Dota 2’s Roshan is a neutral creep that—despite his monstrous appearance—is one of the game’s most important objectives. His item drops are decisive and can swing entire matches. You’ll find him in one of his pits, waiting patiently for teams to challenge him for his powerful rewards. 

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Roshan in Dota 2, including his stats, respawn timer, and the best strategies and heroes to defeat him safely. 

Editor’s Note: Owen Harsono is an Immortal-ranked (SEA #1,770) Dota 2 player with years of high-level experience. His Roshan insights come directly from top-tier play, incorporating deep knowledge with practical advice that any player can apply in their own matches.

Who Is Roshan In Dota 2?

Roshan is the strongest neutral creep in Dota 2—and one of the most important objectives in the game. He’s located in one of two pits near the river: either on the top or bottom side, depending on the time of day. 

When killed, Roshan drops powerful items that can change the course of the game. His first death grants the Aegis of the Immortal, but he also drops additional goodies like Cheese, Roshan’s Banner, and Refresher Shard after every subsequent death.

Because these items are so valuable, game-deciding fights almost always break out around the Roshan pit. That’s why understanding when and how to secure Roshan is such a crucial part of your ranked climb—from Herald all the way to the Immortal rank in Dota 2.

What Are Roshan’s Abilities And Mechanics?

As the strongest neutral creep in Dota 2, it’s no surprise that Roshan is equipped with abilities that make him harder for teams to take down. Here is a list of his abilities and what they do:

Note: Roshan has an additional ability, On The Move, which forces him to relocate between his two pits. He moves across the river every day and night cycle, making his movements predictable (you’ll actually see him charging down the river—just don’t get in his way). 

Dota 2 Roshan’s Stats And Scaling Over Time

Roshan spawns the moment the match begins, but he isn’t static. His stats scale every minute, ensuring he remains a meaningful threat throughout the game. As time goes on, taking him down becomes noticeably more challenging, raising the stakes for every contest around the pit.

In addition to his fixed stats, his other attributes also scale with every passing minute. You can refer to the table below to see how Dota 2 Roshan’s stats increase over time.

Dota 2 Roshan Respawn Timer Explained

After Roshan is killed, he will respawn sometime between 8 and 11 minutes later. The exact timing is random—it could be an early spawn or a late one. Because of this uncertainty, teams need to stay alert and ready for when he appears.

To track his next spawn, simply hover your cursor over the Roshan icon next to the minimap. It shows the estimated time window, allowing you to plan ahead. If you want a clearer picture of how this fits into the broader match, you can brush up on other Dota 2 event timers in our dedicated guide.

All Roshan Rewards And Item Drops In Dota 2

To get a clear picture of why this neutral creep is so often prioritized, it’s important to understand all the Dota 2 Roshan drops. Here are all the rewards you can get from killing him:

• Aegis of the Immortal: Grants an extra life for its wielder. It has a 5-minute expiration timer and is ideal for taking fights or objectives. 
• Cheese: A consumable item that immediately restores 2500 health and 1500 mana. 
• Roshan’s Banner: A banner that can be placed on the ground, granting nearby creeps invulnerability. It’s the perfect item for sieging towers. 
• Refresher Shard: A consumable item that resets all item and ability cooldowns. 

Though these items may appear appetizing, Roshan doesn’t drop all of them at once. Here is when each of his items drops:

Best Heroes to Take Roshan Early In Dota 2

It’s safe to say that taking down Roshan is no easy feat. His health and damage scale the longer the game goes on. Plus, the enemy team is always a threat whenever you’re inside the pit. The faster and cleaner your team can defeat him, the better your chances of turning that Aegis into a game-winning advantage. 

The best way to take down Roshan effectively is to have the following attributes:

• Sustain (e.g., lifesteal or healing)
• Armor reduction (because Roshan has incredibly high armor)
• Stacking abilities (to increase damage or attack speed with each hit)

That said, some of the best Dota 2 heroes for killing Roshan include:

Ursa

Ursa’s Fury Swipes allow him to deal more damage after every attack. Stacking hits on Roshan makes it extremely easy to get the job done. In fact, in older Dota 2 patches, Ursa could even solo Roshan at Level 1.

Troll Warlord

Troll Warlord’s Fervor hits stack Troll’s attack speed, allowing him to literally tear through Roshan. Troll’s ultimate can also be used to provide lifesteal, ensuring you don’t die when his HP drops too low—or if enemy heroes get the jump on him.

Huskar

Huskar’s Burning Spears stack and deal crippling damage over time. Combined with an Armlet of Mordiggian, Huskar is one of the best heroes that can solo Roshan in Dota 2. However, it does require confident Armlet toggling to pull off safely!

Templar Assassin

Templar Assassin’s multiple Meld strikes can be used on Roshan to reduce his armor. Combined with Desolator, Templar Assassin can deal heavy physical damage. The only catch is that she usually needs levels or key items before attempting Roshan, unlike other heroes mentioned.

Though these heroes are among the best at taking down Roshan, you don’t necessarily need them in every game. Purchasing team items that provide lifesteal, armor reduction, or attack speed can significantly help teams take Roshan down cleanly.

Best Strategy To Contest Roshan In Dota 2

Securing Roshan puts your team in the driver’s seat for the next five minutes of the game. Here are some things to keep in mind to take him as smoothly as possible:

Vision Control

Before starting Roshan, it’s important to control vision around the area. Place wards in strategic locations and use Sentries to block enemy vision. Remember, vision inside the pit is extremely limited, and the last thing you want is to get surprise-jumped while everybody is clumped inside. 

Positioning

Not everyone needs to be inside the pit. The cores and damage dealers can stay inside, while supports and counter-initiators should remain outside, ready to provide immediate backup.

Best Time To Do Roshan

Ideal times to take Roshan include:

• When your core heroes have finished key items, and you’re ready to pressure the map.
• When you want to force a team fight, you don’t always have to finish Roshan. Sometimes starting him baits the enemy into a fight they aren’t willing to take. 
• When you have just wiped the enemy team, meaning nobody will be there to contest. 

Attempting A Steal

Stealing the Aegis can be tricky. You often won’t know exactly how low Roshan is because you can’t see inside the pit, so timing your entry is key. Before jumping in, throw spells that give vision (like Clockwerk’s Rocket Flare) to gauge Roshan’s health and find the perfect window to go all in.

FAQs

What is Roshan in Dota 2, and why is he important?

Roshan is the most powerful neutral creep in Dota 2. He is important because he drops key items like the Aegis of the Immortal when killed, which can significantly change the trajectory of a game.

How does Roshan’s respawn timer work?

Roshan spawns within an 8 to 11 minute window. Within this time frame, his respawn is completely random. 

Which heroes can solo Roshan the fastest?

Ursa and Huskar can defeat Roshan the quickest, thanks to their stacking damage and ability to sustain through the fight.

What items does Roshan drop after each kill?

Roshan drops the Aegis of the Immortal on his first death, with items like Cheese, Roshan’s Banner, and Refresher Shard dropping after each subsequent kill. 

Does Roshan get stronger over time in Dota 2?

Yes. Roshan’s stats scale every minute. His damage, health, and armor increase as the game progresses. 

References

1. what if we? – Overview – Dota 2 Stats (DOTABUFF)