Io is one of Dota 2’s most unique support heroes, capable of turning fights around through powerful sustain, mobility, and constant team support. In the right hands, Io can connect with an ally, amplify their strength, and create opportunities that few other heroes can match.
In this Io guide, you’ll learn the best items, abilities, skill build, combos, gameplay strategies, and counters. Whether you’re playing Io as a support or looking to master his unique playstyle, this guide will help you understand how to build and play Io effectively in every stage of the game.
Attack Type: Ranged
Strength: 17 + 2.7 | Agility: 14 + 1.6 | Intelligence: 23 + 1.7
Io Items build
Meta build:
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- Helm of the Dominator
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- Black King Bar
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- Monkey King Bar
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- Aghanim’s Scepter
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- Heart of Tarrasque
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- Satanic
Pro Build:
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- Helm Of The Overlord
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- Black King Bar
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- Aghanim’s Scepter
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- Heart of Tarrasque
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- Kaya and Sange
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- Assault Cuirass
Io’s Skill Order
Skill Order: Spirits -> Overcharge -> Tether -> Relocate.
Combo Io
Heroes combo: Io + Gyrocopter
How To Counter Io ?
Pros
- Low mana costs.
- Not item dependent.
- Global mobility.
- Great gank potential
Cons
- Squishy.
- Hard to learn.
- Vulnerable without a partner.
Bad against:
- Hero
Good against:
- Hero
How To Play Io ?
Best items for Io
Start items for Io in dota 2 are: Tango, Faerie Fire, Gauntlets of Strength, Quelling Blade.
Meta items for Io in dota 2 are: Helm of the Dominator, Black King Bar, Monkey King Bar, Aghanim’s Scepter, Heart of Tarrasque, Satanic.
Pro items for Io in dota 2 are: Helm Of The Overlord, Black King Bar, Aghanim’s Scepter, Heart of Tarrasque, Kaya and Sange, Assault Cuirass.
Tips and Tricks
Io should typically give its life to protect a teammate.
Io functions best when used with a communication-sharing partner.
Io is very helpless and unable to accomplish much by herself. Its only usefulness is in supporting colleagues.
Io should protect himself by following behind colleagues. Io can later purchase defenses like the Glimmer Cape to survive.
Alternately, combining forces with allied heroes who possess healing skills to enhance Tether’s benefits.
In order to maximize your Tether gains in the early game, instruct your lane teammates to spend healing items and abilities on Io.
Io doesn’t need to turn in order to attack, move, or target objects or powers.
Io’s Ability
TETHER
Ties Io to a friendlier unit, giving them both faster movement. The attached unit obtains a percentage of what Io heals in health or mana. When the allied unit goes too far away or Io breaks the tether, the connection is lost. The Tether temporarily slows foes that touch it.
SPIRITS
Call up five particle spirits that spin around Io. When a particle strikes an opponent hero, it bursts, injuring all nearby enemy troops. Touching a particle ghost causes small harm to creeps but does not cause them to explode. Any Spirits left after its duration detonate.
OVERCHARGE
Io increases her attack speed, spell power, and HP regeneration based on her maximum health. If Io is tethered to an ally, the perks go to that unit as well.
SPIRITS MOVEMENT
Raises the ghosts’ proximity to you. able can be turned on and off.
SPIRITS OUT
Sends the ghosts away from you further. able can be turned on and off.
RELOCATE
Io and a linked ally are teleported to any area. Io and the connected ally will return to their starting point after the enchantment wears off. To teleport to the base fountain of your team, double-click.
Read more: Dota 2 Builds