Lion in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Lion — Intelligence, ranged; roles: Support, Disabler, Nuker, Initiator. Public match win rate — 48.7%. In short: Lion is strong against Grimstroke, Sven, Bristleback but suffers against Treant Protector, Pangolier, Undying.
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Lion win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald48.8%
Guardian48.7%
Crusader48.9%
Archon48.5%
Legend48.5%
Ancient48.5%
Divine48.6%
Immortal—
Lion is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Lion
How to play Lion against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs Treant ProtectorKeep Treant hexed before Overgrowth and never waste Finger into Living Armor.40.6%
What to build against it
Sentry WardNature's Guise makes Treant invisible near trees; sentries stop his surprise approach.
Dust of AppearanceReveals Treant in the trees so you can Hex him before Overgrowth.
Blink DaggerOvergrowth stops blinking, so keep distance and blink before his cast, not after.
How to use the spells of Lion
HexSave Hex for Treant: when he steps out of the trees, hex him before he presses Overgrowth.
Mana DrainDrain Treant's mana in lane; his ultimate is expensive and without mana he can't start fights.
Finger of DeathDon't Finger a target with Living Armor; the block eats damage. Wait for it to drop or pick another target.
Watch out for Treant Protector
OvergrowthPierces BKB and blocks blinking. Stand away from Treant and don't clump with your team in chokes.
Living ArmorBlocks hero damage; strip it with attacks or Earth Spike first, then Finger.
vs PangolierPangolier is only catchable outside the ball — hold Hex for when he stops rolling.42.4%
What to build against it
Force StaffLets you dodge Rolling Thunder's path, since the ball turns poorly.
Ghost ScepterBall and Swashbuckle deal physical damage; ethereal form negates it.
Aeon DiskSaves you from a quick ball plus Swashbuckle burst you can't react to.
How to use the spells of Lion
HexHex Pangolier while his ult is up and he's not rolling; a hexed Pango can't start Rolling Thunder.
Finger of DeathThe ball has 80% magic resist; Finger only after the roll or Roll Up ends.
Earth SpikeDon't Spike into the ball; it's debuff immune. Spike the moment he exits the ult.
Watch out for Pangolier
Rolling ThunderStand near walls where the ball struggles to turn, and don't clump with allies.
SwashbucklePierces BKB; don't line up behind allies, he slashes everyone in the direction.
vs UndyingAvoid Decay, cut Soul Rip healing, and save Hex for Flesh Golem.42.8%
What to build against it
Spirit VesselReduces Soul Rip healing that sustains Undying and his team.
Force StaffPushes you out of Tombstone and away from Flesh Golem's slowing hits.
Magic WandUndying spams Decay, so Wand charges fast for survival.
Glimmer CapeMagic resist against Decay and Soul Rip, invisibility helps escape zombies.
How to use the spells of Lion
HexHex Undying when he pops Flesh Golem and runs in; it wastes the transformation.
Mana DrainDrain him in lane; Decay costs 100 mana, without it he can't steal strength.
Finger of DeathFinger Undying only when your team can finish; he's very tanky.
Watch out for Undying
DecaySteals strength and HP; Lion is fragile. Don't stand bunched with allies under Decay.
TombstoneZombies spawn next to every enemy; leave Tombstone's area or have your team break it.
vs Earth SpiritEarth Spirit is slippery — interrupt Rolling Boulder with a stun and keep Hex for his engage.43.4%
What to build against it
Force StaffEscapes Magnetize range and remnant setups after Boulder Smash.
Glimmer CapeAll of Earth Spirit's damage is magical; magic resist cuts it hard.
Magic WandHe casts constantly, so Wand charges quickly.
Blink DaggerCloses distance fast to Hex him after a roll.
How to use the spells of Lion
Earth SpikeRolling Boulder stops on stun; throw Earth Spike into his rolling path.
HexHex Earth Spirit right after he rolls in; hexed, he can't press Magnetize.
Mana DrainDrain his mana in lane; his multi-spell combos are mana hungry.
Watch out for Earth Spirit
MagnetizePierces BKB and refreshes off remnants; leave the area and don't clump.
Geomagnetic GripPulled remnants silence; cast Hex and Spike early, don't hold them too long.
vs Monkey KingInterrupt Primal Spring with a stun and leave Wukong's Command instead of standing in it.43.8%
What to build against it
Force StaffPushes you out of Wukong's Command ring where soldiers hit only heroes.
Ghost ScepterMK's and soldiers' attacks are physical; ethereal form negates them.
Aeon DiskSaves you from a crit Boundless Strike plus Jingu Mastery charged hits.
TangoEat the tree MK is perched on; he falls and gets stunned.
How to use the spells of Lion
Earth SpikePrimal Spring is channeled; interrupt it with Earth Spike when MK starts charging from the tree.
HexHex MK before his ult; hexed, he can't cast Wukong's Command.
Finger of DeathMK is invulnerable during Changing of the Guard; Finger once he's back in true form.
Watch out for Monkey King
Boundless StrikeLine stun with True Strike; don't line up with allies, stay off-angle.
Wukong's CommandSoldiers only hit heroes; leave the circle immediately, don't fight inside it.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Lion builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch24%Tango14%
Blood Grenade12%
Faerie Fire11%Sentry Ward7%
Magic Stick6%Early game
Boots of Speed59%
Tranquil Boots30%Mid game
Force Staff5%Ghost Scepter4%Late game
Force Staff24%Glimmer Cape17%
Aether Lens10%
Eul's Scepter of Divinity6%Situational items on Lion: when to buy
red — heroes that counter Lion
Alchemist
Necrophos
Huskar
Lifestealer
Morphling
Oracle
IoDust of AppearanceReveal invisible heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Lion: Treant Protector
Riki
Clinkz
Bounty Hunter
Weaver
Nyx Assassin
Mirana
Invoker
Templar Assassin
Sand King
Lotus OrbReflects targeted spells and dispelsEspecially vs heroes that counter Lion: Doom
Lion
Lina
Legion Commander
Bane
Shadow Demon
Heaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carries
Phantom Assassin
Juggernaut
Ursa
Slark
Faceless Void
Drow RangerAeon DiskSaves you from burst and single-target combos
ZeusSentry WardReveal invisible heroes and deward
Glimmer CapeSave an ally from magic and focus
Skywrath Mage
Leshrac
Jakiro
Pudge
Clockwerk
Disruptor
Pipe of InsightTeam-wide magic shield
Queen of PainWhy players lose on Lion
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 3Not enough analyzed Lion matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Lion?
Lion loses most often against Treant Protector, Pangolier, Undying. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Lion good against?
Best matchups: Grimstroke, Sven, Bristleback.
What is Lion's win rate?
In public matches — 48.7%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Lion?
In the mid game players most often buy Blink Dagger, Staff of Wizardry, Force Staff. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
