Overview
Metal Skin is a defensive Tier 3 Vitality item that grants bullet resistance and an active ability providing temporary immunity to incoming bullet damage. Any hero can buy it to survive against enemy weapon carries. It blocks incoming bullet damage for 5s, making it a reactive defense against being shot, not a counter to debuffs like disarm or silence.
Stats
- Cost: 3200 Souls
- Tier: 3 (Vitality)
- +12% Bullet Resist
Active
Become immune to bullets.
- Cooldown: 24s
- Duration: 5s
- -1.5m Active Move Speed Penalty
- -20% Ground Dash Reduction
What It Does and Does Not Do
- Blocks all incoming bullet damage for 5s (the active effect)
- Does NOT counter disarm, silence, or other debuffs. To counter Disarming Hex you need Unstoppable, Dispel Magic, or debuff resistance.
- Does NOT only help “gun carries.” Any hero (spirit or weapon) benefits when the enemy team has strong weapon damage.
- The item is about what damage you TAKE, not what damage you DEAL.
When to Buy
- Against enemy teams with heavy weapon damage (Haze, Wraith, Vindicta, etc.)
- When diving into enemies to block focus fire during engagement
- Counters Haze’s Bullet Dance (blocks bullet damage, though Fixation spirit damage still applies)
- Useful for surviving burst windows from weapon-based characters
Synergies
- Abrams: Allows him to engage aggressively and disrupt the enemy backline without melting to weapon fire.
- Mo & Krill: Provides essential survivability while burrowing or fighting in the middle of the enemy team.