Pangolier counters, Pangolier is one of the most dynamic heroes in Dota 2, capable of dealing immense damage, controlling battles, and escaping tricky situations with ease. However, like every hero, Pangolier has his own set of weaknesses. Whether you’re caught in the grip of his Rolling Thunder or dodging Swashbuckle slashes, understanding how to counter him can make all the difference. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into Pangolier’s strengths and exploitable weaknesses, provide detailed hero and item counters, strategic tips, and FAQs to ensure you always have the upper hand when facing him.
Understanding Pangolier – Strengths and Weaknesses
To effectively counter Pangolier, it’s essential to first understand what makes him such a formidable opponent in the right hands. This melee agility hero thrives in fights thanks to his high mobility, area control, and damage output. Below are some of his key strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
- Mobility: With Swashbuckle, Pangolier leaps forward and deals physical damage in an area, making him hard to lock down.
- Durability: His Shield Crash ability grants bonus damage reduction, letting him sustain himself in team fights.
- Crowd Control: The ultimate ability Rolling Thunder stuns enemies in an area, disrupting team fights and securing ganks.
- Scaling Damage: His abilities work well at all stages of the game, especially with the right items.
Weaknesses
- Relies on Abilities: Without his spells, Pangolier is significantly less effective, as his base damage and attack speed aren’t exceptional.
- Spell Counterable: Items or abilities that silence, lock down, or pierce his mobility will drastically reduce his impact.
- Position Dependency: Pangolier’s effectiveness relies heavily on optimal positioning, especially during Rolling Thunder.
- Vulnerable Early: In the early stages, he lacks the durability and cooldown reduction that make him threatening in the late game.
Hero Counters – Who Excels Against Pangolier?
While any hero can counter Pangolier with the right items or strategy, certain heroes naturally excel against this versatile menace. Here’s a breakdown of the best hero counters:
High Impact Counters
- Slark: Slark thrives against Pangolier due to his ability to stack EssenceShift, reducing Pangolier’s stats while bolstering his own. Shadow Dance helps avoid his abilities and make quick work of him.
- Void Spirit: With strong mobility and a toolkit designed to disrupt positioning, Void Spirit can keep Pangolier at bay. His ultimate, Astral Step, is especially useful against a rolling Pangolier.
- Medusa: Medusa’s Stone Gaze petrifies Pangolier during Rolling Thunder, effectively neutralizing his most powerful ability. Her Mana Shield makes her highly resistant to his swashbuckles.
- Phantom Assassin: PA’s high burst damage from critical hits can delete Pangolier from fights. Additionally, her Blur reduces the likelihood of Pangolier successfully targeting her during engagements.
Other Notable Counters
- Bloodseeker: Rupture forces Pangolier to avoid using his mobility-focused abilities. While Pangolier can occasionally outplay Bloodseeker, the matchup favors the latter with proper execution.
- Huskar: With Life Break dealing percentage-based damage and healing him, Huskar is a strong option in one-on-one engagements against Pangolier.
- Night Stalker: Silence from Crippling Fear shuts Pangolier down completely. The reduced vision during Night Stalker’s ultimate also hampers Pangolier’s positioning.
Item Counters – Perfect Tools to Neutralize Pangolier
In addition to picking the right heroes, equipping the right items is critical when dealing with Pangolier. Certain items directly counter his abilities and playstyle:
- Scythe of Vyse: Hex disables Pangolier, removing his ability to cast spells and use his mobility tools, making him a sitting duck.
- Black King Bar: BKB provides magic immunity, negating all of Pangolier’s abilities except for his physical damage through Swashbuckle.
- Force Staff: A versatile counter to his Rolling Thunder, Force Staff allows enemies to reposition themselves or teammates outside of his reach.
- Eul’s Scepter: Throwing Pangolier into the air with Eul’s effectively wastes his Rolling Thunder duration or keeps him out of a fight.
- Rod of Atos: Locking Pangolier in place prevents movement abilities like Swashbuckle and renders his Rolling Thunder ineffective.
- Ghost Scepter: Makes the user immune to Pangolier’s physical damage, ideal for supports and squishy carries caught in his kill combos.
- Glimmer Cape: Goes a step further by providing invisibility for repositioning or escaping Rolling Thunder.
General Strategies to Counter Pangolier
Even with the right heroes and items, countering Pangolier requires strategic thinking and proper execution. Use these general strategies:
Disrupt His Mobility
Pangolier’s ability to weave in and out of combat comes from his movement-heavy abilities. Use silences like Orchid Malevolence or roots like Crystal Maiden’s Frostbite to restrict his movement.
Silence and Lockdown
Prevent Pangolier from using his spells by employing heroes or items with silences. Abilities like Doom or Skywrath Mage’s Ancient Seal are highly effective for this purpose.
Team Coordination
Focus Pangolier quickly as a team to gain the upper hand. Since he relies on surviving fights to maximize his scaling, bursting him down prevents him from utilizing his potential.
Physical Damage Mitigation
Items like Crimson Guard reduce his Swashbuckle damage, while evasion-based items like Butterfly make it hard for him to land hits. Heroes with high armor can also absorb much of his physical output.
Step-by-Step Guide – How to Counter Pangolier
- Analyze Picks: If you see Pangolier being picked, counter-pick heroes like Slark or Void Spirit into your lineup.
- During the Laning Phase: Play aggressively but carefully. Pangolier is weak early and relies on items for effectiveness.
- Farm Wisely: Stack items like Black King Bar or Eul’s Scepter early to prepare for his ultimate in mid and late-game fights.
- Warding: Place wards to catch him during rotations or before he initiates Rolling Thunder.
- Execute as a Team: When Pangolier engages, focus fire, lock him down, and punish foes planning to synergize with him.
FAQ: Pangolier Counters
What are the best heroes to counter Pangolier?
Slark, Medusa, Phantom Assassin, and Void Spirit are some of the best options due to their ability to disable, disrupt, or outlast Pangolier in fights.
How does Bloodseeker fare against Pangolier?
Although Pangolier can sometimes handle Bloodseeker with the right build, Bloodseeker’s Rupture directly counters his mobility, which is crucial for Pangolier.
Does BKB make Pangolier useless?
While BKB negates all his magic damage and stuns, Pangolier can still contribute with his physical damage from Swashbuckle.
What item should supports build against Pangolier?
Supports should prioritize Force Staff, Ghost Scepter, and Glimmer Cape to escape or mitigate his damage.
Which item completely shuts down Rolling Thunder?
Eul’s Scepter can temporarily disable Rolling Thunder by lifting Pangolier into the air, allowing your team to survive or reposition.
Is Pangolier weak in the early game?
Yes, he relies heavily on items to be effective, making him vulnerable to aggressive play in the laning phase.
Should I counter-pick into Pangolier every game?
Only counter-pick if Pangolier is likely to be in a core role and threatens your team’s draft significantly.
How can I avoid getting hit by Rolling Thunder?
Stay near cliffs, obstacles, or position yourself with mobility abilities or items like Force Staff to dodge Rolling Thunder’s path.
Which heroes synergize best with Pangolier?
Heroes like Abaddon, Warlock, and Medusa synergize well, offering support and enabling Pangolier to reach his maximum potential during fights.
Is Pangolier a good hero to ban in ranked games?
If you or your team struggles against highly mobile heroes with area stuns, Pangolier may indeed be a strong ban option.
Source : hOlyhexOr
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