Morphling in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Morphling — Agility, ranged; roles: Carry, Escape, Durable, Nuker, Disabler. Public match win rate — 47.8%. In short: Morphling is strong against Weaver, Puck, Queen of Pain but suffers against Pudge, Dragon Knight, Windranger.
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Morphling win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald47.0%
Guardian47.0%
Crusader47.4%
Archon47.5%
Legend47.8%
Ancient47.7%
Divine48.7%
Immortal—
Morphling is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Morphling
How to play Morphling against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs PudgeStay out of hook lines, save Waveform to dodge, and shift to strength to survive Dismember.41.1%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks the unit-targeted Dismember, which pierces BKB.
Force StaffPushes you out of Rot after a hook and breaks distance.
Black King BarProtects from Rot's magic damage and slow; won't stop Hook or Dismember.
How to use the spells of Morphling
WaveformKeep Waveform ready: its invulnerability can dodge an incoming hook.
Attribute Shift (Strength Gain)When you see a hook or a smoked Pudge, shift to strength to survive Dismember.
Adaptive StrikeThe stun and knockback push Pudge away from you and his Rot, buying time to escape.
Watch out for Pudge
Meat HookPierces BKB. Stand behind creeps and avoid open lines from fog.
DismemberPierces BKB and heals Pudge. Linken's and a strength buffer are your defense.
vs Dragon KnightDon't trade physical hits with DK's armor and regen; burst him with magical Adaptive Strike and Ethereal.42.6%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks the unit-targeted Dragon Tail stun.
Ethereal BladeMagical burst bypasses his high armor from Dragon Blood.
Eye of SkadiCuts his regen and healing so he can't recover between fights.
Black King BarProtects from his stun, Breathe Fire and Fireball in fights.
How to use the spells of Morphling
Adaptive StrikeIn agility form Adaptive Strike deals max magic damage — your main tool against DK's armor.
WaveformDon't walk into melee for Dragon Tail; use Waveform to escape, not to engage.
MorphMorphing DK gives you Dragon Tail and Breathe Fire — an extra stun and damage reduction.
Watch out for Dragon Knight
Dragon TailUnit-targeted stun — keep distance, especially when he's not in dragon form.
Breathe FireReduces your attack damage: don't start trades right after it hits you.
vs WindrangerAvoid trees behind you for Shackleshot and get true strike against Windrun.44.2%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks the unit-targeted Shackleshot.
Monkey King BarYour attacks won't miss her during Windrun evasion.
Ethereal BladeMagical burst kills her while she evades your attacks.
How to use the spells of Morphling
Adaptive StrikeThe stun interrupts Powershot's channel and stops her from setting up.
WaveformUse Waveform's invulnerability to dodge Powershot and leave tree lines.
Attribute Shift (Strength Gain)Under Focus Fire shift to strength immediately to survive the attacks.
Watch out for Windranger
ShackleshotLong stun only with a tree or unit behind you — keep open space at your back.
Focus FirePierces BKB. Don't stay in her range on low HP.
vs UrsaDon't let Ursa stack Fury Swipes: kite, hit from range, and dodge physical with Ethereal.45.0%
What to build against it
Ethereal BladeEthereal form makes you immune to his physical attacks.
Hurricane PikePushes Ursa away and lets you shoot from range.
ButterflyEvasion breaks his Fury Swipes stacking.
How to use the spells of Morphling
Attribute Shift (Strength Gain)When Ursa jumps, shift to strength: more HP and slow resistance against Earthshock.
WaveformInvulnerable Waveform escapes his hits; stacks reset if he can't hit you for 8 seconds.
Adaptive StrikeUse the stun and knockback after Enrage, otherwise it gets dispelled.
Watch out for Ursa
EnrageStrong dispel and damage reduction — outlast it, don't waste burst during Enrage.
Fury SwipesEach hit stacks damage — never stay in melee for more than a few hits.
vs Ember SpiritHandle Searing Chains first, then fight: Flame Guard absorbs magic, so keep BKB ready.45.3%
What to build against it
Black King BarProtects from Searing Chains root and Immolation magic damage.
Manta StyleDispels Searing Chains root and splits his Sleight of Fist with illusions.
Ethereal BladeEthereal form saves you from Sleight of Fist's physical damage.
How to use the spells of Morphling
Adaptive StrikeDon't burst into Flame Guard — break the shield with attacks, then cast.
Attribute Shift (Strength Gain)When he dashes in with Fire Remnants, shift to strength to survive his burst.
WaveformSave Waveform until after he uses Searing Chains to leave its radius.
Watch out for Ember Spirit
Sleight of FistIts physical damage pierces BKB — BKB won't help, keep an HP buffer.
Searing ChainsThe root pins you — don't let him close without BKB or Manta.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Morphling builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch45%
Circlet13%
Magic Wand12%
Tango9%
Faerie Fire8%
Magic Stick7%
Slippers of Agility3%Early game
Boots of Speed31%
Power Treads30%
Morbid Mask24%
Vladmir's Offering6%
Wraith Band4%
Blade of Alacrity3%
Falcon Blade1%Mid game
Blade of Alacrity18%
Diadem14%
Yasha13%Manta Style13%Vladmir's Offering9%
Dragon Lance5%
Claymore5%Late game
Ultimate Orb11%Butterfly10%Black King Bar9%
Eaglesong8%
Demon Edge7%
Hydra's Breath6%Eye of Skadi5%Situational items on Morphling: when to buy
red — heroes that counter MorphlingMonkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and ButterflyEspecially vs heroes that counter Morphling: Windranger
Phantom Assassin
Brewmaster
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)Especially vs heroes that counter Morphling: Ursa
Bristleback
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Timbersaw
AxeLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Morphling: Pudge
Doom
Legion Commander
Bane
Lion
Batrider
Beastmaster
Shadow Shaman
Necrophos
Orchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Morphling: Ember Spirit
Anti-Mage
Void Spirit
Heaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carriesEspecially vs heroes that counter Morphling: Ursa
Troll Warlord
Juggernaut
Sven
Faceless Void
Drow Ranger
Blade MailPunishes heroes that commit damage into youEspecially vs heroes that counter Morphling: Ursa
Shiva's GuardCuts attack speed and healingEspecially vs heroes that counter Morphling: Ursa
Clinkz
Alchemist
NullifierDispels saves: Ghost, Glimmer, Eul's, WindrunEspecially vs heroes that counter Morphling: Windranger
Omniknight
OracleBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damage
Lina
Zeus
Skywrath Mage
Earthshaker
TidehunterWhy players lose on Morphling
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 1Not enough analyzed Morphling matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Morphling?
Morphling loses most often against Pudge, Dragon Knight, Windranger. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Morphling good against?
Best matchups: Weaver, Puck, Queen of Pain.
What is Morphling's win rate?
In public matches — 47.8%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Morphling?
In the mid game players most often buy Blade of Alacrity, Diadem, Yasha. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
