Hero Mastery

Ancient Apparition

A healing punisher: Ice Blast applies global anti-heal + shatters low HP, Cold Feet stuns if they stay put, and Ice Vortex slows + amplifies magic damage.

Mastery parameters

Your XP and damage per game against other Ancient Apparition players — average vs Top 20%. Supports are not graded on GPM.

Members only

Learning journey

1 Know the kit
2 Win the lane
3 Timing & rotations
4 Win the fights
5 Master

5 stages, each with one target from your own games and one short quiz. Make Ancient Apparition your mastery hero to start — progress shows on Home and Arcana.

Phase by phase

Laning: zone their carry with your offlaner

You 40%Team 60%

Skills in lane — Pro supports max Ice Vortex (W) first — 70% of 193 games since patch 7.41, then Cold Feet (Q). First talent at level 11.
Ice Blast — anti-heal — Ice Blast stops ALL enemy healing globally and shatters targets below the HP threshold.

Skills 1–7

Starting items

Iron Branch25%
Tango17%
Blood Grenade14%
Faerie Fire10%
Sentry Ward9%
Magic Stick8%

Pros buy this phase

Arcane Boots71%
Tranquil Boots29%

The Soft Support's job this phase

Stand between the enemy carry and the creeps — make them choose between XP and HP.
Secure the minute-6 power rune for your mid — that's your first rotation.
Place Observers on rune spots or enemy rotation paths, not random cliffs.

Counters & weaknesses

Fragile hero (easy to catch)

The items that shut Ancient Apparition down, 3 heroes that trouble it, and your answer when you play it.

Members only

Why this way? How OpenAI Five learned

One hero, one role first
OpenAI's first bot played only Shadow Fiend, only mid, until it mastered it. Stay on Ancient Apparition in one role before moving on.
Small, measurable rewards
OpenAI Five was rewarded for last hits and staying alive long before it understood winning. That's why each journey stage has one number to hit.
From yourself to the team
Its 'team spirit' rose over the game: early on, look after yourself; late, play for the team. Each phase's meter shows the split.
Use proven builds
OpenAI Five's builds were hand-written, not trial and error. Start from the pro build, then experiment.

Phase items: what pros buy on this hero (OpenDota). Parameters: percentiles of players on this hero (OpenDota). Item effects checked against Valve's own item data.