Abaddon Dota 2: Why He Shines as a Support Hero

Dota 2, the popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Valve Corporation, features a diverse roster of heroes, each with unique abilities and roles. Abaddon, the Lord of Avernus, is one such hero who has found a special place in the hearts of support players. Despite originally being known as a strong offlaner or carry hero, Abaddon’s versatility and skillset have propelled him into the support role, where he thrives as a supportive force to protect and sustain his allies while disrupting the enemy team. In this article, we explore the reasons why Abaddon excels as a support hero in Dota 2.

Abaddon’s Skillset

Dota 2 Abaddon’s skills make him an excellent support hero, capable of providing both defensive and offensive utility to his team. Let’s delve into his current skills and understand how they empower his support role:

• Mist Coil (Q) 

Mist Coil is a low-cooldown nuke and healing spell that can be cast on both allies and enemies. It deals damage to Abaddon or his enemies while healing the target if it is an ally. This ability allows Abaddon to heal his allies in times of need, save them from danger, and even use it offensively to harass enemies in the laning phase.

• Aphotic Shield (W)

One of Abaddon’s signature skills, Aphotic Shield provides a strong dispel on an ally while absorbing incoming damage. Upon reaching its damage limit or expires, the shield bursts, dealing magical damage to nearby enemies. This ability can negate crowd control effects and protect key team members, making it invaluable in both laning and teamfight situations.

• Curse of Avernus (E)

This passive ability grants Abaddon and nearby allied heroes bonus movement speed and attack speed when attacking a target affected by it. It enhances the offensive prowess of the entire team, allowing for stronger engagements and pushes. Additionally, it can be useful for chasing down fleeing enemies or escaping dangerous situations.

• Borrowed Time (R)

Dota 2 Abaddon’s ultimate, Borrowed Time, is a game-changing ability that automatically triggers when Abaddon’s health falls below a certain threshold. During its activation, all damage taken by Abaddon is converted into a heal for him. This makes him incredibly difficult to kill, if not, impossible. This skill turns Abaddon into a bona fide tank during team fights, drawing enemy attention away from his more vulnerable teammates and buying time for them to reposition or escape.

Supportive Laning Phase

Abaddon’s skillset suits the support role perfectly during the laning phase. His Mist Coil enables him to keep his carry or other allies healthy, allowing them to stay in the lane longer and secure last hits. Aphotic Shield acts as a protective barrier, negating stuns, slows, or other harmful effects that may threaten his laning partner.

Furthermore, Curse of Avernus, though a passive ability, provides additional lane dominance by giving Abaddon and his allies extra attack speed. This allows for stronger harassment against the enemy laners. It can create pressure on the enemy carry, disrupting their farm and potentially securing kills.

Defensive and Offensive Utility

As the Dota 2 game goes on, Abaddon’s supportive skills become even stronger. Aphotic Shield scales well into the mid and late game. It provides a powerful dispel and absorb for high-damage skills or crowd control effects. Additionally, the shield’s explosion can deal significant damage in fights, punishing enemy heroes for overextending or sticking together.

Borrowed Time is arguably one of the best defensive skills in Dota 2. When activated, Abaddon becomes nearly invincible for a few seconds, forcing enemies to reconsider targeting him during engagements. This ability not only ensures Abaddon’s survivability but also redirects enemy focus away from his vulnerable teammates, potentially turning the tide of a teamfight in his team’s favor.

Versatility and Flexibility

One of the key strengths of Abaddon as a support hero is his versatility. His itemization can adapt to the needs of the team. For instance, he can transition into a semi-carry or offlane role if the game demands it. With the right items, such as Vladmir’s Offering or Radiance, Abaddon can become a durable frontliner with decent damage output. In fact, some now use him as a full-carry hero. Thus, further cementing his place as one of the most versatile heroes ever.

Conclusion

Abaddon’s evolution from a carry to a support hero in Dota 2 has been a testament to his flexibility. Also, usefulness in the game. His skills, supportive laning phase, defensive and offensive utility, and overall adaptability make him an exceptional pick for the support role. In the hands of skilled players, Abaddon can turn the tide of battles. He or she may provide unmatched survivability to his teammates and put significant pressure on the enemy team. As Dota 2 continues to evolve, Abaddon remains a dependable hero for support players. He is the perfect hero for those seeking to master the art of healing, protecting, and creating chaos.