Dragon Knight
A devoted knight who inherited the sacred dragon blood, Davion transforms into a powerful Elder Dragon, embodying both honor and devastating power on the battlefield.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“The dragon blood does not ask for victory. It burns with the certainty of it. Master these principles, and your will becomes the law of the land.”
You are an Object of Pressure
Your very presence demands a response. Stay on the map, push lanes, and force the enemy to react. Passive is not in your vocabulary.
The Breath is Control
Breathe Fire is your instrument of warfare. The -30% damage is a death sentence for enemy carries. Use it first, use it often, and watch them falter.
Transformation is a Declaration
Do not warn them. The power of Elder Dragon Form is instantaneous. Use the cast time to catch them off-guard, to initiate or escape on your terms.
Embrace the Siege
The enemy's armor is their tower. Your splash damage is the battering ram. With Corrosive Dragon facet, you are the ultimate pusher. Make every second of Dragon Form count.
Know When to Be the Shield
You are durable. Your greatest asset is your presence on the front line, absorbing spells and damage. Stand between your team and theirs.
Permanence is the Endgame
Aghanim's Scepter is your ascension. It removes your greatest weakness—your timer. From that point on, you are a constant, undeniable force. Do not stop pushing until their Ancient falls.
Hero Overview
Dragon Knight is a formidable strength carry who excels at sustained fights and demolishing structures. He starts as a deceptively tanky laner and evolves into a multi-headed terror. Elder Dragon Form grants him a ranged attack, powerful splash, and a potent stun, allowing him to control engagements and siege towers from a safe distance.
The core of Dragon Knight's gameplay is managing his Elder Dragon Form timer. You dominate the lane with your high armor and regen from Dragon Blood, then look to push towers and force fights with the massive power spike from your ultimate. Using Breathe Fire to soften targets and reduce their damage before a fight is key. In combat, you are a frontline force, absorbing damage while your splash and stun cripple the enemy team's ability to fight back.
Pros
- Extremely tanky with high armor and health regeneration
- Transforms into a powerful ranged attacker with splash damage
- Excellent at taking towers with Dragon Form's splash and Corrosive Breath
- Long-duration ranged stun in Dragon Form
- Breathe Fire provides a strong damage reduction debuff
Cons
- Relies heavily on Elder Dragon Form's long cooldown
- Can be kited when not in Dragon Form
- Low burst damage and mobility
- Vulnerable to 'break' effects that disable Dragon Blood
- Illusions do not benefit from Elder Dragon Form's debuffs
Ability Analysis
Breathe Fire
ActiveUnleashes a breath of fire that damages units in a cone and reduces their attack damage.
Notes: Use this early in teamfights, not for last hits. The -30% damage reduction applies to total attack damage, including from items. It's a game-changing teamfight debuff that can turn a DPS disadvantage into a win.
Dragon Tail
Target UnitStuns a target enemy unit. In Elder Dragon Form, becomes a ranged attack.
Notes: A reliable stun both in melee and ranged form. The transformation to a ranged stun when you ult is a massive power spike for initiation. Use it to set up kills or save allies from aggressors.
Dragon Blood
PassiveDragon Knight's blood gives him increased health regeneration and armor.
Notes: This is your laning dominance tool. It makes you incredibly resilient to harassment. Be mindful of enemies with break effects (Silver Edge, Viper's Nethertoxin) as it will disable this passive.
Elder Dragon Form
ActiveDragon Knight takes his true form, gaining a ranged attack and powerful bonuses. Bonuses depend on dragon form (Blue/Red/Green) and tier. Final form combines all effects.
Notes: Your ultimate defines your power spikes. The 0-second cast time allows for instant surprise. Plan your plays around this cooldown. In teamfights, use the ranged attack and splash to your advantage, hitting as many targets as possible.
Breathe Fire (Shard Upgrade)
ActiveBreathe Fire also reduces the magic resistance of affected enemies by 25% for 5 seconds.
Notes: A powerful upgrade that synergizes well with your team's magic damage and items like Shiva's Guard. Use it to make your allies' spells much more impactful on a key target.
Elder Dragon Form (Aghanim's Scepter)
ActiveElder Dragon Form no longer has a duration, becoming a permanent toggle ability. Provides the Black Dragon form's Siege Damage and Free Pathing bonuses at all times.
Notes: Transforms DK from a cooldown-dependent carry into a permanent powerhouse. The siege damage makes you one of the best tower destroyers in the game. The free pathing makes you immune to body blocking, a huge mobility and positioning advantage.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Dragon Knight is a tower-shredding carry who transitions from a strong laner into an unstoppable force. His Elder Dragon Form is the centerpiece, changing how you approach fights and objectives.
Key Insights:
- Breathe Fire isn't just damage; the -30% attack reduction is crucial in teamfights.
- Your facet choice dramatically alters your role: Corrosive Dragon makes you a terrifying early pusher, while Frost Dragon counters healing.
- The speed of transformation (0s cast) is a powerful psychological weapon; enemies can't react to your range and stun acquisition.
DK thrives by creating relentless pressure. Master your breath, dominate the lanes, and transform victory from a possibility into a certainty.
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Win your lane through superior sustain and prepare for mid-game dominance Key: Harass with your high armor and regen from Dragon Blood; Farm efficiently with Quelling Blade and use Breathe Fire for creeps; Secure Power Treads and Dragon Lance; Look for kills with your supports using Dragon Tail Items: Power Treads (Defines your early mana/HP); Dragon Lance (Increased range and stats); Magic Wand (Against spell-spammers) Tips: Be aggressive. Dragon Blood lets you win trades most heroes can't.; Control the creep equilibrium to farm safely near your tower.; Coordinate ganks. Your stun is a reliable setup.; Don't be afraid to use your ultimate to secure a first blood if the kill is guaranteed.
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Push towers and dominate teamfights with Elder Dragon Form Key: Use Elder Dragon Form to siege towers from outside their range; Initiate fights with the ranged Dragon Tail stun; Apply Breathe Fire's damage reduction at the start of every fight; Force enemies into defensive positions under their towers Items: Armlet of Mordiggian (Significant damage boost); Hurricane Pike (Mobility and self-peel); Blink Dagger (Aggressive initiation) Tips: Your power is tied to your ultimate cooldown. Plan pushes around it.; With Corrosive Dragon facet, you are a terrifyingly fast pusher. Use it to create map pressure.; Stay on the front line but be mindful of kiting when your form is down.; Take control of the Roshan pit.
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Be an unkillable tank who destroys buildings and controls fights Key: Purchase Aghanim's Scepter for permanent form and siege damage; Use free pathing to ignore terrain and body-blocking; Stand between the enemy team and your carries; Use Shiva's Guard and Skadi to become an unkillable meat shield Items: Aghanim's Scepter (Core late-game-item); Eye of Skadi (Overwhelming stats and slow); Shiva's Guard (Team utility and tankiness) Tips: With Agh's, you are a constant siege threat. Don't stop pushing.; Your role shifts from carry to tanky disruptor.; Use your durability to draw enemy spells and cooldowns.; Your primary job is to enable your team by being an undeniable presence.
Tips & Strategies
Facet & Transformation Mastery
- Use the 0-second cast time of Elder Dragon Form to surprise enemies. Initiate in Knight form, stun, and then transform for a ranged follow-up.
- With the **Corrosive Dragon** facet, your splash damage attacks cut through towers. This makes you one of the strongest early pushers in the game. Prioritize objectives.
- Your illusions do not apply Elder Dragon Form's debuffs. Plan your Manta Style usage with this in mind.
Ability Usage
- Breathe Fire's -30% damage reduction is more impactful than its damage. Use it at the start of a fight on the main damage dealer.
- Using Elder Dragon Form also grants you a free Dragon Tail cast at level 2. Utilize this 0 mana cost stun.
- Dragon Blood's regen helps mitigate the HP drain from Armlet of Mordiggian.
Countering Healing
- If you chose the **Frost Dragon** facet, your attacks reduce Health Restoration by 30%. This is a direct counter to heroes like Warlock, Alchemist, and items like Spirit Vessel.
- This effect can cripple enemy supports trying to heal through your damage.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Standard carry setup for efficient last hitting and enough sustain to withstand early aggression. Build into Wraith Band later.
Tango, Quelling Blade, Slippers of Agility x2
Core Items
Armlet provides a huge damage boost, synergizing with Dragon Blood's regen. Hurricane Pike offers repositioning and saves. Blink Dagger for surprise initiations.
Armlet of Mordiggian, Hurricane Pike, Blink Dagger
Situational Items
Agh's for the permanent form. Silver Edge to break passives. Shiva's for AoE slow and armor. Skadi for overwhelming stats and slow.
Aghanim's Scepter, Silver Edge, Shiva's Guard, Eye of Skadi
Counter Guide
Good With
Dragon Knight thrives alongside heroes who can lock down targets or amplify his pushing power. Lich and Winter Wyvern provide protective buffs and slows that let DK deal his damage safely. Shadow Demon can set up kills with Disruption and Soul Catcher, amplifying DK's damage. Witch Doctor and Jakiro provide fantastic AoE damage that synergizes with DK's ability to keep enemies in place for extended periods with his tankiness. Heroes who can create space or provide initiation, like Earthshaker or Magnus, allow DK to follow up and clean up with his splash damage. Essentially, DK is an engine of sustained damage and siege; he needs heroes who can either facilitate his approach or capitalize on the sustained pressure he creates.
Bad Against
Dragon Knight's main weaknesses are his long ultimate cooldown and vulnerability to being kited or disabled. Ancient Apparition is his worst nightmare, as Ice Blast completely negates his powerful health regeneration. Viper's Nethertoxin is a deadly 'break' that disables Dragon Blood, turning DK into a much squishier target. Invoker can kite him for days with Ice Wall and Cold Snap, while Sun Ray melts his HP. Phantom Lancer and other illusion heroes can be tricky, as DK's single-target stun is less effective against a horde. Anti-Mage can burn his low mana pool, preventing him from using his spells and ultimate frequently. Silver Edge carriers are a major threat, as the break shuts down his defense. Heroes who can out-range, out-mobility, or cripple his core sustainability attributes pose the greatest challenge.
Good Against
Dragon Knight is a nightmare for heroes who need to get close, rely on right-clicks, or lack mobility. Bristleback, Axe, and Tidehunter are all durable frontliners whom DK can out-sustain and outfNarrate. The damage reduction from Breathe Fire severely cripples their damage output in fights. Tiny and other melee cores struggle to trade with DK due to Dragon Blood's immense armor and regen. He excels at shutting down lineups that lack burst damage, as he can simply weather their storm and out-tank them. His ability to push towers faster than they can be defended makes him a direct counter to greedy, late-game lineups. Any hero who thrives in a prolonged toe-to-toe brawl will find themselves on the losing end against a well-equipped Dragon Knight.