Sniper
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Sniper
19 + 2
27 + 3.2
15 + 2.6
| Grants the following bonuses per level: | |
| +44HP and +0.2HP regeneration | |
| +0.53 armor and 3.2 attack speed +3.2 Main Attack Damage | |
| +31.2MP and +0.13MP regeneration +0.1% base magic resistance | |
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3000 Projectile Speed
| ||
100 (127)
(1.7 BAT) | ||
0.17 + 0.7
| ||
0.7
| ||
Default
Gib Type | ||
2011-04-30
Released | ||
2004-03-01
(2.60) | ||
Competitive Span
2011-04-30 — Present | ||
Version Control This article has not been updated to the last version the hero was changed in yet (version 7.38). Please help updating it. |
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| Picks off his enemies from afar. | |
|---|---|
| With a single bullet, Kardel Sharpeye pierced the steep-stalker's central eye from the valley floor, an ominous act that resulted in his ritual exile. He would win acclaim on a field of battle, or never return. Like his mountain kin, the Sniper is one with his firearm. He Takes Aim from great distances, and scores Headshots that stop his targets dead. Armed with a modular rifle, Kardel launches incendiary rounds to rain burning Shrapnel or throwing a Grenade knocking back his enemies over entrenched positions. No enemy is safe within the range of the Sniper's scope. As he pauses to line up his cross-hairs, compensating for every variable before he Assassinates his mark in one fatal shot. | |
| Roles: | |
| Adjectives | Bearded, Cape, Red, Nose Legs ( 2 ) |
Facets[edit]
Ghillie Suit
While Take Aim is active, Sniper's attacks do not reveal him within the Fog of War.
Scattershot
Shrapnel has a shorter effect delay, deals more damage and applies a stronger movement speed over a shorter duration.
×0.66 Effect Delay Factor
+60/115/170/225 Damage per Second
×2.5 Move Speed Slow Factor
×0.1 Duration Factor
+60/115/170/225 Damage per Second
×2.5 Move Speed Slow Factor
×0.1 Duration Factor
Upgrades[edit]
Aghanim's[edit]
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:
Assassinate now fires quicker and stuns the enemy target.
Reduces cast point.
Reduces cast point.
Grants the Concussive Grenade ability.
Launches a grenade at the area-targeted location that damages enemy units, and applies knockback to both Sniper and all affected enemy units within the radius.
Disarms, and applies a movement speed slow to affected enemy units after the knockback.
Launches a grenade at the area-targeted location that damages enemy units, and applies knockback to both Sniper and all affected enemy units within the radius.
Disarms, and applies a movement speed slow to affected enemy units after the knockback.
Talents[edit]
| +50 Max Headshot Knock Distance | 25 | -30s Shrapnel Restore Time |
|---|---|---|
| +30% Shrapnel Damage | 20 | +2s Take Aim Duration |
| +150 Assassinate Damage | 15 | +45 Take Aim Attack Speed |
| +30 Headshot Damage | 10 | +55 Take Aim Attack Range |
| ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ +2 All | ||
Bio[edit]
Now that's what I call stopping power.▶️Kardel Sharpeye, the Sniper
Lore:
Kardel Sharpeye was born deep in the mountains of Knollen where, since time immemorial, Keen Folk have survived by hunting the strange, cliff-dwelling steepstalkers above their village, shooting them from a distance and collecting the carcasses where they fell. Sharpeye was among the best of these strange mountain keens for whom projectile weapons are but another appendage, and to shoot is as natural as to touch.
On his day of summoning, when he was to gain full standing in his village, Sharpeye took the ancient test: a single shot from the valley floor to strike a beast down from the cliffs. To miss was to be dishonored. With his entire village standing vigil, Sharpeye took his shot. A steepstalker fell; the crowd cheered. But when the carcass was collected, the village grew silent, for the elders found that the bullet had pierced its glittering central eye then fallen to be clenched in the steepstalker's mandibles. This ominous sign was the literal opening of a dark prophecy, foretelling both greatness and exile for the gunman who made such a shot. Sharpeye the Sniper was thus, by his own skill, condemned to make his way apart from his people—and unwelcome back among them until he has fulfilled the remainder of the prophecy by attaining legendary stature on a field of battle.
On his day of summoning, when he was to gain full standing in his village, Sharpeye took the ancient test: a single shot from the valley floor to strike a beast down from the cliffs. To miss was to be dishonored. With his entire village standing vigil, Sharpeye took his shot. A steepstalker fell; the crowd cheered. But when the carcass was collected, the village grew silent, for the elders found that the bullet had pierced its glittering central eye then fallen to be clenched in the steepstalker's mandibles. This ominous sign was the literal opening of a dark prophecy, foretelling both greatness and exile for the gunman who made such a shot. Sharpeye the Sniper was thus, by his own skill, condemned to make his way apart from his people—and unwelcome back among them until he has fulfilled the remainder of the prophecy by attaining legendary stature on a field of battle.
Voice:
Innate[edit]
Keen Scope[edit]
Keen Scope 
Passive
Affects
Self
Grants Sniper flat attack range bonus.
Attack Range Bonus: 160/260/360/460
This ability levels up with Assassinate.
- Has 710/810/910/1010 attack range.
Hidden Modifier
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACK_RANGE_BONUSAbilities[edit]
Shrapnel[edit]
Consumes a charge to launch a ball of shrapnel that showers and revealing the target area in explosive pellets.
Cast Animation: 0.3 + 0
Cast Range: 
1800
Effect Radius: 
400/425/450/475
Effect Delay: 1.2
Damage per Second: 30/45/60/75 (
39/58/78/97)
Move Speed Slow: 12%/18%/24%/30%
Shrapnel Duration: 10
Aura Linger Duration: 0.5
35 (
5)
3
0
75
Kardel's modular rifle also fires incendiary rounds, useful for assaulting entrenched locations.
Scattershot
Shrapnel has a shorter effect delay, deals more damage and applies a stronger movement speed over a shorter duration.
Effect Delay: 0.8
Damage per Second: 60.12/115.18/170.24/225.3 ( 117/208/299/390)
Move Speed Slow: 2500% (
85%/100%/115%/130%)
Shrapnel Duration: 1
Damage per Second: 60.12/115.18/170.24/225.3 (
Move Speed Slow: 2500% (
Shrapnel Duration: 1
- Learning the ability grants all charges immediately.
- Can affect enemy units at max
- 1.2 seconds after casting, Shrapnel creates a negative aura that applies all ability effects at
area-targeted location
with the following properties:
sniper_shrapnel_slow- Deals
magical
spell damage to affected enemy units in 1-second intervals within the radius, immediately upon debuff application, over 11 damage instances.
- The facet deals spell damage over 2 damage instances instead.
- The following sources update all current Shrapnel instance:
- Leveling up the ability.
- Learning both the slow increasing and damage increasing
talents.
- However, the already applied debuff on enemy units do not update.
- Deals
- Grants a 450-radius flying vision centered around the effect radius for the entire duration.
- Does not affect the following units:
- 1.2 seconds after casting, Shrapnel creates a negative aura that applies all ability effects at
- Multiple overlapping Shrapnel radius do not stack.
- Can affect enemy units at max
Grants all 
charges immediately upon acquiring the ability.
Subsequent ability re-acquisition only grants the remaining charges.
Subsequent ability re-acquisition only grants the remaining charges.
On hidden entity
Shrapnel Slow: Movement speed reduced by x%.
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGE- Deals the following
- 330/495/660/825 (
429/643/858/1072) total damage.
- 120.24/230.36/340.48/450.6 (
- 330/495/660/825 (
Headshot[edit]
W
D
HeadshotGrants Sniper a chance to deal extra damage and briefly knocks back the attacked enemy unit.
Proc Chance: 40%
Damage: 20/50/80/110 (
50/80/110/140)
Max Knock Distance: 50 (
100)
Knock Duration: 
0.033
The debuff-affected enemy unit has their movement speed and attack speed slowed briefly.
Move Speed Slow: 100%
Attack Speed Slow: 100
Slow Duration: 0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5
Taking potshots at steepstalkers in his childhood has been thoroughly refined into perfect leads on enemy combatants.
- Headshot uses
pseudo-random distribution.
- Does not proc on the following units:
- Proc on the following units:
Allied units.
- The ability effects are applied as follows upon a successful proc:
- Applies a non-disabling
knockback on the affected enemy unit that pushes the attacked enemy unit away from Sniper, with the following properties:
- The min knockback distance is a factor of the max knockback distance, and is defined as:
- Trees within 100-radius of the pushed enemy unit are destroyed upon contact.
+
- Applies Sniper's attack instance with a conditional attack damage instance with the following properties:
- The bonus
physical
- The bonus
- Does not interact with the following sources:
Critical strike sources.
Cleave sources.
- Percentage-based
bonus attack damage sources.
- Interacts with the following sources:
Lifesteal sources.
Damage block sources.
- Applies Sniper's attack instance with a conditional attack damage instance with the following properties:
- Applies a non-disabling
The forced movement applied no longer affects the debuff immune enemy unit.
Hidden Modifier
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PREATTACK_BONUS_DAMAGEMODIFIER_PROPERTY_PROCATTACK_BONUS_DAMAGE_PHYSICALHeadshot Stop: Stopped by Sniper's headshot!
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGEMODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACKSPEED_BONUS_CONSTANTHidden Modifier
- Increased Sniper's damage output by an average of 8/20/32/44 (
Take Aim[edit]
No / Passive
Affects
Self
Sniper takes aim with addtional attack range, he is slowed for the duration.
Cast Animation: 
0 + 0
Attack Range Bonus: 200 ( 255)
Move Speed Slow: 45%/40%/35%/30%
Armor Bonus: 5/10/15/20
Duration: 3 (
5)
Attack Speed Bonus: (
45)
While active, Sniper's shots have ensured chance to proc Headshots.
Set Proc Chance: 100%
20/18/16/14
50
Kardel always takes it upon himself to stay as far from harm as he can while still performing his role — taking perfect aim.
Ghillie Suit
While Take Aim is active, Sniper's attacks do not reveal him within the Fog of War.
- Interrupts Sniper's
channeling abilities upon cast.
- Grants the following ability effects for the entire duration:
- Has an ensured Headshot chance of its corresponding level.
attack speed.
-
- Attacks neither reveals Sniper within the
Fog of War, nor grants the enemy faction
shared vision over Sniper.
- Attacks neither reveals Sniper within the
- The ability cooldown starts upon losing the
sniper_take_aim_bonusin any way, not upon cast.
- The ability cooldown starts upon losing the
Take Aim: 100% Headshot Chance
MODIFIER_STATE_ATTACKS_DONT_REVEALMODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGEMODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACKSPEED_BONUS_CONSTANTMODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUSMODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACK_RANGE_BONUSConcussive Grenade[edit]
Launches a grenade at the area-targeted location that damages enemy units, and applies knockback to both Sniper and all affected enemy units within the radius.
Disarms, and applies a movement speed slow to affected enemy units after the knockback.
Disarms, and applies a movement speed slow to affected enemy units after the knockback.
Cast Animation: 0.1 + 0.8
Cast Range: 600
Effect Radius: 375
Damage: 200
Knock Distance: 475
Knock Duration: 0.4
Move Speed Slow: 50%
Disarm Duration: 3
Debuff Duration: 3
Applies a non-disabling knockback on Sniper.
Roshan is innately immune to all forced movement sources.
However, other ability component still apply.
However, other ability component still apply.
10
50
ATTN: IN CASE OF DANGER PULL PIN
- Acquiring
Aghanim's Shard unlocks this ability in the fourth ability slot.
- Can affect enemy units at max
- Can affect enemy units at max
- Grants a non-lingering 200-radius flying vision until the projectile impacts at the
area-targeted location.
- Grants a non-lingering 200-radius flying vision until the projectile impacts at the
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
sniper_concussive_grenade_slowDisarm
- The
movement speed slow.
knockbackStun
- Knocks all affected units to a fixed
with a 100-distance arc
upward, within the centerpoint of the
- Hence the min and max knockback speed are 475 ‒ 1187.5 correspondingly to the knockback distance.
- The knockback duration varies depending on the terrain.
- Can push enemy units over
impassable terrain.
- Cancels most position-changing effects on the x-axis, but not z-axis movement.
- The
- Trees within 100-radius of the pushed unit are destroyed upon contact.
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
- Applies a non-disablilng knockback on Sniper. Other knockback notes apply, except the
- Applies a non-disablilng knockback on Sniper. Other knockback notes apply, except the
The forced movement component is not interrupted if the debuff immune source is applied while being knocked back.
Hence, a knocked back but debuff immune-affected unit can issue any commands as per normal during the knockback.
Hence, a knocked back but debuff immune-affected unit can issue any commands as per normal during the knockback.
Hidden Modifier
On hidden entity
Concussive Grenade Slow: Slowed by x% and disarmed.
MODIFIER_STATE_DISARMEDMODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGEGreater Bash: Stunned
MODIFIER_STATE_STUNNED- Has 2500-
projectile speed until reaching the
- Has 2500-
- Has the following ability interactions with
debuff immunity sources:
- The
- Despite
- Hence, the knockback component does not affect debuff immune enemy units.
- The
Assassinate[edit]
Locks onto a unit-targeted enemy.
After a short aiming duration, Sniper fires a devastating shot at long range and mini-stuns the target.
After a short aiming duration, Sniper fires a devastating shot at long range and mini-stuns the target.
Cast Animation: 2 + 1.6
Cast Range: 3000
Cast Range Buffer: 600
Spell Damage: 300/400/500 (
450/550/650)
Instant Attack Factor: 1
Vision Max Duration: 4
Resets the cooldown when an enemy hero is killed with Assassinate.
Cooldown on Kill: 
0
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Assassinate now fires quicker and stuns the enemy target.
Reduces cast point.
Assassinate now fires quicker and stuns the enemy target.
Reduces cast point.
Cast Animation: 0.5 + 1.47
20/15/10
175
In order to fulfill the prophecy and return to his home town, Kardel must make another shot as perfect as the one on the day of his ancient test.
Assassinate Ability Effects
sniper_assassinate applies a - The ability has two main components:
- Has the following unit-targeting properties:
- Has a 600-cast range buffer.
- The unit-targeted enemy has to move at least
≥ 3600-distancefrom Sniper to be considered out of range.
- Can target
invulnerable units.
- Does not nullify the ability cast when the unit-targeted enemy is affected by invulnerable sources during its cast point.
- The following sources applied to the unit-targeted enemy immediately nullifies the ability cast.
Hidden sources.
- Has the following unit-targeting properties:
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
sniper_assassinate- The debuff applied upon the ability's cast point is visible to everyone, and has the following debuff durations, whichever last longer:
- A 4-second max duration.
- For the entire
projectile travel distance until upon impact.
- Until the ability cast is canceled.
- The crosshair ability effect above the unit-targeted enemy is visible ally-only.
- Grants the following vision bonuses over the affected enemy unit:
- The aformentioned vision bonuses do not apply when
neutral creeps are
unit-targeted.
- All vision components are not applied when unit-targeting an
- The debuff applied upon the ability's cast point is visible to everyone, and has the following debuff durations, whichever last longer:
- Applies the
- Applies the
- Applies the instant attack component upon projectile impact, and procs any
attack modifiers and on-cast effects as per normal.
- Has
True Strike.
- Not affected by
- Has
- Applies the instant attack component upon projectile impact, and procs any
stunned- Considers
clones and the Spirit Bear as heroes;
The Double,
illusions, and other
creep-heroes as creeps.
- Resets Assassinate's cooldown if the enemy hero kill is credited to Sniper. This includes the following sources:
Reincarnation sources.
- Killing an
Self-denying with lethal self-damage sources.
- Killing an
- Considers
- The ability effects are applied as follows:
- Acquiring the
ability upgrade immediately update the current
Has the 
This ability's cast point is not modified when acquired.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_NORMAL_WHEN_STOLEN.This ability's cast point is not modified when acquired.
The secondary 
projectile is fired immediately afterward to the secondary target after the cast animation at the primary unit-targeted enemy.
Hidden Modifier
MODIFIER_EVENT_ON_DEATHAssassinate: Sniper's taking aim at your head!
MODIFIER_STATE_INVISIBLEMODIFIER_STATE_PROVIDES_VISIONStunned
MODIFIER_STATE_STUNNEDMODIFIER_PROPERTY_OVERRIDE_ANIMATION- Has 2500-
- Has 2500-
- Has a
server tick limit, despite the duration being set as 0.01 seconds in the backend ability files.
- No longer applies upon acquiring the
- No longer applies upon acquiring the
- The ability's sound effect during the cast point is audible to Sniper only.
Recent Matches[edit]
Main Article: Sniper/Matches
| Date | Tier | Tournament | Picks | Score | vs. Picks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 2025 - 13:00 CST | Tier 4 | 2nd SHOGA Cup | 1 : 0 | |||||
| May 23, 2025 - 15:15 PET | Tier 3 | ULD Epi2 AM | 0 : 1 | |||||
| May 22, 2025 - 14:45 CEST | Tier 1 | DreamLeague S26 | 0 : 1 | |||||
| May 21, 2025 - 19:35 CEST | Tier 1 | DreamLeague S26 | 1 : 0 | |||||
| May 21, 2025 - 11:55 CEST | Tier 1 | DreamLeague S26 | 1 : 0 |
Recent Changes[edit]
Description
- Updated Take Aim ability effects.
Talents:
- LVL 10 +10% Shrapnel movement speed slow ➜ +55 Take Aim attack damage.
- LVL 15 +1s Take Aim active duration ➜ +150 Assassinate damage.
- LVL 15 +30 attack speed ➜ +45 attack speed during Take Aim .
- LVL 20 +15 Take Aim armor ➜ +2s Take Aim active duration.
- Increased Keen Scope attack range bonus from 160/240/320/400 to 160/260/360/460.
- Increased Shrapnel
Ghillie Suit damage per second from 25/40/55/70 to 30/45/60/75.
Dota Plus Progress[edit]
Main Article: Hero Challenges
Relics track a hero's actions and statistics, and display in-game notifications when a milestone is reached. They are only available to Dota Plus subscribers.
| Sniper's Relics | Voice Lines | |
|---|---|---|
Towers Destroyed Kill Assists Kills |
Bronze |
|
Silver |
||
Gold |
||
Platinum |
| |
Master |
| |
Grandmaster |
| |
Equipment[edit]
| Sets | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | |
| Head | |
| Back | |
| Taunt | |
| Kinetic Gems | |
Trivia[edit]
- Sniper makes several references to Team Fortress 2, mainly to the Sniper.
- His Assassinate kill response ▶️ "Thanks for standing still, ganker!" quotes the Sniper's headshot taunt.
- His Assassinate kill response ▶️ "Thanks for standing still, wanker!" quotes the same line.
- His attack response ▶️ "Let's have a go at it!" quotes the Sniper's round start response.
- His rare Bottle response ▶️ "Jarate!" is a reference to the Sniper's Jarate, a secondary weapon.
- His rare select response ▶️ "Professionals have standards." quotes a line from the Meet the Sniper video.
- His kill response ▶️ "I'm polite and efficient." quotes a line from the Meet the Sniper video as well.
- His rare select response ▶️ "As long as there are two heroes left on the battlefield, someone is gonna want someone dead." quotes Meet the Sniper, too.
- Incidentally, Sniper's voice actor, Gary Schwartz, also voices Heavy Weapons Guy from Team Fortress 2.
- Sniper's Assassinate kill response ▶️ "Boom headshot!" is a reference to the Pure Pwnage mockumentary series.
- His death response ▶️ "Inconceivable!" may be a reference to Vizzini's catchphrase in the film The Princess Bride.
- His kill response ▶️ "What a dum-dum!" is a pun on the expanding bullet, also known as a dum-dum, a type of bullet designed for low penetration power, but high impact damage, causing large wounds.
- His last-hit response ▶️ "Oh, a few bullets more!" is a reference to the film For a Few Dollars More.
- Sniper's name, Kardel Sharpeye, is a reference to the professional Counter-Strike player Kyle "Ksharp" Miller, known for his sniping skills.
- Sniper's ultimate, ▶️ Assassinate, also uses the same, though slightly modified gunshot ▶️ sound as Counter-Strike's AWP.
- Warcraft 3 similarities:
- Sniper's hero concept is originally inspired by and based on the Riflemen, a ranged Human unit.
- The Riflemen are the only gun-wielding units in Warcraft, with instant ranged attacks.
- Take Aim's original iteration was based on the Riflemen's Long Rifles upgrade.
- The Riflemen are Dwarves, a race within the Warcraft universe.
- Because of this, Sniper's full title is Dwarven Sniper in DotA. It was shortened to just Sniper in Dota 2.
- In Dota 2, Sniper is part of the Keen folk, along with other heroes that used to be Goblin and Dwarves in DotA.
- Headshot's original iteration was based on the Mountain King's Bash, with a low stun duration and high damage.
- Assassinate's original iteration was based on the Mountain King's Storm Bolt, with a high cast time and cast range.
- Sniper has a 1/10 chance to spawn in with the name "Vasily Zaitsev", referencing a Russian sniper who was active during WW2.
- Sniper's hero concept is originally inspired by and based on the Riflemen, a ranged Human unit.
Gallery[edit]
Concept art
Concept art
Old model and icons
Ability icon progress
Hero icon progress
Bone Harvest sprite - alive
Bone Harvest sprite - dead