> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/DarkoniusXNG/Legends-of-Dota-Redux/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# abilities.kv

> Master list of all selectable abilities and their bracket categories.

`abilities.kv` is the authoritative list of every ability that can appear on the Legends of Dota Redux skill-select screen. It is loaded at game start and drives what players can choose when drafting their build.

## Top-Level Structure

The file has two top-level blocks inside the root `"Abilities"` key:

| Block            | Purpose                                                                                              |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `skills`         | All ability brackets — the main pickable pool, neutrals, OP abilities, single-player abilities, etc. |
| `heroToSkillMap` | Optional per-hero starting ability overrides (most entries are commented out).                       |

## Ability Brackets

Brackets are named sub-blocks inside `skills`. Each bracket groups abilities that share a category or restriction.

| Bracket                 | Description                                                                                                               |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `main`                  | The primary pool. All standard and custom abilities available in normal games.                                            |
| `neutral`               | Neutral creep abilities, further sub-divided by creature archetype group (e.g. `alpha_wolf_group`, `black_dragon_group`). |
| `brawler`               | Brawler-class abilities (melee-only reversed Marksmanship variants).                                                      |
| `spell_lab`             | Spell Lab custom abilities.                                                                                               |
| `oneshotonekill`        | One-shot/one-kill combo abilities.                                                                                        |
| `overflow`              | Overflow custom abilities from the Overflow ability pack.                                                                 |
| `angel_arena_blackstar` | Angel Arena Blackstar abilities.                                                                                          |
| `resurgence`            | Resurgence abilities.                                                                                                     |
| `radiant_jungle`        | Radiant Jungle abilities.                                                                                                 |
| `overflow_ult`          | Overflow ultimate abilities.                                                                                              |
| `mercy`                 | Mercy abilities.                                                                                                          |
| `holdout`               | Holdout abilities.                                                                                                        |
| `item_abilities`        | Abilities derived from items.                                                                                             |
| `cherub_abilities`      | Cherub hero abilities.                                                                                                    |
| `uther_abiliites`       | Uther hero abilities.                                                                                                     |
| `proteus_abiliites`     | Proteus hero abilities.                                                                                                   |

The numbers assigned to each ability entry (`"1"`) are used internally for network-encoding ability selections and for the encryption layer — they are not ability levels.

## File Format

```
"Abilities"
{
    "skills"
    {
        "main"
        {
            // Custom redux ability
            "morph_int_str_redux"                 "1"  // custom

            // Standard Dota ability
            "pudge_flesh_heap"                    "1"

            // Commented-out sub-ability (excluded from picking)
            //"alchemist_unstable_concoction_throw"  "1"  // sub-ability of Unstable Concoction
        }

        "neutral"
        {
            "alpha_wolf_group"
            {
                "alpha_wolf_critical_strike"      "1"
                "berserker_troll_break"           "1"
                "ghost_frost_attack"              "1"
                "gnoll_assassin_envenomed_weapon" "1"
                "kobold_disarm"                   "1"
            }
        }
    }

    "heroToSkillMap"
    {
        // "npc_dota_hero_abaddon"
        // {
        //     "1"  "abaddon_aphotic_shield"
        // }
    }
}
```

<Note>
  Sub-abilities (e.g. `alchemist_unstable_concoction_throw`, the throw sub-ability of Unstable Concoction) are intentionally commented out. Showing them on the pick screen would allow players to select a sub-ability without its parent, causing broken behaviour.
</Note>

## Real Snippet

The following is taken directly from the top of the `main` bracket:

```
"main"
{
    "morph_int_str_redux"                 "1"  // custom
    "morph_str_int_redux"                 "1"  // custom
    "morph_agi_int_redux"                 "1"  // custom
    "morph_int_agi_redux"                 "1"  // custom
    "keeper_of_the_light_innate_redux"    "1"  // custom
    "night_stalker_innate_redux"          "1"  // custom
    "skywrath_mage_concussive_break"      "1"  // custom

    "abaddon_aphotic_shield"              "1"
    "abaddon_borrowed_time"               "1"
    "abaddon_death_coil"                  "1"
    "abaddon_frostmourne"                 "1"
    "abyssal_underlord_atrophy_aura"      "1"
    "abyssal_underlord_dark_rift"         "1"
    "abyssal_underlord_firestorm"         "1"
    "abyssal_underlord_pit_of_malice"     "1"
    ...
}
```

Abilities marked `// custom` are Redux-specific Lua implementations. Unmarked abilities are standard Dota 2 abilities that work as-is.

## Adding an Ability

1. **Define the ability** — either add a KV entry to `npc_abilities_custom.txt` (for a Lua-backed ability) or confirm it already exists in the base game.
2. **Add the line** to the appropriate bracket in `abilities.kv`:
   ```
   "my_new_ability"    "1"
   ```
3. **Comment out sub-abilities** if your ability spawns sub-abilities that should not be independently selectable.
4. **Restart the server** (or reload KVs via the dev console) so the updated file is loaded.

<Tip>
  If an ability crashes the server or has known bugs, comment it out with a descriptive note rather than deleting the line — this makes it easy to re-enable once the bug is fixed.
</Tip>