Alchemist in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Alchemist — Strength, melee; roles: Carry, Support, Durable, Disabler, Initiator, Nuker. Public match win rate — 47.4%. In short: Alchemist is strong against Jakiro, Tidehunter, Lion but suffers against Storm Spirit, Luna, Doom.
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Alchemist win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald47.0%
Guardian47.8%
Crusader47.8%
Archon46.9%
Legend46.7%
Ancient46.6%
Divine46.6%
Immortal—
Alchemist is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Alchemist
How to play Alchemist against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs Storm SpiritStorm wants to burst you with magic and zip away: drain his mana and catch him with a stun.45.8%
What to build against it
Black King BarBlocks Vortex, Overload and Ball Lightning damage, leaving Storm with very little damage.
Orchid MalevolenceSilence shuts off Ball Lightning so Storm can't zip out of the fight.
Linken's SphereBlocks the targeted Electric Vortex so he can't pull you into remnants.
Abyssal BladeTargeted lockdown gives you time to kill Storm before he flies away.
How to use the spells of Alchemist
Unstable ConcoctionPre-brew and throw when Storm lands on you; after ulting he has little mana to escape.
Corrosive WeaponryEach hit stacks slow; stay glued to him so he can't walk away without ulting.
Chemical RagePop it when he dives; the regen outlasts his damage and forces more mana spending.
Watch out for Storm Spirit
Electric VortexVortex pulls you onto him and his remnants; don't stand near placed remnants.
Ball LightningHe arrives from anywhere; keep BKB and stun ready and avoid lonely farming on the map edges.
vs LunaLuna farms and pushes faster than you; catch her with a stun and shred her armor, she's fragile.46.0%
What to build against it
Black King BarProtects from Lucent Beam and Eclipse, her main magical burst.
Heaven's HalberdDisarm shuts off her bouncing attacks during the key moment of a fight.
Assault CuirassArmor cuts physical damage from glaives and Lunar Orbit.
Abyssal BladeKeeps fragile Luna locked so she can't run or fight back in melee.
How to use the spells of Alchemist
Acid SprayDrop it under her in fights; armor reduction punishes Luna's low durability.
Unstable ConcoctionA full-brew stun lets you close the gap as a melee hero; without it you won't catch her.
Corrosive WeaponryStacks reduce her base damage and slow her; don't let her walk off after the stun.
Watch out for Luna
EclipseEclipse hurts most on a lone target; fight near creeps or pop BKB.
Moon GlaivesBounces pierce BKB; don't clump with allies while she's attacking.
vs DoomDoom shuts off your ult and regen; the key is not letting him land Doom on you.46.9%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks the targeted Doom, which pierces BKB.
Lotus OrbAn ally can Lotus you and reflect Doom back onto him.
Black King BarStops Infernal Blade and Scorched Earth, though not the ultimate.
Spirit VesselCuts his regen from Scorched Earth and devour.
How to use the spells of Alchemist
Chemical RagePop it before the fight; under Doom you can't cast, and regen stops working.
Unstable ConcoctionStun Doom as he walks into ult range to ruin his initiation.
Corrosive WeaponryStacks reduce his base damage and slow him so he can't chase.
Watch out for Doom
DoomPierces BKB and dispels buffs; carry Linken's and don't stand front-line while it's up.
Infernal BladeBurns by max HP, which hurts tanky Alchemist; avoid long one-on-one trades.
vs PuckPuck dodges your stun and silences you; throw Concoction after Phase Shift and keep a silence ready.48.4%
What to build against it
Orchid MalevolenceSilence shuts off Phase Shift and Ethereal Jaunt so Puck can't escape.
Black King BarProtects from Waning Rift and Dream Coil, which don't pierce BKB.
Abyssal BladeInstant lockdown catches Puck before he can Phase Shift.
Magic WandPuck spams spells, so charges help survive his magic damage.
How to use the spells of Alchemist
Unstable ConcoctionDon't throw instantly; wait for Puck to exit Phase Shift or the stun is wasted.
Unstable Concoction ThrowAvoid brewing when Waning Rift is ready; silence can leave the brew exploding on you.
Chemical RageBig regen outlasts his burst in lane and fights.
Watch out for Puck
Dream CoilDon't try to break it, snapping stuns; fight inside the coil or BKB.
Phase ShiftThe immunity is brief; wait it out, then hit and stun.
vs TinyTiny bursts with Avalanche + Toss and smashes with trees; cut his damage and keep BKB ready.48.7%
What to build against it
Black King BarBlocks Avalanche's stun and damage, ruining his combo.
Assault CuirassArmor cuts his physical tree hits and Tree Volley.
Heaven's HalberdDisarm shuts off Tiny's heavy tree attacks.
Blade MailReflects his huge physical damage back at him.
How to use the spells of Alchemist
Corrosive WeaponryBase damage reduction is great against Tiny, whose damage is mostly base.
Acid SprayDrop it on Tiny; armor reduction speeds up killing even a tanky hero.
Chemical RagePop it after his combo; regen heals you while his cooldowns are down.
Watch out for Tiny
AvalancheRepeated stuns plus Toss are his burst; keep distance and BKB ready.
Tree GrabWith a tree he gains splash and range; don't clump with allies.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Alchemist builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Gauntlets of Strength25%
Iron Branch22%
Tango15%
Quelling Blade15%
Magic Stick11%
Faerie Fire4%
Circlet2%Early game
Boots of Speed25%
Soul Ring22%
Chainmail21%
Phase Boots20%
Sacred Relic3%
Power Treads3%
Ogre Axe2%Mid game
Ogre Axe12%
Radiance11%
Talisman of Evasion10%Sacred Relic10%
Blink Dagger9%
Mithril Hammer8%Black King Bar7%Late game
Aghanim's Scepter16%Assault Cuirass9%
Sange8%
Skull Basher8%Abyssal Blade8%
Hyperstone7%
Reaver5%Starting items
Iron Branch22%Tango15%Magic Stick11%Faerie Fire4%
Observer Ward3%Early game
Boots of Speed25%Soul Ring22%Chainmail21%Phase Boots20%Power Treads3%Mid game
Ogre Axe12%Talisman of Evasion10%Blink Dagger9%Mithril Hammer8%
Blade of Alacrity6%Late game
Sange8%Hyperstone7%Situational items on Alchemist: when to buy
red — heroes that counter AlchemistOrchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Alchemist: Storm Spirit, Puck
Queen of Pain
Anti-Mage
Ember Spirit
WeaverLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Alchemist: Doom
Legion Commander
Bane
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
Shadow Shaman
Necrophos
Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Alchemist: Storm Spirit
Medusa
Leshrac
Skywrath MageLotus OrbReflects targeted spells and dispelsEspecially vs heroes that counter Alchemist: Doom
Lina
Shadow DemonBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damage
Zeus
Earthshaker
Invoker
Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly
Phantom Assassin
Brewmaster
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)
Bristleback
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Ursa
Axe
Manta StyleDispels silences and roots
Silencer
Death Prophet
Riki
Drow RangerHeaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carries
Troll Warlord
Juggernaut
Sven
Faceless VoidWhy players lose on Alchemist
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0Not enough analyzed Alchemist matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Alchemist?
Alchemist loses most often against Storm Spirit, Luna, Doom. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Alchemist good against?
Best matchups: Jakiro, Tidehunter, Lion.
What is Alchemist's win rate?
In public matches — 47.4%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Alchemist?
In the mid game players most often buy Ogre Axe, Radiance, Talisman of Evasion. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
