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DOTA 2 / HERO HISTORY

Spectre changes

Balance notes across the versions listed by Valve. An unchanged patch is a small victory for your muscle memory.

Change record

48 patches with recorded changes · 118 of 118 listed patches readable.

Coverage: Feb 1, 2018 to Sep 15, 2026. This feed does not include every patch in Dota’s lifetime.

Inspect coverage by patch

Sep 15, 2026

Spectre in 7.41f

  • DesolateDamage decreased from 23 + 2 per level to 23.5 + 1.5 per level
  • Desolate · ContextFrom 25-83 to 25-68.5

Jul 30, 2026

Spectre in 7.41e

  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent All Spectre Illusion Damage decreased from +15% to +12%
  • HauntIllusion Damage rescaled from 30/50/70% to 35/50/65%

Jun 4, 2026

Spectre in 7.41d

  • Base Strength increased from 21 to 22
  • Agility gain decreased from 2.4 to 2.3
  • Spectral DaggerMovement Speed Change rescaled from 10/14/18/22% to 14/16/18/20%
  • Shadow StepIllusion Damage Taken rescaled from 200/185/170/155% to 175%
  • Shadow StepCast Range rescaled from 825/950/1075/1200 to 1000
  • HauntMana Cost increased from 125/150/175 to 125/175/225
  • HauntAghanim's Scepter fear duration increased from 1.5s to 2s

May 6, 2026

Spectre in 7.41c

  • Base Agility increased from 26 to 29
  • Damage at level 1 increased from 49-53 to 52-56
  • DispersionDamage rescaled from 8/12/16/20% to 9/12/15/18%

Apr 7, 2026

Spectre in 7.41b

  • Strength gain decreased from 2.4 to 2.3
  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent Spectral Dagger Cooldown Reduction decreased from 4s to 3s
  • DispersionMax Radius decreased from 800 to 700

Mar 27, 2026

Spectre in 7.41a

  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent Health decreased from +325 to +300
  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent Dispersion decreased from +5% to +4%
  • Spectral DaggerDamage rescaled from 70/120/170/220 to 80/120/160/200

Mar 24, 2026

Spectre in 7.41

  • Base Movement Speed increased from 290 to 295
  • Base Health Regen increased from 1.0 to 1.5
  • DesolateDamage changed from 25 + 2 per level up to 23 + 2 per level
  • Desolate · ContextEffective values are not changed
  • Shadow StepCooldown decreased from 30/26/22/18s to 24/21/18/15s
  • Shadow StepCast Range increased from 750/900/1050/1200 to 825/950/1075/1200
  • Shadow StepIllusion Damage increased from 32/38/44/50% to 35/40/45/50%
  • Shadow StepIllusion Damage Taken decreased from 200% to 200/185/170/155%
  • HauntCooldown decreased from 180/160/140s to 160/150/140s
  • HauntDuration rescaled from 5/6/7s to 6s
  • HauntIllusion Damage decreased from 30/55/80% to 30/50/70%

Jan 21, 2026

Spectre in 7.40c

  • Strength gain decreased from 2.5 to 2.4
  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent Health decreased from +350 to +325
  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent All Spectre Illusion Damage decreased from +20% to +15%

Dec 23, 2025

Spectre in 7.40b

  • Base Agility increased from 25 to 26
  • Damage at level 1 increased from 48–52 to 49–53
  • Agility gain increased from 2.1 to 2.4
  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent Desolate Damage increased from +10 to +12
  • Shadow StepCooldown decreased from 32/28/24/20s to 30/26/22/18s
  • Shadow StepCast Range increased from 700/850/1000/1150 to 750/900/1050/1200
  • Shadow StepIllusion Damage increased from 20/30/40/50% to 32/38/44/50%
  • DispersionDamage Reflected increased from 7/11/15/19% to 8/12/16/20%

Dec 15, 2025

Spectre in 7.40

  • Now an Agility Hero
  • Base Damage increased by 2
  • Base attributes unchanged
  • Damage at level 1 unchanged (48–52)
  • Attribute gains unchanged
  • Damage gain per level decreased from +2.8 to +2.1
  • Damage at level 30 decreased by 27 (from 149–153 to 122–126)
  • Base Attack Time worsened from 1.7s to 1.8s
  • Base Attack Speed increased from 90 to 110
  • Removed Forsaken and Twist the Knife facets
  • Removed Spectral innate ability
  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent +5 Health Regen replaced with +10 Desolate Damage
  • TalentsLevel 15 Talent +15 Desolate Damage replaced with +1s Shadow Step Duration
  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent Spectral Dagger Slow/Bonus increased from +12% to +15%
  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent All Spectre Illusion Damage decreased from +25% to +20%
  • DesolateNow an innate ability. Passive, improves with Spectre's level
  • DesolateDamage rescaled from 25/40/55/70 to 25 + 2 every time Spectre levels up
  • Spectral DaggerMana Cost decreased from 110/120/130/140 to 100/110/120/130
  • Spectral DaggerSpectre's illusions now also benefit from the Shadow Path
  • Shadow StepReworked into a basic ability
  • Shadow StepThrusts an uncontrollable illusion, which follows the target and attacks it for 20/30/40/50% of Spectre's damage. The illusion exists for 3.5/4/4.5/5 seconds, and takes 200% damage. Cast Range: 700/850/1000/1150. Mana Cost: 60/65/70/75. Cooldown: 32/28/24/20s
  • Shadow StepOn cast the illusion moves at the speed of 900, then it has 135% of Spectre's movement speed after reaching the target
  • Shadow StepThe Reality sub-ability may be used to teleport to the illusion, destroying it
  • DispersionMin Radius increased from 300 to 350
  • RealityCan no longer be cast to no effect
  • RealityNow has a distinct sound between casts on Shadow Step and Haunt illusions
  • RealityMana Cost decreased from 40 to 25
  • RealityNow has a 0.2s travel time to reach the target. The illusion and Spectre are invulnerable during this time
  • RealityNow disabled by roots
  • RealityNow always destroys the target illusion
  • HauntNow Spectre's ultimate ability
  • HauntMana Cost rescaled from 150 to 125/150/175
  • HauntDuration rescaled from 6s to 5/6/7s
  • HauntCooldown rescaled from 160s to 180/160/140s
  • HauntHaunt Outgoing Damage decreased from 80% to 30/55/80%
  • HauntEach illusion now spawns from the direction closest to Spectre
  • HauntNow upgraded with Aghanim's Scepter
  • HauntReduces Haunt cooldown by 20s. When Reality is used on Haunt illusion for the first time per Haunt cast, enemies are Feared away from Spectre for 1.5s with 50% reduced move speed in a 400 AoE around the targeted illusion

May 22, 2025

Spectre in 7.39

  • DesolateRadius decreased from 400 to 350
  • Shadow StepDuration rescaled from 5/6/7s to 6s
  • HauntDuration decreased from 7s to 6s

Mar 4, 2025

Spectre in 7.38b

  • Forsaken · DesolateDamage Multiplier increased from 1.75x to 2x

Feb 18, 2025

Spectre in 7.38

  • Forsaken · DesolateDesolate deals 1.75x damage, but Spectre's illusions can no longer trigger Desolate
  • Twist the Knife · RealityNo longer decreases cooldown
  • Is now a Universal Hero
  • Base Damage decreased by 2
  • Damage at level 1 unchanged (48-52)
  • Damage gain per level increased from +2.1 to +2.8
  • Damage at level 30 increased by 27 (from 122-126 to 149-153)
  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent +30% Haunt Illusion Damage replaced with +25% All Illusion Damage
  • DispersionDamage Reflected decreased from 11/14/17/20 to 7/11/15/19%
  • Shadow StepCooldown increased from 60/50/40s to 60/55/50s
  • RealityCooldown decreased from 3s to 1.5s

Aug 28, 2024

Spectre in 7.37c

  • Spectral DaggerMana Cost decreased from 120/130/140/150 to 110/120/130/140

Jul 31, 2024

Spectre in 7.37

  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent Health Regen increased from +4 to +5
  • Spectral DaggerMana Cost decreased from 130/140/150/160 to 120/130/140/150
  • DispersionDamage Reflected increased from 8/12/16/20% to 11/14/17/20%

Jun 24, 2024

Spectre in 7.36c

  • TalentsLevel 15 Talent Desolate Damage increased from +12 to +15
  • DesolateBonus Damage increased from 20/35/50/65 to 25/40/55/70

Jun 6, 2024

Spectre in 7.36b

  • Forsaken · DesolateDamage when non-hero units are nearby increased from 50% to 60%
  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent -100 Desolate Ally Radius replaced with +4 Health Regen

May 26, 2024

Spectre in 7.36a

  • Forsaken · DesolateDamage when non-hero units are nearby increased from 40% to 50%

May 22, 2024

Spectre in 7.36

  • Innate AbilityNew Innate ability. Passive, can't be leveled up
  • Innate AbilitySpectre and her illusions permanently have phased movement
  • Forsaken · DesolateDeals 40% of damage if the target has only non-hero allies within range
  • Forsaken · DesolateAbility's damage is applied to Spectral Dagger
  • Twist the Knife · RealityCasts Spectral Dagger of the current level on the Haunt's target and decreases Reality cooldown to 1s. Also makes illusions persist even after their target dies
  • Twist the Knife · Reality · ContextIllusions don't switch to new targets
  • Spectral DaggerNo longer applies Desolate damage by default
  • DesolateDamage rescaled from 21/34/47/60 to 20/35/50/65
  • DispersionAghanim's Shard changed from increasing Reflected Damage by 100% to increasing Absorbed and Reflected by 50%
  • RealityNo longer casts Spectral Dagger by default

Dec 14, 2023

Spectre in 7.35

  • Base Health Regen decreased from 2.0 to 1.0
  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent +5 All Attributes replaced with -100 Desolate Ally Radius
  • DispersionMinimum Radius decreased from 400 to 300
  • RealityNow only triggers one cast of Spectral Dagger per illusion
  • HauntCooldown decreased from 180s to 160s

Oct 4, 2023

Spectre in 7.34d

  • Shadow StepCooldown decreased from 80/60/40s to 60/50/40s

Aug 8, 2023

Spectre in 7.34

  • Base Strength decreased from 23 to 21
  • Shadow StepNow an Ultimate ability. Haunt Damage: 40/60/80%; Haunt Damage Taken: 200%; Duration: 5/6/7s; Cooldown: 80/60/40s; Mana Cost: 150
  • Shadow StepNo longer casts a Spectral Dagger on its target
  • RealityNow has a 3s cooldown
  • RealityNow casts a Spectral Dagger on the target
  • HauntNow granted by Aghanim's Scepter. Haunt Damage: 80%; Haunt Damage Taken: 200%; Duration: 7s; Cooldown: 180s; Mana Cost: 150

Apr 20, 2023

Spectre in 7.33

  • TalentsLevel 15 Talent Spectral Dagger Damage decreased from +100 to +80
  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent Haunt Illusion Damage decreased from +32% to +30%
  • DesolateNo longer ignores evasion, the attack must now land for Desolate to deal damage
  • DispersionAghanim's Shard Upgrade reworked.
  • DispersionAllows to activate Dispersion to increase damage reflected by it by 100% for 5s. Only increases the outgoing damage, doesn't mitigate the incoming damage. Mana Cost: 50. Cooldown: 25s

Aug 23, 2022

Spectre in 7.32

  • Intelligence gain decreased from 1.9 to 1.7
  • Spectral DaggerDamage decreased from 75/130/185/240 to 70/120/170/220
  • Spectral DaggerApplies an instance Desolate to targets with no units within 400 radius of them.

May 2, 2022

Spectre in 7.31c

  • Base HP regen increased from 1.5 to 2.0
  • Base Agility increased from 23 to 25
  • DispersionRadius thresholds increased from 300-700 to 400-800

Feb 23, 2022

Spectre in 7.31

  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent +400 health reduced to +350
  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent +14% Spectral Dagger slow/bonus reduced to +12%
  • DesolateSearch radius reduced from 425 to 400
  • DesolateDamage increased from 18/32/46/60 to 21/34/47/60
  • HauntMana cost reduced from 150/200/250 to 150/175/200

Oct 28, 2021

Spectre in 7.30e

  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent reduced from -5s Spectral Dagger Cooldown to -4s
  • Shadow StepScepter cooldown increased from 30 to 40

Aug 17, 2021

Spectre in 7.30

  • Reworked Shard: Causes dispersion to fire a spectral dagger every 300 damage absorbed in the direction of the last source of damage. Can fire a maximum of one dagger every 7 seconds and only triggers off player based damage within 700 range
  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent +5 HP Regen replaced with -5s Spectral Dagger Cooldown
  • TalentsLevel 15 Talent -8s Spectral Dagger Cooldown replaced with +100 Spectral Dagger Damage
  • Spectral DaggerDebuff is now dispellable
  • Shadow StepFixed being able to target creep hero units

Apr 9, 2021

Spectre in 7.29

  • Base armor increased by 1
  • DesolateDamage increased from 15/30/45/60 to 18/32/46/60
  • Spectral DaggerCast range reduced from 2000 to 1800
  • Shadow StepCooldown reduced from 35 to 30
  • DispersionShard can now target any enemy hero that damaged you in the last 8 seconds. Can ground target to find the closest valid target.
  • DispersionShard mana cost reduced from 150 to 50.

Aug 26, 2020

Spectre in 7.27d

  • Spectral DaggerDamage reduced from 90/140/190/240 to 75/130/185/240
  • DesolateDamage reduced from 24/36/48/60 to 15/30/45/60
  • HauntCooldown increased from 180/150/120 to 180/160/140

Jul 17, 2020

Spectre in 7.27c

  • DesolateDamage reduced from 30/40/50/60 to 24/36/48/60

Jul 15, 2020

Spectre in 7.27b

  • Base health regen reduced from 2.5 to 1.5
  • Shadow StepCan now target Spell Immune units
  • HauntIllusions no longer have a fixed 400 movement speed
  • HauntIllusions no longer have a 1 second delay on acting
  • DesolateDamage increased from 20/30/40/50 to 30/40/50/60
  • DesolateSearch area reduced from 500 to 425
  • DesolateNo longer reduces vision

May 2, 2020

Spectre in 7.26c

  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent increased from +4 All Stats to +5

Mar 17, 2020

Spectre in 7.25

  • Base health regen increased from 1.5 to 2.5
  • Shadow StepScepter ability cooldown reduced from 70 to 35

May 24, 2019

Spectre in 7.22

  • Added Scepter upgrade. Grants you a new ability, Shadow Step. Allows you to perform a single target unit Haunt. Cooldown 70. Manacost 180.

Feb 16, 2019

Spectre in 7.21b

  • Base strength increased by 2
  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent increased from +4 All Stats to +5

Jan 29, 2019

Spectre in 7.21

  • Strength gain increased from 2.3 to 2.5
  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent reduced from +20% Spectral Dagger to +18%
  • Spectral DaggerMovement speed increased from 8/12/16/20% to 10/14/18/22%

Dec 9, 2018

Spectre in 7.20e

  • HauntIllusion damage increased from 40/55/70% to 40/60/80%

Sep 14, 2018

Spectre in 7.19c

  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent changed from +15 Desolate Damage to +4 All Stats
  • TalentsLevel 15 Talent changed from +8 All Stats to +15 Desolate Damage
  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent reduced from +8% Dispersion to +6%
  • DesolateRadius increased from 375 to 500
  • DispersionRescaled from 10/14/18/22% to 7/12/17/22%
  • HauntManacost increased from 150 to 150/200/250

Sep 1, 2018

Spectre in 7.19b

  • Spectral DaggerLinger duration reduced from 2 to 1
  • DispersionMax reflection range reduced from 1000 to 700
  • DesolateSingle hero range check increased from 325 to 375

Jun 10, 2018

Spectre in 7.17

  • TalentsLevel 15 Talent increased from -8s Spectral Dagger Cooldown to -10s

Apr 24, 2018

Spectre in 7.14

  • Spectral DaggerManacost rescaled from 130/140/150/160 to 100/120/140/160
  • HauntIllusion damage increased from 40 to 40/50/60%

Mar 29, 2018

Spectre in 7.12

  • Spectral DaggerDamage increased from 50/100/150/200 to 90/140/190/240

Mar 1, 2018

Spectre in 7.10

  • Talent: Level 25 Talent increased from +20% Haunt Illusion Damage to +40%

Source: Valve’s public Dota 2 data feeds. Notes belong to Valve. Dates use Bellevue time (Pacific).