Slark in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes

Slark — Agility, melee; roles: Carry, Escape, Disabler, Nuker. Public match win rate — 50.1%. In short: Slark is strong against Warlock, Tidehunter, Hoodwink but suffers against Spirit Breaker, Snapfire, Jakiro.

Lost the game?Paste a match ID — we show who threw and why: deaths, lanes, items, map replay.

Slark win rate by rank

public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%

Herald

52.8%

Guardian

52.1%

Crusader

50.5%

Archon

49.4%

Legend

49.1%

Ancient

49.5%

Divine

50.7%

Immortal

—

Slark is strong against

hover a hero for a summary

Warlock57.0%91 games

Tidehunter54.8%148 games

Hoodwink54.5%96 games

Pudge53.6%65 games

Ember Spirit53.6%123 games

Ursa53.0%72 games

Ogre Magi52.9%78 games

Tiny52.9%80 games

Who counters Slark

Spirit Breaker45.5%72 games

Snapfire45.5%72 games

Jakiro45.6%111 games

Treant Protector45.9%62 games

Tusk46.2%96 games

Lion46.3%76 games

Shadow Demon46.3%63 games

Shadow Fiend46.4%106 games

How to play Slark against counters

items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy

vs Spirit BreakerBara can charge you from anywhere — save Dark Pact for his stun and avoid lonely farming without Shadow Dance ready.45.5%

What to build against it

Linken's SphereLinken's blocks unit-target Charge of Darkness and Nether Strike, breaking his initiation.

Black King BarBKB stops Charge, but Greater Bash and Nether Strike pierce it — use it mainly against his team.

Silver EdgeBreak disables passive Greater Bash, removing his main melee stun source.

Sentry WardWards let you spot the charge early so you can Shadow Dance or reposition in time.

How to use the spells of Slark

Dark PactPre-cast Dark Pact when you see the charge coming; its delay lets it purge the bash stun.

Shadow DanceShadow Dance mid-charge denies him vision while you keep hitting him with regen.

Saltwater ShivShiv steals movement speed, lowering his Bash damage and chase potential.

Watch out for Spirit Breaker

Nether StrikePierces BKB; keep Dark Pact to purge the stun afterward and don't stack near allies.

Planar PocketPlanar Pocket redirects unit-target spells; Pounce is no-target, so use it freely.

vs SnapfireSnapfire punishes point-blank range — engage from Shadow Dance behind her and kill her first.45.5%

What to build against it

Black King BarBKB blocks magical Scatterblast, Cookie and Mortimer Kisses damage in fights.

Blink DaggerBlink lets you land on her outside the Scatterblast cone and finish her quickly.

Orchid MalevolenceSilence stops her from answering with Cookie or Scatterblast while you kill her.

How to use the spells of Slark

Dark PactDark Pact purges Scatterblast slow and Mortimer Kisses pool slows.

PouncePounce on her after she wastes Cookie; she turns slowly during her ultimate.

Shadow DanceIn Shadow Dance, Kisses are hard to aim at you — leave the pools and regen.

Watch out for Snapfire

ScatterblastPoint-blank deals more damage and slow — don't walk in head-on, flank her.

Firesnap CookieCookie stuns on landing; hold Dark Pact to purge and keep chasing.

vs JakiroJakiro zones with ice and fire — leave Macropyre and catch him with Pounce when his spells are down.45.6%

What to build against it

Black King BarBKB covers Ice Path, Dual Breath and Macropyre — none of his magic pierces it.

Blink DaggerBlink bypasses Ice Path and catches fragile Jakiro before he casts.

Mage SlayerMage Slayer reduces his spell damage in extended fights.

How to use the spells of Slark

Dark PactDark Pact purges Ice Path stun and Dual Breath or Liquid Frost slows.

PouncePounce after he used Ice Path; slow Jakiro can't escape the leash.

Shadow DanceShadow Dance hides you from attack-based Liquid Fire, but still walk out of Macropyre.

Watch out for Jakiro

MacropyreThe fire lingers — don't fight inside the line, pull fights out of it.

Ice PathIce Path stuns on contact; pre-cast Dark Pact before diving in.

vs Treant ProtectorTreant shuts your mobility with Overgrowth and saves targets with Living Armor — fight after his ultimate.45.9%

What to build against it

Spirit VesselVessel cuts healing from Living Armor and Leech Seed.

Manta StyleManta dispels Leech Seed and gives illusions as distraction.

Sentry WardSentries reveal Treant invisible under Nature's Guise.

How to use the spells of Slark

Dark PactDark Pact purges Leech Seed root/disarm and Nature's Grasp slow.

Saltwater ShivShiv steals health restoration — use it on a target with Living Armor.

Shadow DanceDon't waste Shadow Dance before Overgrowth; it pierces BKB and blocks escapes.

Watch out for Treant Protector

OvergrowthPierces BKB, stops movement and attacks; Dark Pact can purge it, hold it for this.

Living ArmorBlocks damage and heals — switch targets or cut healing.

vs TuskTusk catches you with Snowball and Walrus PUNCH — save Dark Pact for his stun and avoid fighting in his aura.46.2%

What to build against it

Linken's SphereLinken's blocks unit-target Snowball and ruins his initiation.

Black King BarBKB protects from Snowball and Ice Shards, but not Walrus PUNCH.

Blink DaggerBlink helps escape the Ice Shards barrier.

How to use the spells of Slark

Dark PactDark Pact purges Snowball stun; pre-cast it against PUNCH.

PouncePounce over the Ice Shards barrier or leash Tusk close.

Shadow DanceShadow Dance prevents Snowball targeting — use it when he engages.

Watch out for Tusk

Walrus PUNCH!Pierces BKB; avoid duels and keep Dark Pact ready.

Tag TeamAura boosts damage and slows — leave the area and purge with Dark Pact.

Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.

Slark builds by role

purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an item

Starting items

Iron Branch31%

Circlet18%

Tango15%

Faerie Fire14%

Quelling Blade7%

Magic Stick6%

Slippers of Agility2%

Early game

Boots of Speed29%

Power Treads28%

Blade of Alacrity16%

Soul Ring12%

Bracer6%

Wraith Band4%

Void Stone1%

Mid game

Blade of Alacrity16%

Ogre Axe13%

Diffusal Blade13%

Point Booster10%

Staff of Wizardry9%

Aghanim's Scepter9%

Vitality Booster4%

Late game

Ultimate Orb18%

Eaglesong11%

Disperser9%

Black King Bar9%

Eye of Skadi9%

Aghanim's Scepter5%

Skull Basher4%

Situational items on Slark: when to buy

red — heroes that counter Slark

Black King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Slark: Lion

Linken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Slark: Lion

Aeon DiskSaves you from burst and single-target combosEspecially vs heroes that counter Slark: Lion

Pipe of InsightTeam-wide magic shieldEspecially vs heroes that counter Slark: Jakiro

Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly

Phantom Assassin

Windranger

Brewmaster

Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)

Manta StyleDispels silences and roots

Orchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroes

Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroes

Why players lose on Slark

from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0

Not enough analyzed Slark matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.

FAQ

Who counters Slark?

Slark loses most often against Spirit Breaker, Snapfire, Jakiro. What to build and how to play vs them →

Who is Slark good against?

Best matchups: Warlock, Tidehunter, Hoodwink.

What is Slark's win rate?

In public matches — 50.1%. It varies by rank, see the table above.

What to build on Slark?

In the mid game players most often buy Blade of Alacrity, Ogre Axe, Diffusal Blade. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.

Similar heroes