Ringmaster Guide - Dota 2

Ringmaster is a unique hero in Dota 2, known for his battlefield control, ability to manipulate space, and create chaos during fights. With his skills, he can efficiently manage zones, stop enemy attacks, and support his teammates. Ringmaster can play as a roamer, full support, or even midlaner, depending on team strategy and player preference.

In this guide, we will cover key aspects of playing ringmaster dota 2, his strongest builds, optimal strategies, and his strengths and weaknesses. Learn how to use this hero's potential to control the game and secure victories in Dota 2.

Understanding the Hero Basics

Ringmaster is a ranged hero specializing in defense, empowering allies, and controlling enemies. His main strength lies in his ability to protect teammates during fights and control opponents, creating favorable conditions for his team. Thanks to his strong crowd control and support skills, Ringmaster is a key hero for ensuring stability during teamfights. He can flexibly adapt to different situations, playing as either support or initiator, depending on the team’s needs.

Strengths of Ringmaster:

• Acquisition of random abilities: One of Ringmaster’s greatest strengths is his unique mechanic, which allows him to gain one of three random abilities after killing an enemy. This adds unpredictability to the fight, potentially changing the course of the battle and giving him or his team a significant advantage.
  
• Powerful crowd control: Ringmaster possesses abilities that allow him to effectively keep enemies under control, restricting their movement or ability to escape. This makes him an ideal initiator or a hero who can change the course of a teamfight by controlling enemies.
  
• Ally protection: Ringmaster also has powerful tools for rescuing his teammates, able to provide support just in time to pull an ally out of danger or neutralize a threat. This makes him a crucial hero for the team, capable of both saving allies and single-handedly changing the tide of a battle.
  
• Role flexibility: Thanks to his control and support skills, Ringmaster can be effective as an offlaner, potential midlaner, or even carry. His versatility allows him to adapt to different team ringmaster roles, providing greater flexibility during the game.
  

Weaknesses of Ringmaster:

• Dependence on kills: Ringmaster’s main strength lies in acquiring random abilities after killing enemies. If he cannot secure kills, his potential is significantly reduced. This makes him reliant on aggressive play or favorable conditions in fights.
  
• Vulnerability to focus: Despite his defensive skills, Ringmaster can easily become a target for focus, especially if his team cannot support him. He requires correct positioning in fights, and if placed poorly, he can die quickly.
  
• Unpredictability of acquired abilities: While random abilities can turn the tide of battle, they are also unpredictable. In critical situations, he may gain a less useful ability, complicating his effectiveness at certain moments.
  
• Dependence on the team: Ringmaster’s abilities work best in combination with his team, so his effectiveness largely depends on synergy. Without proper coordination or support from teammates, he will not be able to fully realize his potential.
  

Counterpicks for Ringmaster

What Ringmaster is strong against

Laning Phase Tips for Ringmaster

In the current meta, Ringmaster is often played as a full support or roamer, but he has the potential to be flexible in his position thanks to his versatile abilities. Regardless of the chosen role, his main task is creating space for the team through initiations, enemy control, and survival in critical moments. Here are a few key things to keep in mind while playing Ringmaster during the laning phase:

• Using "Tame the Beasts": The ability "Tame the Beasts" is an important tool for controlling and pressuring enemy heroes. It should be used thoughtfully to hit multiple targets or create space when under attack. As an offlaner, this ability can be used to win trades, forcing enemies to retreat and leave creeps behind, allowing you to dominate the lane. Timing is crucial for maximizing the effect, as the channel time influences the radius and duration of fear.
  
• Farming and lane control: With the ability "Impalement Arts," Ringmaster can control the lane and increase his farm. The dagger deals damage and slows enemies, making it perfect for securing last hits on creeps and pressuring opponents. Use "Impalement Arts" precisely to maximize the damage and bleed effects, which will help control the lane and deal sustained damage to enemies over time.
• Survival and defense: Ringmaster has excellent mobility thanks to his "Escape Act" ability, which allows him to evade ganks and dangerous situations. As an offlaner, you should be ready to use this ability to protect yourself or an ally when under attack. Choosing the right moment to activate the "box" will let you dodge enemy spells and provide extra mobility on the lane.
  
• Combos with teammates: Ringmaster pairs well with heroes that have crowd control or slow effects. The ability "Wheel of Wonder" can create ideal opportunities for combos with teammates, especially for initiations. Working in tandem with heroes capable of controlling enemies will increase the chance of stunning them with the "wheel" and dealing explosive damage.
  
• Ganking and helping other lanes: If you're playing Ringmaster as an offlaner, your goal is not only to hold your lane but also to actively help other lanes by using your control and pursuit abilities. Utilize your ganking potential, especially "Tame the Beasts" and "Impalement Arts," to support your team when they need additional control or damage.  
  

Ringmaster is a hero with many control and protective abilities that can influence laning and the later stages of the game. His success on the lane depends on the effective use of his spells to protect himself and his allies, as well as creating space for farming and pressuring enemies.

Ringmaster Item Build

The ringmaster item build dota 2 focuses on his ability to control fights and maintain pressure. He can effectively play as an initiator or carry, depending on the team's needs. The key ability "Tame the Beasts" allows him to deal significant damage and disable an enemy for a certain period.

At the moment, Ringmaster has no improvements through Aghanim's Scepter nor shards.

Talents and Abilities

Ringmaster Item Build

Since there are many roles in which Ringmaster can be seen, we will cover only one — soft support or the so-called roamer. Other builds can be found on portals like Dotabuff and others.

• Starting Items: Blood Grenade, Faerie Fire, Magic Stick, Tango
  
  
• Early Game: Ring of Basilius, Arcane Boots, Rod of Atos
  
  
• Midgame: Force Staff, Aether Lens,
  
  
• Late Game: Solar Crest, Eul's Scepter of Divinity, Guardian Greaves,
  
  
• Situational Items: Octarine Core, Blink Dagger, Glimmer Cape Aghanim's Shard
  
  
• Neutral Items:  Eye of the Vizier, Pupil's Gift, Paladin Sword

Example of Gameplay as Ringmaster

You can watch a game by Topson playing Ringmaster to see how to implement the above advice for this hero. Understanding these ringmaster strategies will help you control the game better and improve your win rate. You'll see an example of how to zone out an enemy offlaner, farm creeps efficiently, position during teamfights, and more.

Conclusion

Thanks to our advice, you will be able to create one of the best ringmaster builds in Dota 2 in 2024, which will be relevant for the current patch and help you increase your win rate as this hero. You will also gain a better understanding of certain aspects, strengths, and weaknesses of Ringmaster, allowing you to use him more effectively in teamfights and laning.