Juggernaut Dota 2 (Complete Guide)

Juggernaut is one of the strongest carry heroes in the game. With his high physical attack, Juggernaut is played as the team’s main carry.

Some players can be seen using Juggernaut as a mid laner, but this is not recommended and only works in certain situations.

Unlike other carries who only scale later in the game, Juggernaut is pretty strong from the start itself.

Juggernaut can easily dominate lanes with the correct team, making it easier to farm.

Skills

Juggernaut has 3 active skills and a passive skill. With Aghanim Scepter he gains one more skill to perform mini Omnislash on enemies.

Here in skills, his 2^nd skill is used to heal himself and his allies, and the other 4 skills are used to deal damage to enemies.

His first skill gives him magic immunity making him good against many of the magical damage dealing heroes.

His skills are as follows:

Blade Fury (Q) (F [Legacy Key])

Blade Fury is Juggernaut’s first skill. Blade Fury is a strong skill early in the game. If team up with allies who slow enemies’ movement speed or stuns them or root them Juggernaut can secure kills in the lane from the early game with Blade Fury.

Blade Fury provides Juggernaut spell immunity so it makes him good defensively too. As Juggernaut is immune to magic while using Blade Fury Juggernaut cannot be affected by ghost form.

During Blade Fury’s duration, Juggernaut’s normal attack deals 0 damage to enemies but it deals damage against wards and buildings.

Juggernaut can also use some of the skills and items while under Blade Fury.

Stats for Blade Fury are as follows:

• Radius: 260.0 (335 with level 10 talent)
• Damage Type: Magical
• Pierces Spell Immunity: No
• Dispellable: No
• Damage: 90/115/140/165 (240/265/290/315 with level 20 talent)
• Duration: 5 (6 with level 15 talent)
• Cooldown: 42/34/26/18
• Mana Cost: 120/110/100/90

Aghanim Shard

Aghanim shard grants each hero unique enchantment to their skills and in some cases, it provides new skills. Aghanim shard can be purchased from the basic shop from the 15-minute mark. Roshan also drops Aghanim shard on its second death.

Players can buy Aghanim Shard on Juggernaut after 15 minutes. It buffs Blade Fury increasing Juggernaut’s movement speed during Blade Fury, and attacking a random nearby unit with reduced damage. The attacks have no priority and can attack anyone.

The additional changes done to Blade Fury due to Aghanim Shard are:

• Movement Speed Bonus: 100
• Instant Attack Damage: 75%
• Instant Attack Interval: 1.2

Healing Ward (W) (G [Legacy Key])

Juggernaut’s second skill is support-based. The healing ward summons a Healing ward which heals all allied units in an area and can be moved.

With this Healing Ward Juggernaut and his allies can sustain longer in fights. As the healing ward heals allies too it is best to use the healing ward in team fights.

The healing ward can be destroyed either after a certain period or if it gets hit by enemies (towers or creeps can also destroy the healing ward). Positioning a healing ward in fights is required to make it use effectively.

When Healing Ward is cast it follows Juggernaut automatically. However, players can select it and control where they want it to be.

Healing Ward provides an aura that can heal up to 55%/82.5%/110%/137.5% of units max health in its full duration. However, this aura doesn’t stack meaning multiple Healing Wards will not increase the healing.

Also, the Healing Ward doesn’t heal wards and buildings. It only heals allies and allied creeps or allied controlled units.

The stats of Healing Ward are:

• Ability: Point Target/ Aura
• Affects: Allies
• Pierces Spell Immunity: Yes
• Cast Range: 350
• Radius: 500
• Max Health Per Second: 2%/3%/4%/5%
• Aura Linger Duration: 2.5
• Duration: 25
• Movement Speed: 325
• Cooldown: 60 (40 with level 15 talent)
• Mana Cost: 140/130/120/110

Blade Dance (E) (C [Legacy Key])

Blade Dance is Juggernaut’s 3^rd skill. Juggernaut only has one passive ability. Every time Juggernaut uses Blade Dance, he has a chance to deal critical damage.

It doesn’t provide critical damage on each attack but gives a certain chance to deal critical damage.

Players can skip this skill early and max it when they have 2 or 3 good items. However, keeping at least one point in this skill is recommended before reaching level 6. It will help players to farm easily.

Whether the proc will land or not is decided at the beginning of the attack when Juggernaut starts his attack animation and not when he lands an attack.

Blade Dance stacks with other critical damage proc items like Crystalys or Daedalus. But the higher crit multiplier has priority.

Blade Dance proc Pseudo-random, meaning if he doesn’t proc on an attack, the next attack has an increased chance to proc, and if it procs on an attack, the next attack has reset to the first chance.

Juggernaut’s illusion, too, get crit to proc from Blade Dance. Items or allies who can create the illusion of Juggernaut also help in fights or while farming.

The stats for Blade Dance are:

• Ability: Passive
• Affects: Enemies
• Proc Chance: 20%/25%/30%/35%
• Critical Damage: 180%
• Lifesteal: 40% (Lifesteal is only available to players if they chose to take +40% Blade Dance Lifesteal  at level 20 Talent)

Swift Slash (D) (W [Legacy Key])

Swift Slash is not available to Juggernaut from the start of the game. Once the player buys Aghanim, Scepter Swift Slash becomes available. Swift Slash works like a mini Omnislash.

The stats of this skill is taken directly from Omnislash ( Juggernaut’s Ultimate skill). Players can get the Swift Slash skill before leveling Omnislash. But doing so Swift Slash does not deal damage to enemies as it takes stats directly from Omnislash.

Swift Slash lasts for 0.8 seconds.

If a player chooses Juggernaut in Ability Draft mode then they need to draft Omnislash to unlock Swift Slash.

If Juggernaut is using Blade Fury then he cannot use Swift Slash.

Swift Slash cannot be blocked by Linken’s Sphere. If Swift Slash is used on enemies with Linken’s Sphere then it cancels the first slash and continues to deal damage.

The stats for Swift Slash are:

• Ability: Target Unit
• Affects: Enemy Units
• Pierces Spell Immunity: Yes
• Dispellable: No
• Damage Type: Physical
• Cast Range: 550
• Cast Animation: 0.3
• Duration: 0.8
• Cooldown: 20
• Mana Cost: 125

Aghanim Scepter

Aghanim Scepter buffs the ultimate skills of heroes. It can be purchased at any time and costs around 4200 gold.

Aghanim Scepter provides a new skill to Juggernaut known as Swift Slash.

Omnislash (R) (E [ Legacy Key])

Omnislash is the ultimate skill of Juggernaut. Omnislash can only be upgraded once he reaches level 6. It is one of the powerful skills which can almost kill any single unit.

Juggernaut leaps towards the target enemies and slashes the target and other nearby enemy units. During Omnislash Juggernaut jumps from one unit to another if there is more than one enemy unit in an area.

If a single enemy is present in the area then Juggernaut does not jump to another and continues to perform slashes to that single unit.

If the targeted unit goes invisible then Omnislash stops immediately.

Omnislash can target ethereal units but won’t do any damage to them as it deals physical damage.

The attack speed of Juggernaut increases during Omnislash duration. Players can make an item like Mask of Madness which increases attack speed for a certain period and use it during Omnislash to increase its efficiency.

Juggernaut is invulnerable, spell immune during Omnislash, and cannot be targeted during Omnislash. Omnislash applies basic dispel to Juggernaut.

Juggernaut can cast his skills or use items during Omnislash. But he cannot cast Blade Fury, and if he casts Swift Slash, Omnislash will stop and start Swift Slash.

He can use items like Black King Bar, Manta Style, Silver Edge, Shadow Blade, Ethereal Blade, etc., and his Healing Ward skill during Omnislash.

If Juggernaut does not find a valid target within 0.15 seconds then Omnislash stops.

Omnislash can be cast on enemy units but cannot be cast on wards, couriers, and buildings. Just like Swift Slash Omnislash will not be blocked by Linken’s Sphere as it only blocks the first slash.

The stats for Omnislash are:

• Ability: Unit Target
• Affects: Enemy Units
• Damage Type: Physical
• Pierces Spell Immunity: Yes
• Dispellable: No
• Cast Animation: 0.3
• Cast Range: 325
• Slash Jump Radius: 425
• Slash Rate Multiplier: 1.5
• Bonus Damage: 30/40/50
• Bonus Attack Speed: 40
• Duration: 3/3.25/3.5 (4/4.25/4.5 with level 25 talent)
• Cooldown: 130
• Mana Cost: 200/275/350

Talents

Each hero has talents that can be unlocked at a certain level starting from level 10 and can be unlocked with every 5 additional levels.

Talents buff certain skills and stats. Talents are useful and cannot be ignored.

However, in each level where talents are unlocked i.e. 10/15/20/25, there are two talents available and a player can choose only one from them. Once the hero reaches level 30 then all the remaining talents are unlocked.

Choosing the correct talent will help players to play effectively.

The talents for Juggernaut are

+1s Omnislash Duration	25	+475 Health
+150 Blade Fury DPS	20	+40% Blade Dance Lifesteal
+1s Blade Fury Duration	15	-20s Healing Ward Cooldown
+75 Blade Fury Radius	10	+5 All Stats

Although talents should be chosen depending upon the situation, best talents to choose at different level which works most of the time are:

• Level 10: +5 All Stats
• Level 15: +1s Blade Fury Duration
• Level 20: +150 Blade Fury DPS
• Level 25: +1s Omnislash Duration

Itemization

Itemization is the most important part while playing Dota 2. There are more than 200 items in Dota 2. Players need to make choices on buying the best items for the heroes.

A hero can hold up to 6 items in its inventory and 3 more in the backpack. Items in the backpack cannot be used.

Juggernaut is a carry hero meaning he heavily depends on high damage dealing items.

As there are many different items in the game many items depend on opponent picks.

Realizing which item to build in what situation is what differentiates high-ranked players from low-ranked players.

Here are some of the recommended items for Juggernaut.

Starting Items

These items are useful when starting the game as a Juggernaut.

Tango (90): Tango heals the hero who uses it. It is used on trees. It helps to sustain lane harassment.

Slippers of Agility (140): Slippers of Agility give additional agility to Juggernaut which increases his base damage and gives extra attribute.

Quelling Blade (100) : Quelling blade increases damage to non-hero units. It makes it easier to last hit in lanes.

2x Iron Branch (50 Each) : Iron Branch gives +1 attributes to heroes. It can also be used to plant a tree and using tango on the tree planted from iron branch heals for twice the duration.

Healing Salve (110) : Healing Salve heals 30 health for 13 seconds. It is useful when your hero loses more health and can be used to heal fully without having to go back to the fountain.

Early Game Acquisitions

As Juggernaut, players need to focus on farming. Early game opponent offlaner will try to harass, so players need to buy items that help them sustain them in the lane.

Recommended items for the early game are as follows:

Boots of Speed (500) : Boots of speed give +45 movement speed. It is useful to run away or chase enemies.

Magic Stick (200) : Magic Stick stores a charge depending upon the number of skills used by enemies within a 1200 radius. It can store max charge up to 10. Each charge restores health and mana by 15.

Wraith Band (505) : Players can upgrade Slippers of Agility to the Wraith band. Wraith band gives agility to Juggernaut which increases his health and damage.

Mid Game Items

Mid-game is when real farming for hero starts. Juggernaut players need to have at least 2 of the below-mentioned items to scale properly in the game.

These items will help players farm easily and pick off some of the targets to get kills.

It is not necessary to buy all of these items and players can choose depending upon the situation.

Items required for Juggernaut in the mid-game are:

Phase Boots (1500) : Boots of Speed can be upgraded to Phase Boots. Phase Boots increases the movement speed of Juggernaut by 20% each time it is used and has a cooldown of 8 seconds.

Phase boots help Juggernaut as Blade Fury requires high movement speed to catch up with enemies.

Mask of Madness (1775) : Mask of Madness provides lifesteal passively. On activation, it increases movement speed and attack speed by 30 and 110 respectively which lasts for 6 seconds.

It also reduces armor by 8 when activated. It helps Juggernaut to farm and can be used on Omnislash to increase damage.

Mask of Madness is optional and can be avoided completely.

Magic Wand (450) : Previously purchased Magic Stick can be upgraded to Magic Wand. Magic Wand increases the charge by 20.

Battle Fury (4100) : Battle Fury is useful to farm. It provides cleave. It helps Juggernaut to clear camps and creep waves easily.

It also helps to deal more damage against a group of enemies during Omnislash.

Passively, Battle Fury provides health and mana regeneration. Juggernaut has a low mana pool and regeneration, so with Battle Fury, he can regenerate mana easily.

Diffusal Blade (2500) : Diffusal blade slows enemy movement speed as well as burns their mana on each hit. It helps with Blade Fury with decreased movement speed.

It is not recommended to buy both Battle Fury and Diffusal Blade together on Juggernaut. Players need to choose one depending upon the game.

Manta Style (4600) : Manta Style creates 2 illusions of a hero. With Manta Style Juggernaut can dispel silence and roots.

Late Game Picks

The late game is when Juggernaut shines. But without good items, it is completely useless. These items will help Juggernaut to scale properly in the late game.

It is not recommended to buy all the items here on the list. Players can choose what to buy depending on the situation.

Butterfly (4975): The butterfly gives a massive agility boost. Along with damage, attack speed also increases, and Juggernaut gains evasion, allowing him to evade enemies’ physical attacks.

Abyssal Blade (6250) : Abyssal Blade provides bash passively in Juggernaut’s attack for 1.5 seconds.

Its active skills can stun enemies for 2 seconds which pierces spell immunity.

This item helps Juggernaut with damage and locks enemies with stun.

Desolator (3500) : Desolator passively decreases enemy armor. It is also a good item to take down towers as it decreases tower armor too.

Monkey King Bar (4975) : Monkey King Bar is used to pierce evasion. It is best against Phantom Assassin.

If the opponent buys Butterfly or has high evasion, it is recommended to build Monkey King Bar.

Eye of Skadi (5300): Eye of Skadi gives a massive attribute boost making Juggernaut tanky and slowing enemies on each hit. It helps to kill enemies and not let them escape.

Nullifier (4725) : The nullifier prevents enemies to use certain items.

Juggernaut’s ultimate skill, Omnislash, can be dodged if the enemy uses Eul’s Scepter or Ghost Scepter, or Ethereal Blade. But with Nullifier, they won’t be able to use it.

Satanic (5050) : Satanic passively gives status resistance and actively heals for 200% for a certain time on basic attack. Satanic is useful to sustain in fights.

Aghanim Scepter (4200) : Aghanim Scepter provides Juggernaut Swift Slash. It can be used to increase damage output.

Mjollnir (5600) : Mjollnir passively gives lightning damage. It is best against heroes who rely on their illusions.

Best Team

It is best to pick these heroes if your have Juggernaut in your team. Or if your team has these heroes, pick Juggernaut.

Crystal Median

Crystal Median slows the enemies and also roots them. Both of them can be useful to pick up the kill using Blade Fury.

Also Crystal Median’s passive provides increased mana regeneration to the whole team. Juggernaut has a low mana pool and low mana regeneration. Having Crystal Median in the team helps Juggernaut.

Lich

Lich’s Frost Blast and Frost Shield decrease enemies’ movement speed making it easier to deal damage to enemies with Blade Fury.

Magnus

Magnus Empowers Juggernaut which increases his attack damage and provides cleave to his attack. Juggernaut can farm faster with Magnus in the team and deal more damage in fights.

Shadow Shaman

Shadow shaman has 2 disables in his skill. With his Shackle, Shadow Shaman can lock down enemies for up to 7 seconds making it easier for Juggernaut to kill enemies.

Venomancer

Venomancer attacks and skills slow enemy movement speed. This helps Juggernaut to deal damage to enemies with Blade Fury

Bad Against

These heroes are counter to Juggernaut. Avoid picking Juggernaut if any of these heroes are in the opponent team.

Pugna

Pugna is a big counter to Physical damage-dealing heroes. With his, Decrepify Pugna can make his teammate or himself immune to physical damage. Pugna can save allies from Omnislash.

Bane

Bane’s ultimate ability, Fiend’s Grip, pierces spell immunity. Due to this Bane can lock down Juggernaut during Blade Fury.

Axe

Axe counters most of the melee heroes. Since his Berserk call ignores immunity, Juggernaut can be caught during Blade Fury. With Counter Helix and Blade Mail, Axe can easily kill Juggernaut in Berserk Call.

Windranger

Windranger’s 3^rd skill increases her movement speed and she can evade 100% of the attacks. She can dodge both Blade Fury and Omnislash with just one skill.

Puck

Puck is a high mobility hero. Puck’s skill helps him to dodge and escape all of Juggernaut’s attack. With Aghanim Scepter, Puck can stun Juggernaut even when Blade Fury is active.

Good Against

These heroes can not perform well against Juggernaut. Players can pick Juggernaut if the opponent has these heroes.

Invoker

Invoker mostly relies on 11 of his spells. With Juggernaut’s Blade Fury he can dodge all of Invoker’s skills.

Keeper of the Light

Keeper of the Light’s Will-O-Wisp stuns the whole team in certain areas. Juggernaut can use Blade Fury and destroy Will-O-Wisp. Also, his Healing Ward heals allies from Illuminate.

Pheonix

Pheonix’s ultimate skill stuns the whole enemy team in a certain area. Pheonix’s egg can be destroyed by the attack. With Blade Fury, Juggernaut can easily reach the egg and destroy it.

Zeus

Zeus deals magical damage in all of his skills. Under Blade Fury, none of his skills deals damage to Juggernaut.

Enchantress

Blade Fury can dispel slow from Enchant and Omnislash and Swift Slash can kill Enchantress ignoring Untouchable.