Ishtar

How to play Ishtar

Ishtar is a ranged hunter from the Babylonian pantheon who deals physical damage. Top players play Ishtar in the Carry (duo) lane.

In your kit, Jolt (dash root backflip) is your way in and out of fights. Jolt (dash root backflip) is your main crowd control. Imbue Arrows (empower attacks three ways) and Rolling Thunder (aimed lightning line) add damage and pressure. Your ultimate is Blades of Retribution (swords out and recall), on a long cooldown (about 90s at rank 1), so save it for fights that matter. Your passive is Mark of Vengeance: mark; attack speed stacks.

Community guides level Imbue Arrows, Jolt and Rolling Thunder first. Max Rolling Thunder first, then Jolt, then Imbue Arrows.

Your basic attacks are most of your damage, so keep attacking whenever it is safe. Stand at the edge of your range behind your front line and hit whoever is closest. Your power grows with every item, so farm safely early and avoid risky fights. Use Jolt to reposition or escape, not to charge in. In the duo lane, last hit minions for gold and let your support start fights.

Start with Sharpshooter's Arrow, then buy Devourer's Gauntlet. Buy it early so it finishes stacking. Your core is Dagger of Frenzy and Dominance, and you finish with The Executioner, Riptalon and Silverbranch Bow. A good relic is Aegis of Acceleration. If the enemy team heals a lot or you keep dying, open the full tool and enter the enemy gods for the exact swaps.

If you own Aspect of the Passionate Storm, it reworks Imbue Arrows (empower attacks three ways), Rolling Thunder (aimed lightning line) and Jolt (dash root backflip). It changes what to build, so turn on Aspect in the tool when you play it.

Top players win most often against Guan Yu, Jing Wei and Hua Mulan, and struggle against Hades, Geb or Sol. Against those, play safer and consider a defensive item earlier.