Root

• Root
• Changelogs

“

▶️ Thanks for standing still, ganker! — Sniper

”

Root (formerly known as Ensnare) is a status effect that prevents affected units from moving, and from casting most mobility abilities. However, it does not prevent the affected units from turning, casting other abilities or using most items.

If the root also disarms the affected unit, it is referred to as a Bind (formerly known as Entangle).

Definition

Root Types	Disabled Aspect / Definition	Examples
Root	Prevents movement and disables certain mobility spells. May apply True Sight, depending on source.	Ensnare
Bind	Prevents movement and disables certain mobility spells. Disarms May apply True Sight, depending on source.	Frostbite

Mechanics

Attempting to blink while rooted.

• Root is invoked by the modifier state: MODIFIER_STATE_ROOTED.
  • The state disables the unit's ability to move, without affecting their actual movement speed.
    • This means effects based on movement speed are not affected.
    • Move orders can still be given, and the unit still attempts to execute them, proceeding to do so once the Root source expires.
  • The state does not prevent the unit from turning.
  • The state does not interrupt the unit, any orders given to them before or during the root get executed still.
    • If the order requires the unit to move, it will do so once the root source expires.
  • If an ability has the DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_ROOT_DISABLES behavior, it cannot be cast while rooted.
    • If the order was given before the root was applied, the order gets canceled.
    • If the cast animation already began, applying root interrupts the cast.
    • If it is a channeling ability, applying root cancels the channeling. Root does not cancel channeling abilities by default.
  • The state does not prevent Forced Movement.
    • However, with the IsRooted check, some abilities are coded to not move units in this state.

True Sight

• Some sources of Root also revoke MODIFIER_STATE_INVISIBLE; They provide True Sight over the unit.
  • This is a separate mechanic applied alongside with the Root, and is not caused by the Root mechanic itself.
  • As such, not all sources of Root apply True Sight.

Disarm

• Bind does not have its own state, but instead additionally invokes MODIFIER_STATE_DISARMED.
  • As such, all above notes still apply, as well as all Disarm notes.

Sources

Root Sources

• Most of these abilities can be dispelled by Basic Dispel.

Root Sources with True Sight

• Ancient Prowler Shaman – Petrify
• Broodmother – Spinner's Snare
• Ember Spirit – Searing Chains
• Enchantress – Little Friends⁵
• Gleipnir – Eternal Chains
• Hill Troll – Ensnare
• Invoker – Ice Wall^2a
• Lone Druid – Entangle
• Meepo – Earthbind³
• Medusa – Gorgon's Grasp⁴
• Naga Siren – Ensnare
• Oracle – Fortune's End
• Rod of Atos – Cripple
• Spirit Bear – Entangling Claws
• Troll Warlord – Berserker's Rage
• Underlord – Fiend's Gate^2a
• Underlord – Pit of Malice³

Root Sources without True Sight

• Dark Willow – Bramble Maze³
• Dark Willow – Cursed Crown^{2b 3}
• Raptor – Dive Bomb^2b
• Naga Siren – Song of the Siren⁵
• Tinker – Warp Flare
• Void Spirit – Dissimilate¹

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

³ Can affect unrevealed invisible units.

⁴ Also disables turning of rooted unit.

⁵ Can't be dispelled by Basic and Strong Dispel.

Bind Sources

• All of these apply True Sight, Disarm and can be dispelled by Basic Dispel.

Bind Sources

• Crystal Maiden – Crystal Clone
• Crystal Maiden – Freezing Field^2a
• Crystal Maiden – Frostbite
• Nature's Prophet – Wrath of Nature^2a
• Treant Protector – Nature's Guise^2b
• Treant Protector – Overgrowth

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Ally-Rooting Abilities

Some abilities root the caster or ally target to prevent them while the ability is active from performing certain orders like moving or attacking. Some of them also disarms the caster.

Ally-Rooting Abilities

• Centaur Warrunner – Hitch A Ride
• Earth Spirit – Rolling Boulder
• Familiar – Stone Form
• Juggernaut – Omnislash
• Juggernaut – Swiftslash
• Nyx Assassin – Burrow
• Phoenix – Supernova
• Tusk – Snowball
• Tombstone – Grab Ally
• Visage – Gravekeeper's Cloak^2b
• Void Spirit – Dissimilate

¹ Requires talent.

^2a Requires Aghanim's Scepter.

^2b Requires Aghanim's Shard.

Fully Disabled by Root

Fully Disabled by Root

• Fallen Sky – Fallen Sky
• Tumbler's Toy – Vault
• Sven – Storm Hammer
• Earthshaker – Enchant Totem
• Tidehunter – Anchor Smash
• Morphling – Waveform
• Spectre – Reality
• Mirana – Leap
• Nature's Prophet – Teleportation
• Storm Spirit – Ball Lightning
• Puck – Ethereal Jaunt
• Sand King – Burrowstrike
• Ringmaster – Whoopee Cushion
• Earth Spirit – Rolling Boulder
• Queen of Pain – Blink
• Magnus – Skewer
• Riki – Blink Strike
• Elder Titan – Echo Stomp
• Elder Titan – Natural Order
• Anti-Mage – Blink
• Marci – Rebound
• Ember Spirit – Activate Fire Remnant
• Ember Spirit – Sleight of Fist
• Void Spirit – Astral Step
• Void Spirit – Dissimilate
• Enchantress – Little Friends
• Meepo – Dig
• Meepo – Poof
• Faceless Void – Reverse Time Walk
• Faceless Void – Time Walk
• Monkey King – Boundless Strike
• Monkey King – Primal Spring
• Monkey King – Tree Dance
• Zeus – Heavenly Jump
• Slark – Pounce
• Sniper – Concussive Grenade
• Spirit Breaker – Nether Strike
• Techies – Blast Off!
• Chaos Knight – Reality Rift
• Pangolier – Rolling Thunder
• Pangolier – Swashbuckle
• Phantom Assassin – Phantom Strike
• Phantom Lancer – Doppelganger
• Timbersaw – Timber Chain
• Phoenix – Icarus Dive
• Phoenix – Toggle Movement
• Tinker – Keen Conveyance
• Primal Beast – Onslaught
• Dawnbreaker – Converge
• Tusk – Drinking Buddies
• Tusk – Snowball
• Town Portal Scroll – Teleport
• Kez – Grappling Claw
• Spirit Bear – Return

Partially disabled by Root

Partially Disabled by Root

• Viper – Nosedive
• Puck – Waning Rift
• Ursa – Earthshock
• Riki – Tricks of the Trade
• Hoodwink – Sharpshooter
• Templar Assassin – Psionic Projection
• Pangolier – Shield Crash
• Io – Relocate
• Phantom Lancer – Phantom Rush
• Primal Beast – Trample
• Dawnbreaker – Starbreaker
• Fiend's Gate – Warp
• Twin Gate – Warp
• Kez – Echo Slash
• Spirit Bear (Pre 7.40) – Return

Recent Changes

Version

Description

7.39
(2025-05-21)

• Root sources that also Disarm the target are now considered Bind Effects . [?]

7.22g
(2019-09-06)

• Ethereal Jaunt can no longer be cast while rooted.
• Phase Shift can now be cast while rooted.

7.22e
(2019-07-14)

• Sleight of Fist can no longer be cast while rooted.