Why Wraith King is the perfect hero for beginners to start their Dota 2 journey

Dota 2 features over a hundred heroes and with a steep learning curve, getting started can seem overwhelming to any aspiring player. While some heroes feature intricate abilities and complex mechanics, some are much easier to pick up than others, helping to ease the transition into the game.

Among them, Wraith King stands out for his simplicity. His straightforward design is so user-friendly that many players jokingly claim he can be played with a joystick.

Today we will explore why Wraith King is the perfect hero to help you begin your journey into Dota 2.

Wraith King is easy to play

In Dota 2, some heroes have more than the standard four abilities, adding complexity to their gameplay. However, Wraith King stands out for his simplicity.

Unlike most heroes with multiple active abilities, Wraith King has only one active spell—a straightforward stun. This streamlined design makes him significantly easier to play than other heroes with more intricate skill sets.

WK before stunning and instant killing a support.

Additionally, Wraith King is a strength hero, making him ideal for newcomers. Strength heroes are naturally tanky and boast a high health pool, which minimises the risk of getting easily killed during the laning stage.

This durability helps make the learning curve less intimidating for new players.

Even if Wraith King is killed once, he is far from death. His ultimate ability, Reincarnation, allows him to revive at the spot where he died after a short delay.

This means enemies must kill him twice quickly to eliminate him from the map. Moreover, even when he dies, thanks to his facet, Vampiric Spirit, WK can briefly delay his death.

Combined with his durability, these factors make Wraith King a formidable and forgiving hero for newcomers.

Itemisation can be adjusted or simplified

Itemisation plays a crucial role in Dota 2, as the right items can counter many strategies and situations. Players often value heroes with straightforward or flexible itemisation that can adapt to specific matchups.

Wraith King excels in this regard. His item builds are both simple and effective, yet they can be adjusted as needed to suit the demands of any game, making him a versatile and beginner-friendly choice.

Wraith King’s laning stage itemisation offers flexibility depending on the situation. He can begin with basic components for Bracers or Wraith Band, combined with a Quelling Blade for efficient last-hitting.

Wraith King with starting items.

For boots, Wraith King has two viable options: Phase Boots or Power Treads. Phase Boots are ideal when movement speed and armour are prioritised.

Power Treads are better suited for matches where additional stats offer more value. When choosing his first major item, Wraith King has three strong options: Hand of Midas, Armlet of Mordiggian, and Echo Sabre.

If durability is essential, the Armlet of Mordiggian is an excellent choice, providing health, attack speed, and bonus damage.

For games likely to progress to the late stages, Hand of Midas offers superior scaling potential despite its greedy nature, while Echo Sabre is a more suitable option if the match demands increased mana and damage output.

After securing one of these early items, Wraith King can consider Black King Bar (BKB), Blink Dagger, or Radiance, depending on the game’s needs. BKB provides spell immunity, making it invaluable in matches with high magic damage or disabling spells.

Wraith King with his full items.

Blink Dagger is ideal for teams lacking initiation. Paired with Wraith King’s stun, it allows him to engage effectively in skirmishes. As the game progresses, this combination can be used for instant burst damage, helping to secure key kills.

Purchasing Radiance significantly enhances Wraith King’s farming efficiency, allowing him to clear waves and jungle camps with ease. This item solidifies his role as a core, providing sustained damage over time.

However, due to its high cost and the time required to become effective, it carries a risk—delayed impact can leave Wraith King vulnerable during critical early or mid-game phases.

Situational Items

Situational items for WK include Aghanim's Scepter, Moonshard, Silver Edge, Assault Cuirass and Satanic.

Moon Shard is a great choice for boosting Wraith King’s attack speed and granting enhanced night vision, making it invaluable for both combat and map awareness.

Silver Edge, on the other hand, is ideal for countering tanky heroes by breaking their passives while also providing attack speed and invisibility for sneaky engagements.

Aghanim’s Scepter offers a unique utility by transforming Wraith King’s teammates into Wraith forms for a brief duration upon their deaths.

This ability can provide an unparalleled advantage in skirmishes, keeping his team in the fight even after casualties.

For late-game durability and sustainability, Satanic is an excellent option. The powerful lifesteal it gives enables Wraith King to survive extended skirmishes. Furthermore, the added health and damage further solidify his presence as a formidable carry.

Wraith King as safe lane (carry) hero

One important thing players should know before playing Wraith King is that he is a safelaner and cannot be flexed into other roles effectively. In beginner ranks, some players might be tempted to experiment with him in different positions, but this often leads to suboptimal outcomes.

Ally Wraith King farming for his items.

Wraith King excels as a safe lane hero because he requires time to farm and needs at least two core items to make a meaningful impact.

Nevertheless, as the game progresses, he will have enough damage to overcome his difficulties and take on the backlines with a single hit.

However, he can still be kited easily and brought down despite having two lives. For these reasons, it’s best to stick to the safe lane when playing Wraith King, allowing him to farm safely and maximise his late-game potential.

The hero has a 54.08% win rate in beginner-level ranks.