Dota 2 · Vengeful Spirit · Nether Swap
Why did Vengeful Spirit Swap cancel an ally’s channel?
On this page
Nether Swap interrupts channeling on its target, including an allied target. A rescue swap can therefore save a hero’s position while also ending the action that hero was channeling.
What to do next ↓ · Find the failure cause ↓Mechanics source checked October 17, 2026 · Not match-tested · Practical recommendations are editorial, not guaranteed outcomes.
Identify this ability in your client: Nether Swap. Icon © Valve. Official Vengeful Spirit page.
A successful save is not just moving a teammate away from danger. You also need to consider what the teammate is doing at that moment, particularly if your team is relying on that channel.
What to do, in order
- Check whether the ally is channeling before selecting a rescue target.
- Compare the immediate danger with the value of allowing that channel to continue. If death is imminent, ending the channel may be an acceptable trade.
- Tell the teammate when possible so they do not plan around finishing an action that you are about to interrupt.
- After swapping, account for both new positions. Vengeful Spirit takes the other side of the exchange.
- Confirm what happened to the ally’s action and barrier, then use the new positions rather than continuing the pre-swap plan.
Match the symptom to the cause
My ally’s channel ended even though I targeted a friend
The channel-interruption note is not restricted to enemy targets. Friendly targeting is not an exception.
The rescue moved the danger onto me
Swap exchanges positions. Treat your arrival point as part of the decision rather than a free displacement.
I expected a permanent defensive effect
The base barrier duration is ten seconds. It is a temporary component of the ability, not a permanent armor increase.
See the ability in the game
Apply it to one concrete situation
Your ally is channeling while an enemy closes in. Swapping immediately may prevent the incoming attack but also interrupt the channel. The useful decision is whether preserving the hero outweighs completing that action—not whether the spell can target an ally.
Current base tooltip values
Values below are the unmodified fields in Valve’s dated English ability data. Slash-separated entries are listed level values, not a recommended skill build. Read the field label: damage, range, duration and percentages have different meanings. Upgrades and modifiers can change your client’s values.
| Tooltip field | Listed base value(s) |
|---|---|
| Mana cost | 100 / 150 / 200 |
| Cooldown (seconds) | 46 / 38 / 30 |
| SHIELD DURATION | 10 |
| DAMAGE/SHIELD | 150 / 300 / 450 |
Limits that matter
This page does not list every interruption exception or promise that a barrier saves a particular amount of incoming damage after modifiers. Read the current tooltip for the exact upgraded state.
Related questions
Can Swap target teammates?
Yes. The current description explicitly permits a friendly or enemy hero target.
Does a swap ignore all terrain consequences?
Valve notes that nearby trees are destroyed, but that is not a promise that the resulting position is safe. Check the destination before casting.
Sources and review date
Valve’s English Vengeful Spirit ability data, retrieved October 17, 2026, supplies the mechanics and numeric fields used here. Valve’s official hero page supplies the ability identity and official presentation. Our diagnostic sequence and worked situations are independently written explanations, not copied match reports. No ranked win-rate, personal playtest or current item-build claim is made.