Io

Lining
Io – very strong support hero, in case of correct use of his abilities, this little ball will be
a big headache for enemies, and for our team – a savior, which can heal, speed-up and
relocate a teammate at any moment. Despite of Io overflowed by magical energy, main
characteristic of this hero – is strength.

Friends

Enemies


 Io guide - Guardian Wisp (Io) in Dota 2 v 6.84c

 1

 2

 3

 4

 5

 6

 7
 8

 9

 10

 11

 12

 13

 14

 15
 16

 17

 18

 19

 20

 21

 22

 23
 24

 25

Tether

The benevolent touch of Io brings strength from between the planes.

This ability tethers Io to an allied creep or hero, increasing movement speed to both. That the way,
why tether is perfect for sudden attack from the fog of war, or for escape from pursuit. Also, tether
will decrease enemy's movement- and attack speed, if he touches it.

This is interesting

 Io heals or fills the mana, only in case of these parameters aren't full in himself. For
example, if Io has full HP's and he uses  Urn of Shadows on himself, so teammate under the
tether will not heal. But you can come over it, just by using  Overcharge. It will decrease your HP
and mana, and when you regenerates it, you will be heal teammate under the tether much stronger.

 Hero, which you tethered, receives 150% of all regeneration, which Io has. Because of it
you can heal, or fill the mana on the distance, using of  Healing Salve,  Clarity,  Bottle, or
items like  Soul Ring,  Mekansm,  Urn of Shadows,  Arcane Boots. So, don't rush to
use  Urn of Shadows on teammate, it will be more profitable to heal by urn yourself, while
tethering to ally.
 Wisp's HP or mana regen (for example by  Healing Salve or by  Bottle), which
received to tethered teammate, will not canceled if he will get any damage.

 An important component of Tether is possibility to break trees, which located between Io

and teammate, which he will tethered. This feature can be used to increase the vision and will not
allow the enemy to hide in the trees. Without woods, all moving of enemies around will be on a clear
view.

 An enemy will be slowed by Tether only when he touched it first time, after that nothing
happens.

 Filling the mana to teammate by  Soul Ring has very interesting mechanic: Io will lose
the bonus mana after a certain time, but his ally – will not.

 If your teammate standing on the cliff, and you – under it, so, tethered to him, you can get
on the highground. That can be very useful to escape from pursuit. It allow you to outwit your
enemies and go straight to the highground.

 You can increase the distance of Tether, if you use  Blink Dagger in time you tethered.
Mostly, it's not a game mechanic, but a bug. Here is an example 

Spirits

Io twists the particles of the universe with its unimaginable capabilities.

In fact, Spirits – is your only combat spell. Twisted it, you cause to enemies a big damage, and
helping your team to kill him. It cause a 250 of damage at the level 3, which is quite a lot in the early
game. Not a much of heroes can survive, after attack of Io with his allies.
 This is interesting

 Spirits give you a bonus vision, during the impact with an enemy's hero.

 It causes a damage to the invisible heroes. You can observe the approach of 
Riki or  Bounty Hunter through that.
 Exploding at the end of its term, spirits causes a good damage, and will be great, if in time
of explosion you will be close to your enemy. Through this you can damage an enemy twice, using
the second Spirits right after you exploded first ones. 

Overcharge

Drawing on the energy of matter from all worlds, Io begins the unravelling of time.

Like as a  Tether, Overcharge designed to amplify your ally hero and the Io himself. Using
Overcharge, you and tethered hero both get increased damage resistance and attack speed, but Io
get lose his HP and mana every second. Tethered hero don't lose anything.

This is interesting

 Is the really that ability, which will make our enemies nervous. Healing a teammate, and,
also, using the Overcharge, you can make from tiny agility
 hero a real tank, which will be impossible to kill.

 You must closely monitor yours HP and mana indicators, when using it.

 If you have a full HP, but you want to heal your teammate on 50% more, so, for example,
you can use  Urn of Shadows on yourself and press the Overcharge, through decreasing your
HP, you can heal your ally thereby. You can use  Tranquil Bootsin the same way.
 Relocate

Io is the embodiment of the mystery of the universe.

Allows us to teleport at the any place on the map by himself, or with tethered teammate. Very strong
ability for the unexpected gangs. Just imagine enemy's hero just standing on the line and quietly
farm, but you with your teammate come and instantly slaughter him, and just going back, as if
nothing happens, after 12 seconds. And by interaction with other heroes, like  Nature's
Prophet for example, which can relocate to the enemy fast to, efficiency of our gangs will be
increased by a long chalk.

This is interesting

 Enemies can see the point of your arrival, including the mini
 map to.

 If you get the stun during the term of this ability, it will be canceled and cooldown appears
on it.

 Relocate don't cancel a casting spells, for example, with  Sand King and his 
Epicenter you can relocate at any point on the map, and it will be continue to work.

 You will be stay at the point of your teleportation just a 12 seconds and will go back after
that. If you need to leave your teammate over there – just break the tether.

Start to grow (up to 15 minute)

 
  

What I should do?

Starting purchase
For the beginning, you need to make sure, so a courier and a wards was be purchased. Ideal
for you will be if it will be purchased by second support: some  Dazzle or  Abaddon. If
it's done, you will have 625 of gold, which you must save for the purchasing of  Bottle (700
of gold). Also, it will be even better, if you can take a Bounty rune on the first minute of game:
that's give us 100 of bonus gold, and we can buy a bottle immediately after that.

Option A: Second support was bought a courier and asking us for wards. You should
courteously explain to him, so with bottle you will be much more effective on the first few
minutes and you, most likely, can do a first blood through this. So, it will be great, if he will buy
a wards to.

Option B: If a teammate was unfriendly and still makes you to buy something, then purchase
the courier or the wards. In case of you do this, purchase 3x Iron Branch,  Tango, 
Ring of Protection also, and start to save gold for the bottle further. Yes, of course it breaks our
plans, but the courier and the wards is more important for our team, you should remember that.

Option C: You haven't another supports. Then you must purchase  Observer
Ward and  Animal Courier. Then you have money left for one bundle of tangoes and ring,
which will be upgraded to  Tranquil Boots further.

Now it's time to chose your partner, you go to the line together with. In pubs, basically, it's
double-lanes, so it's not worth it to try to go to triple-lane with unknown people without
communication. Upon arrival to the line, don't try to save Tether – it costs really not a lot of
mana. It will cause a moral pressure on your enemies. Provide a maximum protection to your
Carry, harass an enemies, or make a pulls.

Caution!
You should to remember, that combo with Io – the most of strongest in the game, and don't
underestimate it: it can kill almost everyone. Because of it, you must start the active actions
already at level 3: go and press an enemies, and remember that we are stronger than they are.
Through speed boost by  Tether + abilities of your Carry +  Spirits you can kill an enemies
easily. You always should think “We are strong!”. That comes with experience, already over the
few tens of games at Io you will be understand when you need to attack, and when – not,
easily. Also, you should try don't put yourself at the risk and acting on the maximum range of
tether, attacking by Spirits and healing your teammate by  Bottle.

First items
Further you purchase  Tranquil Boots – regen by this will help you to heal your allies by 
Tether. Buy the next  Magic Wand and  Soul Ring or  Urn of Shadowsafter that.
Soulring will purchased when your team have many heroes, which depended on mana, or just
spell-spammers, which can stay out of mana at the critical moment ( Tiny for example).
Urn is more universal, and with the bottle you can heal your teammates very good. So, you
should decide which item you needed the most on the course of the game.

But your most important item in the game – is  Town Portal Scroll, scroll must always be
with you, than you always will help to your teammate, when he is under attack.

Then, if your Ancients is still unharmed, well then all is good and we can go to the mid-game...

The heat of battle (from 15 till 35 minute)

What I should do?

So, we are at the middle of the game. The forces is almost equal, but it is the moment, when
you take advantage against the enemy through your great ability -  Relocate. As soon as you
see some young lonely and defenseless enemy's support, straying away from the herd, take
your Carry with you, and fly for the kill. Do it every time by Relocates cooldown.

Based on this, than notice your potential victims in time, you need a smart warding. For
example, if you put  Observer Ward in the enemy's jungle, you can kill an enemy, which
tried to farm a neutrals here, over and over.
In the mid-game replace your stick by  Mekansm. Also, talk with your team, ask what they
need, don't afraid that. Based on this, decide what you purchase next.

Your part in the fight

In teamfights you should act with maximum caution, and heal and amplify your Carry as much
as possible. It is necessary to pay attention to your location in fight – try to act at the maximum
range of Tether. You must always have at least 1 charge in your  Bottle, it can be very
useful in fight. And, of course, don't forget to use  Spirits and  Overcharge.

Multiply the neutral creep spawns for your Carry. When you see, that your teammate is under
attack, immediately relocate to him. Then most interesting part will start – you have 12 seconds
to save a life to your teammate. If he is not in danger after that, you can left him at the same
place. Take him with you otherwise. And if enemies wasted some important spells in this time,
you can go to push calmly.

If a teammate was attaсked nearby you, you can sacrifice yourself and bring him to your base
by  Relocate, and go back alone later. You can save some core-hero in exchange for
yourself.

We was in many of fights, good and not so, but if we still in the game – congratulations, we are
going to late game.

We are winning, captain? (from 35 minute)

 
 What I should do?

Passions run high, tension on the peak.

It's don't need to waste your  Relocate to gangs of any solo target now, the enemies can
outsmart you, make an ambush. Try to think thoroughly about every relocate.

So, your Carry already have  Black King Bar. That may result a little misunderstanding,
because  Tether isn't work with BKB. Also, if a hero will activate BKB, when he's tethered,
Tether will breaks. Than, if you can't Tether your Carry for some reason, you should tethered to
hero on second position, most likely it's your mid-hero, and amplify him.

An items analysis
In the late game you can purchase  Heart of Tarrasque – you can heal a teammate with
this, even if your HP is full, just using  Overcharge. Most important, will not allow to cancel
the effect of  Heart of Tarrasque. If you always under the enemy's focus, or 
Juggernaut plays against you, you should purchase Ghost Scepter - very useful thing for its
price.

A little trick
It have one more feature – when our teammates are distracting the enemies, you with your
Carry can relocate and destroy an enemy's racks, or even a Throne. You need to chose right
moment, when all the enemies will be totally involved in the fight and our creeps is nearby the
enemy base. If the conditions are satisfied – this is our chance! Also, you can make it even
easier, if you have  Necronomicon.
We are win? Great! You are really cool Io. And even if you lose, don't worry, all comes with
experience.

Full inventory view