While Roshan is the only true 'boss' in Dota 2, there are other powerful neutral creeps known as 'Ancients' that provide significant gold and experience, and sometimes unique buffs.
Ancient Creep Camps:
- Location: There are two Ancient camps on each side of the map, located in the jungle.
- Types of Ancients:
- Black Dragon: Deals fire damage, has a fire breath attack.
- Thunderhide: Deals physical damage, has a powerful stomp.
- Granite Golem: Deals physical damage, has a passive aura that grants bonus health to nearby allies.
- Difficulty: Ancients are significantly tougher than regular neutral creeps, having higher health, armor, and magic resistance.
- Rewards: Grant a large amount of gold and experience upon defeat.
Strategy for Farming Ancients:
- High Damage: Heroes with high physical damage, especially those with armor reduction or pure damage, are effective against Ancients.
- Lifesteal/Sustain: Lifesteal items (e.g., Morbid Mask, Vladmir's Offering) or healing abilities are crucial for sustaining through Ancient damage.
- Cleave/AoE: Heroes with cleave (e.g., Sven, Kunkka) or strong AoE abilities can clear Ancient stacks quickly.
- Stacking: Supports can stack Ancient camps to create multiple waves of Ancients, allowing a core hero to farm a massive amount of gold and experience in a short period.
- Timing: Ancients are typically farmed by carries or mid laners once they have sufficient damage and sustain.
Farming Ancients is a key strategy for accelerating a core hero's farm and reaching their power spikes faster, but it leaves them vulnerable if not done safely.