Illusions are non-perfect copies of another unit. They look the same as the other unit, run equally fast, attack almost as fast but their attacks deal much less damage and usually they die much faster.

How to create illusions

Illusions can be created in several ways, but in general they are categorized in two types: Mirror Image type, and Wand of Illusions type.

Mirror Image type

Makes several copies of the hero and mixes them with the hero so others won't know which one is the real.

These abilities are expressed as follows:

Name of the Ability [hero]
Number of Illusions
Damage dealt
Damage taken
Duration

List of abilities:

• Mirror Image [Slithice]
  3 Illusions
  Deal 30%/35%/40%/45% damage
  Take 600%/500%/400%/300% damage
  Last 30 seconds


• Phantasm [Chaos Knight]
  1/2/3 Illusions
  Deal 100% damage
  Take 200% damage
  Last 20 seconds


• Manta Image [Manta Style (melee)]
  2 Illusions
  Deal 33% damage
  Take 350% damage
  Last 20 seconds


• Manta Image [Manta Style (ranged)]
  2 Illusions
  Deal 28% damage
  Take 400% damage
  Last 20 seconds

These skills have some invulnerability time, and they also dispell certain buffs (Like Bloodlust), this is to avoid being recognized by the enemy after the split.


Single Target Illusions type

Some skills use an ability that provides an Illusion without canceling current orders, since most of the time the hero doesn't use that skill himself (Except for Morphling's Replicate), one disadvantage is that it doesn't have invulnerability time and it's easy to know which is the real one if you see the casting.

These abilities are expressed as follows:

Name of the Ability [hero]
Number of Illusions
Damage dealt
Damage taken
Duration

List of abilities:

• Metamorphosis [Terrorblade]
  0/1/1/2 Illusion
  Deal 0%/10%/15%/20% damage
  Take 350% damage
  Last 30 seconds


• Reflection [Terrorblade]
  1 Illusion per enemy in the AoE
  Deal 35%/45%/55%/65% damage
  Take no damage
  Last 5 seconds


• Wall of Replica [Dark Seer]
  1 Illusion per each enemy (allied with Aghanim's Scepter) non-meepo clone that passes through the barrier.
  Deal 70%/80%/90% (50% for allies) damage
  Take 250% damage
  Last 15/30/45 seconds


• Illusion Rune [Rune]
  2 Illusions
  Deal 35% damage
  Take 300% damage
  Last 75 seconds


• Replicate [Morphling]
  1 Illusion
  Deal 50% damage
  Take 100% damage
  Last 30/45/60 seconds


• Spirit Lance [Azwraith]
  1 Illusion per cast
  Deal 25% damage
  Take 400% damage
  Last 2/4/6/8 seconds


• Juxtapose [Azwraith]
  Chance to get 1 Illusion on attack
  Deal 25% damage
  Take 450% damage
  Last 20 seconds


• Doppelwalk [Azwraith]
  1 Illusion
  Deal 25% damage
  Take 400% damage
  Last 20 seconds


• Haunt [Spectre]
  1 Illusion per enemy hero
  Deal 40% damage
  Take 200% damage
  5/6/7 seconds including the 1 second fade time


• Disruption [Eredar]
  2 Illusions
  Deal 30%/40%/50%/60% damage
  Take 150% damage
  Last 5/6/7/8 seconds

The difference between an illusion and the real unit

Illusions can't use any active ability. Passive abilities that illusions can use:

• Evasion
• Critical Strike (it should be noted that the red number is before the illusion reduction)
• Feedback (only works on melee illusions)
• Movement speed (flat and percentage)
• Attribute bonus (Strength, agility and intelligence)
• Flat HP or mana
• True Sight
• Radiance burn aura (the aura still will not affect units already affected by a different Radiance aura)
• Endurance Aura
• Spell resistance from abilities, and base spell resistance
• Quelling Blade's Demolish

Passive abilities that illusions can't use (even if the animation might show something different):

• Raw damage or armor
• HP or mana regeneration
• Orb effects (except Feedback on melee illusions)
• Cleave
• Bash (it works in some rare scenarios, read more about it below), this includes the interrupt on Monkey King Bar
• Damage block
• Spell resistance from Planeswalker's Cloak, Hood of Defiance or Khadgar's Pipe of Insight
• Backstab

Bash on Illusions

Illusions may proc the skill Bash, however they will never deal any bonus damage, also the stun they place is "fake" because despite the animation the target can still move, also if another bash hits the unit while in this "Fake bash" state it will only prolong the fake buff, this is also true the opposite way, if a real unit bashes a target and then the illusion "fake" bashes the real bash will be prolonged.

It should be noted that since the last remake of Basher illusions can no longer bash using it, however MKB Bash remained unchanged.

Auras on Illusions

Illusions will bestow any auras that the original hero has, however they usually will not benefit from this aura.
For instance, an illusion of a hero carrying a Vladmir's Offering will provide the 3 auras (damage, armor and lifesteal) to nearby allied units, but the illusion itself will not benefit at all from the item.

Exceptions: Illusions can benefit from auras based on Endurance Aura, such as Yasha's movement speed and attack speed bonus, or Beastmaster's Inner Beast