Beastmaster counters, Beastmaster is one of Dota 2’s most formidable offlane heroes, known for his ability to control and dominate the game with his push-oriented playstyle, summons, and disables. However, despite his strengths, he can be countered effectively with the right strategies, hero choices, and game planning. If Beastmaster’s momentum is disrupted, his impact on both the laning phase and the late game can be significantly reduced. In this comprehensive guide, we dive into Beastmaster’s counters, explore hero matchups, item strategies, and provide actionable steps to ensure your success against this wild warrior.
Understanding Beastmaster – Strengths and Weaknesses
To counter Beastmaster, it is essential to first understand what makes him powerful and where his weaknesses lie. His toolkit revolves around summoning units, applying disables, and dictating engagements. Let’s break this down:
Strengths of Beastmaster
- Summoned Units: Beastmaster’s Boars and Helm of the Overlord-controlled creeps give him strong lane presence and push ability.
- Vision Control: Hawk provides uninterrupted vision, giving his team an edge in positioning and scouting.
- Primal Roar: A game-changing ultimate that can lock down priority targets for extended periods.
- Team Push Potential: With his summons and aura from Inner Beast, Beastmaster excels at taking towers and overwhelming opponents in extended fights.
Weaknesses of Beastmaster
- Reliance on Summons: Beastmaster’s strength diminishes significantly if his creeps are killed quickly.
- Item and Timing Dependency: Beastmaster requires items like Helm of the Overlord to scale into the mid and late game.
- Physical Damage Bias: His abilities predominantly focus on physical damage, making him less effective against heroes with physical immunity or high armor.
Best Heroes to Counter Beastmaster
While there are many ways to counter Beastmaster, certain heroes stand out due to their unique kits. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best hero counters:
Medusa – The Queen of Anti-Summons
Medusa is one of the most reliable counters to Beastmaster because of her ability to deal with summoned units and outlast damage-heavy engagements.
- Split Shot: This ability allowsMedusa to clear Beastmaster’s creeps instantly, reducing his lane and fight impact.
- Mystic Snake: Medusa’s mana-harassing tool slows Beastmaster’s farm by constantly forcing him to play defensively.
- Mana Shield: The shield fortifies her survivability, making it difficult for Beastmaster to burst her down even with Primal Roar.
Sand King – Area Control Expert
Sand King’s AoE abilities make him a nightmare for Beastmaster’s summoned units, while his mobility and survivability allow him to dominate engagements.
- Sand Storm: Constant damage paired with invisibility negates Beastmaster’s offensive pushes.
- Burrowstrike: Provides control over Beastmaster and his army, making it easy to thin out waves.
- Epicenter: A team fight ultimate that guarantees high AoE damage, punishing Beastmaster for grouping too closely with his minions.
Winter Wyvern – Disabler Extraordinaire
Winter Wyvern is an exceptional support against Beastmaster due to her skillset, which negates his offensive potential.
- Cold Embrace: Provides physical immunity and health regeneration, nullifying Primal Roar’s physical damage.
- Winter’s Curse: Leverages Beastmaster’s powerful summons against him by making them attack their own master.
- Splinter Blast: A great harassing tool that also clears out summons quickly.
Other Effective Counters
- Bristleback: Hard to kill and excelling at sustained fights, Bristleback can tank through Beastmaster’s damage output.
- Gyrocopter: Deals consistent AoE damage, clearing creeps while maintaining pressure on Beastmaster during fights.
- Clinkz: Highly mobile with invisibility and the Death Pact buff, which allows him to bypass Beastmaster’s disables.
Item Counters Against Beastmaster
Apart from hero counters, the right item choices can severely limit Beastmaster’s effectiveness. Incorporate these into your build when facing him:
Linken’s Sphere
Blocks Beastmaster’s Primal Roar, removing his ability to reliably start team fights or lock down a critical target.
Aeon Disk
Makes heroes tanky during initiation, providing enough survivability to escape or counter Beastmaster’s combo.
Crimson Guard
Great for mitigating the physical damage dealt by Beastmaster’s summoned creeps and aura-enhanced attacks.
Black King Bar
Essential for preventing Beastmaster’s disables, especially during key engagements.
Strategies for Countering Beastmaster
Countering Beastmaster isn’t just about hero picks—it revolves around understanding his playstyle and cutting off his strengths:
Laning Phase Harassment
Beastmaster’s early game relies on farming toward Helm of the Dominator/Helm of the Overlord. Harassing him relentlessly in lane can significantly delay his item timing.
Focus on Clearing Summons
AoE damage is your best tool. Killing Beastmaster’s creeps denies his push momentum and reduces his teamfight effectiveness.
Deny Vision
Beastmaster thrives on vision from his Hawk. Carry sentries or dust to quickly deal with it, limiting his map awareness and control.
Coordinated Team Fights
Targeting Beastmaster first during team fights prevents him from using Primal Roar and disrupts his ability to control the engagement with his summons.
How to Play Against Beastmaster – Step-by-Step Guide
- Pick the Right Heroes: Prioritize counters with AoE abilities and sustainability.
- Monitor His Laning Phase: Apply pressure early to delay his key items.
- Counter His Vision: Kill his Hawk to deny him vision control.
- Use Appropriate Items: Build Linken’s Sphere, Aeon Disk, or Crimson Guard to mitigate his power.
- Focus on Timing: Plan ganks and pushes during windows when his summons are down.
- Counter-Push: Use your AoE to counter Beastmaster’s pushes and take objectives in return.
FAQs – Beastmaster Counters
What are the best heroes to counter Beastmaster?
Medusa, Sand King, and Winter Wyvern are examples of strong counters due to their AoE damage and disabling abilities.
How can I stop Beastmaster from snowballing?
Prioritize constant harassment in the laning phase and gank him to slow his farm and progression toward key items.
What items should I buy against Beastmaster?
Items like Linken’s Sphere, Aeon Disk, Crimson Guard, and Black King Bar can effectively reduce Beastmaster’s impact.
How do I deal with Beastmaster’s summons?
Pick heroes with AoE abilities, such as Gyrocopter or Sand King, or buy items with static effects like Radiance.
When should I avoid fighting Beastmaster?
Do not engage when Beastmaster’s team is grouped and he has high-impact items like Helm of the Overlord or Blink Dagger. Wait for better opportunities.
Is Beastmaster strong in the current meta?
He is situationally powerful depending on the lineup, particularly if team compositions favor strong push potential. However, he can be countered with proper planning.
Can I disable Beastmaster’s Primal Roar?
Building Linken’s Sphere or having heroes with counter-initiations can effectively handle Primal Roar.
How can supports counter Beastmaster?
Supports like Winter Wyvern and Shadow Shaman can focus on controlling his summons and disabling him during fights.
What is Beastmaster weak against?
He struggles against AoE damage, sustained harassment, and heroes/items that deal with minion-based strategies.
How do I ensure a win against Beastmaster in late-game scenarios?
Maintain strong vision control, deny his ability to split push, and focus on team fights where his summons lose relevance over time.
Conclusion
Beastmaster may be a menace on the battlefield, but with the right approach, his dominance can be challenged. Understanding his strengths, leveraging counters like Medusa and Sand King, and employing targeted itemization and strategic plays can render him ineffective. Dota 2 is a game of adaptability and planning—by employing these insights, you can gain a decisive advantage against any Beastmaster player.
Source : DotaCinema
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