Attack Immunity

“

▶️ The shadows will protect me... — Dark Willow

”

Attack Immunity is a mechanic that prevents attack from affecting unit.

Instant attacks may target attack immune units if they are ranged instant attacks, but will have no effect when the unit is still attack immune on impact. Instant melee attacks cannot target attack immune units.

Definition

Mechanic	Definition	Examples
Ethereal	Grants Attack Immunity and self disarms. Immune to all physical damage, but usually (though not always) reduces self magic resistance.	Decrepify
Non-targetable	Does not includes Hide sources. Grants Attack Immunity and Phased. Not selectable and does not have a Hitbox. Cannot be targeted by both allies and enemies.	Hitch A Ride
Misc Non-targetable	Can be selectable and still has a Hitbox. However, it cannot be targeted by either allies or enemies.	Smoke Screen

Units with Attack immunity can not be targeted by attack.

• Instant attack also can not deal damage on them.
• Units with Attack immunity can disjoint any attack projectiles.
• Units with Attack immunity will not draw Aggro unless Taunt is rendered.
  • It means that neutral creeps will not look for sources when receiving damage from units with Attack immunity.

Unselectability

Main Article: Non-targetable

Most Unselectability sources also grant attack immunity.

Unselectability Sources

• Crystal Maiden - Crystal Clone
  

  
  The created illusion is unselectable by both factions.
  The illusion is not attack immune.
• Dark Willow - Shadow Realm
  
  Dark Willow is unselectable by her enemies.
  Her hitbox is not removed.
  She is attack immune and phased.
• Riki - Smoke Screen
  

  
  The affected enemies within the radius are unselectable by their allies.
  They are not attack immune, but they cannot be attacked by their allies.
  Their hitbox are not removed.
  They are not phased.
• Ringmaster - Escape Act
  
  Affected hero is unselectable by both factions.
  Removes hitbox.
  Hero is attack immune and phased.

Unselectable by both factions, Invulnerable, Hitbox Removed

• Ember Spirit – Sleight of Fist
• Juggernaut – Omnislash
• Juggernaut – Swiftslash
• Outworld Destroyer – Astral Imprisonment^2b

Unselectable by both factions, Invulnerable, Hitbox Removed, Phased

• Centaur Warrunner – Hitch A Ride
• Mars – Bulwark (Soldiers) ^2a
• Outworld Destroyer – Astral Imprisonment ^2b

¹ Requires Talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Ethereal

Main Article: Ethereal

All ethereal sources also grant attack immunity.

Abilities Granting Attack Immunity through Ethereal

• Ethereal Blade – Ether Blast
• Ghost Scepter – Ghost Form
• Leshrac – Nihilism
• Muerta – Pierce the Veil
• Necrophos – Ghost Shroud
• Pugna – Decrepify

Version History

Version

Description

7.32
(2022-08-24)

• ADDED
  new Hitch A Ride ability that uses the Attack Immunity mechanic.

7.28
(2020-12-17)

• ADDED
  new Nihilism ability that uses the Ethereal mechanic.

7.19c
(2018-09-14)

• Ink Swell no longer uses the Attack Immunity mechanic.

7.00
(2016-12-12)

• ADDED
  new Ghost Shroud ability that uses the Ethereal mechanic.

6.87
(2016-04-25)

• Units affected by Duel no longer ignore disarms and ethereal state.
• Ethereal now blocks in-flight attack projectiles fully, rather than just ones launched before entering Ethereal form. [?]

6.79c
(2013-12-12)

• Units affected by Duel now fully ignore disarms and ethereal state.

6.79
(2013-10-21)

• Can no longer orb-attack while attack restricted (such as Ethereal or under Frostbite).

6.67
(0000-01-01)

• CREATED
  Ethereal Blade.

6.60
(0000-01-01)

• CREATED
  Ghost Scepter.

5.62
(2004-09-18)

• ADDED
  the Ethereal mechanic.
  • Decrepify is an ability that uses the Ethereal mechanic.

Patch History

Patch

Description

24 Aug 2018

• ADDED
  Ink Swell, an ability that uses the attack immunity mechanic.

31 Oct 2017

• ADDED
  Shadow Realm, an ability that uses the attack immunity mechanic.

Gallery

• 

  Attempting to attack an attack immune unit.