Dota 2 continues to surprise its fans, and finally, after almost a year of waiting, the game has a new hero - Ringmaster. His long-awaited appearance on the scene adds new colours and strategic possibilities to the game. But who is Ringmaster? What are his abilities, his role and how can he influence the game's meta? In this article, we'll look at all the key aspects of this hero so you can fully appreciate his potential.

Base Attributes

• Strength - 23 + 2.4 units per level, 626 health at first level;
• Agillity - 13 + 1.4 units per level;
• Intellect - 25 + 3 units per level, 375 mana at first level;
• Damage - 48-58;
• Attack range - 575 (ranged) units;
• Base Armour - 3.2 units;
• Base movement speed - 315 units.

It is also important to keep in mind that Intellect is the main attribute for the Ringmaster.

Hero Abilities

Tame the Beasts
Ringmaster begins to twirl his whip (max duration: 1s) and then strikes with it. Affected enemies take damage and flee from the Ringmaster in fear. Sorcery Time increases damage and fear time, but decreases range.

• Initial radius of effect: 450 units;
• End radius: 200 units;
• Min. damage: 45/70/95/120;
• Max Damage: 180/280/380/480;
• Min. fear duration: 0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4 seconds;
• Max duration of fear: 0.6/0.8/1/1.2 seconds.

Recharge: 16/14/12/12/12/12/12/10 seconds
Mana cost: 90/105/120/135

Escape Act
Ringmaister packs himself or an allied hero into a mobile interdimensional crate. Creatures in the box gain phasing, resistance to slowing, additional magic resistance, and additional movement speed. They also cannot be targeted, are silenced, silent, and disarmed. The box will unlock when its duration expires or it is more than 500 away.

• Duration: 2/2.4/2.8/3.2 seconds;
• Extra movement speed: 5%/10%/15%/20%;
• Additional Magic Resistance: 50%/60%/70%/80%;
• Resistance to slowdowns: 100%.

Recharge: 38/32/26/20 seconds
Mana cost: 80

Impalement Arts
The hero aptly throws one of his daggers at a point of his choice. If it hits an enemy, the dagger deals hit damage, briefly slows the affected target, and causes it to bleed. The bleed deals a percentage of the target's maximum health every second as damage to heroes and a fixed amount of damage per second to creeps.

• Hit damage: 75;
• Periodic damage from maximum health: 3.5% / 4% / 4.5% / 5% / 5% / 5%;
• Periodic damage to creeps: 100;
• Duration: 4 seconds;
• Movement Slowdown: 100%;
• Deceleration Duration: 0.8 seconds.

Recharge: 1 second
Mana cost: 80

Wheel of Wonder
Ringmaster launches a Wheel of Wonder at the target location, which throws enemies in its path aside. When it reaches the target location, enemies in range take periodic damage and are slowed by -50%.

Enemy heroes who stare at the wheel for more than 0.5s are enchanted, and it attracts them. The first enchanted enemy triggers the wheel's explosion counter. If the counter is not started, the wheel explodes automatically after 8s.

• Minimum range: 700 units;
• Radius: 600 units;
• Timer: 2.75/3/3.25 seconds;
• Aura damage per second: 50/75/100;
• Blast damage: 300/450/600.

Recharge: 90/80/70 seconds
Mana Cost: 175/275/375

Innate Ability

This innate ability is worthy of special attention because it contains 3 separate abilities.

Dark Carnival Barker
Ringmaster gains a random Dark Carnival Barker ability for one-time use whenever an enemy hero dies within 925 radius of him. Additional abilities are saved as charges.

If Ringmaster has no abilities after revival, he will gain one. Dark Carnival abilities: Funhouse Mirror, Strongman Tonic, and Whoopee Cushion.

• Funhouse Mirror: Creates imperfect images of the hero (1) that live for 18s. Illusions deal 28% damage and take 300% damage.
• Strongman Tonic: Temporarily increases the strength of an allied hero by 5 + 1.5 per level of the Circlemaster for 8s. The effect lasts for 4s and then gradually wears off.
• Whoopee Cushion: Pushes your hero forward by 400. Leaves behind a 200 radius stink cloud that lasts 3 seconds and slows enemies by -30%.

Spotlight ability from Aghanim's Shard

Ringmaster lights a lamp on a soffit, the light from which travels across the area. Illuminated enemies have a chance to miss with an attack, and are also detected if they are invisible.

Illusions under the spotlight melt, losing a percentage of their maximum health every second.

• Radius: 550;
• Damage to illusions from maximum health: 50%;
• Miss Chance: 30%;
• Duration: 8 seconds.

Recharge: 30 seconds
Mana cost: 50

Talents

• 10th level: +200 to Escape Act range or +75 to Tame the Beasts radius.
• Level 15: Immune to the effects of Tame the Beasts or Impalement Arts daggers nail one target.
• 20th level: +75/300 to min/max damage from Tame the Beasts or +1 sec damage and slowdown from Impalement Arts.
• Level 25: Strong dispel and free movement from Escape Art or +100 to the range and radius of Wheel of Wonder.

Aspects and Aghanim's Scepter

"This character is just learning the basics of a stage that is new to him, so this aspect does nothing.... yet." That's the entire description of the only aspect on Ringmaster. In short it just doesn't exist. The same goes for Aganim he doesn't give any abilities to Ringmaster.

Conclusion

Ringmaster is a hero with a lot of potential who is just starting out on the Dota 2 scene. His unique abilities, such as Tame the Beasts and Wheel of Wonder, give him the ability to control the fight and create havoc amongst enemies. However, it's worth noting that his development is not yet complete. The Centre Stage aspect, which provides no benefit, and the lack of an additional ability from Aghanim's Scepter indicate that Valve is still working on how to better integrate this hero into the game. Regardless, Ringmaster can already be a useful tool in the hands of an experienced player, and his potential will only increase in future updates.