Does Blade Mail Work Against Witch Doctor?
Direct Answer
No, Blade Mail does not work against Witch Doctor’s Death Ward. Witch Doctor’s Death Ward absorbs and returns damage, effectively negating the effects of Blade Mail.
Blade Mail and Witch Doctor’s Death Ward
In Dota 2, Witch Doctor’s Death Ward is a powerful ability that deals damage to enemies within a certain range. Blade Mail, on the other hand, is an item that reflects a percentage of incoming damage back to the enemy who inflicted it. Many players assume that Blade Mail would work against Witch Doctor’s Death Ward, reflecting the damage back to Witch Doctor and dealing significant harm.
However, this assumption is incorrect. Witch Doctor’s Death Ward is designed to absorb and return damage, making it immune to damage reflection from Blade Mail.
Witch Doctor’s Death Ward Mechanics
Death Ward has two main effects:
- Absorption: Death Ward absorbs a set amount of damage from each enemy within range.
- Returning Damage: Death Ward then returns a set amount of damage to each enemy who was absorbed.
This unique mechanic makes Death Ward capable of surviving and even retaliating against attacks that attempt to reflect damage back.
Why Blade Mail Does Not Work
Blade Mail relies on reflecting incoming damage back to the attacker. Witch Doctor’s Death Ward, however, has already absorbed and returned damage before the reflection can take place. As a result, the damage reflected back by Blade Mail is swallowed by the Death Ward’s absorb, leaving Witch Doctor largely unaffected.
Counter Measures
So, how do you counter Witch Doctor’s Death Ward? Here are a few strategies:
- Use items with damage spikes: Items that deal burst damage, like Eye of Skadi, can quickly take out enemies, even those with shields like Witch Doctor’s Death Ward.
- Apply continuous damage: Channeled abilities, such as Omniknight’s Guardian Angel, can continually apply damage to Witch Doctor, even if the initial damage is absorbed.
- Use abilities that bypass absorption: Abilities with magic damage, like Vengeful Spirit’s Smite, can bypass Death Ward’s absorption and hit Witch Doctor directly.
In conclusion, Blade Mail is not an effective counter against Witch Doctor’s Death Ward. Understanding the mechanics behind Death Ward and using appropriate strategies to counter it are essential for success against Witch Doctors.