Templar Assassin Deep Dive: Abilities and Gameplay in Dota 2

Templar Assassin, also known as Lanaya, is a versatile hero in Dota 2. With the ability to deal massive damage and elude her enemies, she dominates as a Carry and Escape hero. Her skillset revolves around precision, stealth, and timing, making her highly rewarding for skilled players.

Understanding Templar Assassin's Abilities

Refraction

Refraction grants Lanaya both offensive and defensive advantages. She gains a shield that absorbs incoming damage and enhances her attacks. Each instance of damage blocked or bonus damage applied consumes a charge. The ability lasts for 17 seconds, making it essential for both engaging and escaping.

For example, during the laning phase, activating Refraction allows you to secure last hits while avoiding harassment. It also shines in team fights, letting Lanaya absorb nukes and retaliate with enhanced attacks. However, damage over time abilities like Venomancer’s Poison Sting can quickly drain the charges, leaving her vulnerable.

Meld

Meld lets Templar Assassin become invisible if she remains stationary. Breaking invisibility with an attack applies bonus damage and reduces the target's armor for 12 seconds. This ability works wonders for ambushing enemies.

For instance, a well-timed Meld strike can decimate squishy heroes in the early game. Combine Meld with Blink Dagger to position yourself close to key targets, maximizing the impact of your attacks. However, the invisibility breaks if Lanaya moves or is forced out of position by stuns or silences.

Psi Blades

Psi Blades enhance Lanaya’s attack range and allow her strikes to spill over to enemies behind her target. The spill damage maintains full effectiveness initially but diminishes with each subsequent hit.

This passive ability helps Lanaya dominate the mid lane. By positioning carefully, you can harass opponents while securing last hits. During fights, Psi Blades’ spill effect can punish clustered enemies. For example, attacking a frontline target can deal significant damage to supports hiding behind them.

Psionic Trap

Psionic Trap is a versatile ability that places invisible traps on the map. When triggered, traps slow enemies within a radius, with the slow effect increasing over 3.5 seconds.

These traps are excellent for controlling the battlefield. Place them near Roshan, rune spots, or jungle paths to monitor enemy movements. For example, if you anticipate an enemy retreat, triggering a trap can slow them long enough for you to secure a kill. Upgrading Psionic Trap with Aghanim’s Shard adds a silence effect, further enhancing its utility.

Psionic Trap allows Templar Assassin to control the battlefield. (Credit: Valve)

Psionic Projection

Psionic Projection, unlocked with Aghanim’s Scepter, allows Lanaya to teleport to any Psionic Trap on the map. The ability detonates the trap upon arrival, dealing damage and slowing enemies.

This tool amplifies her map presence significantly. For instance, during split-push scenarios, Templar Assassin can place traps across the map and teleport to them when enemies engage elsewhere. It also serves as an excellent escape mechanism if positioned wisely.

Building Templar Assassin for Success

Early Game

Starting items should focus on sustaining Templar Assassin in the mid lane. Items like Tango and Healing Salve help with regeneration, while Clarity ensures you have enough mana for Refraction.

As the game progresses, prioritize a Bottle for rune control and Blight Stone to boost your harassing capabilities. Boots of Speed provide essential mobility for dodging skill shots and chasing down opponents.

Mid Game

The mid game is where Templar Assassin shines. Power Treads offer flexibility by switching attributes to suit the situation. Blink Dagger is a must-have, allowing you to initiate fights or escape danger. Pairing Blink Dagger with Meld ensures devastating ambushes.

Desolator is another core item, amplifying Lanaya’s physical damage and synergizing with Meld’s armor reduction. Together, they make her attacks hit like a truck, even against tanky heroes.

Late Game

In the late game, survivability becomes crucial. Black King Bar protects against disables, letting Lanaya dish out damage without interruptions. Items like Assault Cuirass further enhance her attack speed and armor reduction, making her a menace in team fights.

Situational items like Butterfly provide evasion and attack speed, while Daedalus increases her critical strike potential. Against high-health enemies, Eye of Skadi offers slow effects and additional attributes.

Black King Bar can be crucial for staying alive as Templar Assassin in the late game. (Credit: Valve)

Playing Templar Assassin Effectively

Laning Phase

Templar Assassin excels in the mid lane, where her abilities let her control the creep equilibrium. Use Refraction to secure last hits and harass opponents. Psi Blades’ spill damage can force enemy midlaners to retreat if positioned correctly.

For example, attack a ranged creep at an angle where the spill will also damage the enemy hero. This tactic allows you to farm efficiently while keeping your opponent under pressure.

Mid Game Dominance

Once you acquire Blink Dagger and Desolator, begin hunting enemy heroes. Use Psionic Traps to scout jungle areas and secure vision around objectives like Roshan.

For instance, set traps near enemy farming spots and teleport to them with Psionic Projection for surprise attacks. Lanaya’s burst damage can quickly eliminate supports and squishy cores, giving your team a numerical advantage.

Late Game Strategy

In the late game, Templar Assassin transitions into a primary damage dealer. Positioning is key to maximizing Psi Blades’ spill effect. During team fights, focus on attacking frontline heroes while ensuring your Psi Blades hit enemy backlines.

Use Psionic Traps to control high-traffic areas and kite enemies. For example, when defending high ground, place traps in choke points to slow enemy advances. If you have Aghanim’s Scepter, teleport between traps to create confusion and secure critical objectives.

Challenges and Counters

Templar Assassin struggles against heroes with damage over time or abilities that pierce Refraction. Venomancer and Shadow Demon can strip her defensive charges quickly, leaving her exposed. Heroes with Break abilities like Viper also neutralize her Psi Blades.

In these matchups, prioritize defensive items like Black King Bar and Eye of Skadi. Adjust your playstyle to focus on farming and avoiding unnecessary fights until you can outscale your counters.

Conclusion

Templar Assassin is a hero that rewards precision and timing. Master her abilities, manage her item progression, and position wisely to dominate your matches. By understanding her strengths and weaknesses, you can unlock Lanaya’s full potential and carry your team to victory.

Featured image credit: Valve