Summoner

A summoner is a hero archetype whose game plan relies heavily on creating or controlling additional units such as summoned creatures or converted creeps.

What is Summoner in Dota 2?

Summoner is an informal archetype for heroes that gain significant value from extra controllable units. These units can add damage, vision, auras, disables, scouting or building pressure, and they often allow the hero to influence several locations or targets at once. The strength of a summoner therefore depends partly on the player’s ability to control more than one unit efficiently.

Not every hero with a temporary summon is usually called a summoner. The label is most useful when managing extra units is a recurring and important part of the hero’s normal gameplay rather than an occasional secondary effect.

How Summoner is used in a match

A summoner may send one unit ahead to scout while keeping the hero at a safe distance, split units to avoid area damage or group them to pressure a tower. Neutral creeps or summons with useful abilities can also be controlled separately during a fight.

This archetype often creates strong map pressure because summoned units can push lanes without exposing the main hero. At the same time, poor micro can feed extra gold, waste cooldowns or leave important units out of position.

Do not confuse Summoner with...

Do not confuse a gameplay summon with a cosmetic pet. A summon or controlled creep can affect the match, while cosmetic companions do not provide combat value.