Abilities Data Driven

Most abilities in Dota 2 are defined by C++ code. When looking at these abilities, the npc_abilities.txt keyvalues file contains some ability metadata and exposes some tuning knobs, these are mostly metadata with all the actual behavior defined in code. The data driven ability system is a method to create custom abilities for Dota 2 and assign special properties and events to occur when they're used.

Data Driven Ability Example

Here is what a simple data driven ability looks like. This example is a passive ability that applies a visual effect to the unit that has the ability.

"fx_test_ability"
{
    // General
    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    "BaseClass"             "ability_datadriven"
    "AbilityBehavior"       "DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_PASSIVE"
    "AbilityTextureName"    "axe_battle_hunger"

    // Modifiers
    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    "Modifiers"
    {
        "fx_test_modifier"
        {
            "Passive" "1"
            "OnCreated"
            {
                "AttachEffect"
                {
                    "Target" "CASTER"
                    "EffectName" "particles/econ/generic/generic_buff_1/generic_buff_1.vpcf"
                    "EffectAttachType" "follow_overhead"
                    "EffectLifeDurationScale" "1"
                    "EffectColorA" "255 255 0"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

The BaseClass, AbilityBehavior and AbilityTextureName keys are common to all abilities.

Example Breakdown

BaseClass: Normally Dota chooses the C++ class to connect to an ability by looking at the ability name (in this case "fx_test_ability"). If you'd like to force Dota to use a different C++ class, the BaseClass key will do that. In this example we're using the ability_datadriven class to connect to the data driven ability system. It's possible to use this key to connect to any other existing ability code to make a new variant of an existing Dota 2 ability with different settings for whatever that ability exposes to keyvalues.

AbilityBehavior: A set of flags describing some properties of the ability. You can put flags in here separated by spaces and | for example "DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_HIDDEN | DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_NO_TARGET" - The spaces are important!

ID: Not used. This is used only by core Dota 2 abilities and is not used for data driven abilities. As such, the above example does not include it but you will see it when looking at core Dota 2 abilities. But data driven items must have ID.

AbilityTextureName: The icon file name that should be used in the UI for this ability. You can use this to borrow the icon from another ability just by putting that ability name here if desired.

Modifiers: Unique to data-driven abilities. This block describes a set of modifiers (commonly seen as buffs/debuffs in game when visible) that are unique to this ability. Each modifier is named by the name of the keyvalues block that defines the modifier.

Passive: Flags the modifier as a passive modifier that should automatically be applied to the ability owner in this example.

OnCreated: The action block that is triggered when the modifier is first attached to the owner. In the above example, we attach a visual effect to the ability caster.

Behavior Flags

Available flags to use with the "AbilityBehavior" key. These will define how the ability works.

DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_HIDDEN               = 1 << 0, //Can be owned by a unit but can't be cast and won't show up on the HUD.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_PASSIVE              = 1 << 1, //Cannot be cast like above but this one shows up on the ability HUD.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_NO_TARGET            = 1 << 2, //Doesn't need a target to be cast, ability fires off as soon as the button is pressed.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_UNIT_TARGET          = 1 << 3, //Needs a target to be cast on.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_POINT                = 1 << 4, //Can be cast anywhere the mouse cursor is (if a unit is clicked it will just be cast where the unit was standing).
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_AOE                  = 1 << 5, //Draws a radius where the ability will have effect. Kinda like POINT but with a an area of effect display.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_NOT_LEARNABLE        = 1 << 6, //Probably can be cast or have a casting scheme but cannot be learned (these are usually abilities that are temporary like techie's bomb detonate).
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_CHANNELLED           = 1 << 7, //Channeled ability. If the user moves or is silenced the ability is interrupted.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_ITEM                 = 1 << 8, //Ability is tied up to an item.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_TOGGLE               = 1 << 9, //Can be insta-toggled.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_DIRECTIONAL          = 1 << 10, //Has a direction from the hero, such as miranas arrow or pudge's hook.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_IMMEDIATE            = 1 << 11, //Can be used instantly without going into the action queue.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_AUTOCAST             = 1 << 12, //Can be cast automatically.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_NOASSIST             = 1 << 13, //Ability has no reticle assist.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_AURA                 = 1 << 14, //Ability is an aura.  Not really used other than to tag the ability as such.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_ATTACK               = 1 << 15, //Is an attack and cannot hit attack-immune targets.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_DONT_RESUME_MOVEMENT = 1 << 16, //Should not resume movement when it completes. Only applicable to no-target, non-immediate abilities.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_ROOT_DISABLES        = 1 << 17, //Cannot be used when rooted
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_UNRESTRICTED         = 1 << 18, //Ability is allowed when commands are restricted
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_IGNORE_PSEUDO_QUEUE  = 1 << 19, //Can be executed while stunned, casting, or force-attacking. Only applicable to toggled abilities.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_IGNORE_CHANNEL       = 1 << 20, //Can be executed without interrupting channels.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_DONT_CANCEL_MOVEMENT = 1 << 21, //Doesn't cause certain modifiers to end, used for courier and speed burst.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_DONT_ALERT_TARGET    = 1 << 22, //Does not alert enemies when target-cast on them.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_DONT_RESUME_ATTACK   = 1 << 23, //Ability should not resume command-attacking the previous target when it completes. Only applicable to no-target, non-immediate abilities and unit-target abilities.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_NORMAL_WHEN_STOLEN   = 1 << 24, //Ability still uses its normal cast point when stolen.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_IGNORE_BACKSWING     = 1 << 25, //Ability ignores backswing pseudoqueue.
DOTA_ABILITY_BEHAVIOR_RUNE_TARGET          = 1 << 26, //Targets runes.

Ability Events and Actions

Abilities can have various in-game events which can trigger actions.

Events

Each of these keys is a block that can trigger actions.

OnAbilityEndChannel
OnAbilityPhaseStart -- Triggers when the ability is cast (before the unit turns toward the target)
OnAbilityStart
OnAttack
OnAttackAllied
OnAttackFailed
OnChannelFinish
OnChannelInterrupted
OnChannelSucceeded
OnCreated
OnEquip
OnHealReceived
OnHealthGained
OnHeroKilled
OnManaGained
OnOrder
OnOwnerDied
OnOwnerSpawned
OnProjectileDodge
OnProjectileFinish
OnProjectileHitUnit -- Adding the KV pair "DeleteOnHit" "0" in this block will cause the projectile to not disappear when it hits a unit.
OnRespawn
OnSpellStart
OnSpentMana
OnStateChanged
OnTeleported
OnTeleporting
OnToggleOff
OnToggleOn
OnUnitMoved
OnUpgrade

Actions

Each of these keys is a block that contains one or more action descriptions.

AddAbilityTarget, AbilityNameActOnTargetsTarget, ActionApplyModifierTarget, ModifierNameAttachEffect

EffectName, EffectAttachType, Target, ControlPoints,
TargetPoint, EffectRadius, EffectDurationScale, EffectLifeDurationScale ,EffectColorA, EffectColorB, EffectAlphaScale

BlinkTargetCleaveAttackCleavePercent, CleaveRadiusCreateThinkerTarget, ModifierNameDamageTarget, Type, MinDamage/MaxDamage, Damage, CurrentHealthPercentBasedDamage, MaxHealthPercentBasedDamageDelayedActionDelay, ActionDestroyTreesTarget, RadiusFireEffect

EffectName, EffectAttachType, Target, ControlPoints
TargetPoint, EffectRadius, EffectDurationScale, EffectLifeDurationScale ,EffectColorA, EffectColorB, EffectAlphaScale

FireSoundEffectName, TargetHealHealAmount, TargetKnockbackTarget, Center, Duration, Distance, Height, IsFixedDistance, ShouldStunLevelUpAbilityTarget, AbilityNameLifestealTarget, LifestealPercentLinearProjectile

Target, EffectName, MoveSpeed, StartRadius, EndRadius, FixedDistance, StartPosition, TargetTeams, TargetTypes, TargetFlags, HasFrontalCone, ProvidesVision, VisionRadius

RandomChance, PseudoRandom, OnSuccess, OnFailureRemoveAbilityTarget, AbilityNameRemoveModifierTarget, ModifierNameRunScriptTarget, ScriptFile, FunctionSpawnUnitUnitName, UnitCount, UnitLimit, SpawnRadius, Duration, Target, GrantsGold, GrantsXPStunTarget, DurationTrackingProjectileTarget, EffectName, Dodgeable, ProvidesVision, VisionRadius, MoveSpeed, SourceAttachment

Note:AddAbility adds a new ability at level 0. RemoveAbility deletes the ability even if it has been leveled. More complex ability management should be done through script as opposed to the data driven system.

Example

An example block showing an event and the accompanying action. In this case, when the spell is cast fire a particular sound event using the caster as the target source of the sound.

"OnSpellStart"      // Event
{
    "FireSound"     // Action
    {
        "EffectName"    "SoundEventName"
        "Target"        "CASTER"
    }
}

Action Target Values

Within an action the Target key can be given a value to specify what it is that the target is. This exposes some choices to make as to what you may want to target.

Single Target

Valid target values are as follows for single-target selection:

CASTER
TARGET
POINT
ATTACKER
UNIT

In the above example where a sound is being played, notice that Target is set to CASTER. It will play the sound on the caster of the spell when it starts.

Note:These names mean different things in different events. It may require some experimentation to discover exactly what in each case.

Multiple Targets

For selecting multiple targets in an area, make the Target key a block with the following subkeys:

Center - Center point of the circle.

CASTER, TARGET, POINT, PROJECTILE, UNIT, ATTACKER

Radius - Number in units defining the radius to search for target(s) in.

IntegerValue

Teams - Affect which teams.

DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_TEAM_BOTH
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_TEAM_CUSTOM
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_TEAM_ENEMY
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_TEAM_FRIENDLY
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_TEAM_NONE

Types, ExcludeTypes - Target units of specified type or exclude units of specified type.

DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_ALL
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_BASIC
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_BUILDING
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_COURIER
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_CREEP
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_CUSTOM
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_HERO
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_MECHANICAL
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_NONE
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_OTHER
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_TREE

Flags, ExcludeFlags - Target units with specific flags or reject units with specific flag.

DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_CHECK_DISABLE_HELP
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_DEAD
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_FOW_VISIBLE
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_INVULNERABLE
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_MAGIC_IMMUNE_ENEMIES
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_MANA_ONLY
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_MELEE_ONLY
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NO_INVIS
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NONE
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NOT_ANCIENTS
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NOT_ATTACK_IMMUNE
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NOT_CREEP_HERO
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NOT_DOMINATED
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NOT_ILLUSIONS
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NOT_MAGIC_IMMUNE_ALLIES
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NOT_NIGHTMARED
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_NOT_SUMMONED
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_OUT_OF_WORLD
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_PLAYER_CONTROLLED
DOTA_UNIT_TARGET_FLAG_RANGED_ONLY

MaxTargets - Maximum number of targets to select.

IntegerValue

Random - Whether to select a random unit if more than MaxTargets exist.

BooleanValue

ScriptSelectPoints

ScriptFile, Function, Radius, Count

Note:Random set to 0 in conjunction with a MaxTargets value will cause the ability to only function if there is MaxTargets or less targets in the area.

Modifiers

Modifiers may have following keys:

Attributes

MODIFIER_ATTRIBUTE_IGNORE_INVULNERABLE
MODIFIER_ATTRIBUTE_MULTIPLE
MODIFIER_ATTRIBUTE_NONE
MODIFIER_ATTRIBUTE_PERMANENT

DurationFloatValueEffectAttachTypefollow_origin, follow_overhead, start_at_customorigin, world_originEffectNameStringValueIsBuffBooleanValueIsDebuffBooleanValueIsHiddenBooleanValueIsPurgableBooleanValueOverrideAnimation

Other actions can be found at the action list, but these are the most commonly available ones.

ACT_DOTA_ATTACK
ACT_DOTA_CAST_ABILITY_1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
ACT_DOTA_DISABLED
ACT_DOTA_RUN
ACT_DOTA_SPAWN
ACT_DOTA_TELEPORT
ACT_DOTA_VICTORY

PassiveBooleanValueTextureNameStringValueThinkIntervalFloatValue

Modifier Properties

Modifier properties are gameplay values a modifier can change on the unit it is applied to. Included here is a simple example of a modifier that slows attacks and movement speed (this chunk is a block inside the "Modifiers" block of an ability).

To specify numeric values, you can put in a number or you can use %name formatting to grab values out of the "AbilitySpecial" block of the ability. The advantage to using the %name syntax is that the value can change as the ability levels up and the numeric value can be formatted into tooltips.

In this example, the slow duration comes from an "AbilitySpecial" block, but the slow values are just numbers.

"creature_slithereen_crush_slow"
{
    "Duration"      "%slow_duration"
    "Properties"
    {
        "MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGE"      "-20"
        "MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACKSPEED_BONUS_CONSTANT"      "-20"
    }
}

Available Modifier Properties

MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ABSOLUTE_NO_DAMAGE_MAGICAL
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ABSOLUTE_NO_DAMAGE_PHYSICAL
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ABSOLUTE_NO_DAMAGE_PURE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ABSORB_SPELL
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACK_RANGE_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACKSPEED_BONUS_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACKSPEED_BONUS_CONSTANT_POWER_TREADS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_ATTACKSPEED_BONUS_CONSTANT_SECONDARY
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_AVOID_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_AVOID_SPELL
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_BASEATTACK_BONUSDAMAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_BASE_ATTACK_TIME_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_BASEDAMAGEOUTGOING_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_BASE_MANA_REGEN
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_BONUS_DAY_VISION
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_BONUS_NIGHT_VISION
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_BONUS_VISION_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_CHANGE_ABILITY_VALUE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_COOLDOWN_REDUCTION_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_DAMAGEOUTGOING_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_DAMAGEOUTGOING_PERCENTAGE_ILLUSION
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_DEATHGOLDCOST
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_DISABLE_AUTOATTACK
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_DISABLE_HEALING
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_DISABLE_TURNING  //unhandled
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_EVASION_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_EXTRA_HEALTH_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_EXTRA_MANA_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_EXTRA_STRENGTH_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_FORCE_DRAW_MINIMAP
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_HEALTH_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_HEALTH_REGEN_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_HEALTH_REGEN_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_IGNORE_CAST_ANGLE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_INCOMING_DAMAGE_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_INCOMING_PHYSICAL_DAMAGE_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_INCOMING_SPELL_DAMAGE_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_INVISIBILITY_LEVEL
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_IS_ILLUSION
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_IS_SCEPTER
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_LIFETIME_FRACTION
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MAGICAL_RESISTANCE_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MAGICAL_RESISTANCE_DECREPIFY_UNIQUE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MAGICAL_RESISTANCE_ITEM_UNIQUE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MANA_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MANA_REGEN_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MANA_REGEN_CONSTANT_UNIQUE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MANA_REGEN_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MANA_REGEN_TOTAL_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MIN_HEALTH
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MISS_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MODEL_CHANGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MODEL_SCALE // unhandled
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_ABSOLUTE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BASE_OVERRIDE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_CONSTANT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_PERCENTAGE_UNIQUE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_BONUS_UNIQUE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_LIMIT // unhandled
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_MOVESPEED_MAX // unhandled
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_OVERRIDE_ANIMATION
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_OVERRIDE_ANIMATION_RATE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_OVERRIDE_ANIMATION_WEIGHT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_OVERRIDE_ATTACK_MAGICAL
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PERSISTENT_INVISIBILITY
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUS_ILLUSIONS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUS_UNIQUE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_ARMOR_BONUS_UNIQUE_ACTIVE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PHYSICAL_CONSTANT_BLOCK
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_POST_ATTACK
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PREATTACK_BONUS_DAMAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PREATTACK_BONUS_DAMAGE_POST_CRIT
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PREATTACK_CRITICALSTRIKE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PROCATTACK_BONUS_DAMAGE_COMPOSITE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PROCATTACK_BONUS_DAMAGE_MAGICAL
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PROCATTACK_BONUS_DAMAGE_PHYSICAL
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PROCATTACK_BONUS_DAMAGE_PURE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PROCATTACK_FEEDBACK
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_PROVIDES_FOW_POSITION
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_REINCARNATION
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_RESPAWNTIME
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_RESPAWNTIME_PERCENTAGE
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_RESPAWNTIME_STACKING
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_STATS_AGILITY_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_STATS_INTELLECT_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_STATS_STRENGTH_BONUS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_TOOLTIP
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_TOTAL_CONSTANT_BLOCK
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_TOTAL_CONSTANT_BLOCK_UNAVOIDABLE_PRE_ARMOR
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_TOTALDAMAGEOUTGOING_PERCENTAGE // unhandled
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_TRANSLATE_ACTIVITY_MODIFIERS
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_TRANSLATE_ATTACK_SOUND
MODIFIER_PROPERTY_TURN_RATE_PERCENTAGE

Modifier States

States are very similar to properties, except they are tri-state values. A state can have the value "MODIFIER_STATE_VALUE_NO_ACTION", "MODIFIER_STATE_VALUE_ENABLED" or "MODIFIER_STATE_VALUE_DISABLED". This example modifier attaches a simple stunned effect, overrides the base unit's animation and forces the unit into the stunned state:

"creature_bash_ministun"
{
    "EffectName"            "generic_stunned"
    "EffectAttachType"      "follow_overhead"
    "Duration"              "%stun_duration"
    "OverrideAnimation"     "ACT_DOTA_DISABLED"
    "States"
    {
        "MODIFIER_STATE_STUNNED" "MODIFIER_STATE_VALUE_ENABLED"
    }         
}

Available Modifier States

Here is a list of all the states available to a modifier:

MODIFIER_STATE_ATTACK_IMMUNE
MODIFIER_STATE_BLIND
MODIFIER_STATE_BLOCK_DISABLED
MODIFIER_STATE_CANNOT_MISS
MODIFIER_STATE_COMMAND_RESTRICTED
MODIFIER_STATE_DISARMED
MODIFIER_STATE_DOMINATED
MODIFIER_STATE_EVADE_DISABLED
MODIFIER_STATE_FLYING
MODIFIER_STATE_FLYING_FOR_PATHING_PURPOSES_ONLY
MODIFIER_STATE_FROZEN
MODIFIER_STATE_HEXED
MODIFIER_STATE_INVISIBLE
MODIFIER_STATE_INVULNERABLE
MODIFIER_STATE_LOW_ATTACK_PRIORITY
MODIFIER_STATE_MAGIC_IMMUNE
MODIFIER_STATE_MUTED
MODIFIER_STATE_NIGHTMARED
MODIFIER_STATE_NO_HEALTH_BAR
MODIFIER_STATE_NO_TEAM_MOVE_TO
MODIFIER_STATE_NO_TEAM_SELECT
MODIFIER_STATE_NOT_ON_MINIMAP
MODIFIER_STATE_NOT_ON_MINIMAP_FOR_ENEMIES
MODIFIER_STATE_NO_UNIT_COLLISION
MODIFIER_STATE_OUT_OF_GAME
MODIFIER_STATE_PASSIVES_DISABLED
MODIFIER_STATE_PROVIDES_VISION
MODIFIER_STATE_ROOTED
MODIFIER_STATE_SILENCED
MODIFIER_STATE_SOFT_DISARMED
MODIFIER_STATE_SPECIALLY_DENIABLE
MODIFIER_STATE_STUNNED
MODIFIER_STATE_UNSELECTABLE

Modifier Events

Modifiers can also describe actions that should happen on various in-game events. Each of these keys is a block that describes actions. The action description system is documented elsewhere on this page.

OnAbilityExecuted
OnAttacked - The unit this modifier is attached to has been attacked.
OnAttackLanded - The unit this modifier is attached to has landed an attack on a target. "%attack_damage" is set to the damage value before mitigation. Autoattack damage is dealt after this block executes.
OnAttackStart - The unit this modifier is attached to has started to attack a target (when the attack animation begins, not when the autoattack projectile is created).
OnCreated - The modifier has been created.
OnDealDamage - The unit this modifier is attached to has dealt damage. "%attack_damage" is set to the damage value after mitigation.
OnDeath
OnDestroy - The modifier has been removed.
OnIntervalThink
OnKill
OnOrbFire
OnOrbImpact
OnTakeDamage - The unit this modifier is attached to has taken damage. "%attack_damage" is set to the damage value after mitigation.
Orb

A full list of modifier events is available but not all have been exposed to the data driven system and are unsupported at this time. These events are used by the modifier events data driven system and cannot be called directly.

Additional Examples

Data Driven Ability Examples

Precaching

When creating data-driven abilities the "precache" block is not required. This ONLY applies to data-driven abilities that have the BaseClass defined as ability_datadriven.

Notes

Particle effects require the full path with extension in addition to the file name. For example:

particles/econ/generic/generic_buff_1/generic_buff_1.vpcf - The _c is not required.

Sound effects only require the event name.

Abilities Data Driven

Contents

Data Driven Ability Example

Example Breakdown

Behavior Flags

Ability Events and Actions

Events

Actions

Example

Action Target Values

Single Target

Multiple Targets

Modifiers

Modifier Properties

Available Modifier Properties

Modifier States

Available Modifier States

Modifier Events

Additional Examples

Precaching

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