Hero Discussion of the Week: Io (June 29, 2012)

Disclaimer: I'm posting this on my phone so I can't tell if I made any formatting errors.

Io, the Guardian Wisp

Lore:

Wisp is everywhere, and in all things. Denounced by enemies as the great unmaker, worshiped by scholars as the twinkling of a divine eye, Wisp occupies all planes at once, the merest fraction of its being crossing into physical existence at any one moment.

Like the great twin riders Dark and Light, and yet another ancient traveler whose true history is lost to the ages, Io the Wisp is a Fundamental of the universe; a force older than time, a wanderer from realms far beyond mortal understanding. Wisp is nothing less than the sum of all attractive and repulsive forces within matter, a sentient manifestation of the charge that bind particles together. It is only in the controlled warping of these forces that Wisp's presence can be experienced on the physical plane. A benevolent, cooperative force, Wisp bonds its strength to others so that the power of allies might be enhanced. Its motives inscrutable, its strength unimaginable, moves through the physical plane, the perfect expression of the mysteries of the universe

Role: Support

Strength	Agility	Intelligence
17 + 1.9	14 + 1.6	23 + 1.7
Damage	Armor	Movespeed
43 - 52	0	295
Attack Range	Base Attack Time	Missile Speed
575	1.7	1600
Responses	Icon

Tether

Tether yourself to an allied hero granting both of you bonus movement. When you heal health or mana your target gains the same amount. Stuns any enemy unit that crosses the tether. Breaks when the distance is too great or you cancel the tether.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	40	12	1800	900	12/0.75 second *	20% ms bonus
2	40	12	1800	900	12/1.25 seconds *	20% ms bonus
3	40	12	1800	900	12/1.75 seconds *	20% ms bonus
4	40	12	1800	900	12/2.25 seconds*	20% ms bonus

• (*) Tether duration/stun duration
• If you try to tether a unit that is 700 distance or further away from Io, he will latch on and pull himself closer to the tethered unit to a distance of 300).
• The tethered unit will benefit from Overcharge, Relocate, and from Io regenerating HP/mana.
• Has a sub ability that lets you break the tether.

Spirits

Summon five spirits that dance ina circle damaging all that they hit around you. If the wisp hits an enemy hero they will explode damaging all in an area around them.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	120	20	N/A	300*	19 seconds	8/25** damage
2	130	18	N/A	300*	19 seconds	14/50** damage
3	140	16	N/A	300*	19 seconds	20/75** damage
4	150	14	N/A	300*	19 seconds	26/100** damage

• (*) Area of Effect of the explosion
• (**) Damage to creeps/heroes
• Damage type: magical
• Min/max Oscillation range: 100/875
• You gain 2 subabilities to control how far away from Io the spirits orbit.

Overcharge

You and any unit that you have tethered gain increased attack speed and damage resistance at the cost of draining 2.5% of your health and mana per second.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	2.5% of current HP and MP	N/A	N/A	N/A	40 IAS, 5% damage reduction
2	2.5% of current HP and MP	N/A	N/A	N/A	50 IAS, 10% damage reduction
3	2.5% of current HP and MP	N/A	N/A	N/A	60 IAS, 15% damage reduction
4	2.5% of current HP and MP	N/A	N/A	N/A	70 IAS, 20% damage reduction

• This bonus affects a tethered unit as well.
• The hp/mana lost can't be reduced in any way.

Relocate

Teleport yourself and any tethered ally to any location on the map. After the spell expires you and any tethered ally will return to where you teleported from.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	100	90	Global	N/A	N/A	Teleport after 2.5 seconds
2	100	75	Global	N/A	N/A	Teleport after 2.25 seconds
3	100	60	Global	N/A	N/A	Teleport after 2 seconds

• There is a casting delay and the enemy has visual indicators on the minimap at the target location before it happens.
• If Guardian Wisp is disabled during the this casting delay, Relocate will be cancelled.
• If an allied hero is Tethered, that hero will teleported along with you. You can break the tether at any time to prevent that hero from returning back with you.
• The disablehelp menu will allow you to prevent an allied Guardian Wisp from teleporting your hero with this this ability.

Be sure to take a look at DotaCinema's video overview of Io.

As always, check out Yesterday's discussion of Luna or the complete Hero Discussion archives.