Chen is a ranged Intelligence support hero in Dota 2. He converts neutral creeps to fight alongside him, creating a controllable army. With healing, map-wide presence, and teamfight utility, he plays best in the early to mid game. Chen requires good micro skills and map awareness to be effective. Learn how to play Chen in Dota 2 with this guide covering abilities, gameplay roles, creeps, items, and tactics for every stage of the match.

Chen’s Lore and Background

Chen was born in the Hazhadal Barrens, a harsh desert where survival depended on taming beasts. His clan raised desert locuthi, burrowing dragons that helped them gather water. When his people attacked a well-defended caravan, the retaliation wiped out their warriors and beasts. Chen, offered death or conversion by the Knights of the Fold, chose faith. He became one of their most committed members and now uses his animal control to serve a divine cause.

Chen’s Role in the Game

Chen is primarily played as a support or pusher. His power lies in converting creeps with useful spells and using them to pressure lanes, heal allies, and disable enemies. His strength peaks early in the game, so quick tempo and early fights benefit his team.

He fits several roles. As a support, he offers map-wide healing, scouting, and aura utility. As a pusher, his army of creeps can quickly remove towers. He also functions as a jungler, farming efficiently using converted creeps, and as a utility hero with item-based saves and disables.

Chen’s Abilities

Penitence

Penitence slows a target and boosts attack speed for allies attacking it. It also increases Chen’s attack range against that unit. This is good for ganks and helps burst down key enemies. It works well with creeps that have damage or stuns.

Holy Persuasion

This is Chen’s core skill. It allows him to convert neutral creeps and command them. Stronger creeps become available as the ability levels up. Converted creeps gain bonus health, movement speed, and attack damage.

With Aghanim’s Shard, Chen can convert Ancient creeps. With Aghanim’s Scepter, persuaded creeps gain Martyrdom, letting them heal or damage using Hand of God‘s values when sacrificed.

Divine Favor

Divine Favor gives a passive health regen aura. When cast on an ally, it boosts armor and healing received. It also teleports creeps to Chen or his target, which helps with ganks and split pushes. Taking damage cancels the teleport.

Hand of God

This is Chen’s ultimate. It heals all allied heroes and units, globally. The spell also applies a heal-over-time effect for 8 seconds. With the level 25 talent, it becomes a strong dispel, removing stuns and silences from allies.

Martyrdom (Persuaded Creep Ability)

Martyrdom is only available with Aghanim’s Scepter. A creep can sacrifice itself to heal an ally or damage an enemy, using Hand of God‘s healing or damage values.

Early Game: Jungle Control and Creep Management

Chen starts in the jungle. Holy Persuasion allows him to take a neutral creep to farm or harass. Good early creeps include Harpy Stormcrafter for Chain Lightning, Hill Troll Priest for healing, and Centaur Conqueror for War Stomp.

Use Smoke of Deceit early to gank with your creep. Penitence and a well-timed disable can secure kills. Scout camps early to plan creep choices. Place Observer Wards to monitor the enemy jungle and steal their creeps.

Mid Game: Push and Pressure

Mid game is where Chen shines. By now, he can control three or four creeps. Use this to push towers or gank with multiple disables. A coordinated team can quickly remove outer towers.

Useful items during this phase include Mekansm, which provides healing during pushes and fights, and Arcane Boots, which help sustain mana for Chen and allies. Drum of Endurance offers movement speed and helps your team reposition faster, while Helm of the Dominator lets you gain one extra creep and valuable auras. Combining these items with the right creeps gives Chen strong map presence.

Keep pressuring lanes and force teamfights. Always have a good mix of creeps with disables, auras, or utility.

Late Game: Limited Impact, But Still Useful

Chen falls off late game. Creeps die fast, and his army becomes less effective. However, he still provides global healing and utility. His job is to keep allies alive and maintain vision control.

At this stage, Guardian Greaves is essential, merging Mekansm and Arcane Boots into one slot-efficient item. Aghanim’s Scepter allows the use of Martyrdom, which adds an extra heal or damage tool. Holy Locket boosts healing output, and Scythe of Vyse gives a crucial disable. Force Staff offers positioning tools for allies or creeps.

Use creeps for scouting, blocking paths, and pushing empty lanes. Ancient creeps like the Black Dragon, Granite Golem, and Thunderhide offer strong auras and pushing power. Use Divine Favor to quickly teleport creeps for split-pushing or teamfights.

Chen’s Strengths

• High map control early
• Strong ganking and pushing with creeps
• Global heal with Hand of God
• Utility through healing, armor, and disables
• Can support from anywhere on the map

Chen’s Weaknesses

• Difficult to master due to micromanagement
• Weak late game
• Relies on team to use pressure
• Vulnerable to AoE damage and creep-killers
• Needs good creep choices to be effective

Tips for Playing Chen

• Start ganking at level 2 if you have Penitence and a disable
• Use creeps with ranged spells or disables for better impact
• Stack jungle camps with creeps for farming later
• Use Divine Favor to recall creeps or boost healing
• Use creeps to scout high ground or enemy jungle
• Avoid feeding creeps to heroes with AoE or nuke spells

Final Thoughts

Chen in Dota 2 rewards players who manage units well and think ahead. His early-game pressure can win matches if used correctly. He isn’t easy to play, but when mastered, he can create a strong advantage before enemies have time to respond. Keep pressure on the map, support your team, and use the right creeps for each situation.

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