Break

• Break
• Changelogs

For other uses of the word Break, see Break (Disambiguation).

Break is a status effect that disables passive abilities. It does not disable passive components from items (i.e. Talisman of Evasion's evasion) and talents (unless stated). Break works completely independent from mute and silence.

Definition

Ability and Item Disables	Disabled Aspect / Definition	Examples
Silence	Fully prevent any active abilities order, except item casts. Autocast abilities that are currently set to Autocast have their functionality disabled. Toggled abilities are stuck in their current On / Off state for the duration, but their functionality is not disabled.	Global Silence
Break	Fully disable passive abilities, does not disable any item passives and Talents (with some exceptions). On-death passives (e.g. Reincarnation) and direct-synergy passives ( Caustic Finale with Burrowstrike) are generally not disabled.	Viper Strike
Mute	Fully prevent item cast orders, except ability casts.	Doom

Mechanics

See also: Silence and Mute

Break disables every aspect of the ability, including proc chances, innate cooldowns, attack modifiers and permanent bonuses. Only abilities with passive components are affected, but not passives components of items and talents. For example, when Blur is disabled by break, but Talisman of Evasion and derived items are not.

If a passive ability places a buff or debuff, those buffs and debuffs already in place are not nullified. For example, if an enemy is affected by Poison Sting, the ability's effects continues even if Break is applied on the caster. Break only prevents the caster's attacks from applying the effect. The same also applies to passive abilities which grants stacks (e.g. Essence Shift), Break just prevent them gaining new stacks, but usually does not disable already existing stacks.

However, the opposite is the case for auras when affected by Break. The aura itself continues to place its buff or debuff on units, but when Break is applied on the source of the aura, the buff or debuff is disabled for the duration. If the aura has a status icon in the HUD, they show 0 when affected by Break.

There is no set rule for which passive abilities are disabled by Break. However, most passive abilities which are dependent on another ability to function are not nullified (e.g. Grow and Divided We Stand).

Sources

Break Sources

• Chaos Knight – Reality Rift³
• Doom – Doom¹
• Khanda – Empower Spell
• Hill Troll Berserker – Break
• Hoodwink – Decoy
• Hoodwink – Sharpshooter
• Naga Siren – Ensnare^2a
• Nyx Assassin – Vendetta^{2b 4}
• Phantom Assassin – Fan of Knives ^{2a 4}
• Primal Beast – Uproar^2a
• Shadow Demon – Demonic Purge^{2a 4}
• Shadow Shaman – Hex¹
• Silver Edge – Shadow Walk
• Viper – Viper Strike ⁴

¹ Requires Talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

³ Requires Facet.

⁴ Piercess Debuff Immunity

Disabled by Break

The following passive abilities are completely disabled by Break. Unless stated otherwise, this includes passive cooldowns, damage counters, or other small parts of the abilities.

Abilities Disabled by Break

• Warlock Golem – Flaming Fists
• Warlock Golem – Permanent Immolation
• Earth – Demolish
• Shadow Fiend – Necromastery³
• Shadow Fiend – Presence of the Dark Lord
• Drow Ranger – Marksmanship⁴
• Drow Ranger – Precision Aura⁵
• Sven – Great Cleave
• Earthshaker – Aftershock
• Weaver – Geminate Attack
• Weaver – Threads of Fate
• Lina – Fiery Soul³
• Vengeful Spirit – Vengeance Aura
• Tidehunter – Kraken Shell
• Axe – Counter Helix
• Axe – One Man Army
• Bloodseeker – Thirst
• Tiny – Insurmountable
• Razor – Storm Surge
• Viper – Corrosive Skin
• Viper – Predator
• Spectre – Desolate
• Spectre – Dispersion
• Slardar – Bash of the Deep
• Slardar – Seaborn Sentinel
• Chen – Divine Favor
• Nature's Prophet – Spirit of the Forest
• Venomancer – Poison Sting¹⁰
• Storm Spirit – Galvanized
• Storm Spirit – Overload³
• Puck – Puckish
• Beastmaster – Drums of Slom
• Beastmaster – Inner Beast
• Night Stalker – Midnight Feast
• Necrophos – Heartstopper Aura
• Necrophos – Sadist
• Sniper – Keen Scope (7.36 - 7.40c)
• Slark – Shadow Dance (Pre 7.36)
• Abaddon – Curse of Avernus (7.20 - 7.35d)
• Abaddon – Borrowed Time¹
• Abaddon – Curse of Avernus²
• Dragon Knight – Dragon Blood
• Dragon Knight – Wyrm's Wrath
• Luna – Lunar Blessing
• Luna – Moon Glaives
• Lycan – Apex Predator
• Lycan – Feral Impulse
• Alchemist – Corrosive Weaponry
• Alchemist – Greevil's Greed
• Queen of Pain – Succubus
• Ursa – Fury Swipes³
• Ursa – Maul
• Magnus – Solid Core
• Riki – Backstab
• Riki – Cloak and Dagger
• Visage – Gravekeeper's Cloak
• Elder Titan – Natural Order⁶
• Anti-Mage – Counterspell¹
• Anti-Mage – Mana Break
• Ember Spirit – Fire Remnant
• Ember Spirit – Immolation
• Rubick – Arcane Supremacy
• Rubick – Curiosity
• Mars – Bulwark
• Mars – Dauntless
• Medusa – Cold Blooded
• Medusa – Split Shot
• Enchantress – Little Friends
• Enchantress – Untouchable
• Meepo – Ransack
• Enigma – Event Horizon
• Shadow Shaman – Fowl Play
• Faceless Void – Backtrack
• Faceless Void – Distortion Field
• Faceless Void – Time Lock
• Batrider – Smoldering Resin
• Monkey King – Jingu Mastery⁷
• Silencer – Suffer In Silence
• Wraith King – Mortal Strike³
• Wraith King – Vampiric Spirit
• Bounty Hunter – Jinada
• Muerta – Gunslinger
• Brewmaster – Liquid Courage
• Naga Siren – Eelskin
• Naga Siren – Rip Tide
• Zeus – Static Field
• Gyrocopter – Side Gunner
• Slark – Essence Shift^{3, 8}
• Slark – Saltwater Shiv
• Slark – Shadow Dance¹
• Nyx Assassin – Mana Burn
• Hoodwink – Scurry
• Snapfire – Boomstick
• Huskar – Berserker's Blood
• Ogre Magi – Multicast
• Bristleback – Bristleback
• Bristleback – Warpath³
• Sniper – Headshot
• Sniper – Keen Scope
• Sniper – Take Aim¹
• Omniknight – Degen Aura
• Omniknight – Hammer of Purity
• Spirit Breaker – Greater Bash⁹
• Broodmother – Incapacitating Bite
• Broodmother – Spider's Milk
• Centaur Warrunner – Retaliate¹
• Chaos Knight – Chaos Strike
• Templar Assassin – Psi Blades
• Pangolier – Fortune Favors the Bold
• Pangolier – Lucky Shot
• Phantom Assassin – Coup de Grace
• Phantom Assassin – Immaterial
• Phantom Assassin – Stifling Dagger
• Crystal Maiden – Arcane Aura
• Crystal Maiden – Glacial Guard
• Phantom Lancer – Juxtapose
• Phantom Lancer – Phantom Rush
• Timbersaw – Exposure Therapy
• Timbersaw – Reactive Armor³
• Juggernaut – Blade Dance
• Juggernaut – Bladeform
• Phoenix – Dying Light
• Tinker – Eureka!
• Keeper of the Light – Bright Speed
• Dark Willow – Pixie Dust
• Treant Protector – Leech Seed
• Primal Beast – Uproar
• Dawnbreaker – Break of Dawn
• Dawnbreaker – Luminosity
• Kunkka – Tidebringer
• Troll Warlord – Berserker's Rage¹
• Troll Warlord – Fervor⁷
• Death Prophet – Exorcism
• Death Prophet – Witchcraft
• Legion Commander – Moment of Courage
• Disruptor – Electromagnetic Repulsion
• Lifestealer – Feast
• Lifestealer – Ghoul Frenzy
• Underlord – Atrophy Aura³
• Underlord – Invading Force
• Lone Druid – Spirit Link
• Ghost – Frost Attack
• Lycan Lane Wolf – Cripple
• Minor Imp – Eldritch Explosion
• Ancient Frostbitten Golem – Time Warp Aura
• Kez – Kazurai Katana
• Kez – Shodo Sai
• Flagbearer Creep – Inspiration Aura
• Super Flagbearer Creep – Inspiration Aura
• Mega Flagbearer Creep – Inspiration Aura
• Pollywog – Riverborn Aura
• Boglet – Riverborn Aura
• Croaker – Riverborn Aura
• Ancient Croaker – Riverborn Aura
• Marshmage Apprentice – Riverborn Aura
• Marshmage – Riverborn Aura
• Ancient Marshmage – Riverborn Aura
• Demonic Warrior (Underlord) – Last Will
• Demonic Warrior (Underlord) – Mana Break
• Demonic Archer (Underlord) – Archer Aura
• Demonic Archer (Book of the Dead) – Archer Aura
• Demonic Warrior (Book of the Dead) – Last Will
• Demonic Warrior (Book of the Dead) – Mana Break
• Largo – Encore
• Spirit Bear (Pre 7.40) – Demolish
• Fire – Permanent Immolation
• Kobold – Prospecting Aura
• Kobold Soldier – Steal Weapon
• Kobold Foreman – Speed Aura
• Hill Troll Berserker – Break
• Hill Troll Priest – Heal Amplification Aura
• Vhoul Assassin – Envenomed Weapon
• Centaur Courser – Cloak Aura
• Alpha Wolf – Critical Strike
• Alpha Wolf – Packleader's Aura
• Satyr Mindstealer – Mana Aura
• Mud Golem – Shard Split
• Satyr Tormenter – Unholy Aura
• Hellbear – Death Throe: Rush
• Hellbear – Swiftness Aura
• Hellbear Smasher – Death Throe: Power
• Wildwing Ripper – Toughness Aura
• Skeleton Warrior – Rally
• Ancient Black Drake – Magic Amplification Aura
• Ancient Black Dragon – Dragonhide Aura
• Ancient Black Dragon – Splash Attack
• Ancient Rock Golem – Weakening Aura
• Ancient Rumblehide – War Drums Aura
• Roshan – Bash⁹
• Razorback – Poison¹⁰
• Ancient Prowler Acolyte – Prowler Aura
• Spirit Bear – Demolish
• Spirit Bear – Entangling Claws
• Spirit Bear – Spirit Link
• Lycan Wolf – Cripple

¹ These abilities have passive components which are disabled by Break.

² Allies do not gain the Curse of Avernus speed buff upon attacking an already cursed enemy.

³ Does not grant stacks while disabled by Break. However, their already existing stacks still fully work.

⁴ Although the ability's particle effects still visually react on enemy presence, all passive components of Marksmanship are disabled.

⁵ Fully disabled by Break, even when using their active component.

⁶ Only disables Natural Order's armor reduction.

⁷ These abilities neither apply new stacks, nor do already existing stacks grant any bonuses during Break.

⁸ Essence Shift still grants permanent bonuses on kill conditions when disabled.

⁹ Break only prevents Greater Bash from proccing on attacks. Still works fully with other abilities.

¹⁰ Plague Ward's Poison Sting is also disabled.

Not Disabled by Break

The following passive abilities are not disabled by Break.

Abilities Not Disabled by Break

• Earth – Drunken Brawler
• Earth – Earth Element
• Astral Spirit – Invulnerability
• Astral Spirit – Unobstructed Movement
• Proximity Mine – Permanent Invisibility
• Ice Spire – Spell Immunity
• Siege Creep – Reinforced
• Shadow Fiend – Requiem of Souls
• Sven – Wrath of God
• Pugna – Oblivion Savant
• Clockwerk – Armor Power
• Earthshaker – Slugger
• Ancient Apparition – Bone Chill
• Lina – Slow Burn
• Vengeful Spirit – Retribution
• Tidehunter – Leviathan's Catch
• Lion – To Hell and Back
• Morphling – Ebb and Flow
• Doom – Lvl ? Pain
• Bloodseeker – Sanguivore
• Lich – Chain Frost
• Lich – Ice Spire
• Tiny – Grow
• Razor – Plasma Field
• Razor – Unstable Current
• Viper – Nosedive
• Leshrac – Defilement
• Windranger – Tailwind
• Mirana – Celestial Quiver
• Chen – Zealot
• Storm Spirit – Ball Lightning
• Storm Spirit – Static Remnant
• Puck – Dream Coil
• Puck – Phase Shift
• Sand King – Burrowstrike
• Sand King – Epicenter
• Sand King – Sand Storm
• Necrophos – Reaper's Scythe
• Axe – Coat of Blood
• Pudge – Flesh Heap (6.64 - 7.35d)
• Silencer – Glaives of Wisdom (6.15-7.35d)
• Invoker – Mastermind
• Skywrath Mage – Shield of the Scion (Pre 7.35d)
• Winter Wyvern – Eldwurm Scholar
• Ringmaster – Dark Carnival Barker
• Abaddon – Withering Mist
• Pudge – Flesh Heap
• Undying – Ceaseless Dirge
• Undying – Tombstone
• Lycan – Shapeshift
• Lycan – Summon Wolves
• Magnus – Empower
• Visage – Soul Assumption
• Elder Titan – Momentum
• Anti-Mage – Persecutor
• Marci – Special Delivery
• Marci – Unleash
• Void Spirit – Intrinsic Edge
• Arc Warden – Runic Infusion
• Warlock – Chaotic Offering
• Warlock – Eldritch Summoning
• Medusa – Mana Shield
• Enchantress – Enchant
• Enchantress – Rabble-Rouser
• Bane – Ichor of Nyctasha
• Shadow Demon – Menace
• Meepo – Divided We Stand
• Meepo – Geomancy
• Faceless Void – Time Walk
• Batrider – Sticky Napalm
• Silencer – Glaives of Wisdom
• Wraith King – Wraithfire Blast
• Bounty Hunter – Big Game Hunter
• Bounty Hunter – Shuriken Toss
• Grimstroke – Ink Trail
• Skywrath Mage – Shield of the Scion
• Muerta – Pierce the Veil
• Muerta – Supernatural
• Muerta – The Calling
• Brewmaster – Drunken Brawler
• Zeus – Lightning Hands
• Gyrocopter – Afterburner
• Gyrocopter – Call Down
• Hoodwink – Mistwoods Wayfarer
• Huskar – Blood Magic
• Ogre Magi – Dumb Luck
• Ogre Magi – Fireblast
• Bristleback – Prickly
• Sniper – Assassinate
• Invoker – Exort
• Invoker – Quas
• Invoker – Wex
• Oracle – Prognosticate
• Centaur Warrunner – Horsepower
• Outworld Destroyer – Essence Flux
• Outworld Destroyer – Objurgation
• Chaos Knight – Fundamental Forging
• Templar Assassin – Inner Peace
• Io – Equilibrium
• Io – Spirits
• Io – Tether
• Clinkz – Infernal Shred
• Terrorblade – Dark Unity
• Jakiro – Double Trouble
• Phantom Lancer – Illusory Armaments
• Dark Seer – Normal Punch
• Dark Seer – Quick Wit
• Treant Protector – Nature's Guise
• Dazzle – Weave
• Kunkka – Admiral's Rum
• Troll Warlord – Battle Stance
• Legion Commander – Duel
• Legion Commander – Outfight Them!
• Tusk – Bitter Chill
• Tusk – Walrus PUNCH!
• Lone Druid – Summon Spirit Bear
• Lone Druid – True Form
• Undying Zombie – Deathlust
• Undying Zombie – Spell Immunity
• Phoenix Sun – Phase Movement
• Phoenix Sun – Spell Immunity
• Ghost – Piercing
• Tornado (Wildwing) – Invulnerability
• Tornado (Wildwing) – Tempest
• Sticky Bomb – Invulnerability
• Sticky Bomb – Phase Movement
• Power Cog – Spell Immunity
• Spiderling – Spawn Spiderite (5.66 - 7.35d)
• Earth – Debuff Immunity
• Storm – Drunken Brawler
• Jex – Invulnerability
• Jex – Phase Movement
• Fiend's Gate – Invulnerability
• Fiend's Gate – Spell Immunity
• Watcher – Invulnerability
• Mars Soldier – Invulnerability
• Mars Soldier – Phase Movement
• Roshan's Banner (unit) – Spell Immunity
• Ofrenda – Invulnerability
• Ofrenda – Phase Movement
• Attributes – Attribute Bonus
• Cleave – Cleave
• Armor – Armor Corruption
• Armor – Bonus Armor
• Mana Break – Mana Break
• Bash – Bash
• Illusions – Illusions
• [[Magic_Resistance|]] – Base
• Attack Damage – Piercing
• Attack Damage – Reinforced
• Attack Damage – Runty
• Death – Reincarnation
• Massive Serpent Ward – Piercing
• Massive Serpent Ward – Spell Immunity
• Attack Damage – Reinforced
• Attack Damage – Reinforced
• Attack Damage – Reinforced
• Attack Damage – Reinforced
• Attack Damage – Reinforced
• Tower (Tier 4) – Reinforced
• Twin Gate – Invulnerability
• Twin Gate – Spell Immunity
• Tormentor – Reflect
• Tormentor – Unyielding Shield
• Super Melee Creep – Runty
• Mega Melee Creep – Runty
• Super Ranged Creep – Piercing
• Mega Ranged Creep – Piercing
• Super Siege Creep – Reinforced
• Mega Siege Creep – Reinforced
• Flagbearer Creep – Runty
• Super Flagbearer Creep – Runty
• Mega Flagbearer Creep – Runty
• Treant's Eyes – Eyes In The Forest
• Demonic Warrior (Underlord) – Runty
• Demonic Archer (Underlord) – Piercing
• Attack Damage – Piercing
• Demonic Warrior (Book of the Dead) – Runty
• Minefield Sign – Phase Movement
• Minefield Sign – Spell Immunity
• Spirit Bear (Pre 7.40) – Return
• M.A.D. – Permanent Invisibility
• M.A.D. – Phase Movement
• Keen Cannon – Spell Immunity
• Fire – Drunken Brawler
• Fire – Permanent Phase
• Melee Creep – Runty
• Ranged Creep – Piercing
• Attack Damage – Piercing
• Attack Damage – Piercing
• Vhoul Assassin – Piercing
• Attack Damage – Piercing
• Harpy Stormcrafter – Piercing
• Attack Damage – Piercing
• Ancient Granite Golem – Granite Aura
• Roshan – On The Move
• Roshan – Spell Block
• Roshan – Strength of the Immortal
• Fountain – Reinforced
• Anchor – Phase Movement
• Anchor – Spell Immunity
• Tombstone – Spell Immunity
• Spiderling – Poison Sting
• Spiderling – Spawn Spiderlings
• Attack Damage – Reinforced
• Attack Damage – Reinforced
• Beetle – Phase Movement
• Beetle – Spell Immunity
• Attack Damage – Piercing
• Plague Ward – Spell Immunity
• Spirit Bear – Return
• Courier – Passive Bonus
• Wraith King Skeleton – Damage Tracker
• Wraith King Skeleton – Reincarnating
• Death Ward – Invulnerability
• Psionic Trap – Permanent Invisibility
• Healing Ward – Phase Movement
• Healing Ward – Spell Immunity
• Forged Spirit – Melting Strike
• Familiar – Visage Innate
• Serpent Ward – Piercing
• Serpent Ward – Spell Immunity
• Lycan Wolf – Invisibility
• Homing Missile – Phase Movement
• Phantom – Phase Movement
• Spin Web – Invulnerability
• Spin Web – Phase Movement
• Ignis Fatuus – Phase Movement

Trivia

Break as a mechanic did not exist prior to version 6.84, but Doom (required in 6.82/6.83), Hex-sources (until 6.84), Duel (until 6.82) and Chronosphere (until 6.82) disabled a small portion of passive spell and item abilities.

The following passive components were disabled by Doom, Hexes, Duel or Chronosphere:

By all 4 sources:

• Blur [?]
• Drunken Brawler [?]
• Bristleback
• Kraken Shell [?]
• Fury Swipes
• Shadow Dance [?]
• Vampiric Aura [?]
• Feast
• Bash of the Deep
• Berserker's Rage [?]
• Greater Bash
• Time Lock
• Headshot
• Great Cleave
• Blade Dance
• Chaos Strike
• Coup de Grace
• Jinada [?]
• Mortal Strike
• Shapeshift [?]
• Mana Break

 

• Butterfly's evasion
• Heaven's Halberd's evasion
• Talisman of Evasion's evasion
• Gem of True Sight's aura
• Radiance's aura [?]
• Vladmir's Offering's lifesteal [?]
• Helm of the Dominator's lifesteal
• Mask of Madness' lifesteal
• Morbid Mask's lifesteal
• Satanic's lifesteal
• Abyssal Blade's bash
• Skull Basher's bash
• Monkey King Bar's mini-bash
• Battle Fury's cleave
• Crystalys' critical strike
• Daedalus' critical strike
• Diffusal Blade's feedback
• Diffusal Blade 2's feedback

Only by Doom:

• Backtrack
• Borrowed Time [?]
• Berserker's Blood
• Corrosive Skin
• Dispersion
• Entangling Claws
• Juxtapose
• Kraken Shell [?]
• Linken's Sphere's spell block

Only by Hexes, Duel and Chronosphere:

• Stout Shield's damage block
• Poor Man's Shield's damage block
• Vanguard's damage block
• Crimson Guard's damage block

Recent Changes

Main Article: Break/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.37
(2024-07-31)

• ADDED Vendetta now applies Break.

7.32
(2022-08-24)

• The following abilities no longer apply Break:
  • Doom
  • Nether Strike
• ADDED new Decoy ability as a source of Break.

7.28c
(2021-02-19)

• REMOVED Vendetta no longer applies Break.