Tinker in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Tinker — Intelligence, ranged; roles: Carry, Nuker, Pusher. Public match win rate — 47.2%. In short: Tinker is strong against Rubick, Shadow Fiend, Queen of Pain but suffers against Lion, Jakiro, Queen of Pain.
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Tinker win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald46.2%
Guardian45.6%
Crusader45.5%
Archon46.7%
Legend47.9%
Ancient49.2%
Divine49.6%
Immortal—
Tinker is strong against
hover a hero for a summaryWho counters Tinker
How to play Tinker against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs LionLion catches Tinker with Hex and Finger from fog — keep Linken's, stay behind creeps and never Rearm in his sight.45.3%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks Hex or Finger of Death, his key unit-target spells.
Blink DaggerLets you escape Earth Spike range before he chains Hex onto you.
Lotus OrbReflects Hex, Finger and Mana Drain back onto Lion.
Aeon DiskSaves you from an Earth Spike plus Finger burst if you get caught.
How to use the spells of Tinker
LaserLaser Lion first from range — he is fragile, and starting before he reaches cast range wins the fight.
RearmRearm only behind trees or out of vision; Hex or Spike will cancel the channel.
Keen ConveyanceDon't teleport to a lane where Lion is missing — he often waits near towers.
Watch out for Lion
HexHex shuts off all your spells; keep Linken's ready and don't step up first.
Finger of DeathAfter Spike expect Finger — use your save item immediately, don't waste time on Rearm.
vs JakiroJakiro zones with AOE and cancels channels with Ice Path — keep distance, Blink ready and never stand in Macropyre.45.8%
What to build against it
Blink DaggerInstantly takes you out of Ice Path zones and Macropyre flames.
Black King BarNegates all his magical damage and the Ice Path stun in fights.
Pipe of InsightReduces Dual Breath and Macropyre magic damage for you and your team.
Force StaffPushes you out of the Macropyre line and Dual Breath slow.
How to use the spells of Tinker
LaserLaser blinds Jakiro so his Liquid Fire attacks miss; use it in lane trades.
March of the MachinesPush waves with March from range — Jakiro pushes too, don't let him win the wave.
Keen ConveyanceTeleport away from his position; Ice Path easily interrupts the channel.
Watch out for Jakiro
Ice PathIce Path has a delay — move sideways or Blink as soon as you see the cast.
MacropyreNever Rearm inside Macropyre; leave the flames first.
vs Queen of PainQoP blinks onto you and finishes with Sonic Wave through BKB — keep her at range and have disable ready.45.8%
What to build against it
Scythe of VyseHex disables her Blink and Scream so she can't chase or escape.
Linken's SphereBlocks Shadow Strike, her unit-target damage and slow.
Aeon DiskHelps you survive her burst, including Sonic Wave that pierces BKB.
Blink DaggerAnswer her Blink with yours and leave Scream of Pain radius.
How to use the spells of Tinker
Warp FlareWhen QoP blinks close, Warp Flare teleports her further away and cuts her cast range.
LaserLaser deals pure damage; hit her right after she uses Blink, while it's on cooldown.
RearmDon't Rearm within her Blink range — she'll jump in and interrupt.
Watch out for Queen of Pain
Sonic WaveSonic Wave pierces BKB — don't stand in line with her low on HP; keep Aeon or Blink.
BlinkTrack her Blink cooldown: without it she can't catch you, so you can play aggressive.
vs Shadow FiendSF deals physical and raze damage — blind him with Laser, stay outside raze ranges and keep him away for Requiem.46.7%
What to build against it
Ghost ScepterMakes you immune to his soul-boosted physical attacks.
Blink DaggerGets you out of Requiem and raze range when SF closes in.
Scythe of VyseHex stops him from casting Requiem and razes.
Force StaffPushes you out of razes and breaks distance from Feast of Souls speed.
How to use the spells of Tinker
LaserLaser blinds SF so all attacks miss; use it when he activates Feast of Souls.
March of the MachinesDrop March on waves so SF can't farm souls freely and stack damage.
Warp FlareIf SF closes in for Requiem, Warp Flare sends him away and ruins the engage.
Watch out for Shadow Fiend
ShadowrazeRazes hit at fixed distances and stack amplifiers — keep moving, don't stand still.
Requiem of SoulsRequiem hurts most up close — keep distance and don't Rearm when SF is near and unseen.
vs RubickRubick catches you with Telekinesis and steals your spells — keep Linken's and watch which spell you cast last.50.4%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks Telekinesis or Fade Bolt, his unit-target spells.
Lotus OrbReflects Telekinesis and Fade Bolt back onto Rubick.
Blink DaggerHelps keep distance from his extended cast range and escape after landing.
Black King BarProtects from his magic and stolen team spells in long fights.
How to use the spells of Tinker
LaserRubick is fragile — burst him with Laser first before he reaches Telekinesis range.
Keen ConveyanceNear Rubick, end with a harmless spell like Keen Conveyance so there's nothing good to steal.
RearmRearm out of his vision; Telekinesis interrupts the channel.
Watch out for Rubick
TelekinesisTelekinesis sets you up for his team — keep Linken's and don't clump with allies.
Spell StealHe can turn your last cast spell against you; account for that before fights.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Tinker builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch52%
Tango15%
Faerie Fire13%
Circlet2%
Mantle of Intelligence1%
Magic Stick1%
Quelling Blade0%Early game
Bottle33%
Staff of Wizardry31%
Kaya27%Blink Dagger5%
Null Talisman2%
Ogre Axe1%
Boots of Speed1%Mid game
Ogre Axe18%
Point Booster10%Staff of Wizardry10%Blink Dagger10%
Blade of Alacrity10%
Aghanim's Scepter9%
Sange6%Late game
Mystic Staff11%
Shiva's Guard7%Sange5%Black King Bar5%
Kaya and Sange5%Scythe of Vyse5%Situational items on Tinker: when to buy
red — heroes that counter TinkerPipe of InsightTeam-wide magic shieldEspecially vs heroes that counter Tinker: Jakiro, Queen of Pain
Lina
Zeus
Leshrac
Skywrath Mage
Invoker
EarthshakerBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Tinker: Lion
Shadow Shaman
Tidehunter
BaneLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Tinker: Lion
Doom
Legion Commander
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
Necrophos
Orchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Tinker: Queen of Pain
Storm Spirit
Puck
Anti-Mage
Ember Spirit
Void Spirit
Weaver
Eternal ShroudAgainst magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Tinker: Queen of Pain
Aeon DiskSaves you from burst and single-target combosEspecially vs heroes that counter Tinker: Lion
Phantom Assassin
Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly
Windranger
Brewmaster
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)
Bristleback
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Ursa
Timbersaw
Axe
Manta StyleDispels silences and roots
Silencer
Death Prophet
Riki
Drow RangerWhy players lose on Tinker
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 1Not enough analyzed Tinker matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Tinker?
Tinker loses most often against Lion, Jakiro, Queen of Pain. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Tinker good against?
Best matchups: Rubick, Shadow Fiend, Queen of Pain.
What is Tinker's win rate?
In public matches — 47.2%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Tinker?
In the mid game players most often buy Ogre Axe, Point Booster, Staff of Wizardry. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
