Techies is one of Dota 2’s most controversial heroes. In its original form, Techies planted invisible mines that could instantly kill unwary enemies and make map movement a constant threat. After a complete rework, the current Techies retains the explosive thematic identity but plays as a burst damage caster rather than a passive mine-layer. This guide covers the reworked Techies, its abilities, optimal builds, and its Arcana.
Techies’ Current Abilities (Post-Rework)
Sticky Bomb: Throws a sticky bomb that attaches to the first enemy unit it hits, dealing damage and slowing the target and nearby enemies when it explodes.
Reactive Tazer: Creates a short-range electrical field around Techies. Enemies that attack or come near Techies are stunned and damaged.
Blast Off!: Techies launches itself in a targeted direction, exploding on arrival and dealing massive damage in an area. Techies loses a percentage of its own HP on activation. This is Techies’ primary teamfight contribution.
Proximity Mines: Places invisible proximity mines on the ground that explode when enemies step near them. Deals damage and slows. Mines can be detonated by Techies directly.
Note: the reworked Techies still has mines but they are no longer the centerpiece of play. Blast Off! is the core ability.
Best Build for Techies (Patch 7.41e)
Skill order:
- Sticky Bomb (level 1)
- Blast Off! (level 2)
- Sticky Bomb (levels 3, 4)
- Blast Off! (level 6, 12, 18) — ultimate always prioritized
- Reactive Tazer (situational)
Core items:
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Arcane Boots | Mana for Blast Off! and mine placement |
| Aether Lens | Extended cast range for Sticky Bomb and mine distance |
| Blink Dagger | Closes distance for Blast Off! delivery |
| Bloodstone | HP regen to offset Blast Off! self-damage |
| Kaya and Sange | Spell amp, HP, and mana regen combination |
Aghanim’s Scepter effect: significantly upgrades Proximity Mines, increasing their damage and detection radius.
Techies Arcana
Techies has received premium cosmetic treatment through collaboration items and community-created sets. The most notable Techies cosmetics are available through Steam Marketplace trading and include custom mine visual effects, altered Blast Off! animations, and unique Reactive Tazer presentations.
A Techies-specific Arcana has not been released as of 2026 through the Battle Pass system.
How to Play Techies in Patch 7.41e
Lane phase: Techies is typically played as a mid or support. In the mid lane, use Sticky Bomb for harass and last-hit denial. Place Proximity Mines on the rune locations to deny enemy rune pickups.
Mid game: Blink Dagger enables aggressive Blast Off! plays. Position near enemy heroes who are out of position, Blink in, fire Blast Off! immediately, and disengage. Techies with Blast Off! can burst-kill squishy heroes before they can react.
Late game: Proximity Mines placed in high-traffic areas (Roshan pit approach, high ground exits, barracks corridors) create zone denial that forces enemies to move around them rather than through them.
Techies History: The Original Mine Layer
Before the rework, Techies was a three-member goblin crew that placed three types of stationary mines: Land Mines (invisible, instant kill threshold), Stasis Traps (visible stun traps), and Remote Mines (planted anywhere on the map, detonated manually). The original Techies was beloved by players who enjoyed psychological warfare and despised by players who found waiting for mine detonations un-fun.
The rework replaced the original three-mine system with the current Blast Off! centered design, retaining Proximity Mines as a secondary mechanic. Many players still associate Techies primarily with the original mine-heavy playstyle.
Play Dota 2 with ExitLag
Techies’ Blast Off! self-delivery mechanic requires split-second entry timing to connect with grouped enemies before they scatter. Latency delays both the ability activation and the explosion radius registration on the server. ExitLag minimizes the gap between your Blast Off! cast and its server-side execution.
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