Chen counters, Chen, the Holy Knight, is one of the most iconic and unique support heroes in Dota 2. Renowned for his intricate micro-management of creeps and global healing abilities, Chen can be an overwhelming force when played correctly. However, mastering Chen is just half the challenge—the other half is figuring out how to counter him effectively. Understanding his strengths, exploiting his weaknesses, and selecting the right heroes and strategies can neutralize his impact and secure victory for your team. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore Chen counters, covering everything from hero counters, general strategies, and advanced tips to thwart his game plan successfully.
Chen’s Strengths and Weaknesses – An Overview
To counter Chen effectively, it’s essential to understand his core mechanics and limitations. Here’s a breakdown of what makes him tick and where he falters:
Chen’s Strengths
- Creep Control: Chen’s ability to dominate neutral creeps and convert them into his army offers utility and versatility, from pushing towers to disrupting team fights.
- Global Healing: Chen’s ultimate, “Hand of God”, provides a powerful, map-wide heal, turning the tide of battles in moments.
- Team Buffs: Chen’s creeps often come with auras that bolster his teammates, such as additional attack speed or health regeneration.
- Early Dominance: Chen thrives in the early game, where his creeps and abilities make him a potent ganker and pusher.
Chen’s Weaknesses
- Micro-Intensity: Chen demands exceptional micro-management skills, leaving room for errors in inexperienced hands.
- Dependent on Creeps: Without his controlled creeps, Chen’s impact diminishes substantially.
- Fragility: As a support hero, Chen is relatively squishy, making him an easy target in team fights and ganks.
- Late-Game Scaling: Chen falls off significantly in the late game, where stronger carries and AoE spells neutralize his effectiveness.
Heroes That Counter Chen
Certain heroes possess abilities and traits that make them particularly effective against Chen.Let’s delve into the best picks to counter his gameplay:
Hard Counters
- Oracle: Oracle’s abilities, such as “Purifying Flames”, can eliminate Chen’s creeps efficiently while offering healing to his allies. “False Promise” also negates the burst heal from Chen’s ultimate.
- Meepo: Meepo’s clones can overwhelm Chen and his army, exploiting his fragility while disrupting his creep control.
- Arc Warden: Arc Warden’s “Tempest Double” and zoning spells create chaos for Chen, making it difficult for him to micro-manage effectively.
Soft Counters
- Disruptor: Disruptor’s “Glimpse” can send Chen’s valuable creeps back to their fountain, significantly disrupting his strategy.
- Abaddon: Abaddon’s “Aphotic Shield” and “Borrowed Time” allow him to shrug off most of Chen’s damage, making him a poor target during fights.
- Lone Druid: Lone Druid’s bear can tank Chen’s creeps, and his “Savage Roar” can send them scattering, rendering them ineffective in fights.
- Medusa: Medusa’s “Stone Gaze” petrifies Chen’s creeps, effectively removing them from combat while turning the tide in her favor.
General Strategies to Counter Chen
To outplay Chen, you’ll need a multi-pronged strategy that disrupts his core strengths. Here are the most effective strategies:
Creep Control Disruption
- Target Chen’s creeps in fights using crowd control (CC) abilities like stuns, silences, and slows to reduce their impact.
- Heroes with abilities that eliminate creeps, such as Disruptor (Glimpse) or Oracle (Purifying Flames), are invaluable.
- Focus on manually killing Chen’s creeps during skirmishes to remove his primary advantage.
Area Control
- Heroes with strong area-of-effect (AoE) skills, such as Jakiro or Earthshaker, can effectively wipe out Chen’s creeps and sway team fights in your favor.
- Maintain map control with wards and sentries to monitor Chen’s movements and predict his rotations.
Mobility and Burst Damage
- Heroes with high mobility, such as Anti-Mage or Slark, can quickly close the gap and assassinate Chen before he contributes to fights.
- Use burst-damage heroes like Lina or Invoker to eliminate Chen before he uses “Hand of God.”
Team Fight Prioritization
- In team fights, target Chen early to prevent him from using his “Hand of God” effectively.
- Utilize silences and disables to stop Chen from channeling his abilities and controlling his creeps.
Warding and Vision
- Place aggressive wards in the enemy jungle to track Chen’s creep farming and rotations.
- Deny Chen access to key neutral camps by warding them, reducing his ability to control powerful creeps.
- Maintain vision during team fights to anticipate Chen’s positioning and eliminate him quickly.
How to Counter Chen – Step-by-Step Guide
Countering Chen requires a combination of hero selection, itemization, and coordinated gameplay. Here’s a step-by-step guide to outplaying the Holy Knight:
- Pick the Right Heroes: Select heroes like Oracle, Meepo, or Disruptor who specialize in countering Chen’s strengths.
- Prioritize Vision: Use wards and sentries to track Chen’s movements and deny him access to neutral creeps.
- Secure Early Objectives: Aggressively pressure Chen in the laning phase to prevent him from snowballing with towers and creeps.
- Focus His Creeps: Eliminate Chen’s creeps in fights to reduce his overall impact.
- Take Team Fights: In mid-to-late game skirmishes, prioritize killing Chen to prevent him from healing his team with “Hand of God.”
Chen Counters – Frequently Asked Questions
What are Chen’s biggest weaknesses?
Chen’s reliance on creeps, squishiness, and lack of direct damage output make him vulnerable, especially in the late game.
Which heroes are the best hard counters to Chen?
Oracle, Meepo, and Arc Warden are among the strongest counters to Chen, as they can disrupt his creep control and healing.
How can I reduce Chen’s influence in team fights?
Focus on killing Chen early in fights or use silences and stuns to disable him before he casts “Hand of God.”
Is Chen viable in the late game?
Chen becomes significantly weaker in the late game compared to other supports, as his ability to scale is limited.
How should I ward against Chen?
Prioritize aggressive wards in the enemy jungle to track Chen’s movements and block access to critical neutral camps.
Can Chen’s creeps be countered with items?
Yes. Items like Crimson Guard and Shiva’s Guard are effective in mitigating damage from Chen’s creep army.
How do I adjust my strategy for a Chen support pick?
Focus on early aggression, as Chen thrives in the early game. Deny his jungle presence and apply pressure to his lane.
What are the best AoE heroes to counter Chen?
Jakiro, Earthshaker, and Leshrac are exceptional AoE heroes that can effectively clear Chen’s creeps in fights.
Can Chen’s ultimate be blocked or disrupted?
While Chen’s ultimate cannot be stopped once cast, silencing him before he channels it can prevent him from using it.
What team compositions work well against Chen?
Compositions with high mobility, burst damage, and AoE crowd control are particularly effective against Chen.
Source : DotaCinema
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