Crystal Maiden

● Intelligencerangedmagical damageSupportDisablerNuker

Able to keep her allies supplied with mana as she slows down enemies to ensure a kill, Crystal Maiden is a helpful addition to any team. And, when the opportunity arises, she can unleash her massive ultimate ability to devastate her foes.

Pos 5 — Hard support
Win rate
51.7%
Pick rate
13%
Armor / MS
2.7 / 280
Range
600

Abilities

Official ability data from Valve
Crystal NovaQ⏱ 11 / 10 / 9 / 8s◆ 115 / 135 / 155 / 175
A burst of damaging frost slows enemy movement in the targeted area.
Mechanics notes (1)
  • • Crystal Nova provides vision in the targeted area for the duration.
FrostbiteW⏱ 9 / 8 / 7 / 6s◆ 125 / 135 / 145 / 155
Encases an enemy unit in ice, prohibiting movement and attack, while dealing damage over time. Deals 4x damage to non-ancient creeps.
Mechanics notes (1)
  • • Frostbite is considered a root.
Arcane AuraE
Gives mana regeneration to all friendly units on the map. Allies within a 1200 radius of Crystal Maiden receive more mana regeneration. Crystal Maiden passively gains mana regen amplification.
•
Crystal Clone⏱ 12s◆ 150
Slides in a direction, creating a crystal clone of herself in her place and disjointing incoming projectiles. If the clone takes enough damage or times out, it shatters, Frostbiting enemies in a 450 AoE around its place. The Clone can also be destroyed by Crystal Maiden's own spells.
•
Glacial GuardInnate
A portion of the mana Crystal Maiden spends on her abilities is converted into a physical barrier.
Freezing FieldR⏱ 100 / 95 / 90s◆ 200 / 400 / 600
CHANNELED - Surrounds Crystal Maiden with 100 random icy explosions that slow enemies and deal massive damage. Lasts 10 seconds.
Mechanics notes (2)
  • • The slow is applied on all enemies in the radius, even if they aren't hit by an explosion (lasts 1 second).
  • • Explosions occur every 0.1 seconds.
Traits ours:Magic burstStuns & disables

Our ratings

0–10, our judgement — every planner uses them
EarlyMidLateLaningWave clearTeamfightPickoffDisableDurabilityMobility

Aghanim's upgrades

Upgrade text from Valve · priority is ours Our recommendation
Aghanim's Sceptermedium priority
Freezing Field: Allows you to move, cast and attack during Freezing Field. Can still be interrupted by enemies. You move 75% slower during this. Increases total number of explosions by 20%. Applies Frostbite to any unit that has been standing in the Freezing Field for over 3s.
Aghanim's Shardmedium priority
Crystal Clone — escape + slow.

Tips & counterplay

Playing as Crystal Maiden

Teamfight support. Ward, stay hidden, and Freezing Field from fog.

Laning: Frostbite + autos; Nova to zone.

Kill combo: Frostbite → Nova → autos.

Staying alive: Stay behind creeps; you are the most fragile hero on the map.

From real games (OpenDota)
  • • Most games are in the safe lane (77.2%, 52.4% win rate).
  • • Aghanim's Shard: usually done by 20 min; finishing it by 15 min wins 60.7%.
  • • Blink Dagger: usually done by 25 min; finishing it by 20 min wins 67.1%.
  • • Glimmer Cape: usually done by 25 min; finishing it by 15 min wins 85.3%.

Playing against Crystal Maiden

Generated from this hero's traits, counters and real matchups

Magic burst Black King Bar, Pipe of Insight, Glimmer Cape and Infused Raindrops blunt the burst. Don't stand clumped.

Stuns & disables Black King Bar, Linken's Sphere or Lotus Orb. Spread out so one stun doesn't catch the whole team.

  • • Respect Crystal Maiden at Lvl 6 + BKB/Glimmer: Freezing Field in fog.
  • • Respect Crystal Maiden at Aghanim's: Mobile Freezing Field.

Talents

Current talents (Valve)
+1s Frostbite Duration
25
+300 Crystal Nova Damage
+20% Glacial Guard Mana Spent To Barrier
20
+50 Freezing Field Damage
+100 Frostbite Cast Range
15
-4.5s Crystal Nova Cooldown
+200 Health
10
+12 Intelligence

Best items

Position 5 build Our recommendation
Starting
Early
›
Core
››
Luxury

Power spikes

Our recommendation
Lvl 6 + BKB/GlimmerFreezing Field in fog.
Aghanim'sMobile Freezing Field.

Best skill build

Position 5 Our recommendation
123456789101112131415161718
Q Crystal NovaQQQQ
W FrostbiteWWWW
E Arcane AuraEEEE
R Freezing FieldRRR
T Talent★★

Toughest lane opponents

From our matchup model, adjusted by each opponent's laning rating Our recommendation
Huskar−25
Puck−21
Spectre−13
Axe−13

Live stats OpenDota · 2026-10-14

Public match stats

Win rate (all ranks)
51.7%
Win rate (Divine+)
50.4%
Pick rate
13% of matches
Sample
533,795 picks
Pro
2 picks · 0% WR · 0% ban

Lane presence

safe77.2% · 52.4% WR
off18.2% · 49.2% WR
mid4.5% · 35.4% WR

Win rate by rank

Public matches per medal bracket
54.4%Herald53.2%Guardian52.4%Crusader52%Archon51.2%Legend50.6%Ancient50.4%Divine

Win rate by game length

Minutes · OpenDota parsed games
52.3%10′51%20′50.9%30′49.3%40′50.7%50′49.9%60′

Item timings

When the item is finished, and the timing that wins most (≥15 games)
ItemGamesUsualWin %Best timing
Aghanim's Shard98420′53.5%≤15′ · 60.7%
Blink Dagger72825′58.7%≤20′ · 67.1%
Glimmer Cape51525′54.8%≤15′ · 85.3%
Force Staff19925′52.8%≤25′ · 55.4%
Black King Bar12430′65.3%≤30′ · 75.3%
Ghost Scepter8830′53.4%≤30′ · 60.9%
Aghanim's Scepter7330′58.9%≤30′ · 79.3%
Arcane Boots6415′54.7%≤15′ · 71.4%
Solar Crest4425′56.8%≤25′ · 70%

What players actually buy

Most purchased items by game phase
Start
Early
Mid
Late

Best real matchups

Head-to-head win rate, ≥40 games

Worst real matchups

Head-to-head win rate, ≥40 games

Recent pro & league games

Most recent league matches featuring this hero
LeagueResultK / D / ALengthDate
DreamLeague Season 30 QualifiersLoss3 / 10 / 728′2026-10-11
DreamLeague Season 30 QualifiersLoss0 / 3 / 112′2026-10-10
PARI Universe by FISSURE Closed Qualifiers Loss3 / 13 / 739′2026-10-05
BLAST SLAM VIIIWin3 / 10 / 1446′2026-10-01
BETBOOM Streamers Battle Dota 15Loss2 / 9 / 2136′2026-09-27
BETBOOM Streamers Battle Dota 15Win1 / 10 / 538′2026-09-25
BETBOOM Streamers Battle Dota 15Loss3 / 12 / 1643′2026-09-24
BETBOOM Streamers Battle Dota 15Loss1 / 5 / 1228′2026-09-24

Lore

Born in a temperate realm, raised with her fiery older sister Lina, Rylai the Crystal Maiden soon found that her innate elemental affinity to ice created trouble for all those around her. Wellsprings and mountain rivers froze in moments if she stopped to rest nearby; ripening crops were bitten by frost, and fruiting orchards turned to mazes of ice and came crashing down, spoiled. When their exasperated parents packed Lina off to the equator, Rylai found herself banished to the cold northern realm of Icewrack, where she was taken in by an Ice Wizard who had carved himself a hermitage at the crown of the Blueheart Glacier. After long study, the wizard pronounced her ready for solitary practice and left her to take his place, descending into the glacier to hibernate for a thousand years. Her mastery of the Frozen Arts has only deepened since that time, and now her skills are unmatched.