Axe in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Axe — Strength, melee; roles: Initiator, Durable, Disabler, Carry. Public match win rate — 50.7%. In short: Axe is strong against Silencer, Bristleback, Techies but suffers against Bane, Monkey King, Abaddon.
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Axe win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald52.5%
Guardian52.1%
Crusader51.9%
Archon51.0%
Legend50.2%
Ancient49.7%
Divine48.7%
Immortal—
Axe is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Axe
How to play Axe against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs BaneBane catches you with Nightmare and Fiend's Grip before you initiate — engage from fog and carry protection against targeted spells.37.8%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks Nightmare or Fiend's Grip, both Unit Target, removing Bane's key disable.
Lotus OrbReflects Fiend's Grip, Nightmare and Enfeeble back onto Bane.
Blink DaggerEngage from fog before Bane can put you to sleep on approach.
Black King BarProtects from Nightmare and Enfeeble, but Fiend's Grip and Brain Sap pierce BKB.
How to use the spells of Axe
Berserker's CallCall interrupts Fiend's Grip channel — jump on Bane when he grips an ally.
Culling BladeBane is often unprotected — finish him with Culling to reset cooldown and speed up your team.
Battle HungerApply it to Bane in lane: the damage pressures him and the slow punishes retreating.
Watch out for Bane
Fiend's GripPierces BKB — don't initiate in Bane's sight, wait for him to burn his ultimate.
NightmareDon't auto-attack Nightmared allies — the Nightmare passes to you.
vs Monkey KingMonkey King outtrades you with lifesteal — don't stand against Jingu without Call and cut his healing.40.5%
What to build against it
Blade MailReturns physical damage from Jingu charged hits and Boundless Strike.
Spirit VesselCuts the Jingu Mastery lifesteal he wins fights with.
Black King BarProtects from Boundless Strike stun and Primal Spring slow.
Quelling BladeCut the tree he's perched on — he falls and gets stunned.
How to use the spells of Axe
Berserker's CallCall when he's inside his own Wukong's Command — your Helix keeps spinning on him.
Battle HungerApply it before he jumps to a tree — damage puts Tree Dance on cooldown.
Culling BladeFinish him as soon as he leaves Mischief — don't let Jingu heal him back.
Watch out for Monkey King
Boundless StrikeLine stun with crit damage — don't line up with him before blinking in.
Wukong's CommandSoldiers target only heroes — don't fight inside the circle, walk out or BKB.
vs AbaddonAbaddon dispels your control with Aphotic Shield and survives with Borrowed Time — bait his ult and cut healing.42.6%
What to build against it
Spirit VesselReduces healing from Mist Coil and Borrowed Time.
NullifierRemoves Aphotic Shield from the target and keeps Abaddon from casting.
Black King BarProtects from Curse of Avernus slow and Mist Coil magic damage.
How to use the spells of Axe
Battle HungerAphotic Shield strong-dispels — apply Hunger after the shield is used.
Berserker's CallTaunt the carry, not Abaddon: your Helix on him during Borrowed Time only heals him.
Culling BladeDon't spend Culling while Borrowed Time is up — force the ult, then strike.
Watch out for Abaddon
Borrowed TimeDuring the ult damage heals him — stop hitting him and switch targets.
Aphotic ShieldDispels Call and Hunger off allies — initiate when the shield is on cooldown.
vs Keeper of the LightKotL pushes you away with Blinding Light and pokes with magic — go in with BKB and kill him first.42.7%
What to build against it
Black King BarProtects from Blinding Light knockback, Solar Bind and Will-O-Wisp.
Blink DaggerLets you catch fast Bright Speed KotL and interrupt Illuminate.
Pipe of InsightReduces Illuminate magic damage for the whole team.
How to use the spells of Axe
Berserker's CallCall interrupts the Illuminate channel — jump when you see him charging the wave.
Battle HungerPut it on KotL: he runs with his back to you and gets slowed.
Culling BladeKotL is fragile — finish him with Culling and speed your team onto the next target.
Watch out for Keeper of the Light
Blinding LightKnocks back and blinds — blink after he casts it or under BKB.
Will-O-WispPulls you toward it — stay away from it and save BKB for fights.
vs Ember SpiritEmber is slippery with Fire Remnant and roots with chains — catch him on landing and stop his casts.43.5%
What to build against it
Black King BarProtects from Searing Chains and magic damage from remnants and Immolation.
Blade MailReturns Sleight of Fist physical damage back to Ember.
Orchid MalevolenceSilence stops him from activating Fire Remnant to escape.
Blink DaggerLets you instantly catch Ember after his dash.
How to use the spells of Axe
Berserker's CallCall when he returns from Sleight or lands on a remnant.
Battle HungerHunger is pure damage, Flame Guard doesn't absorb it; use it in lane.
Culling BladeFinish instantly — hesitate and he escapes via remnant.
Watch out for Ember Spirit
Searing ChainsRoots you in place — keep BKB so you don't get stuck out of the fight.
Sleight of FistPierces BKB — answer with Blade Mail and wait at his return point.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Axe builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Gauntlets of Strength33%
Iron Branch27%
Ring of Protection14%
Tango10%
Faerie Fire5%
Magic Stick4%
Circlet3%Early game
Boots of Speed21%
Chainmail21%
Phase Boots20%
Splintmail12%
Bracer10%
Broadsword5%
Ring of Health2%Mid game
Blink Dagger19%
Ogre Axe15%Blade Mail14%
Mithril Hammer12%Broadsword11%Black King Bar9%
Aghanim's Shard6%Late game
Black King Bar15%
Reaver11%
Shiva's Guard9%
Heart of Tarrasque8%
Soul Booster5%
Yasha4%
Octarine Core3%Situational items on Axe: when to buy
red — heroes that counter AxeBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Axe: Bane
Lion
Shadow Shaman
Lina
Zeus
Skywrath Mage
Earthshaker
Tidehunter
InvokerLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Axe: Bane
Doom
Legion Commander
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
NecrophosOrchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Axe: Ember Spirit
Storm Spirit
Queen of Pain
Anti-Mage
Void Spirit
Weaver
Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Axe: Leshrac
Medusa
Eternal ShroudAgainst magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Axe: Leshrac
Pipe of InsightTeam-wide magic shieldEspecially vs heroes that counter Axe: Leshrac
Jakiro
Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly
Phantom Assassin
Windranger
Brewmaster
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Timbersaw
Axe
Manta StyleDispels silences and roots
Death Prophet
Riki
Drow RangerWhy players lose on Axe
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0Not enough analyzed Axe matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Axe?
Axe loses most often against Bane, Monkey King, Abaddon. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Axe good against?
Best matchups: Silencer, Bristleback, Techies.
What is Axe's win rate?
In public matches — 50.7%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Axe?
In the mid game players most often buy Blink Dagger, Ogre Axe, Blade Mail. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
