Ultimate Dota 2 Underlord Guide: Roles and Playstyle

Nov 18, 2024 | 0 comments

Underlord, also known as Vrogros, is a powerful and versatile hero in Dota 2, renowned for his utility, area denial, and team teleportation. As a durable offlaner and support, Underlord excels at controlling the battlefield with his disabling abilities and aura effects while providing his team with significant map mobility. This guide delves into everything you need to know about Underlord, including his lore, abilities, gameplay tips, and the best item builds to maximize his potential.

Who Is Dota 2 Underlord?

Underlord, once known as Azgalor in the original Dota, leads the Abyssal Horde. Emerging from the subterranean city of Aziyog, his fiery invasions left towns and civilizations in ruins. Armed with his immense strength and mastery over the Dark Rift, Vrogros brings his enemies to their knees through overwhelming force and calculated strategy.

Abilities of Dota 2 Underlord

Underlord’s abilities make him a formidable presence on the battlefield. By combining area control, crowd management, and utility, he becomes a pivotal hero in team-oriented gameplay. Below, we dive deeper into each ability, offering insight into their mechanics and how to use them to their fullest potential.

Firestorm

Firestorm is Underlord’s primary damage-dealing ability. It calls down six waves of emerald flames over a target area, dealing magical damage to all enemies within. Additionally, affected enemies take burn damage over time, making it effective for clearing creep waves and sustaining damage in team fights.

The burn damage is based on a percentage of the enemy’s maximum health, which makes Firestorm particularly effective against tanky heroes. When upgraded with Aghanim’s Shard, Firestorm gains additional utility: it can follow an allied unit, dealing damage in a moving area, and its waves become more frequent.

Advanced Usage Tips for Firestorm:

Maximize Damage Output: To ensure enemies remain within the area, combine Firestorm with control spells like Pit of Malice or an allied stun. Proper positioning is crucial to capitalize on the ability’s full duration.
Defend Objectives: Firestorm’s area denial makes it perfect for defending towers and high ground. Enemies will have to think twice before diving into the flames.
Efficient Farming Tool: Use Firestorm to clear large creep waves quickly. Stand near creeps as they die to gain bonus attack damage from Atrophy Aura.
Zone Enemies: Cast Firestorm preemptively in areas where you anticipate enemy movement to force them into unfavorable positions or to split their formation.

Pit of Malice

Pit of Malice is Underlord’s crowd-control ability. It creates a circular zone that roots enemies within it at periodic intervals. Enemies entering the pit are instantly rooted, unable to move or escape for the duration. Each unit can be rooted multiple times, as long as they stay in the area.

The ability is especially effective in chokepoints and narrow paths, making it a valuable tool for controlling enemy movements and setting up kills. With an Aghanim’s Scepter upgrade, Pit of Malice’s radius increases, allowing Underlord to control larger areas during team fights or sieges.

Advanced Usage Tips for Pit of Malice:

Chokepoint Control: Place Pit of Malice in tight spaces like jungle pathways or near ramps to trap enemies and restrict their movement.
Combo with Firestorm: Pit of Malice synergizes perfectly with Firestorm. Use the pit to root enemies, keeping them in place while Firestorm inflicts maximum damage.
Disable Invisibility: Rooting an invisible enemy inside the pit provides True Sight over them. Use this to counter stealth-based heroes like Riki or Clinkz.
Interrupt Enemy Channeling: The root effect cancels teleportation and other channeled abilities, making it a powerful disruption tool.

Atrophy Aura

Atrophy Aura is a passive ability that reduces the base attack damage of all enemies in a large radius around Underlord. Additionally, when enemies die under its effect, Underlord gains temporary bonus attack damage. The aura not only weakens opponents during skirmishes but also allows Underlord to hit harder as fights progress.

The attack damage bonus scales with the type of unit killed. Hero deaths grant significantly more bonus damage than creeps, making Underlord progressively more dangerous in extended team fights.

Advanced Usage Tips for Atrophy Aura:

Positioning is Key: Stay near enemy cores or creeps during fights to reduce their damage output and ensure bonus attack damage from their deaths.
Creep Wave Advantage: Use Atrophy Aura during the laning phase to dominate melee opponents by lowering their attack damage, making last-hitting more challenging for them.
Pre-Fight Preparation: Farm nearby creep waves before engaging in a fight to stack bonus damage, enhancing Underlord’s effectiveness in skirmishes.
Boost Allies: With the right talent, Atrophy Aura shares a portion of its attack damage bonus with nearby allied heroes, empowering the entire team in fights.

Fiend’s Gate

Fiend’s Gate is one of the most unique abilities in Dota 2, providing incredible map control. It creates two portals: one at Underlord’s location and another at a targeted position anywhere on the map. Allies can channel the portal to teleport between these two points, enabling swift rotations, strategic escapes, or unexpected ganks.

When upgraded with Aghanim’s Scepter, Fiend’s Gate summons a Pit of Malice around both portals, adding an extra layer of crowd control. This makes it not only a mobility tool but also a tactical weapon for disorienting the enemy team.

Advanced Usage Tips for Fiend’s Gate:

Strategic Map Rotations: Use Fiend’s Gate to bring your team to contested objectives like Roshan or tiered towers. The surprise element can turn the tide of a game.
Save Your Team: If your team is losing a fight, position Fiend’s Gate near an allied structure or safe zone to allow teammates a chance to escape.
Split Push Opportunities: Open a gate to an unguarded lane for a quick push, then retreat safely once the enemy reacts.
Ambush Potential: Place the portal behind enemy lines for a devastating pincer attack. Ensure your team is ready to capitalize on this opportunity.
Timing Is Critical: Be mindful of the portal’s visibility to enemies. It’s essential to use Fiend’s Gate when you have a clear strategic advantage, as a mistimed portal could result in disaster.

Advanced Gameplay Strategies

Early Game

Underlord’s early game focuses on staying durable and controlling the offlane. His abilities make it easier to zone enemies and secure farm for his team.

Laning Phase:
Position yourself to harass enemy heroes using Atrophy Aura’s damage reduction while farming efficiently with Firestorm. A well-timed Pit of Malice can prevent enemies from escaping or retaliating.

Mid Game

During the mid-game, Underlord shines as a teamfight controller and utility provider. His spells and tankiness make him a cornerstone in team skirmishes.

Playstyle:
Stick with your team and ensure your abilities are used to trap enemies and deal consistent damage. Use Fiend’s Gate to quickly reinforce teammates or to join ongoing fights.

Late Game

In the late game, Underlord’s utility becomes even more impactful. His ability to teleport his team across the map with Fiend’s Gate can win games by enabling backdoor pushes or saving the team from certain defeat.

Playstyle:
Focus on maintaining vision and map awareness. Use Firestorm and Pit of Malice to secure objectives, and employ Atrophy Aura to weaken key enemy heroes in crucial fights.

Best Item Builds for Underlord

Early Game Items

Tango and Clarity for sustain in the lane.
Soul Ring to address mana issues.
Boots of Speed to offset his low mobility.

Core Items

Arcane Boots: Provides much-needed mana for spellcasting.
Guardian Greaves: Enhances team sustain and grants debuff removal.
Rod of Atos: Adds utility by allowing Underlord to root enemies at range, synergizing with Pit of Malice.

Late Game Items

Shiva’s Guard: Increases durability and slows enemies, keeping them in range of your spells.
Crimson Guard: Reduces physical damage, complementing Atrophy Aura.
Pipe of Insight: Protects the team from magical damage during fights.

Situational Items

Blink Dagger: Great for initiating fights.
Lotus Orb: Reflects debuffs and provides protection to teammates.
Assault Cuirass: Boosts armor for the team while lowering enemy armor in fights.

Tips and Tricks for Playing Underlord

Synergize Abilities: Use Firestorm and Pit of Malice together to lock enemies in place and maximize damage.
Teamplay Focus: Stay close to your team to make the most of Atrophy Aura and Fiend’s Gate.
Map Awareness: Keep an eye on the minimap for opportunities to use Fiend’s Gate effectively, either to save allies or to secure objectives.
Vision Control: Place wards near high-priority areas, such as Roshan or chokepoints, to maximize the impact of your abilities.

Why Play Underlord?

Underlord is a hero that thrives in well-coordinated team play. His unique mix of area control, damage mitigation, and map mobility makes him a valuable asset in any game. Whether you’re pushing lanes, defending high ground, or executing surprise team rotations, Underlord’s presence can tilt the scales in your team’s favor.

Mastering his abilities and understanding his role will undoubtedly make you a formidable force on the battlefield.