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Roshan in Dota 2: Stats, Pit Location, Abilities & Rewards
Updated for Dota 2 Patch 7.41b
Introduction to Roshan
Roshan, also known as Roshan the Immortal, is the most powerful neutral creep in Dota 2. He sits in one of two pits — the Radiant pit in the far north-west, or the Dire pit in the far south-east — and moves between them depending on the time of day. Killing Roshan rewards the entire team with gold, XP, and a set of unique items, most notably the Aegis of the Immortal, which grants one free respawn.
This guide covers Roshan's stats, ability scaling, pit locations, kill rewards, and how to engage him safely — with numbers updated for the current patch.
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Credit: Valve[/caption]
Roshan's Abilities
| Ability | Description |
| Bash [P] | Roshan's passive ability, Bash, gives him a 15% chance to stun enemies with his attacks. This physical damage ability is crucial in disabling opponents during fights. |
| Strength of the Immortal [P] | This passive ability grants Roshan several protective features, including 55% magic damage resistance and reduced damage from attacking illusions. His armor bonus scales up over time, increasing as the game progresses. |
| Roar of Retribution [A] | Roshan's Roar of Retribution is a powerful ability. When Roshan is attacked by the team that last killed him and his health drops below 80%, he releases an angry roar. This roar damages all enemies within a 900 AoE and increases their incoming damage by 25%. The damage inflicted by this ability grows over time, adding 10 damage per minute. |
| Slam [A] | Roshan slams the ground, dealing magical damage and slowing the movement and attack speed of nearby enemies. The damage from Slam increases by 10 every minute, making it more formidable as the game progresses. For example, at 10 minutes, Slam deals 170 damage, and at 50 minutes, it deals 570 damage. |
| Spell Block [A] | Roshan has a Spell Block ability that allows him to block one targeted spell every 15 seconds. It also reduces status effects by 25%, making him more resistant to spell-based attacks. |
| On The Move [P] | Roshan moves between two pits based on the time of day. He stays in Radiant's pit during the day and Dire's pit during the night. While moving, this passive increases his movement speed and damages and knocks back all units in his path. |
Roshan's Stat Scaling (HP, Armor, Damage per Minute)
Roshan's stats scale continuously throughout the game. Every minute, his health, armor, and attack damage grow, making him progressively harder to kill as the game drags on.
*The following are partially estimated stats collected from community sources.
| Stat | Starting value (minute 15) | Growth/min | Example@20min | Example@40min |
| Health(HP) | 6000 | +130 | 6650 | 9250 |
| Armor | 30 | +0.4 | 32 | 40 |
| Attack Damage | 75 | +7 | 110 | 250 |
| Slam Damage | 70 | +10 | 120 | 320 |
| Roar of Retribution Damage | 50 | +10 | 100 | 300 |
Roshan's Behavior
Roshan behaves similarly to other neutral creeps but with unique characteristics. He idles in his pit when undisturbed and prioritizes attacking ward-type units if no other units are within his range. Roshan moves between the two pits based on the time of day, using the Fiend's Gate to teleport across the map.
Roshan Pit
Roshan has two pits on the Dota 2 map. During daytime, he spawns in the Radiant pit. At nighttime, he relocates to the Dire pit. If he is alive and the day/night cycle changes, he walks through the Fiend's Gate to the other pit. These pits have specific limitations:
- Roshan can only be attacked from within the pit area.
- Abilities can target him from outside the pit.
- Wards cannot be placed inside the pits.
- Vision around the pits is restricted, affecting ground vision but not flying vision.
Roshan Pit Locations - Radiant vs Dire
Roshan's pits are located at the far north-west and south-east corners of the map, close to the Twin Gates.
| Pit | Side of Map | Corner | When is Roshan is there |
| Radiant | Radiant side (top of map) | River-side bottom pit | Starts there by default; daytime after 15:00 |
| Dire | Dire side (bottom of map) | River-side top pit | Nighttime after 15:00 |
Roshan's Death and Respawning
When Roshan is slain, he releases a roar that can be heard across the entire map, accompanied by special music and an announcement. He respawns randomly between 8 to 11 minutes later, appearing in Radiant's pit during the day and Dire's pit at night. The team that kills Roshan receives significant gold and experience rewards. Each player gets 135 gold, and the hero landing the killing blow receives an additional 200-290 gold.
Kill Rewards
The team that kills Roshan receives significant gold and experience rewards.
- Gold per player (all 5 teammates): 135 unreliable gold
- Killing blow bonus: 200-290 unreliable gold
- Total team gold: 875-965 unreliable gold
- XP reward: 400 + 0.5/min (split between all allies within 1500 range)
Defeating Roshan also yields several powerful consumable items:
| Reward | When it drops | Description |
| Aegis of the Immortal | Every Roshan kill | Provides the Reincarnation ability, allowing the hero who picks it up to respawn instantly upon death. |
| Cheese | 2nd kill onwards (if slain in DIRE pit) | Full HP/mana heal, can be sold for 500 gold. |
|
Roshan's Banner |
2nd kill onwards (if slain in RADIANT pit) | Allows the placement of a banner, announcing the team's victory. |
| Aghanim's Blessing | 3rd kill onwards (if slain in DIRE pit) | Permanent Aghanim upgrade for hero |
| Refresher Shard | 3rd kill onwards (if slain in RADIANT pit) | Resets all cooldowns on use |
Spell Interactions
Roshan's status as an ancient creep means he has unique interactions with various spells. Some spells do not affect him at all, while others have modified effects. For example, spells like Flamebreak and Gust cannot affect Roshan, while abilities like Hex turn him into a giant critter.
Forced Movement Interactions
Forced movement and teleport spells interact uniquely with Roshan. For instance, Reality Rift and Black Hole apply their effects except for the movement itself. Spells that usually cause forced movement, like Flaming Lasso, do not interrupt Roshan's actions.
Trivia and Cultural Impact
- Roshan is named after Guinsoo's bowling ball.
- In Dota 2 lore, Roshan killed a Shopkeeper to claim the Aegis of the Immortal.
- The name "Roshan" means "light" in Farsi and is a common Persian and Indian name.
- Roshan inspired the creation of League of Legends' Baron Nashor, with "Nashor" being an anagram of Roshan.
Roshan's Influence on Game Strategies
Roshan's presence on the map significantly shapes the strategies employed by both teams. Teams often prioritize controlling the area around Roshan's pit, anticipating the right moment to engage him. The timing of Roshan kills can drastically shift the balance of power. For instance, a team might attempt to take down Roshan just before a major team fight, securing the Aegis of the Immortal to grant a key hero an extra life.
Team Dynamics and Coordination
Successfully engaging Roshan usually requires careful team coordination. Roshan is a formidable opponent, and his abilities can quickly turn a poorly executed attempt into a disaster. Teams must ensure they have the right combination of heroes, items, and spells to take him down efficiently. For example, heroes with high physical damage output and abilities that reduce Roshan's armor are particularly effective.
The Risks and Rewards of Defeating Roshan
The rewards for defeating Roshan are substantial, but so are the risks. Engaging Roshan can leave a team vulnerable to attacks from the enemy team. A well-timed intervention by the opposing team can result in a devastating turnaround, with the would-be victors losing both the fight and Roshan's rewards. This dynamic adds a layer of strategic depth, as teams must weigh the benefits of attempting to kill Roshan against the potential risks.
Example: Consider a scenario where a team, leading in kills but trailing in overall map control, decides to take a risk by attempting to kill Roshan. If successful, they gain the Aegis of the Immortal, which can turn the tide in the next major team fight, allowing their key damage dealer to play more aggressively. However, if the opposing team catches wind of their attempt and successfully contests it, the leading team might suffer significant losses, losing not just heroes but also control over the crucial Roshan area.
Impact on Late-Game Strategies
In the late game, Roshan's significance grows even further. The additional items he drops, such as Cheese, Refresher Shard, and Aghanim's Blessing, can provide game-changing advantages. For instance, a Refresher Shard can allow a hero with powerful ultimate abilities, like Enigma or Tidehunter, to use their game-changing spells twice in quick succession, potentially wiping out the enemy team in a critical fight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roshan
Where is Roshan in Dota 2?
Roshan is found in one of two Roshan pits. Under the current post-7.38 layout, he starts the game in the Bottom Pit. From 15:00 onward, he follows the day/night cycle: Top Pit at night and Bottom Pit during the day.
When does Roshan move between pits?
Roshan starts in the Bottom Pit. Beginning at 15:00, he moves according to the day/night cycle: he goes to the Top Pit at night and returns to the Bottom Pit during the day.
How much gold does Roshan give?
Roshan gives 135 unreliable gold to every player on the killing team. The hero who lands the killing blow also receives an extra 200–290 gold, meaning the last-hitter effectively gains 335–425 gold in total.
How much HP does Roshan have per minute?
Roshan starts with 6000 HP and gains +130 max health every 60 seconds.
What drops from Roshan?
Slaying Roshan drops 5 different items depending on how many times it has previously been slain, as well as which pit it was slain in. The 5 item drops are Aegis of the Immortal, Cheese, Roshan's Banner, Aghanim's Blessing, and Refresher Shard.
Only the Aegis of the Immortal is a constant drop for each time Roshan is slain. Cheese and Roshan's Banner begin dropping after Roshan has been slain for the 2nd time. It drops the former when slain in the Dire pit and the latter when slain in the Radiant pit. Aghanim's Blessing and Refresher Shard begin dropping after Roshan has been slain for the 3rd time. It drops the former when slain in the Dire pit and the latter when slain in the Radiant pit.
What is the Aegis of the Immortal?
The Aegis of the Immortal is Roshan’s signature drop. It grants the holder a reincarnation effect, letting them revive after death while the Aegis is active. It cannot be dropped once picked up, cannot be sold, and is reclaimed when Roshan respawns.
How long does it take for Roshan to respawn?
After Roshan dies, he respawns after a random time between 8 and 11 minutes. Players do not get an exact in-game respawn timer, though spectators and casters can see one after part of the respawn window has passed.
Conquering Roshan: The Ultimate Dota2 Neutral Objective
Mastering Roshan involves more than just understanding his abilities and timing. Players need to be aware of Roshan's behavior, such as his movement between the two pits and how his abilities scale with time. Knowledge of the specific mechanics, like his Spell Block and the specific spells that do not affect him, is crucial for planning a successful engagement.
Roshan is one of the few objectives in Dota 2 that can single-handedly decide a game. His stat scaling, pit locations, and kill rewards all reward teams that plan ahead rather than pick a fight on instinct. Before engaging, check the current patch numbers — Roshan's HP, armor, and damage scaling shift between major patches, and what worked last season may be a death sentence now.
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Featured Image Credit: Valve
