Dota 2 Roshan Guide

Roshan isn’t just another creep in Dota 2. This giant creature is the game’s symbol and a vital part of the gameplay.

This beast spends all his time in one of two pits along the river, patiently waiting for players eager to claim the Aegis of the Immortal. Curious to learn more about this iconic boss? Our Dota 2 Roshan guide has everything you need!

Who is Roshan in Dota 2?

Roshan is one of the unplayable characters in Dota 2 found on the map. However, unlike standard creeps, this beast has a backstory. According to the lore, Roshan once killed a Shopkeeper to steal the Aegis of the Immortal. As punishment for his crime, Roshan was cursed to have his precious treasure stolen again and again. It is also known that he’s fond of Roshefort cheese — a delicacy found in the Underhollow mazes located beneath his lair.

The legacy of Dota Roshan began in 2004 when our favorite MOBA was still a custom map for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. A game designer named Guinsoo decided to add a boss character named after his favorite… bowling ball (yeah, that’s a genuinely creative approach!). Unlike modern Roshan, his first version was much weaker with completely different abilities. Nonetheless, he still rewarded players who were able to defeat him with the coveted Aegis of Immortal for their efforts.

In Dota 2, Roshan kept his classic form until patch 5.54, when this boss finally received the Spell Block ability, increased damage, Critical Strike, and a bigger health pool. Additionally, after the 6.38 update, Roshan started dropping Cheese. Further improvements also introduced new rewards that the players could get after defeating this monster.

Roshan’s pit location — and even the number of pits — has shifted after major updates. So, if you take a long break in Dota 2, don’t be surprised to find out that this giant is now living on the river instead of the forest, or vice versa.

Roshan’s Abilities and Behavior

Roshan is the strongest neutral creep on the map thanks to several abilities and a unique behavioral pattern. Besides, he also grows stronger the longer the match goes on, so don’t expect that after reaching a certain level, killing this beast will be an easy quest.

When it comes to identifying Roshan location in Dota 2, you won’t have to look long for him. The beast spends his days in the bottom pit (the Radiant side) and nights in the upper pit (the Dire side):

By default, Roshan starts the game in the bottom pit. After 15:00, you can notice this boss begins walking through the river on the Mid Lane from one lair to another when the daytime changes. It’s impossible to damage him during his walk, but he can stun and hurt other creatures and heroes.

When he resides in any pit, Roshan becomes a dangerous enemy due to his numerous abilities:

1. Slam: Every minute, he slams the ground, slowing and damaging the nearby heroes and creeps.
2. Bash: Roshan has a random chance to stun an attacked unit, dealing increased damage.
3. Spell Block: Every 15 seconds, Roshan gets a shield able to block a targeted spell.
4. Throw: The beast picks up and tosses a hero to throw them away, causing damage and stunning them.
5. Roar of Retribution: If the boss faces the team that last killed him, he immediately releases a map-wide roar, causing damage and disarming everyone around him. His roaring can be heard everywhere on the map, revealing that someone is trying to kill Roshan.
6. Strength of the Immortal: Every minute, Roshan becomes more powerful, getting increased damage, health, and armor.

Consider that this beast appears immediately after the match begins. As for the Dota 2 Roshan respawn time, it ranges from 8 to 11 minutes. It means that 8 minutes after his death, there is a chance he’ll appear in one of his pits again. Or you can wait 11 minutes to be 100% sure that Roshan is back from the dead.

How to Kill Roshan

So, how do you take down Roshan in Dota 2? Regardless of the game’s minute, it’ll be a truly challenging quest for your entire team. Here is a step-by-step instruction that will help you successfully get the job done:

• Confirm that Roshan is alive and in the right pit. You don’t want to waste time assembling all your teammates just to discover there is no one in the beast’s lair. Also, it’s not recommended to attack Roshan before the day cycle changes, as he’ll simply leave the pit, so you won’t be able to attack him.
• Explore the area to avoid getting in trouble. Before you enter the lair, ensure that there are no enemy wards nearby. It is also recommended to place your own Sentries to reveal any invisible heroes. Plus, ask one or two of your teammates to stay active on the map so that your enemies don’t suspect you’re going to kill the boss.
• Start the fight carefully. Ideally, three or even two heroes are enough to kill Roshan. However, one of them should have significant physical damage, combined with great lifesteal. Moreover, you can opt for heroes like Ursa or Troll Warlord to defeat Roshan ASAP without your teammate’s help. Phantom Assassin, Huskar, Slardar, or Faceless Void also don’t need any assistance to take down this beast during the late game stage.
• Use the right items to defeat him faster. Opt for Mask of Madness, as this is a relatively cheap item that significantly increases your lifesteal and attack speed, allowing you to kill Roshan faster. Also, you may consider using Skull Basher (or its improved version — Abyssal Blade) to interrupt his attacks.

Roshan’s Drops and Benefits

So, why do all those nasty players regularly kill poor Roshan in Dota 2? Of course, they want to get valuable rewards dropped after his death, including:

Item Icon	Item Name	Description	Roshan Deaths	Pit
	The Aegis of the Immortal	This non-shareable item resurrects its owner with a fully regenerated HP and Mana. Consider that your enemies can sneak up on you and steal it if you aren't picking it up quickly. Also, this item destroys itself in 5 minutes after being taken by a hero or Roshan’s respawn.	1st+	Any
	Cheese	If a player consumes this item, it immediately restores 2,500 HP and 1,500 Mana points.	2nd+	Dire Pit
	Roshan’s Banner	You can put it anywhere on the map to make nearby ally creeps invulnerable.	2nd+	Radiant Pit
	Aghanim’s Blessing	When a hero consumes this item, they get Aghanim’s Scepter upgrade.	3rd+	Dire Pit
	Refresher Shard	Once you consume it, all your abilities and items will be refreshed.	3rd+	Radiant Pit

If you wonder what items Roshan is going to drop, you can simply check his inventory. Additionally, defeating this boss provides the killer with 200–290 gold. Plus, all players in his team (including Roshan’s slayer) get 135 gold. Finally, all heroes within the 1,500 range earn around 400 XP.

Conclusion

Now, you’re fully briefed on everything about that mysterious monster hiding in the dark lairs on the river. Roshan isn’t just a tanky neutral — he’s a living part of the game’s evolving lore and meta. However, considering that the world of Dota constantly changes, there is no doubt that Roshan will bring new surprises with new behavioral patterns: shifting mechanics, fresh rewards, or even new powers. Until then, happy hunting — and may your Aegis never be stolen!