The Monkey King Bar (MKB) is one of the most powerful items in Dota 2, offering both significant damage boosts and a unique ability to ignore enemy evasion. This makes it essential against elusive heroes such as Phantom Assassin, Windranger, and Brewmaster. As a staple for carry heroes and some offensive supports, MKB enhances both attack speed and accuracy, ensuring consistency in damage output. Whether you’re facing evasive opponents or simply seeking a late-game damage spike, understanding the strategic importance of Monkey King Bar can help you dominate your matches.
Monkey King Bar – Stats and Cost
Monkey King Bar is considered a premium tier offensive item in Dota 2, primarily bought for its ability to pierce through evasion. Here’s an in-depth look at its cost and stats.
Cost and Availability
- Total Cost: 4700 Gold
- Availability: Purchasable from the Main Shop
Base Combat Stats
- Damage: +40
- Attack Speed: +45
Monkey King Bar – Passive Ability: Pierce
MKB’s standout feature is its Pierce passive ability, which grants each attack an 80% chance to ignore evasion and deal bonus magical damage.
Passive Effect
- Evasion Piercing: Attacks have an 80% chance to bypass enemy evasion.
- Bonus Magic Damage: Successfully triggered attacks deal an additional 70 magic damage.
Additional Effects
- Sound Effect: Adistinct audio cue is played when an attack successfully pierces evasion.
- Buildings and Illusions: The bonus damage does not apply to illusions or buildings.
Strategic Uses of Monkey King Bar
MKB is most effective in countering heroes that rely on evasion to survive. Additionally, it is a must-have for high DPS heroes who need consistent damage output.
Heroes Best Countered by MKB
- Phantom Assassin: Counters her high evasion from Blur.
- Windranger: Hard counters her Windrun ability.
- Brewermaster: Negates his Drunken Brawler passive.
- Radiance Carriers: Effectively counters items that grant evasion.
Heroes Best for Purchasing MKB
The item is most effective when bought by high-attack-speed heroes who rely on physical attacks for consistent damage.
- Sniper
- Juggernaut
- Phantom Assassin
- Anti-Mage
- Ursa
- Lifestealer
- Faceless Void
When to Buy Monkey King Bar
Monkey King Bar is a situational item, meaning it should be purchased based on hero matchups and enemy itemization. The recommended purchase timing is typically in the mid-to-late game.
Best Timing to Purchase
- Mid to Late Game: MKB has a median purchase time of around 37 minutes.
- Against Evasion Heroes: If foes have evasion mechanics early, consider rushing MKB.
How to Play with Monkey King Bar
Once you’ve acquired Monkey King Bar, it’s important to use it effectively in both duels and team fights.
Tips for Using MKB
- Focus Evasive Targets: Prioritize attacking heroes with evasion-based abilities.
- Maximize Attack Speed: Heroes with high attack speed benefit most from the Pierce proc.
- Combine with Armor Reduction: Use items like Desolator for greater physical damage.
Monkey King Bar in Competitive Matches
MKB is a core pick in professional and high-ranked matchmaking, especially when facing evasion-heavy teams.
Win Rate and Pickup Rate
- Overall Win Rate: 51.28%
- Win Rate Increase: +1.30% with purchase
- Pickup Rate: Considered a moderate-pick item but impactful
FAQ – Monkey King Bar in Dota 2
What does Monkey King Bar do in Dota 2?
MKB provides bonus attack damage, attack speed, and an 80% chance to ignore enemy evasion while dealing additional magic damage.
Is Monkey King Bar good for all heroes?
No, MKB is best suited for carry heroes and some offensive supports that rely on physical attacks.
Does MKB affect magical damage?
No, the bonus damage from Pierce is purely magical, but it enhances physical attacks.
Can MKB pierce Black King Bar?
No, the additional damage from Pierce does not work through spell immunity.
Is MKB good against Phantom Assassin?
Yes, MKB is one of the best counters to Phantom Assassin’s Blur ability.
Can illusions benefit from Monkey King Bar?
No, illusions do not benefit from the extra magic damage or evasion-piercing effect.
When should I build MKB?
It’s best purchased in mid-to-late game situations when facing high evasion enemies.
Is MKB worth it if enemies don’t have evasion?
While it provides solid stats, MKB is not always necessary unless evasion counters are needed.
Does Monkey King Bar stack with True Strike?
No, MKB has its own way of ignoring evasion, but it doesn’t stack with direct True Strike mechanics.
Is Monkey King Bar better than Daedalus?
It depends on the situation. MKB is for countering evasion, while Daedalus is better for raw burst damage.
Considering its anti-evasion capabilities, attack speed boost, and magic damage, Monkey King Bar is an essential item in many situations. Whether countering an evasive core or enhancing sustained DPS, MKB remains a core choice for many carry heroes in Dota 2.
Source : Navetz
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