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Universal Attribute IconUniversal

Io

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Select Role

Ability Build

1
Tether
2
Overcharge
3
Overcharge
4
Tether
5
Overcharge
6
Relocate
7
Overcharge
8
Tether
9
Tether
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
10
+15 Attack Damage to Tethered Units
11
Spirits
12
Relocate
13
Spirits
14
Spirits
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
15
+6% Tether Movement Speed
16
Spirits
17
Attribute Bonus
18
Relocate
19
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
20
-25s Relocate Cooldown
21
Attribute Bonus
22
Attribute Bonus
23
Attribute Bonus
24
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
25
Attack Tethered Ally's Target

Disables, Buffs and Passives

AbilitiesDisablesDispellable BuffsBreakable Passives
Interrupts ChannelingSilencesRoots
Tether
Spirits
Overcharge
Relocate

Item Build

Starting
Tango
10
Blood Grenade
Ring of Regen
5
Faerie Fire
Iron Branch
Iron Branch
Iron Branch
1
Observer Ward
1
Sentry Ward
Early Game
Headdress
15
Magic Wand
50
Mekansm
Ring of Basilius
7
Infused Raindrops
Mid Game
16
Pavise
16
Solar Crest
Vladmir's Offering
Holy Locket
Aghanim's Shard
14
Glimmer Cape
Late Game
40
Guardian Greaves
Heart of Tarrasque
Desolator
Aghanim's Scepter
Situational
0.5
Bottle
7
Spirit Vessel
23
Eul's Scepter of Divinity
19
Force Staff
22
Ghost Scepter
60
Pipe of Insight
15
Lotus Orb
18
Heaven's Halberd
45
Helm of the Overlord
30
Boots of Bearing
Neutral
Royal Jelly
35
Seeds of Serenity
Philosopher's Stone
11
Bullwhip
12
Craggy Coat
40
Ogre Seal Totem
25
Ascetic's Cap
40
Martyr's Plate
8
Book of Shadows
Stygian Desolator

Hero Strategy

Tether breaks trees which is useful at making tree line paths or optimize farming routes.

Make sure to have spare consumables with you to keep your laning partner healthy.

Look around the map for opportunities to Relocate in and prompt your teammates to setup kills.

Past laning stage, you typically want to play with your farming core to boost his farm and stack camps.

Avoid showing yourself at the start of the fight as you are number 1 target for opponents.

When using Relocate to save an ally consider relocating nearby to be able to re-engage faster.

You can use Relocate to push out a wave or rat a tower when not much is happening around the map.

Pick up Aghanim's Shard at minute 15. It provides a source of disable that opponents are typically unaware of.

Io is one of the best Cheese carriers in the game as you can extract double the value through the Tether.

Grab the healing lotus to have a burst of HP and mana regen for yourself and the tethered ally.

Counter Strategy

Someone should buy Spirit Vessel against Io to offset healing and regeneration.

Harass either Io or his laning partner, not both equally.

Relocate can be cancelled by disabling or silencing Io during channel time.

Focus Io in the fights as he's good at sustaining and saving his cores.

Gap closing items will help you get on top of Io.

Items that reduce healing and regeneration are great against Io.

Be careful about Io's ratting potential with Relocate.

Counter Items for Core Players

Laning Phase
Ring of Regen
Wind Lace
Boots of Speed
7
Urn of Shadows
Mid Game
7
Spirit Vessel
15
Blink Dagger
Late Game
20
Scythe of Vyse
27
Shiva's Guard
Eye of Skadi
35
Abyssal Blade

Counter Items for Support Players

Laning Phase
Ring of Regen
Wind Lace
Boots of Speed
7
Urn of Shadows
Mid Game
7
Spirit Vessel
15
Blink Dagger
14
Glimmer Cape
19
Force Staff
Late Game
20
Scythe of Vyse