Warlock in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Warlock — Intelligence, ranged; roles: Support, Initiator, Disabler. Public match win rate — 49.9%. In short: Warlock is strong against Sniper, Axe, Faceless Void but suffers against Keeper of the Light, Treant Protector, Bane.
Lost the game?Paste a match ID — we show who threw and why: deaths, lanes, items, map replay.
Warlock win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald50.2%
Guardian51.1%
Crusader50.9%
Archon50.4%
Legend49.8%
Ancient48.7%
Divine47.2%
Immortal—
Warlock is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Warlock
How to play Warlock against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs Keeper of the LightEzalor breaks Upheaval with knockback and pokes from range — stay hidden and don't channel in his sight.39.3%
What to build against it
Glimmer CapeMagic resistance and invisibility protect from Illuminate and Solar Bind's magic resistance reduction.
Pipe of InsightThe team barrier absorbs Illuminate's magical wave damage.
Blink DaggerLets you land Chaotic Offering from an unexpected angle, outside Blinding Light's reach.
Force StaffGets you out of Will-O-Wisp pulls and Solar Bind slows.
How to use the spells of Warlock
Chaotic OfferingGolem stun punishes squishy Ezalor; drop it on him when he starts channeling Illuminate.
UpheavalStart Upheaval only after he used Blinding Light, or the knockback will ruin your channel.
Shadow WordHeal allies with Shadow Word after Illuminate hits to negate his poke.
Watch out for Keeper of the Light
Blinding LightKnockback ruins position and channels; keep distance and don't channel in his range.
IlluminateWatch for the glowing channel and step off the wave's line early.
vs Treant ProtectorTreant heals and shields his team and Overgrowth goes through BKB — cut healing and act first.40.8%
What to build against it
Spirit VesselReduces healing from Living Armor and Leech Seed pulses.
Ghost ScepterEthereal form stops Treant's attacks that apply Leech Seed.
Blink DaggerBlink in your Golem before Overgrowth, since Overgrowth prevents blinking.
Aeon DiskHelps survive the damage while you're stuck in Overgrowth.
How to use the spells of Warlock
Fatal BondsTreant's team clumps up — bond them so damage spreads across everyone.
Shadow WordFrequent Shadow Word ticks wear down Living Armor's block faster.
Chaotic OfferingGolem pierces BKB — drop it on grouped enemies, not lone tanky Treant.
Watch out for Treant Protector
OvergrowthPierces BKB and stops blink; avoid trees near an invisible Treant, ward and keep distance.
Living ArmorArmor blocks damage — commit before he applies it or wait for it to wear off.
vs BaneBane disables you with one click and stops Upheaval — prepare Lotus and use Golem to answer Fiend's Grip.41.0%
What to build against it
Lotus OrbNightmare, Enfeeble and Fiend's Grip are unit-target, Lotus reflects them back.
Linken's SphereBlocks Bane's first unit-target spell, usually Nightmare or Grip.
Glimmer CapeInvisibility hides you before Bane can cast Nightmare or ultimate.
Aether LensOffsets Enfeeble's cast range reduction.
How to use the spells of Warlock
Chaotic OfferingGolem stun interrupts Fiend's Grip channel — hold it while Bane has ultimate up.
Shadow WordPut Shadow Word on the gripped ally to help them survive until it's interrupted.
UpheavalChannel Upheaval from behind your team, out of Bane's sight, or Nightmare cancels it.
Watch out for Bane
Fiend's GripPierces BKB; don't stand in front, keep Lotus and Golem ready to answer.
NightmareSleep breaks channels and walks you to enemies; stay near allies who can wake you.
vs Shadow DemonShadow Demon cleanses your debuffs and hides allies with Disruption — bait his saves, then ult.41.7%
What to build against it
Lotus OrbDisruption and Demonic Purge are unit-target, Lotus reflects them.
Linken's SphereBlocks the Disruption he uses to cancel your Upheaval.
Pipe of InsightAbsorbs Shadow Poison's magical burst on your team.
Glimmer CapeMagic resistance vs Shadow Poison and invisibility to dodge Disruption.
How to use the spells of Warlock
Fatal BondsCast Bonds after he used Demonic Cleanse, or the link gets removed.
Chaotic OfferingDrop Golem when Disruption is on cooldown so he can't save the key target.
Shadow WordHeal allies hit by Shadow Poison so the release doesn't finish them.
Watch out for Shadow Demon
DisruptionBanish cancels your channel and makes illusions; don't start Upheaval in his range.
Demonic PurgePurges buffs and heavily slows; stay behind allies and off poison lines.
vs SlarkSlark dispels your spells with Dark Pact and catches you from the shadows — stay grouped and wait for Pact cooldown.43.0%
What to build against it
Ghost ScepterEthereal form stops Slark's physical attacks and Essence Shift stacking.
Glimmer CapeInvisibility drops his focus after Pounce and buys time for allies.
Aeon DiskSaves you from burst when he jumps you out of Shadow Dance.
Force StaffHelps keep distance so he can't start his attack with Pounce.
How to use the spells of Warlock
Chaotic OfferingGolem stuns and tanks Slark; drop it right after Dark Pact is used.
Fatal BondsPact removes Bonds — cast them right after Slark has dispelled.
UpheavalPlace Upheaval on the fight area so it keeps reslowing Slark after each Pact.
Watch out for Slark
PounceThe leash stops escapes; don't walk alone and keep creeps between you.
Dark PactStrong dispel removes your debuffs; don't waste control while Pact is ready.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Warlock builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch22%
Tango13%
Blood Grenade13%
Sentry Ward8%
Magic Stick7%
Smoke of Deceit7%
Faerie Fire6%Early game
Boots of Speed79%
Arcane Boots20%Mid game
Arcane Boots29%Glimmer Cape18%
Pavise8%
Solar Crest6%Ghost Scepter4%Late game
Glimmer Cape13%Force Staff11%Solar Crest9%Situational items on Warlock: when to buy
red — heroes that counter WarlockLotus OrbReflects targeted spells and dispelsEspecially vs heroes that counter Warlock: Bane, Shadow Demon
Lion
Lina
Doom
Legion Commander
Heaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carriesEspecially vs heroes that counter Warlock: Slark
Phantom Assassin
Juggernaut
Ursa
Sven
Drow Ranger
Dust of AppearanceReveal invisible heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Warlock: Treant Protector
Riki
Clinkz
Bounty Hunter
Weaver
Nyx Assassin
Mirana
Invoker
Templar Assassin
Sand KingGhost ScepterImmunity to physical damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Warlock: Slark
Aeon DiskSaves you from burst and single-target combos
Zeus
Alchemist
Necrophos
Huskar
Lifestealer
Morphling
Abaddon
Oracle
Undying
IoSentry WardReveal invisible heroes and deward
Glimmer CapeSave an ally from magic and focus
Skywrath Mage
Leshrac
Jakiro
Pudge
ClockwerkWhy players lose on Warlock
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 0Not enough analyzed Warlock matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Warlock?
Warlock loses most often against Keeper of the Light, Treant Protector, Bane. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Warlock good against?
Best matchups: Sniper, Axe, Faceless Void.
What is Warlock's win rate?
In public matches — 49.9%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Warlock?
In the mid game players most often buy Arcane Boots, Glimmer Cape, Aghanim's Shard. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
