Kez in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Kez — Agility, melee; roles: Carry, Escape, Disabler. Public match win rate — 45.1%. In short: Kez is strong against Disruptor, Underlord, Tiny but suffers against Treant Protector, Windranger, Largo.
Lost the game?Paste a match ID — we show who threw and why: deaths, lanes, items, map replay.
Kez win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald46.2%
Guardian46.9%
Crusader45.3%
Archon44.8%
Legend44.5%
Ancient43.7%
Divine44.1%
Immortal—
Kez is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Kez
How to play Kez against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs Treant ProtectorBreak Living Armor and cut healing, and don't get caught in Overgrowth without a plan, since it pierces BKB.43.5%
What to build against it
Spirit VesselCuts healing from Leech Seed and Living Armor that Treant uses to sustain allies.
NullifierDispels Living Armor from the target you are focusing.
Manta StyleRemoves the Leech Seed root and disarm so you can keep fighting.
Black King BarProtects from Nature's Grasp and Leech Seed, but not from Overgrowth.
How to use the spells of Kez
Shodo SaiParry toward Treant to block his Leech Seed attack and stun-mark him.
Raptor DanceBasic dispel clears slow and root; under Overgrowth you can't attack, but Raptor Dance still casts.
Echo SlashDouble-hit Echo Slash quickly chips Living Armor, since each hit reduces its block.
Watch out for Treant Protector
OvergrowthPierces BKB and blocks blink and invis — don't group up near an invisible Treant.
Living ArmorTrack who gets Living Armor and switch to an unbuffed target.
vs WindrangerCatch her before Windrun: silence first, and parry Focus Fire with Shodo Sai.45.0%
What to build against it
Monkey King BarPierces Windrun evasion, otherwise you just miss.
Linken's SphereBlocks the unit-target Shackleshot, her key disable.
Black King BarProtects from Shackleshot, Powershot and Gale Force in fights.
BloodthornSilence stops Windrun, and its true strike beats evasion.
How to use the spells of Kez
Talon TossThrow the silence before she can use Windrun or Shackleshot.
Shodo SaiWhen she Focus Fires, parry toward her to block attacks and stun her.
Grappling ClawGrapple straight onto her to slow her and stop the Windrun escape.
Watch out for Windranger
ShackleshotDon't stand with a tree or ally behind you in line from her — that's the long stun.
Focus FirePierces BKB — answer with Shodo Sai parry or break her vision.
vs LargoSilence Largo to cut his songs and reduce his team's healing.45.9%
What to build against it
Black King BarProtects from Frogstomp ministuns and Catchy Lick damage.
Linken's SphereBlocks unit-target Catchy Lick that pulls and dispels you.
Spirit VesselReduces healing from Island Elixir and Largo's regen.
How to use the spells of Kez
Talon TossSilence during Amphibian Rhapsody stops his songs, healing and buffs.
Grappling ClawLeave the Frogstomp zone by grappling to a tree or enemy outside it.
Raptor DanceBasic dispel removes Frogstomp slow — cast when right next to enemies.
Watch out for Largo
FrogstompRepeated ministun zone — don't fight inside it, step out immediately.
Catchy LickPulls and dispels buffs — don't rely on invisibility near him.
vs TidehunterKeep BKB for Ravage, hit big through Kraken Shell, and use Raptor Dance against his large HP pool.47.8%
What to build against it
Black King BarRavage doesn't pierce BKB — your main answer to his initiation.
Linken's SphereBlocks unit-target Gush and Dead in the Water.
DaedalusBig crits lose less to Kraken Shell's flat block.
How to use the spells of Kez
Raptor DancePure max-health damage — your best tool against a tanky Tide.
Kazurai KatanaKraken removes debuffs after big damage — impale after it triggers so stacks aren't wasted.
Grappling ClawUse it to escape the Dead in the Water leash if you can't break the anchor fast.
Watch out for Tidehunter
RavageDon't commit until Ravage is used or your BKB is ready.
Dead in the WaterThe anchor breaks in 4 hero attacks — destroy it yourself or with an ally.
vs JakiroAll of Jakiro's damage is magical — BKB and a quick jump on him decide the matchup.48.0%
What to build against it
Black King BarNeither Ice Path nor Macropyre pierces BKB.
Manta StyleRemoves slows from Dual Breath and Liquid Frost.
Orchid MalevolenceSilencing fragile Jakiro stops Ice Path and Macropyre.
How to use the spells of Kez
Grappling ClawGrapple straight onto Jakiro, skipping the Ice Path, and finish him.
Talon TossSilence right after landing, before he casts Ice Path.
Raptor DanceBasic dispel clears slows from Dual Breath and Liquid Frost.
Watch out for Jakiro
Ice PathLine stun — don't run through narrow paths straight at Jakiro.
MacropyreLeave the fire sideways immediately, not along the line.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Kez builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch29%
Faerie Fire19%
Circlet18%
Tango13%
Quelling Blade9%
Magic Stick7%
Magic Wand3%Early game
Boots of Speed23%
Power Treads23%
Ring of Health21%
Void Stone14%
Perseverance12%
Cloak4%
Wraith Band2%Mid game
Mithril Hammer29%
Ogre Axe12%
Mage Slayer11%
Desolator11%
Blade of Alacrity8%Perseverance6%Black King Bar5%Late game
Aghanim's Scepter12%
Demon Edge12%
Crystalys10%
Blink Dagger9%Daedalus8%Black King Bar6%
Eaglesong6%Situational items on Kez: when to buy
red — heroes that counter KezBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Kez: Tidehunter
Lion
Shadow Shaman
Lina
Zeus
Skywrath Mage
Earthshaker
Invoker
BaneMonkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and ButterflyEspecially vs heroes that counter Kez: Windranger
Phantom Assassin
BrewmasterOrchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Kez: Ember Spirit
Storm Spirit
Queen of Pain
Puck
Anti-Mage
Void Spirit
WeaverNullifierDispels saves: Ghost, Glimmer, Eul's, WindrunEspecially vs heroes that counter Kez: Windranger
Omniknight
Oracle
Pipe of InsightTeam-wide magic shieldEspecially vs heroes that counter Kez: Jakiro
Leshrac
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)
Bristleback
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Ursa
Timbersaw
AxeLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimates
Doom
Legion Commander
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
NecrophosManta StyleDispels silences and roots
Silencer
Death Prophet
Riki
Drow Ranger
Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroes
MedusaWhy players lose on Kez
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0Not enough analyzed Kez matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Kez?
Kez loses most often against Treant Protector, Windranger, Largo. What to build and how to play vs them →
What is Kez's win rate?
In public matches — 45.1%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Kez?
In the mid game players most often buy Mithril Hammer, Ogre Axe, Mage Slayer. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
