Desolator

Upgraded Item | Weapons

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Gold is the currency used to buy items or instantly revive your hero in Dota 2.

3500

A wicked weapon, used in torturing political criminals.

Desolator (also know as Deso) reduces the armor of enemy units and increases damage during the game. It is mainly purchased by core players.

Base Combat Stats

Combat Stats

+ 50 Damage

Recipe

Abilities

Passive: Corruption

Your attacks reduce the target's armor by 6 for 7.0 seconds.

Passive: Soul Stealer

Desolator gains +2 damage every time an enemy hero dies while affected by Corruption, to a maximum of 30.

Additional Insights

Armor reduction works on buildings.

Statistics

The statistics below shows the percentage of hero builds which contain Desolator as a core or non-core item for each role. These statistics are based on our hero guides.

Itemization Strategy

Desolator is a great item for agility and strength heroes who rely on physical damage. Desolator is especially effective against heroes with high armor, as it reduces their armor by 6 for 7 seconds. This can make a big difference in teamfights, as it allows your team to deal more damage to the enemy heroes.

Heroes with Desolator as Core Item

A core item to increase your right click damage and apply minus armor on every hit. Massively improves your kill threat on the map and lets you burst down enemy heroes with Tar Bomb and Strafe.

Rectangular image of Dota 2 hero Dawnbreaker

A core damage item that gives you massive burst potential with Starbreaker.

Rectangular image of Dota 2 hero Lifestealer

A core item to increase your right click damage and apply minus armor on every hit. Lets you burst down enemy heroes and farm much faster.

Rectangular image of Dota 2 hero Phantom Assassin

A core item to increase your right click damage and apply minus armor on Stifling Dagger and right clicks. Lets you burst down enemy heroes and Roshan much faster.

Rectangular image of Dota 2 hero Templar Assassin

A core item to increase your right click damage and apply minus armor on every hit. Lets you burst down enemy heroes and Roshan much faster.

A core item to increase your right click damage and apply minus armor on every hit. Massively increases the damage of Walrus Punch! and lets you burst down enemy heroes and Roshan much faster.

A core item to increase your right click damage and apply minus armor on geminate and right clicks. Lets you burst down enemy heroes and Roshan much faster.

Heroes countered by Desolator

Rectangular image of Dota 2 hero Alchemist

Lets you significantly lower the armor of Alchemist with right clicks to burst him down with physical damage before he regenerates with Chemical Rage.

Rectangular image of Dota 2 hero Anti-Mage

Lets you significantly lower the armor of Alchemist with right clicks to burst him down with physical damage before he can Blink away.

Boosts your damage output and lowers the armor of Mars to burst him down with physical damage.

Sounds

Purchase announcer
Desolator shot
Sniper's announcer (desolator)
Sniper's announcer (armor piercing)

YouTube Videos

When to buy Desolator:

Visual effect of Desolator:

Trivia

The word "desolate" means to make barren and uninhabitable, and the Desolator in Dota 2 certainly does that to enemy heroes. It reduces their armor, which makes them much more vulnerable to physical damage.

So, the name Desolator is a fitting one for this item, as it accurately reflects its ability to destroy enemies and leave them desolate.