's gameplay revolves around ability synergy and positioning. Your bread-and-butter combo involves landing Ice Path to guarantee a full-duration Dual Breath, dealing massive damage while slowing enemies. Liquid Fire makes you an exceptional tower-taker, especially notable for the attack speed reduction on structures. Macropyre serves as both damage and zone control - often more valuable for the space it creates than the damage it deals.
Pros
- Four active abilities provide immense utility
- Excellent lane harass with Dual Breath
- Strong tower pushing with Liquid Fire
- Double Trouble passive provides bonus damage
- Ice Path provides long-range initiation and vision
- Macropyre is excellent for zone control in teamfights
Cons
- Very slow turn rate and cast animations
- Low mobility makes him vulnerable to ganks
- Mana-intensive abilities lead to early mana issues
- Dual Breath and Ice Path require good positioning
- Relatively squishy despite being a dragon
- Macropyre can be easily avoided by mobile enemies
Ability Analysis
Dual Breath
ActiveAn icy blast followed by a wave of fire deals damage over time and slows enemies in an area.
Notes: Your primary harassing and damage tool. The ice breath applies slow first, followed by fire DoT. Ground targeting from fog won't reveal your position. Can hit enemies beyond max cast range with proper ground targeting. Each attack from Double Trouble can apply DoT effects to nearby enemies.
Ice Path
ActiveCreates a path of ice that damages and stuns enemies who walk over it after a delay.
Notes: Excellent long-range disable and scouting tool. The long active time allows for pre-emptive disables against abilities like Puck's Phase Shift or TPing heroes. Provides vision when cast. Use defensively when chased by casting in front of yourself rather than behind. Can stun enemies immediately upon Aegis reincarnation.
Liquid Fire
ActiveJakiro spews Liquid Fire, dealing damage and reducing attack and movement speed of enemies in an area. Also reduces tower attack speed.
Notes: Exceptional pushing tool due to tower attack speed reduction. Manual casting provides longer range than autocast. Always apply effects even if attack misses. Use to hit both heroes and towers simultaneously for maximum efficiency. AoE damage can push lane equilibrium - be mindful of creep positioning.
Macropyre
ActiveJakiro creates a wide path of destructive flame that burns enemies for high damage over time.
Notes: Use for psychological warfare and zone control. Can preemptively cast on high ground to discourage pushes or kill creep waves when teammates are dead. Multiple Macropyres don't stack - space them out with Refresher. Aghanim's Scepter adds ice walls that slow even BKB'd enemies. Don't be afraid to use it defensively to create space.
Double Trouble
PassiveJakiro's basic attacks deal an unavoidable extra attack, providing additional procs for Assault Cuirass and Frost Arrows.
Notes: Each extra attack can proc items and counts as additional hit against abilities like Phoenix's Supernova or Undying's Tombstone. Proc effects work even if the attack misses the primary target. Makes Jakiro surprisingly effective at taking objectives with proper itemization.
Macropyre (Aghanim's Scepter)
ActiveMacropyre creates ice walls along its sides that slow enemies, even those immune to magic.
Notes: Transforms your ultimate into a zoning monster. The ice walls work on debuff immune and BKB'd enemies, making it much harder to escape the damage. The area denial becomes exceptional for teamfights and objective control. Essential late-game upgrade for teamfight impact.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Jakiro is one of the most versatile supports in Dota 2. His Dual Breath and Ice Path combination provides unparalleled control, while Liquid Fire makes him an underrated pushing threat.
Key Insights:
- Money-shot combo: Ice Path → Dual Breath for guaranteed damage
- Liquid Fire autocast vs manual cast drastically changes range
- Macropyre isn't just damage - it's psychological warfare
Jakiro rewards players who understand positioning and ability synergy. Your spacing determines everything from harass effectiveness to ultimate placement!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Harass enemies and secure core utility items Key: Use Ice Path + Dual Breath combo for guaranteed damage; Conserve mana while maintaining lane pressure; Use Liquid Fire when enemies are far from creeps; Position to maximize ability effectiveness Items: Arcane Boots (Priority #1); Magic Wand for sustain; Force Staff for positioning Tips: Ground target Dual Breath from fog to avoid revealing position; Use Ice Path to scout high ground or protect from ganks; Double Trouble improves last-hitting and harass; Be conservative with mana - Jakiro is mana-hungry early
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Control teamfights and push objectives Key: Use Macropyre to control teamfight positioning; Push towers with Liquid Fire's attack speed reduction; Scout Ice Path on key areas; Coordinate ability combos with team Items: Aether Lens for safer casting; Glimmer Cape for team protection; Positioning items (Force/Blink) Tips: Cast Macropyre preemptively to create space; Liquid Fire makes you an exceptional pusher; Use Ice Path vision to deward dangerous areas; Don't be afraid to use Macropyre defensively
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Maximize teamfight control and objective taking Key: Position Macropyre to split enemy team; Use Ice Path to interrupt key abilities; Push towers rapidly with Liquid Fire; Provide vision control with Ice Path Items: Aghanim's Scepter (Essential upgrade); Refresher Orb for double ultimates; Scythe/Shiva for control and utility Tips: Aghanim's ice walls work on BKB'd enemies; Space Macropyres properly with Refresher; Double Trouble makes you dangerous with damage items; Your ult zones can win fights without dealing damage
Tips & Strategies
Ability Mechanics
- Dual Breath and IcePath are ground-targetable from fog without revealing you - direct targeting gives enemies vision.
- Ice Path has significant active time - use preemptively against TPing heroes or abilities like Puck's Phase Shift.
- Liquid Fire manual cast has longer range than autocast - always manual cast for harass.
- Double Trouble attacks procs effects on miss - can hit wards, Phoenix ult, Tombstone from misses.
Positioning & Vision
- Jakiro's slow turn rate makes him vulnerable - position defensively and use spells from safe distances.
- Ice Path provides vision - use to scout Rosh pit, high ground, or check for wards in dangerous areas.
- Macropyre isn't just damage - use it to discourage pushes or create space for team repositioning.
- When chased, cast Ice Path in front of yourself rather than behind - easier to land with slow turn rate.
Combat Strategy
- Money-shot combo: Ice Path → Dual Breath. The stun guarantees full damage from both ice and fire breaths.
- Liquid Fire attack speed reduction on towers makes Jakiro an underrated pusher.
- Cast Macropyre on high ground when defending to kill creep waves and discourage sieges.
- Against Aegis carriers, Ice Path can stun them immediately upon reincarnation.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Basic sustain and early stats for lane dominance. Circlet builds into Magic Wand.
Tangos, Clarities, Circlet
Core Items
Arcane Boots solve mana issues, Magic Wand provides sustain, Force Staff gives much-needed positioning and escape.
Arcane Boots, Magic Wand, Force Staff
Situational Items
Aether Lens for safer ability usage, Glimmer for team protection, Aghanim's for ultimate upgrade, Refresher for double Macropyre.
Aether Lens, Glimmer Cape, Aghanim's Scepter, Refresher Orb
Counter Guide
Good With
Jakiro excels with heroes who benefit from grouped enemies or can capitalize on his zoning. Enigma and Magnus create devastating follow-up combos after Jakiro's Ice Path or Macropyre positioning. Crystal Maiden can safely channel Freezing Field behind Jakiro's control and mana aura helps with his high mana costs. Void Spirit benefits from Jakiro's ability to group enemies for his own AoE damage. Disruptor and Dark Seer create additional zone control layers that stack beautifully with Macropyre's psychological pressure. Heroes who need enemies stationary like Witch Doctor or Shadow Shaman benefit immensely from Jakiro's stun and slow combinations. The key is heroes who can either enhance his zone control or benefit from enemy grouping - Jakiro provides the perfect foundation for both.
Bad Against
Jakiro struggles against highly mobile heroes who can dodge his skillshots and exploit his poor mobility. Puck, Storm Spirit, and Anti-Mage can easily blink or jump away from Ice Path and Macropyre while closing the gap on the slow dragon. Phantom Assassin and other physical burst heroes can kill Jakiro before he can react due to his squishiness. Silencer and Skywrath Mage can outrange and mana-burn Jakiro, preventing his ability usage. Viper and Venomancer excel at kiting Jakiro while his turn rate makes it difficult to position counter-abilities. Invoker with Tornado + EMP combination completely shuts down Jakiro's mana pool. Heroes who can quickly close distance or stay outside effective range while draining mana all pose serious threats to Jakiro's effectiveness.
Good Against
Jakiro dominates heroes who rely on summons, positioning, or need to stay grouped. Broodmother, Chen, and Visage suffer immensely as Jakiro's AoE damage quickly clears their summons while Liquid Fire reduces their pushing effectiveness. Phantom Lancer and other illusion heroes struggle as Dual Breath and Macropyre burn through illusions rapidly. Channeling heroes like Shadow Shaman, Witch Doctor, and Crystal Maiden become easy targets for Ice Path interrupts. Melee heroes without gap closers struggle with Jakiro's kiting ability and combination of slows. Tower-dependent heroes find Jakiro's Liquid Fire attack speed reduction frustratingly effective at stopping sieges. Heroes who need to fight in confined spaces or rely on positioning find Jakiro's zone control difficult to play around. Jakiro's ability to control space and deal consistentAoE damage makes him a nightmare for these hero types.