Slardar in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Slardar — Strength, melee; roles: Carry, Durable, Initiator, Disabler, Escape. Public match win rate — 49.5%. In short: Slardar is strong against Lifestealer, Void Spirit, Mars but suffers against Mirana, Earth Spirit, Winter Wyvern.
Lost the game?Paste a match ID — we show who threw and why: deaths, lanes, items, map replay.
Slardar win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald50.8%
Guardian50.6%
Crusader50.3%
Archon49.6%
Legend48.8%
Ancient48.5%
Divine47.3%
Immortal—
Slardar is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Slardar
How to play Slardar against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs MiranaDon't get caught by long-range arrows; keep Corrosive Haze ready for invisibility and jump her with Blink.41.9%
What to build against it
Blink DaggerLets you land instantly and Crush her before she can Leap away.
Black King BarProtects from magical Sacred Arrow and Starstorm in fights.
Dust of AppearanceReveals her team under Moonlight Shadow when Haze is used.
HarpoonPulls you onto Mirana after she Leaps away.
How to use the spells of Slardar
Corrosive HazeApply on Mirana before her ultimate; True Sight stops her hiding.
Guardian SprintUse it to change direction sharply and dodge the arrow.
Slithereen CrushCast right as she lands from Leap so she can't escape.
Watch out for Mirana
Sacred ArrowWalk behind creeps and avoid straight lines from the fog.
Moonlight ShadowKeep Haze and Dust; invis returns after reveal, so commit immediately.
vs Earth SpiritES chains magical control; get BKB and stop his rolls with stuns.43.3%
What to build against it
Black King BarBlocks Boulder Smash, Rolling Boulder and Grip silence.
Pipe of InsightReduces his magical damage across your team.
Orchid MalevolenceSilence stops him from rolling in or out.
Blink DaggerCatches the mobile ES before he rolls away.
How to use the spells of Slardar
Slithereen CrushStuns stop his roll; Crush as he rolls into you.
Corrosive HazeHaze gives vision so you can follow where he rolled.
Bash of the DeepBash pierces BKB; use it to stop his escape attempts.
Watch out for Earth Spirit
MagnetizePierces BKB; spread from allies and remnants after he ults.
Rolling BoulderWith a remnant he rolls further and stuns longer; respect fog range.
vs Winter WyvernHer ult and cocoon shut down physical damage; bait them out and hit when she's exposed.44.1%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks a targeted Winter's Curse on you.
Blink DaggerCatches Wyvern flying over terrain with Arctic Burn.
Black King BarCovers Splinter Blast and Arctic Burn's freeze slow.
Spirit VesselCuts Cold Embrace healing.
How to use the spells of Slardar
Corrosive HazeHaze Wyvern; vision keeps her trackable over trees and cliffs.
Slithereen CrushDon't waste Crush on a cocooned target; wait or switch.
Guardian SprintSprint out of curse range before she casts.
Watch out for Winter Wyvern
Winter's CursePierces BKB; don't clump with your team and keep Linken's up.
Cold EmbraceCocoon blocks physical damage; switch targets.
vs Crystal MaidenFragile CM with a channel; jump her and stun Freezing Field.44.2%
What to build against it
Blink DaggerInstantly interrupts Freezing Field with Crush.
Black King BarImmunity to Frostbite, Nova and her ultimate.
Linken's SphereBlocks targeted Frostbite before you engage.
How to use the spells of Slardar
Slithereen CrushCrush the moment she channels; the stun interrupts it.
Guardian SprintSlow resistance carries you through Nova and the field.
Corrosive HazeHaze her to keep vision and not lose her to Crystal Clone.
Watch out for Crystal Maiden
FrostbiteRoots you before you engage; have Linken's or BKB ready.
Freezing FieldDon't stand in the field without a stun; interrupt or leave.
vs MarciMarci wins melee trades in Unleash; stun her mid-combo and disarm her.44.4%
What to build against it
Heaven's HalberdDisarms Marci during Unleash.
Blade MailReturns damage from her rapid strike chain.
Linken's SphereBlocks targeted Dispose, her combo starter.
Black King BarProtects from magical Dispose, Rebound and Unleash pulses.
How to use the spells of Slardar
Slithereen CrushCrush when she lands Rebound or pops Unleash.
Bash of the DeepBash between her Fury combos breaks her momentum.
Guardian SprintUse it to escape Unleash slows and reposition.
Watch out for Marci
UnleashDon't trade head-on during Unleash; stun or disengage.
DisposeDispose throws you toward her team; keep distance from fog.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Slardar builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch39%
Gauntlets of Strength24%
Tango9%
Circlet7%
Faerie Fire6%
Quelling Blade5%
Magic Stick4%Early game
Boots of Speed29%
Power Treads25%
Bracer23%
Soul Ring11%
Bottle8%
Chainmail1%
Phase Boots1%Mid game
Blink Dagger23%
Ogre Axe23%
Aghanim's Shard21%
Mithril Hammer13%Black King Bar9%
Broadsword4%
Echo Sabre3%Late game
Black King Bar17%
Sacred Relic15%
Nullifier15%
Hyperstone11%
Aghanim's Scepter11%
Assault Cuirass10%Echo Sabre4%Situational items on Slardar: when to buy
red — heroes that counter SlardarBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Slardar: Invoker
Lion
Shadow Shaman
Lina
Zeus
Earthshaker
Tidehunter
Bane
Eternal ShroudAgainst magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Slardar: Invoker
Leshrac
Queen of PainPipe of InsightTeam-wide magic shieldEspecially vs heroes that counter Slardar: Invoker
Jakiro
Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly
Phantom Assassin
Windranger
Brewmaster
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)
Bristleback
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Ursa
Timbersaw
AxeLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimates
Doom
Legion Commander
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
Necrophos
Manta StyleDispels silences and roots
Silencer
Death Prophet
Riki
Drow RangerOrchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroes
Storm Spirit
Puck
Anti-Mage
Ember Spirit
Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroes
MedusaWhy players lose on Slardar
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0Not enough analyzed Slardar matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Slardar?
Slardar loses most often against Mirana, Earth Spirit, Winter Wyvern. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Slardar good against?
Best matchups: Lifestealer, Void Spirit, Mars.
What is Slardar's win rate?
In public matches — 49.5%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Slardar?
In the mid game players most often buy Blink Dagger, Ogre Axe, Aghanim's Shard. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
