Puck in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Puck — Intelligence, ranged; roles: Initiator, Disabler, Escape, Nuker. Public match win rate — 46.9%. In short: Puck is strong against Silencer, Ursa, Weaver but suffers against Bane, Nyx Assassin, Centaur Warrunner.
Lost the game?Paste a match ID — we show who threw and why: deaths, lanes, items, map replay.
Puck win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald44.3%
Guardian45.8%
Crusader45.7%
Archon45.9%
Legend46.8%
Ancient47.6%
Divine49.7%
Immortal—
Puck is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Puck
How to play Puck against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs BaneAlmost all of Bane's spells are unit-targeted, so Linken's and Lotus make the matchup easier, and Rift interrupts Fiend's Grip.42.3%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks Nightmare or Fiend's Grip, both of which are unit-targeted.
Lotus OrbReflects Bane's unit-targeted spells back at him.
Black King BarProtects from Nightmare and Enfeeble, but not from Brain Sap or Grip.
How to use the spells of Puck
Waning RiftIf Bane is gripping an ally, Rift onto him; the silence interrupts the channel.
Dream CoilCoil Bane: the snap stun also breaks his Grip.
Phase ShiftSave Phase Shift for Brain Sap and lane harass, and use Puckish to recover.
Watch out for Bane
Fiend's GripPierces BKB. Don't show up within his cast range without Linken's.
NightmareAsk allies not to wake you with attacks, or Nightmare passes to them. Waking you with a spell is better.
vs Nyx AssassinDon't hit into Carapace, keep detection up for Vendetta, and protect your mana from Mind Flare.42.4%
What to build against it
Dust of AppearanceReveals Vendetta invisibility and stops Nyx from escaping invisible.
Sentry WardReveals Nyx while Burrowed or in Vendetta along his approach paths.
Linken's SphereBlocks the unit-targeted Mind Flare.
Black King BarNeither Impale nor Mind Flare pierces BKB.
How to use the spells of Puck
Phase ShiftCast it when he breaks Vendetta to dodge the hit and gain Puckish restore.
Illusory OrbThrow Orb away from his Impale line and Jaunt out to avoid the stun.
Waning RiftSilence him once Carapace is on cooldown, or you'll get stunned back.
Watch out for Nyx Assassin
Spiked CarapaceActive Carapace stuns damage sources; wait for it to end, then combo.
Mind FlareScales with max mana; don't stand near him unprotected with a big mana pool.
vs Centaur WarrunnerDodge Hoof Stomp and don't right-click him; punish with silence and kiting.42.7%
What to build against it
Black King BarProtects from Hoof Stomp and Double Edge.
Force StaffPushes you out of Stomp range during the windup.
Blink DaggerLets you instantly escape Centaur's initiation.
How to use the spells of Puck
Waning RiftSilence him before Stomp; without spells he can't start the fight.
Phase ShiftCast Phase Shift during the Stomp windup to avoid the damage.
Illusory OrbHarass with Orb from range, not right-clicks, because of Retaliate.
Watch out for Centaur Warrunner
Hoof StompIt has a delay: Jaunt or Phase Shift as soon as he closes in.
RetaliatePierces BKB and punishes attacks; don't trade right-clicks with him.
vs MorphlingWaveform saves Morphling; catch him with silence and disable when it's on cooldown.43.8%
What to build against it
Orchid MalevolenceSilence stops his Waveform escape.
Scythe of VyseReliable disable to finish him before he Waveforms away.
Linken's SphereBlocks the unit-targeted Adaptive Strike.
How to use the spells of Puck
Waning RiftRift him instantly before he Waveforms; the silence cuts off his escape.
Dream CoilCoil after the silence, when he can't Waveform out.
Phase ShiftPhase Shift his right-clicks and gain Puckish restore.
Watch out for Morphling
WaveformHe's invulnerable during Waveform; don't waste your combo mid-dash.
MorphHe can Morph into you and gain your basic spells; expect your own escapes and silence.
vs Nature's ProphetCut his Teleportation with silence, escape Sprout with blinks, and keep vision for his TPs.44.1%
What to build against it
Orchid MalevolenceSilence stops his Teleportation and Sprout.
Black King BarProtects from Wrath of Nature and Curse of the Oldgrowth.
Observer and Sentry WardsVision spots his split-push TPs and lane ganks.
How to use the spells of Puck
Waning RiftRift is a teleport: use it to leave Sprout or silence his Teleportation cast.
Illusory OrbOrb flies over the trees; throw it and Jaunt out of the trap.
Phase ShiftSave Phase Shift for the Wrath of Nature hit or treant attacks.
Watch out for Nature's Prophet
SproutKeep Orb or Rift ready to escape Sprout.
Curse of the OldgrowthDamage depends on nearby trees; avoid fighting by the forest and move to open ground.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Puck builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch56%
Tango14%
Faerie Fire13%
Circlet1%
Magic Stick0%Observer and Sentry Wards0%Early game
Bottle24%
Boots of Speed24%
Power Treads23%
Null Talisman15%
Blitz Knuckles9%
Wraith Band3%
Oblivion Staff1%Mid game
Witch Blade17%Blink Dagger17%Oblivion Staff16%Blitz Knuckles11%
Aghanim's Shard11%
Staff of Wizardry4%
Vitality Booster3%Late game
Mystic Staff13%
Parasma12%
Octarine Core10%
Soul Booster10%
Reaver7%
Overwhelming Blink7%Linken's Sphere6%Starting items
Iron Branch56%Tango14%
Observer Ward13%Faerie Fire13%Magic Stick0%Sentry Ward0%Early game
Bottle24%Boots of Speed24%Power Treads23%Null Talisman15%Blitz Knuckles9%Mid game
Blink Dagger17%Oblivion Staff16%Blitz Knuckles11%Aghanim's Shard11%Staff of Wizardry4%Situational items on Puck: when to buy
red — heroes that counter PuckBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Puck: Bane
Lion
Shadow Shaman
Lina
Zeus
Skywrath Mage
Earthshaker
Invoker
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)Especially vs heroes that counter Puck: Axe
Bristleback
Phantom Assassin
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
TimbersawLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Puck: Bane
Doom
Legion Commander
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
Necrophos
Alchemist
Lifestealer
Abaddon
Oracle
Undying
IoDust of AppearanceReveal invisible heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Puck: Nyx Assassin
Riki
Clinkz
Bounty Hunter
Mirana
Templar Assassin
Treant Protector
Sand KingSentry WardReveal invisible heroes and dewardEspecially vs heroes that counter Puck: Nyx Assassin
Lotus OrbReflects targeted spells and dispelsEspecially vs heroes that counter Puck: Bane
Shadow Demon
Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly
Windranger
Brewmaster
Manta StyleDispels silences and roots
Death Prophet
Drow RangerWhy players lose on Puck
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0Not enough analyzed Puck matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Puck?
Puck loses most often against Bane, Nyx Assassin, Centaur Warrunner. What to build and how to play vs them →
What is Puck's win rate?
In public matches — 46.9%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Puck?
In the mid game players most often buy Witch Blade, Blink Dagger, Oblivion Staff. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
