Throwback Discussion of the Week: Xin, the Ember Spirit (March 22, 2012)

Xin, the Ember Spirit

Xin is one of the few Agility heroes equipped to initiating roles in team fights and skirmishes. Using Fire Remnants' high mobility and Searing Chains for AOE disable, Xin is well suited for aggressive play style in both early and mid game, provided you have the manapool for it. Flame Guard offers some protection on magic damage, but don't expect it to save you from chain nukes or disables. Sleight of Fist is a mini version of Juggernaut's Omnislash that extends Xin's carry role into late game, not to mention invulnerability every 6 seconds.

Lore:

In sword forging furnaces of war, something powerful was taking shape. In a desperate bid to make superior weapons a sword smith by the name of Xin captured and bound a fire spirit to his forge. After countless hours of toil, a single pair of swords were born of the enchanted furnace. While holding and admiring the mystical blades the fire spirit was able to pass into Xin's body creating a being born of flesh and flame. Xin became more powerful than the soldiers he was tasked to outfit, and march out himself to dispatch the enemies of warmth and life. Equipped with burning steel and blazing speed, Xin tears through his enemies leaving nothing but a cinder.

Strength	Agility	Intelligence
19 + 2	22 + 1.8	20 + 1.8
Damage	Armor	Movespeed
52-56	2.08	310
Attack Range	Base Attack Time	Missile Speed
128 (melee)	1.7	Instant
Animation	Icon	Fan Art

Searing Chains

Xin unleashes up to 2 fiery bolas that wrap around nearby enemies, anchoring them in place and dealing damage each second.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	110	14	N/A	400	2 seconds	Ensnares 2 random enemy units, 40 DPS
2	110	12	N/A	400	2 seconds	Ensnares 2 random enemy units, 60 DPS
3	110	10	N/A	400	2 seconds	Ensnares 2 random enemy units, 80 DPS
4	110	8	N/A	400	2 seconds	Ensnares 2 random enemy units, 100 DPS

• Damage type: magical
• Targets are chosen randomly around Xin.
• Does not affect magic immune or invisible units.
• Interrupts channeling spells.

Sleight of Fist

Xin dashes around with blazing speed, attacking all enemies in the targeted AoE and returns to where he was standing after. Deals bonus damage to heroes, and 50% less damage to creeps.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	50	30	700	250	N/A	Attack all enemy units in the AoE, 30 bonus damage to heroes
2	50	22	700	350	N/A	Attack all enemy units in the AoE, 60 bonus damage to heroes
3	50	14	700	450	N/A	Attack all enemy units in the AoE, 90 bonus damage to heroes
4	50	6	700	550	N/A	Attack all enemy units in the AoE, 120 bonus damage to heroes

• Damage type: physical
• Targets are determined when the spell is cast.
• A regular attack is done to each target every 0.2 seconds.
• Any attack modifier that Xin has (Critical Strike, Bash, Cleave, Orb effects) will be applied normally to each target.

Flame Guard

Xin surrounds himself with a ring of fire that consumes incoming magic damage, leaving him unharmed. Deals dps in a 400 aoe. If the shield is dispelled, the dps buff goes away

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	80	35	N/A	400	8 seconds	50 health barrier, 30 DPS
2	90	35	N/A	400	12 seconds	200 health barrier, 35 DPS
3	100	35	N/A	400	16 seconds	350 health barrier, 40 DPS
4	110	35	N/A	400	20 seconds	500 health barrier, 45 DPS

• Damage type: magical
• Magic damage reduction is calculated before any reductions.

Fire Remnant

Xin charges himself with the energy to create a Fire Remnant every 30 seconds, with a max of 3 charges. Releasing a charge sends a Fire Remnant that runs to the targeted point at 2.5X your speed. Xin can use his secondary ability to dash out to each remnant's location, detonating them for AoE damage, and arriving at the one he targeted last.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	0	0	1500	N/A	45 seconds	Places a remnant, consuming a charge
2	0	0	1500	N/A	45 seconds	Places a remnant, consuming a charge
3	0	0	1500	N/A	45 seconds	Places a remnant, consuming a charge

• Starts with 3 charges (the maximum), and replenishes a charge every 30 seconds.
• Fire Remnants move to where you targeted them at 2.5X your speed.

Fire Remnant (secondary)

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	150	0	Global	450	N/A	120 damage
2	150	0	Global	450	N/A	160 damage
3	150	0	Global	450	N/A	200 damage

• Damage type: magical
• You move to each Fire Remnant at 1300 movement speed, or in 0.4 seconds, whichever is faster.

Check out Garlic-Twist's guide to Xin on Playdota.

GamingHoldDota2 has posted a Let's Play using the Ember Spirit.