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Monkey King in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Monkey King — Agility, melee; roles: Carry, Escape, Disabler, Initiator. Public match win rate — 45.9%. In short: Monkey King is strong against Skywrath Mage, Axe, Underlord but suffers against Dawnbreaker, Slardar, Snapfire.
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Monkey King win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald44.8%
Guardian44.8%
Crusader45.0%
Archon45.4%
Legend45.9%
Ancient46.8%
Divine46.8%
Immortal—
Monkey King is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Monkey King
How to play Monkey King against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs DawnbreakerNever stand in front of her Starbreaker and cut Solar Guardian healing — she wins long fights.44.4%
What to build against it
Spirit VesselCuts the ally healing from Solar Guardian pulses and Dawnbreaker's sustain in long fights.
Black King BarBlocks Celestial Hammer magic damage and slow, but Starbreaker and Solar Guardian pierce BKB.
Abyssal BladeTargeted disable to stop her Starbreaker spin before the final smash.
Eye of SkadiSlows her so she can't chase or escape freely with Converge.
How to use the spells of Monkey King
Changing of the GuardInside Wukong's Command, swap into a soldier as her final smash or ult landing hits — invulnerability dodges the stun.
Tree DanceHop onto a tree when she starts Starbreaker, then come back with Primal Spring after the stun.
Boundless StrikeCast right after her Converge — she lands on a predictable line.
Watch out for Dawnbreaker
StarbreakerPierces BKB and stuns in front on the third swing — step sideways or behind her.
Solar GuardianPierces BKB; once you see the zone, leave immediately or eat the landing stun.
vs SlardarSlardar catches you with Sprint + Crush and shreds armor — stack armor, escape via trees, deny bash chains.46.0%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks Corrosive Haze, which cuts armor and gives him vision and true sight.
Black King BarSaves you from Slithereen Crush stun, though Bash of the Deep still pierces BKB.
Assault CuirassOffsets Haze armor reduction and boosts your damage against him.
ButterflyEvasion makes it harder for him to land attacks toward his bash.
How to use the spells of Monkey King
Tree DanceSee Guardian Sprint — jump to a tree before he reaches Crush range; damage on ground puts it on cooldown.
Boundless StrikeStun him from range in a line without entering Crush radius.
Wukong's CommandUlt's bonus armor partly offsets Haze — fight inside the ring, not on his puddle.
Watch out for Slardar
Slithereen CrushShort cooldown; don't stand point-blank when he Sprints at you.
Corrosive HazeGrants true sight — Mischief and hiding won't help, just leave the area.
vs SnapfireAll her damage is magical — get BKB and stay close where Mortimer Kisses can't reach.47.4%
What to build against it
Black King BarScatterblast, Kisses and Spit Out don't pierce BKB.
Eternal ShroudMagic resistance against firespit pools and Scatterblast.
Orchid MalevolenceSilence stops her from cookie-hopping away from you.
Blink DaggerInstantly closes distance to her during her ult.
How to use the spells of Monkey King
Primal SpringSpring from a tree right onto her — up close Kisses can't hit due to minimum range.
Tree DanceHop trees to leave firespit pools instead of standing in the slow.
Boundless StrikeStun her during her ult — her turn rate is reduced, easy to land.
Watch out for Snapfire
Mortimer Kisses600 minimum range — either close in or keep changing direction.
ScatterblastPoint-blank deals more damage and slow — don't walk in head-on without a stun.
vs Shadow ShamanShaman locks you with Hex and Shackles — get Linken's/BKB and kill him first, away from wards.48.1%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks a targeted Hex or Shackles.
Black King BarHex, Shackles and Ether Shock don't pierce BKB; wards do.
Lotus OrbReflects Hex or Shackles back onto Shaman.
How to use the spells of Monkey King
Boundless StrikeStun Shaman while he channels Shackles on an ally — it breaks the channel.
Primal SpringSpring onto him from a tree outside his Hex cast range.
Tree DanceTrapped by wards — hop to a tree outside the ring, don't stay hitting wards.
Watch out for Shadow Shaman
HexHexed you're useless — have Linken's or BKB ready before engaging.
Mass Serpent WardWards pierce BKB and are magic immune — leave the ring instead of tanking.
vs HoodwinkAvoid fighting near trees vs Bushwhack and dodge Sharpshooter — its break shuts off Jingu Mastery.48.2%
What to build against it
Black King BarSharpshooter, Acorn Shot and Boomerang don't pierce BKB.
HarpoonPulls you to her so she can't Scurry away through trees.
Abyssal BladeTargeted disable to finish her before Scurry or Decoy.
Dust of AppearanceReveals her Decoy invisibility.
How to use the spells of Monkey King
Boundless StrikeStrike through the treeline when she hides in the woods.
Tree DanceDon't linger near trees for Bushwhack; perch only after her net is used.
Wukong's CommandCast ult in open ground — away from trees Bushwhack won't stun.
Watch out for Hoodwink
BushwhackOnly stuns near trees, including Acorn Shot's tree — fight in the open.
SharpshooterSee the charge — sidestep the line; its break disables Jingu Mastery.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Monkey King builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch33%
Circlet16%
Tango14%
Faerie Fire11%
Quelling Blade8%
Slippers of Agility7%
Magic Stick5%Early game
Boots of Speed28%
Power Treads26%
Wraith Band14%
Blade of Alacrity7%
Void Stone5%
Ogre Axe4%
Broadsword3%Mid game
Mithril Hammer23%Ogre Axe15%Broadsword8%
Desolator7%Black King Bar6%Blade of Alacrity5%
Echo Sabre5%Late game
Ultimate Orb15%Black King Bar9%
Demon Edge8%Eye of Skadi7%
Skull Basher5%
Sacred Relic5%Harpoon5%Situational items on Monkey King: when to buy
red — heroes that counter Monkey KingLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Monkey King: Doom, Beastmaster, Shadow Shaman
Legion Commander
Bane
Lion
Batrider
Pudge
NecrophosBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Monkey King: Shadow Shaman
Lina
Zeus
Earthshaker
Tidehunter
InvokerOrchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Monkey King: Puck
Storm Spirit
Queen of Pain
Anti-Mage
Ember Spirit
Void Spirit
Weaver
Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly
Phantom Assassin
Windranger
Brewmaster
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)
Bristleback
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Ursa
Timbersaw
Manta StyleDispels silences and roots
Silencer
Death Prophet
Riki
Drow Ranger
Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroes
Medusa
Leshrac
Heaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carries
Troll Warlord
Juggernaut
Sven
Faceless Void
Blade MailPunishes heroes that commit damage into you
Why players lose on Monkey King
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0Not enough analyzed Monkey King matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Monkey King?
Monkey King loses most often against Dawnbreaker, Slardar, Snapfire. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Monkey King good against?
Best matchups: Skywrath Mage, Axe, Underlord.
What is Monkey King's win rate?
In public matches — 45.9%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Monkey King?
In the mid game players most often buy Mithril Hammer, Ogre Axe, Broadsword. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
