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, removes Selection Box. Cannot be targeted by both allies and enemies.	Hitch A Ride
Misc Non-targetable	Can be selectable and still has a Selection Box. 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

Some Unselectability sources also grant attack immunity.

Attack Immune Sources

• Dark Willow – Shadow Realm
• Phantom Assassin – Blur
• Ringmaster – Escape Act

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
(2026-06-03)

• CREATED
  Ethereal Blade.

6.60
(2026-06-03)

• CREATED
  Ghost Scepter.

5.62
(2026-06-03)

• 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.