Monkey King counters, Monkey King, one of the most versatile and powerful heroes in Dota 2, poses a unique challenge for players. Known for his mobility, crowd control, and incredible damage output, he can dominate a game if left unchecked. Countering Monkey King effectively requires an understanding of his strengths, weaknesses, and specific strategies involving hero picks, item purchases, and coordinated gameplay. In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide to counter Monkey King and explore the best practices to neutralize this formidable foe in your matches.
Understanding Monkey King’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Before diving into counters, it’s essential to understand what makes Monkey King such a challenging opponent. Monkey King’s abilities make him a multi-dimensional threat:
- Mobility: His Tree Dance allows him to jump between trees, making him highly elusive and hard to pin down.
- Damage Output: With abilities like Jingu Mastery, Monkey King can deal devastating damage in a short burst, especially in melee combat.
- Ultimate Ability: Wukong’s Command creates a large area of impact, summoning clones that deal significant damage to enemies within the zone.
However, despite these strengths, Monkey King has notable weaknesses:
- Tree Dependency: His reliance on trees for movement and ambushes makes him vulnerable to heroes and items that can destroy trees.
- Squishy: Monkey King lacks high durability and can often be burst down if caught outside his ultimate.
- Positioning: Monkey King’s impact is heavily dependent on proper positioning, especially in using Wukong’s Command.
Hero Counters to Monkey King
Choosing the right heroes is a crucial part of countering Monkey King. Below are some of the best hero matchups:
Timbersaw – The Tree Destroyer
- Advantages: Known as one of the most consistent counters, Timbersaw can destroy trees using Whirling Death and Timber Chain, negating Monkey King’s mobility.
- Durability: Timbersaw’s tankiness and high armor make him resilient against Monkey King’s physical attacks.
- Effectiveness: Timbersaw forces Monkey King to fight in open ground, where he is far less effective.
Batrider – Control and Mobility Disruption
- Tree Cutting: Flaming Lasso and Firefly allow Batrider to destroy Monkey King’s movement-based advantage.
- Disable: Batrider’s Flaming Lasso can pull Monkey King out of his ultimate zone, rendering him vulnerable to focus fire.
Beastmaster – Vision & Utility
- Vision: Beastmaster’s Hawk provides vision, preventing Monkey King from hidingin trees or setting up ambushes.
- Utility: His summons and disables through Primal Roar offer great control and damage against Monkey King.
Phantom Assassin – Evasion Specialist
- Evasion: Phantom Assassin’s Blur gives her a significant edge in avoiding Monkey King’s attacks.
- High Burst Damage: She can quickly eliminate Monkey King before he can set up his ultimate or stack Jingu Mastery.
Sniper – Long-Range Nemesis
- Range Advantage: Sniper can stay out of Monkey King’s effective range, making it hard for him to engage.
- Map Control: Shrapnel reveals Monkey King’s position and prevents him from hiding in trees.
- Disruption: Sniper can kite Monkey King and force him out of position, minimizing his teamfight impact.
Pudge – The Disruptor
- Hook and Displacement: Pudge’s Meat Hook can drag Monkey King out of Wukong’s Command, removing his strongest weapon in team fights.
- Tankiness: Pudge’s natural durability and healing can withstand Monkey King’s initial damage output.
Slardar – Armor Breaker
- Burst Damage: Slardar’s amplified physical damage and stuns can quickly eliminate Monkey King in combat.
- Diving Capability: His mobility enables him to contest Monkey King’s early laning phase effectively.
Other Notable Counters
Several other heroes are particularly effective against Monkey King:
- Techies: Mines can destroy trees and create hazardous zones for Monkey King to traverse.
- Leshrac: AoE damage such as Diabolic Edict makes Monkey King’s tree-jumping abilities less effective.
- Ancient Apparition: Ice Blast prevents Monkey King from healing through his lifesteal abilities.
- Chen: Chen’s creeps can tank Monkey King’s damage and interrupt his ability to snowball.
Item Counters to Monkey King
In addition to hero picks, specific items can help neutralize Monkey King’s impact:
Quelling Blade – Tree Removal
Quelling Blade allows carriers to destroy trees, denying Monkey King the ability to use Tree Dance. It also doubles as a farming tool, offering extra value for cost-effective heroes.
Ghost Scepter – Physical Damage Immunity
Ghost Scepter makes its user immune to Monkey King’s physical attacks. It’s especially effective against his Jingu Mastery-based attacks.
Heaven’s Halberd – Disarm for Monkey King
This item disarms Monkey King, rendering him unable to attack. It’s particularly potent during Wukong’s Command, as it negates his damage output momentarily.
Black King Bar – Magic Immunity
Black King Bar provides immunity from Monkey King’s Boundless Strike stun, allowing you to escape or fight without interruption.
Eul’s Scepter of Divinity – Control
Use Eul’s Scepter to interrupt Monkey King mid-channel or remove yourself from danger before his team collapses on you.
General Strategic Tips
Vision Control
Monkey King thrives on map darkness. Ensure to place Observer Wards near tree-heavy areas. Using sentries can also help you catch him off guard if he’s scouting for prey.
Spread Out in Team Fights
Avoid clustering as a group. Monkey King’s damage output reaches its peak when enemies are grouped, allowing his Wukong’s Command and other abilities to deal maximum damage.
Focus During Laning Phase
Heroes that can contest his farm during the laning phase are advantageous. Punish Monkey King early, so he can’t snowball into the mid and late-game.
Utilize Disruption Abilities
Heroes with crowd control spells that can interrupt Monkey King’s abilities and mobility are vital. Keep him from gaining traction in team fights!
How-To Guide – Countering Monkey King
- Pick Heroes with Tree-Destroying Capabilities: Prioritize heroes like Timbersaw or Batrider during the drafting phase to limit Monkey King’s movement.
- Ward Aggressively: Place wards in areas with heavy tree placement to gain vision and monitor his movements.
- Use Effective Items: Build items like Heaven’s Halberd and Ghost Scepter that minimize his effectiveness in fights.
- Coordinate Team Efforts: Communication is key—work together to kite Monkey King and disrupt him during fights.
- Punish Misplays: Be proactive when Monkey King overcommits to a fight. His lack of durability makes him susceptible to burst damage.
FAQ – Monkey King Counters
What are Monkey King’s primary weaknesses?
Monkey King is heavily dependent on trees for mobility and positioning. He is also vulnerable to disables and lacks natural durability outside of his ultimate.
Which heroes are the best counters to Monkey King?
Timbersaw, Batrider, Beastmaster, Phantom Assassin, and Sniper are highly effective counters to Monkey King due to their abilities to disrupt or deny his movement and damage output.
How can I prevent Monkey King from using Tree Dance effectively?
Destroy trees using abilities, items like Quelling Blade, or heroes like Timbersaw and Batrider to minimize his reliance on tree-based mobility.
How do I counter Monkey King’s ultimate, Wukong’s Command?
Disabling or repositioning Monkey King, using items like Force Staff or spells like Flaming Lasso, can force him out of the Wukong’s Command area and render it ineffective.
What items can reduce Monkey King’s damage output?
Ghost Scepter, Heaven’s Halberd, and Black King Bar are excellent options to reduce his physical damage potential or nullify his crowd control effects.
Is Monkey King effective against ranged heroes like Sniper?
While Monkey King can excel in close quarters, ranged heroes like Sniper can kite him and prevent him from initiating effectively.
How do I prevent Monkey King from snowballing?
Shut him down early in the laning phase by applying constant pressure and denying him farm. Heroes with early-game dominance are valuable in this regard.
Does Monkey King rely on positioning during team fights?
Yes, Monkey King heavily depends on optimal positioning to maximize the impact of Wukong’s Command and other abilities.
Can Monkey King be countered in the late game?
Yes, with proper vision control, tree destruction, and disarming/disable items, you can mitigate his impact even in late-game scenarios.
How can I counter Monkey King in ranked games?
Draft strategically, prepare to deal with his tree-based movements using the right heroes and items, and maintain constant communication with your team.
Source : dota2
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