Lycan
Banehallow was a noble in the court of the speaks-king's line, exiled for his forbidden knowledge of the wild. Now he commands the primal forces of nature itself.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“ relentless momentum is your weapon. Follow these laws, and victory is not hoped for—it is inevitable.”
Pressure is Your Strategy
Never stop moving, never stop pushing. The moment you give enemies time to breathe, you lose your advantage.
Wolves Are Everything
Wolves are not just damage - they are your eyes, your map control, your momentum generator. Master their micro.
Transform and Conquer
Shapeshift is your reset button. Use it to engage, escape, and destroy. When you pop it, something must die.
The Calculated Threat
Always calculate your threat level on the map. Force enemies to rotate, then take what they leave behind.
Objective First
Towers > Kills > Farm. Every Shapeshift should take an objective. Every Howl should lead to pressure.
The Pack Mentality
You are never alone. Your wolves, your dominated creeps, your teammates - they are all part of your pack. Lead them to victory.
Hero Overview
Lycan is the ultimate split-pusher and tower destroyer, capable of taking objectives at unprecedented speed. His summoned wolves serve as mobile scouting tools, damage sources, and map control units, giving him unparalleled vision and pressure across the entire battlefield.
Lycan's gameplay revolves around rapid farming and relentless objective pressure. His wolves allow him to jungle efficiently while maintaining lane presence, and when Shapeshift comes online, he becomes a nightmare to deal with - capable of taking towers in seconds, soloing Roshan, and escaping from nearly any situation. Feral Impulse provides massive attack speed and damage aura to his entire army.
Pros
- Incredible tower destroyer and pusher
- Excellent jungler with fast clear speeds
- Wolves provide constant map vision and control
- Shapeshift offers amazing mobility and sustain
- Can solo Roshan early with proper timing
Cons
- Weaker in direct 5v5 teamfights
- Vulnerable to kiting and lockdown
- Relies heavily on momentum and timing
- Struggles without proper farm
- Wolves give away position with certain facets
Ability Analysis
Summon Wolves
ActiveSummons two wolf companions to fight alongside Lycan.
Notes: Your primary scouting and tool for map control. Use them to check runes, block camps, and follow high-value targets. With proper micro, they're essentially invisible wards that can also contribute damage.
Feral Impulse
PassiveLycan and his units gain increased damage and attack speed when nearby enemies die.
Notes: The cornerstone of your pushing power. This aura turns your wolf army into a damage-dealing machine. The duration refreshes with each kill, allowing you to maintain maximum output through extended fights and jungling.
Howl
ActiveLycan lets out a howl, giving himself and all allies increased damage.
Notes: Global at night time, making it a powerful tool for teamfights across the map. Also works on Roshan, making solo attempts much more viable. Time it with pushes for maximum effectiveness.
Shapeshift
ActiveLycan transforms into a wolf, gaining maximum movement speed and critical strike chance.
Notes: Your ultimate ability that transforms you into a true threat. Provides incredible mobility for chasing, escaping, or pushing. The critical strikes combined with lifesteal from talent make you nearly unstoppable during teamfights and objective takes.
Summon Wolves (Shard Upgrade)
ActiveSummons two permanent Spirit Wolves that follow behind Lycan with free pathing.
Notes: The Shard upgrade provides constant vision and damage but reveals your position during smokes and invisibility. Best used when map control is more important than stealth.
Wolf Bite (Aghanim's Scepter)
ActiveBites an ally, transforming them into a werewolf with Shapeshift benefits.
Notes: Transforms allies into werewolves with increased health and melee range. Has special interactions with heroes who can hide themselves, like Puck or Phantom Lancer, providing repeated healing bursts.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Lycan is one of the fastest farmers and tower destroyers in Dota 2. His Shapeshift is not just an escape - it's a game-changing ultimate that enables relentless pushing and incredible sustain.
Key Insights:
- Wolves are your eyes, ears, and damage dealers
- Shapeshift makes you nearly unstoppable with critical strike and lifesteal
- Jungle farming accelerates your power spike dramatically
Lycan rewards timing and momentum. Once you come online, you don't stop until the ancient falls!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Jungle efficiently and secure core items Key: Stack jungle camps with wolves; Use wolves for rune control and scouting; Maintain jungle pressure while gaining experience; Push lanes when enemy rotates Items: Helm of the Dominator (Priority #1); Phase Boots for mobility; Necronomicon for pressure Tips: Use follow command on wolves for stealthy scouting; Micro wolves to avoid being caught; Keep Feral Impulse stacks up for maximum farming speed; Watch for gank attempts while jungling
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Apply map pressure and take objectives Key: Split push with Shapeshift; Contest Roshan with proper timing; Force enemy responses with constant pressure; Coordinate with team for take advantage; Use wolves for vision control before pushes Items: Necronomicon 3 (Full damage potential); Manta Style for defense and offense; Assault Cuirass for team utility Tips: Use Shapeshift both offensively and defensively; Time Howl with teammate engagements; Keep pressure on multiple lanes; Watch enemy positions before committing
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: End the game through relentless pressure Key: Take objectives with full Shapeshift uptime; Use Aghanim's Scepter to empower allies; Coordinate with team for fight-winning plays; Maintain constant backdoor threat Items: Aghanim's Scepter (Team utility); Refresher Orb (Double Shapeshift); Daedalus (Maximum damage) Tips: Use Shapeshift to escape danger first; Coordinate with team for objective timing; Keep wolves alive for sustained damage; Position to threaten multiple objectives
Tips & Strategies
Wolf Micro Management
- Use follow command (M + left click) on wolves for stealthy tracking without breaking invisibility.
- Shake neutral aggro off wolves by having them attack allied units - same mechanic as dropping tower aggro.
- Alpha Wolves facet Hamstring roots through BKB - use against magic immune enemies.
Shapeshift Mastery
- You have 1800 night vision in Shapeshift form - use this for positioning and tracking.
- Shapeshift cannot be dispelled - your power spike is guaranteed once activated.
- Manta Style activation works with Aghs Wolf Bite healing due to the brief hide duration.
Objective Control
- Howl works on Roshan - use it for solo attempts or to secure kills faster.
- Feral Impulse aura doesn't disappear when wolves die - maintain your damage output.
- Necronomicon warriors get maximum mana burn from wolves - use against mana-dependent heroes.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Jungling setup with damage bonus to clear camps quickly and sustain through healing.
Quelling Blade, Tangos, Iron Branch
Core Items
Helm provides lifesteal and control, Necro adds to your wolf army, Phase gives mobility and damage.
Helm of the Dominator, Necronomicon, Phase Boots
Situational Items
Manta for dispels and illusion damage, AC for armor and attack speed aura, Desolator for tower damage, BKB against lockdown.
Manta Style, Assault Cuirass, Desolator, BKB
Counter Guide
Good With
Lycan excels with heroes who can capitalize on his constant pressure and objective-taking ability. Beastmaster creates a powerful pushing synergy with his own summons, while Chen and Enchantress provide additional creep control and vision. Lifestealer can infest in Lycan or his wolves for surprise ganks and safety. Shadow Shaman and Lich provide excellent follow-up lockdown after Lycan's pressure splits enemies. Nature's Prophet enables global split-push strategies that are devastating when coordinated. Invoker can use Sunstrike and other globals to capitalize on Lycan's vision control. The key is heroes who benefit from constant map pressure and can follow up on the opportunities Lycan creates through his relentless pushing and scouting.
Bad Against
Lycan struggles against heroes who can neutralize his army or exploit his reliance on momentum. Winter Wyvern's Winter's Curse turns Lycan's greatest strength (summons) against him. Enchantress with Aghs can convert his wolves and dominate units. Batrider's Flaming Lasso and sticky napalm shut down his mobility and separate him from his army. Earthshaker with Echo Slam decimates his wolf army in seconds. Ancient Apparition can prevent lifesteal with Ice Blast, eliminating Shapeshift sustain. Tiny and Kunkka have AoE abilities that clear wolves instantly. Lina with Laguna Blade and Light Strike Array can burst Lycan before he can respond. Oracle can prevent damage and dispel key buffs. The pattern is heroes with powerful AoE for wolf clearing, strong single-target lockdown, or abilities that neutralize sustain and army-based strategies.
Good Against
Lycan dominates heroes who lack mobility, AoE damage, or struggle against constant pressure. Sniper and Drow Ranger are easy prey - they can't escape Shapeshift and wolves block vision. Crystal Maiden and Witch Doctor get hunted down by wolf packs while trying to channel spells. Anti-Mage struggles against the army and speed, unable to reliably blink away. Templar Assassin can't maintain refraction damage with constant wolf attacks. Pudge struggles to hook a constantly moving Shapeshifted Lycan. Techies mines get cleared constantly by wolves. Shadow Shaman and Lion get jumped by Shapeshift before they can react. Heroes who rely on positioning, channeling, or single-target damage find themselves overwhelmed by the relentless pressure and mobility Lycan provides.