If you’ve ever been unsure about how to play Ringmaster in Dota 2, you’re not alone. This quirky hero with a flair for the dramatic can be a bit of a puzzle at first, but once you get the hang of him, he becomes one of the most entertaining and game-changing heroes in the support role. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Ringmaster: what role he’s best suited for, how to win those tricky pub games, and which items to buy to make him shine.
Who is Ringmaster?
Before diving into the nitty-gritty details, let’s take a moment to understand who Ringmaster actually is and what he can bring to the table. Ringmaster is a support hero who excels at crowd control, utility, and causing general mayhem. His abilities are designed to disrupt enemy positioning, protect allies, and set up kills in creative ways.
What sets Ringmaster apart from other support heroes is his unique Souvenir system and his ability to control the battlefield with his whip, spotlight, and mesmerizing wheel. If you love heroes that have a bit of a trickster vibe, require strategic thinking, and can make the enemy team second-guess their every move, Ringmaster is the hero for you.
Read also: Kez: Dota 2’s Newest Hero – Complete Guide to His Abilities and Best Strategies
Ringmaster’s Abilities Breakdown
Now that we know what Ringmaster is about, let’s dive into his abilities and how to use them effectively. Understanding his skills will help you maximize his potential in any match.
1. Tame the Beasts (Q)
Tame the Beasts is Ringmaster’s primary crowd control ability. Ringmaster channels his whip, and after a short duration, he cracks it, dealing magical damage and causing enemies in the area to flee in fear. The longer you channel, the more damage you do, but the radius shrinks as the ability is held.
- What makes it strong: This ability is perfect for zoning enemies and causing chaos in fights. The fear effect forces enemies to run in the opposite direction, disrupting their positioning. The longer you channel it, the more damage and fear duration you get, making it a great tool for controlling space during teamfights.
- How to use it: Timing is crucial here. If you channel for too little time, the effect won’t be strong enough. If you channel for too long, the radius gets so small that you’ll miss some targets. Optimal usage involves channeling just long enough to deal the maximum damage while keeping the radius wide enough to hit as many enemies as possible. Pro tip: Try to cast this in the middle of a fight to cause maximum disruption.
2. Escape Act (W)
Escape Act is Ringmaster’s defensive tool, allowing him to pack either himself or an ally into a magical box. While inside, the hero is untargetable, gains bonus movement speed, magic resistance, and slow resistance, and is disarmed and muted. The effect lasts for a few seconds or until the box is moved over 500 units.
- What makes it strong: Escape Act is a life-saver in intense situations. It grants incredible survivability to you or your allies, letting you escape from dangerous situations or dodge incoming spells. The magic resistance is especially valuable against enemy casters, while the slow resistance makes it harder for enemies to keep up.
- How to use it: Use this ability to protect your core heroes when they’re being focused or when they’re about to be caught out of position. It’s also perfect for saving yourself if you find yourself in a sticky situation. Since the box is untargetable, you can safely reposition and wait out some dangerous spells. But be aware that the disarm makes it hard for your ally to attack during the duration, so be careful when using it on your damage dealers.
3. Impalement Arts (E)
Ringmaster’s Impalement Arts is a damage-dealing ability that throws a dagger at a specific target, dealing impact damage and applying a bleed effect. This bleed deals a percentage of the target’s max HP over time for enemy heroes, while creeps take flat damage.
- What makes it strong: The bleed effect is particularly deadly against tanky heroes or those with strong regen. The damage is percentage-based, which means it scales with the target’s health, making it highly effective against beefy opponents. Plus, the initial impact slows the enemy, allowing you to follow up with more attacks or abilities.
- How to use it: Impalement Arts is a great tool for harassing enemies in the laning phase. After landing the dagger, it’s easy to follow up with additional spells or attacks while your target bleeds. It’s also useful for kiting tanky heroes or slowing down enemies who are trying to escape.
4. Souvenir Slot (D) (Passive)
Ringmaster’s Souvenir Slot is what gives him a bit of flair and makes him a standout support hero. When an enemy hero dies within 925 units of Ringmaster, he collects a Souvenir, which can be one of three items: Funhouse Mirror, Strongman Tonic, or Whoopee Cushion.
- What makes it strong: The Souvenir system offers Ringmaster unique utility after every kill or assist. Each Souvenir has its own effect, such as creating illusions, buffing allies, or even dashing Ringmaster forward. These items add a layer of unpredictability to the game and can turn the tide of fights.
- How to use it: Pay attention to your Souvenir charges and use them strategically. Funhouse Mirror creates an illusion that can confuse enemies, Strongman Tonic buffs an ally’s strength, and Whoopee Cushion gives you a dash and leaves behind a slowing cloud. Use these items at the right moment to disorient enemies or save teammates.
5. Spotlight (F)
Ringmaster’s Spotlight is a support ability that creates a sweeping light, revealing and debuffing enemies caught in it. Enemies within the light have a 30% chance to miss their attacks, and any invisible units are revealed. Illusions also lose 50% of their max health when hit by the Spotlight.
- What makes it strong: This ability is crucial for shutting down enemy carries or heroes that rely on physical damage. The miss chance significantly reduces the effectiveness of right-click-based heroes, while the illusion reveal makes it an invaluable tool against heroes like Naga Siren or Phantom Lancer.
- How to use it: Use Spotlight to disrupt enemy carries during teamfights, especially those who rely on right-click damage. It’s also useful for revealing invis heroes or illusions trying to sneak around. If your team is struggling against an illusion-based hero, Spotlight can help expose them, making them much easier to deal with.
6. Wheel of Wonder (R)
Ringmaster’s Wheel of Wonder is a high-impact area control ability that rolls a magical wheel across the battlefield. Enemies hit by the wheel are slowed, and if they face the wheel for too long, they become mesmerized, causing them to be pulled into the wheel’s explosion.
- What makes it strong: The mesmerizing effect is particularly effective in teamfights, as it can completely disrupt enemy positioning. The wheel also deals significant damage over time, and if the enemies are mesmerized, they will be pulled into a massive explosion. It’s a great tool for disrupting enemy formations and setting up kills for your team.
- How to use it: Place the Wheel of Wonder in the middle of enemy formations to catch as many heroes as possible. The explosion can turn the tide of a fight if enemies are caught unaware. Be sure to use it when the enemy team is clustered together, as this maximizes its effectiveness.
Best Role for Ringmaster: Support
When it comes to positioning, Ringmaster shines in the support role, particularly as a position 4 support. His abilities make him highly effective at controlling the map, zoning enemies, and providing utility in teamfights. He works best when paired with strong initiators or high-damage cores, as he can help set up kills and keep enemies off balance.
In pubs, Ringmaster can be a game-changer if played correctly. His versatility allows him to fit into many team compositions, whether you need a disruptor, a save, or a teamfight initiator. His ability to cause confusion with Tame the Beast and Spotlight, combined with his Escape Act for saving teammates and Wheel of Wonder for disrupting enemies, makes him an excellent pick for keeping your team ahead.
While Ringmaster excels as a position 4 support, there is also flexibility in how he can be played. In some cases, you might even find him in a position 5 support role if your team needs extra crowd control and utility. However, for the most part, his roaming abilities and early-game presence make him a better fit in position 4, where he can roam, assist in ganks, and apply constant pressure.
Item Build for Ringmaster
To maximize Ringmaster’s potential in any match, it’s important to focus on the right item build. As a support hero, your primary job is to provide utility and control for your team while making sure you can survive long enough to cast your spells. Here’s a recommended core item build to get you started:
Core Items:
- Arcane Boots
Arcane Boots are essential for mana regeneration, ensuring that you can keep casting your abilities in the early and mid-game. You’ll be using a lot of spells to assist your team, so this item is non-negotiable. - Force Staff
Force Staff provides both mobility and utility, allowing you to reposition yourself or your allies out of dangerous situations. Whether you’re trying to save a teammate or escape a gank, this item is incredibly useful. It also helps you escape your own Wheel of Wonder if you find yourself stuck in the path. - Glimmer Cape
Glimmer Cape gives you the option to go invisible and save your teammates from incoming attacks. This item is especially useful in the mid-to-late game when teamfights get chaotic. The magic resistance it provides also helps keep you alive when dealing with enemy casters. - Eul’s Scepter of Divinity
Another must-have item for Ringmaster is Eul’s Scepter, which provides a crowd control component with its cyclone ability. It’s perfect for setting up kills, saving yourself from a dangerous position, or temporarily disabling an enemy hero. Eul’s also gives movement speed and mana regeneration, which is very useful for keeping your spells flowing.
Situational Items:
- Guardian Greaves
As a position 4 support, Guardian Greaves can be a great choice if your team needs healing and a purge for debuffs. The aura provides useful buffs, and the active heal can save multiple teammates during a teamfight. - Aether Lens
If you’re finding yourself out of position often, or if you want to extend your casting range to better control enemies, Aether Lens is a solid pick. It gives you extra cast range and mana regeneration, making it easier to initiate with your abilities from a safer distance. - Lotus Orb
For dealing with disables or silences, Lotus Orb provides both defensive utility and the ability to reflect spells. If you’re up against a team with a lot of disable-heavy heroes, this item can be a lifesaver for you and your teammates. - Blink Dagger
While Ringmaster has his own mobility with Force Staff, sometimes you’ll need to be even quicker in initiating or escaping. Blink Dagger can help you get into the right position to either use your Spotlight to mess up enemy positioning or to get in range for your Wheel of Wonder. The Blink also helps you initiate fights or escape if things go sideways. - Glimmer Cape
This item is another escape tool that lets you turn invisible at the right moment. It’s especially useful when enemies are focusing you and your team needs a way to get out of dangerous situations.
Boots of Travel (Late-game)
Once you’ve filled out your core items and you’re looking to transition into the late game, Boots of Travel can be a great pick. Not only does it give you the ability to teleport around the map, but it also provides a global presence for your team. Ringmaster can roam more freely to assist allies or secure objectives across the map, making him even more of a strategic hero.
How to Win Pub Games with Ringmaster
When it comes to pub games, the key to winning with Ringmaster is all about team coordination and timing. Here’s a breakdown of how to effectively use Ringmaster to turn the tide in your favor:
1. Early Game: Roaming and Setting Up Kills
Ringmaster excels in the early game due to his ability to disrupt enemy lanes with his crowd control and damage output. Focus on roaming the map after securing your Arcane Boots and a Force Staff. Look for opportunities to gank enemy heroes with your Tame the Beasts and Impalement Arts.
- Pro Tip: Don’t just farm the lane—get involved in fights. If you’re not the one getting kills, at least make sure your cores are getting the farm they need while you’re out creating chaos.
2. Mid Game: Fight Control and Zoning
In the mid-game, your team should be grouping up and taking objectives. Ringmaster’s control abilities (especially Tame the Beasts and Spotlight) become even more impactful during these fights.
- Pro Tip: Use Spotlight to neutralize enemy carries or to mess with illusion-based heroes. Use Escape Act to keep your cores safe during a tough engagement. Your role is to control the fight, disrupt the enemy’s positioning, and protect your team.
3. Late Game: Teamfights and Map Presence
By the late game, Ringmaster should have a few key items, such as Glimmer Cape and Eul’s Scepter, to help keep you and your team alive in tough teamfights. Make sure you’re using Wheel of Wonder to create chaos in teamfights, and use Escape Act to buy time for your team to engage or disengage.
- Pro Tip: Stay close to your core damage dealers and ensure you’re always using your abilities to disrupt and protect. You may not be the biggest damage dealer, but your utility can often be the deciding factor in securing a win.
Conclusion
Ringmaster is a hero that requires a bit of finesse, but once you’ve mastered his abilities and understand how to control teamfights and support your team, he becomes an invaluable asset. With the right item build, positioning, and timing, you can carry even the most chaotic pub games to victory. Whether you’re zoning enemies, saving teammates, or disrupting the enemy’s plans, Ringmaster has the tools to keep things interesting and, most importantly, win the game.
So next time you’re in a pub and you see Ringmaster in the hero pool, don’t hesitate to pick him up. With a bit of practice and the right strategy, you’ll soon be known as the player who can turn any fight in your team’s favor.
Happy whipping!