How to play the newest Dota 2 hero Largo

Dota 2 may not be able to compete with League of Legends when it comes to popularity, but the game has a dedicated player base that continues to enjoy Valve’s MOBA, despite not getting nearly as many updates as the competitor. Well, the new hero, Largo, is here to change that.

Designed as a melee support and disabler hero in Dota 2, Largo’s playing style is a little unique. Players must use short-range control to buff teammates. While this character’s impact isn’t instantly seen, as it is with so many other heroes in the game, the slow and steady impact he has can’t be denied, especially when in the hands of a player who knows how to play him.

What is Largo’s playstyle in Dota 2?

Largo is a melee Strength hero designed as a Support and Disabler. His kit focuses on control over short-range, providing buffs to nearby teammates, and sustained impact rather than quick burst damage. This naturally pushes him into the position 4 role, with some room to be a utility offlaner in certain compositions.

Largo generates value in longer fights by spamming refresh or extend effects through his Innate and Shard synergies. He doesn’t scale by hitting harder or farming damage items. Instead, his impact comes from aura-based items, smart positioning, and clean spell timing. The downside is that Largo is extremely sensitive to execution and team coordination, which explains why his win rate has been very low across all brackets since release.

How do Largo’s abilities work in Dota 2?

Here’s how each part of Largo’s kit functions in real games.

Encore

Largo’s innate passively extends the duration of all buffs he applies to himself or allies. Abilities and item buffs that are normally balanced around short windows, like Croak of Genius or targeted utility items, can become overpowered with steady use instead of spam.

Catchy Lick (Q)

This is a single-target pull that drags the target slightly toward Largo. It deals magical damage to enemies and applies a basic dispel to any unit. If something is removed, Largo gains temporary health regeneration. It's better for repositioning and utility than disabling, best used to pull enemies back into Frogstomp or strip defensive buffs early.

Frogstomp (W)

Frogstomp is Largo’s main control ability. He throws froglings into an area that stomp every second, dealing magic damage, applying ministuns, and slowing enemies inside. It's not a hard lockdown, but the constant disruption makes it especially strong in long fights, tight spaces, and objective contests.

Croak of Genius (E)

It buffs a teammate by reducing mana costs and making part of their damage repeat as damage over time for five seconds. Using mana shortens the buff, creating a choice between fast spell use and longer value. It works best with long-lasting damage effects and gains extra value from Encore and Shard, but both the buff and the damage over time are dispellable.

Amphibian Rhapsody (R)

Amphibian Rhapsody puts Largo into song mode, which replaces his abilities with three rhythm-based songs, each providing different perks. Hitting beats grants Groovin' stacks for bonus armor and cheaper songs, while missing beats removes them. Items remain usable. Below are the three songs.

Bullbelly Blitz grants spell amplification and bonus magic damage on attacks.
Hotfeet Hustle boosts movement speed and provides brief slow resistance.
Island Elixir provides periodic AoE healing.

How do Aghanim’s Shard and Scepter change Largo’s abilities?

These mechanics become stronger once Largo picks up his Aghanim’s upgrades. Aghanim’s Shard boosts Encore by mirroring buffs. When you buff an ally, Largo gets the same effect, and when you buff yourself, the nearest ally in range also benefits. It turns items like Lotus Orb, Solar Crest, Glimmer Cape, and even Linken’s Sphere capable of hitting multiple targets.

Aghanim’s Scepter upgrades Amphibian Rhapsody, letting Largo play two songs per beat and adding magic damage that scales with Groovin’ stacks. It gives him a bit more offensive presence in late fights, but overall, his scaling still leans heavily toward support and utility rather than raw damage.

How should you play Largo based on his abilities and weaknesses in Dota 2?

Largo thrives in coordinated lineups where aura effects and timing matter. Playing him as a core or mid is generally a losing approach, as he lacks scaling and raw damage. He works best as a backline support rather than diving in for kills. 

In lane, prioritize safe trades and zoning. Put just one point in Catchy Lick early for utility, and max Frogstomp first for area control and synergy with team stuns. Croak of Genius comes next, since its damage amplification really shines in longer fights.

Item choices should also play to his strengths and limitations.

• Mekansm is essential in the early game. Holy Locket is too slow to be useful.
• In mid-game, go for Solar Crest, Glimmer Cape, or Urn/Spirit Vessel, depending on enemy sustain.
• In late game, get Lotus Orb, Aghanim’s Scepter, Kaya and Sange, situational Linken’s

When it comes to Amphibian Rhapsody, you must remember that it isn’t meant to be spammed. Heal and speed songs lock out his base spells and underperform compared to items like Mek or Drums. The damage song is the only truly unique mode, but it mainly works when your team is already ahead.

FAQs

What role does Largo play best in Dota 2?

Largo works best as a position 4 support. He can flex to offlane utility, but he struggles as a core.

Is Largo a damage dealer in Dota 2?

No. His value comes from control, buffs, and utility, not raw damage.

Why is Largo’s win rate so low in Dota 2?

He needs good coordination and clean timing. In unorganized games, his kit loses a lot of value.

Which ability should you max first on Largo in Dota 2?

Frogstomp should be maxed first. It provides the most control and teamfight impact.