Channeling

Channeling requires the unit to remain still in order for the channeling ability to either persist through the channel duration or fully complete in order for it to activate. Moving, attacking, or using another ability or item will cancel channeling, although some abilities and items can be used without canceling channeling. While channeling, a bar will show in the screen indicating the current remaining channel duration. (The bar isn't exclusive to channeling abilities, however.)

The fundamental difference between abilities with channeling time and abilities with a long cast time is that channeling abilties cannot be sped up or slowed down with Cast Speed modifiers. In addition, for most startup-type channeling, the ability will go on cooldown and spend its Mana Cost as soon as it is activated, which means if the user is interrupted mid-channel the ability is wasted. While most forms of Stealth do not interrupt channeling when activated, using a channeling ability will break stealth (unlike abilities with long cast times).

Channeling can be interrupted with Stuns or Silences (or Perplex in case of Homecoming Stone). Mini-stuns, stuns with a very short duration, exist mainly for the purpose of interrupting channeling. Most single-target channeling abilities will be cancelled if the distance between the channeler and its target is past a certain distance.

Charging abilities such as Rampage's Stampede are not considered channeling, although they function similarly. These abilities end when your hero reaches a certain distance to the target unit (rather than at a set time) and are also cancelled by issuing any other command and can be stopped with Immobilize or Restrain effects as well.

Channeling abilities[ | ]

Startup[ | ]

These abilities requires a channeling time before it activates.

Hero/item	Source	Channel Range	Duration	Notes
Circe	Twisted Visage	1500	2 seconds	Cannot be cancelled with Magic Immunity or Invulnerability
Deadlift	Resurrection	N/A	3 seconds
Draconis	Draconic Defense	Global	2 seconds	No channeling required if targeting a Volcano
Flint Beastwood	Money Shot	2300/2550/2800	1.7 seconds	Does not go on cooldown or spend Mana if cancelled early
Homecoming Stone	Activation	N/A	3-4 seconds	4 seconds when teleporting to Tier 1 towers, 3.5 seconds for Tier 2 towers, 3 seconds for other buildings
Magmus	Eruption	N/A	2 seconds
Moira	Ephemeral Forge	N/A	2 seconds	Delay before the Spirit Mimic can be controlled
Nymphora	Teleport	N/A	4 (3) seconds
Post Haste	Activation	N/A	3 seconds
Riftwalker	Wormhole	N/A	2 seconds
Scout	Marksman Shot	1800/2300/2800 (3800)	1.5 seconds	Does not go on cooldown or spend Mana if cancelled early
Solstice	Pure Light	N/A	4 seconds	Final damage and cone size is based on channel time

Persistent[ | ]

These abilities will be in effect at long as the unit is channeling.

Unit	Source	Channel Range	Duration	Notes
Apex	The Burning Ember	N/A	60 seconds
Artillery	LRM	N/A	Varies	Lasts 0.25 seconds + 0.15 seconds per rocket fired
Bubbles	Take Cover	N/A	0.5/1/1.75/2.5 seconds
Devourer	Devour	400	3 seconds	Immobilizes target
Glacius	Glacial Downpour	N/A	4 seconds
Magmus	Steam Bath	N/A	60 seconds
Martyr	Hand in Hand	Global	1.5 seconds
Moira	Ephemeral Forge	N/A	10/14/18/22 seconds	Requires channeling to control the Spirit Mimic
Pandamonium	Face Smash	350	4.5 seconds	Immobilizes target
Pollywog Priest	Tongue Tied	550	2.5/3.25/4/4.75 seconds	Immobilizes target
Rhapsody	Protective Melody	N/A	4/5/6 (5/6/7) seconds	Boosted version allows movement
Succubus	Cursed Embrace	725	5 seconds	Immobilizes target
Tempest	Elemental Void	N/A	4 seconds
Voodoo Jester	Spirit Ward	N/A	8 seconds
Vulture Lord	Tornado	N/A	30 seconds
Warchief	Spirit Walk	N/A	3 seconds
Witch Slayer	Power Drain	900	4 seconds

Pseudo-channel[ | ]

These abilities are considered Channeling abilities, but certain actions will not break channeling. Stuns and Silences will stop these abilities.

Unit	Source	Type	Channel Range	Duration	Notes
Artesia	Dance of Death	Persistent	N/A	4.5/6/7.5/9 seconds	Allows movement, ability, and item use
Electrician	Static Grip	Persistent	700	2/2.6/3.2/3.8 seconds	Allows movement, attacking, ability, and item use
Rhapsody	Protective Melody	Persistent	N/A	5/6/7 seconds	Requires SotM; Allows movement
Succubus	Cursed Embrace	Persistent	1200	6 seconds	Requires SotM; Allows movement, attacking, ability, and item use
Voodoo Jester	Spirit Ward	Persistent	N/A	8 seconds	Requires SotM; Allows movement, attacking, ability, and item use