Brewmaster counters, Brewmaster, one of Dota 2’s most versatile and impactful team fight initiators, poses a unique set of challenges in any game. His ability to control fights with his ultimate, Primal Split, makes him a threat that requires well-thought-out strategies and hero selections to counter effectively. While Brewmaster can dominate battles with his brewlings and crowd control, understanding his weaknesses and identifying counter-picks and strategies can turn the tide in your favor. In this article, we’ll delve into the best ways to counter Brewmaster, including specific hero picks, strategies, and expert tips to neutralize his game impact.
Understanding Brewmaster – Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths of Brewmaster
- Primal Split Dominance: Brewmaster’s ultimate splits him into three powerful brewlings—Earth, Storm, and Fire—each with unique abilities that excel in crowd control, initiation, and disruption during team fights.
- Strong Initiator: With abilities like Thunder Clap for damage and slow effects, Brewmaster can dominate lanes and create space for his team.
- Tanky in Primal Split: His brewlings are challenging for some heroes to deal with, allowing him to survive even in chaotic fights.
Weaknesses of Brewmaster
- Ultimate Dependency: Brewmaster’s effectiveness is tied heavily to having Primal Split available. Without his ultimate, he becomes significantly less impactful in fights.
- Fragility Before Level 6: Early in the game, Brewmaster is vulnerable and relies on farming to reach his power spikes.
- Brewling Vulnerability: Each of his brewlings can be targeted individually. Heroes with AoE abilities or high burst damage can eliminate them quickly, nullifying his ultimate.
- Mana Dependency: Brewmaster needs mana to use his abilities effectively, making him vulnerable to mana burn strategies.
Top Hero Counters for Brewmaster
Heroes with High Burst Damage
- Tinker: Tinker’s explosive damage with Laser and Heat-Seeking Missiles makes him especially effective at killing Brewmaster’s brewlings. His ability to rearm and continuously output burst damage ensures none of the brewlings last long in a fight.
- Weaver: Weaver’s agility allows her tomaneuver easily, targeting Brewmaster or his brewlings. Her ability The Swarm adds damage over time, weakening Brewmaster and deterring aggression in the laning phase.
Heroes with Area-of-Effect (AoE) Spells
- Lina: Lina’s AoE skills, including Dragon Slave and her high-damage ultimate Laguna Blade, can clear brewlings and punish Brewmaster’s team fight capabilities.
- Windranger: Her ability Focus Fire combined with AoE lockdown from Shackleshot makes her a potent pick. Windranger is adept at killing brewlings and dealing with Brewmaster himself.
Heroes with Disabling Abilities
- Lion: Lion has multiple disabling tools, such as Hex and Earth Spike, that can prevent Brewmaster from using his ultimate or disrupt his brewlings. Combined with the massive damage output from Finger of Death, Lion is a lethal counter.
- Pugna: With Decrepify reducing the damage of brewlings and Nether Ward punishing Brewmaster for relying on mana-intensive spells, Pugna makes life difficult for this hero.
Heroes with High Mobility and Initiation
- Anti-Mage: Anti-Mage not only burns Brewmaster’s mana with Mana Break, making it harder for him to use Primal Split, but his mobility allows him to hunt down the brewlings efficiently.
- Slark: Slark’s superior agility and escape abilities via Pounce and Shadow Dance make it easy for him to kite Brewmaster. His ability Dark Pact can also purge slow debuffs from abilities like Thunder Clap.
General Strategies to Counter Brewmaster
Early-Game Harassment
Shutting down Brewmaster in the early game is essential to curbing his mid-to-late game impact. Pick heroes with strong lane presence, such as Lina or Weaver, to harass him out of the lane or deny farm. Keep your aggression high before he reaches level 6 and gains access to Primal Split.
Targeting Brewlings During Team Fights
Brewmaster’s ultimate spawns three brewlings—Earth, Storm, and Fire. Focus fire on the most dangerous brewling first. Heroes with AoE damage, like Tinker or Lina, excel in dispatching all three brewlings before they can wreak havoc.
Interrupting Primal Split
Prevent Brewmaster from using his ultimate by silencing or stunning him before the cast animation completes. Heroes like Silencer (with Global Silence) or Disruptor (with Static Storm) can prevent him from initiating effectively.
Mana Burn Strategy
Mana-dependent heroes like Brewmaster are vulnerable to mana burn. Heroes such as Anti-Mage and items like Diffusal Blade can cripple his ability to cast Primal Split, leaving him exposed in fights.
Coordination with Allies
Brewmaster’s strength lies in distracting and dismantling team fights using his brewlings. To counter this, coordinate with your allies to focus his brewlings systematically, ensuring they don’t survive long enough to affect battle outcomes.
How to Execute a Counter-Brewmaster Strategy
- Analyze Drafts: During hero selection, identify if Brewmaster is picked and decide on counters based on your preferred playstyle—burst damage, AoE, or disables.
- Control Lanes: Use early-game aggression to disrupt Brewmaster’s farm. Heroes like Windranger or Lina are effective in applying pressure in the laning phase.
- Build Appropriate Items: Choose items that counter Brewmaster, such as Orchid Malevolence or Scythe of Vyse to silence and disable him before he uses his ultimate.
- Focus Brewlings: During team fights, prioritize killing brewlings with AoE abilities or find the most critical brewling and eliminate it first.
- Prevent Primal Split: Use stuns or silences to disrupt Brewmaster before or as he casts his ultimate.
Frequently Asked Questions – Brewmaster Counters
What are the best heroes to counter Brewmaster?
Heroes like Lina, Tinker, Anti-Mage, and Lion are strong counters to Brewmaster. These heroes can kill brewlings quickly or prevent him from casting his ultimate.
What is Brewmaster’s biggest weakness?
Brewmaster struggles without his ultimate, Primal Split. Targeting his mana or disrupting the cast can significantly reduce his threat.
How can I prevent Brewmaster from using his ultimate?
Silences and stuns are highly effective. Abilities like Global Silence (Silencer) or Static Storm (Disruptor) can stop him from activating Primal Split.
Which items are effective against Brewmaster?
Items such as Orchid Malevolence, Scythe of Vyse, and Diffusal Blade work well by silencing or BurNIng his mana, reducing his effectiveness.
How do I deal with Brewmaster’s brewlings?
Use AoE abilities or burst damage heroes like Tinker and Lina to eliminate the brewlings rapidly during fights.
Is Brewmaster vulnerable in the early game?
Yes, Brewmaster is weak before level 6. Exploiting this period with lane harassment can delay his power spike.
Can Anti-Mage counter Brewmaster effectively?
Yes, Anti-Mage’s mana burn and mobility make him a strong counter. He can cut down Brewmaster’s mana pool and hunt his brewlings efficiently.
Should I focus the primary Brewmaster or his brewlings?
It depends on the situation. In fights, focusing his brewlings often nullifies his ultimate, turning the odds in your favor.
Can silences shut down Brewmaster?
Absolutely. Silencing abilities or items like Orchid Malevolence are effective tools for preventing Brewmaster from using Primal Split.
Which playstyle works best against Brewmaster?
An aggressive playstyle early on combined with focused targeting of brewlings in fights is highly effective against Brewmaster.
Source : Dota Empire
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