Undying counters, Undying is one of the most annoying heroes to face in Dota 2 due to his exceptional sustain, area control, and capability to dominate team fights. His kit enables him to turn skirmishes into favorable outcomes for his team, thanks to his Tombstone’s persistent zombie spawns and Soul Rip’s flexibility for both healing or dealing damage. Furthermore, his Flesh Golem ultimate amplifies his survivability while offering a significant damage boost in key engagements. To effectively counter an Undying, you need comprehensive knowledge of his strengths, weaknesses, and the optimal heroes and strategies to mitigate his impact. This guide will dive deep into various tactics, hero selections, item choices, and strategies to help you deal with Undying effectively.
Understanding Undying’s Strengths
Before attempting to counter Undying, it’s crucial to understand what makes him a threat. His skill set is uniquely designed to dismantle uncoordinated and poorly prepared teams, making him one of the most efficient team fight disruptors in the game. Here’s a breakdown of his strengths:
- Tombstone: This ability summons zombies that target nearby enemies, creating chaos and forcing attention away from more critical aspects of the fight.
- Soul Rip: This versatile ability can heal his allies or damage opponents. It scales with the number of units in the area, making it particularly potent in clustered team fights.
- Flesh Golem: Undying’s ultimate enhances his durability while granting an area-of-effect damage amplification based on nearby enemies’ health, making him highly impactful during team engagements.
How to Counter Undying – Hero Choices
Several heroes have unique skill sets or attributes that make them excellent counters to Undying. These heroes either excel at dealing with his strengths or nullifying his team fight presence:
Medusa
Medusa is one of the best counters to Undying due to her Split Shot, which allows her to clear zombies from Tombstone effectively. Furthermore, her Mana Shield provides extra durability against Undying’s abilities, including his Soul Rip.
Luna
Luna’s Lucent Beam and Eclipse abilities quickly dispatch zombies, and her increased mobility makes it hard for Undying to pin her down.Additionally, her high attack speed lets her bring down the Tombstone quickly.
Phantom Lancer
Phantom Lancer thrives against Undying by utilizing his illusions to confuse and distract him. His high attack speed enables him to clear zombies effectively, while his mobility makes him difficult to target.
Anti-Mage
Anti-Mage’s Blink ability allows him to disengage from fights where Undying’s Tombstone is active. Additionally, his Mana Break can burn Undying’s mana pool, rendering him less effective.
Ember Spirit
Ember Spirit counters Undying with his exceptional mobility. His Sleight of Fist allows him to clear zombies with ease, while Flame Guard and Fire Remnant help him absorb damage and reposition fluidly during fights.
Dazzle and Omniknight
Healers such as Dazzle and Omniknight can sustain their teams despite Undying’s heavy area damage. Dazzle’s Shallow Grave and Omniknight’s Guardian Angel are powerful tools to swing team fights in your favor against Undying’s Flesh Golem and Tombstone.
Venomancer
The use of Venomancer’s Plague Wards helps to focus down Tombstone’s zombies, while the poison damage from his abilities punishes Undying and any clustered teammates around him.
Gyrocopter
Gyrocopter’s area control tools, especially Call Down and Flak Cannon, are effective for clearing zombies and damaging Undying simultaneously. His ability to deal AoE damage is crucial for countering an Undying-centric lineup.
General Strategies to Counter Undying
Early Game Pressure
Undying is heavily reliant on a strong early game. Without a good start, his impact diminishes drastically. Aggressive laning heroes, like Bristleback or Viper, can bully Undying in the lane, denying him the gold and experience he needs to thrive.
Clearing Zombies
One of the most effective ways to counter Undying is to prioritize heroes and abilities with AoE damage or high attack speed. Large AoE spells like Earthshaker’s Echo Slam or Kunkka’s Torrent can significantly reduce the threat of Tombstone zombies.
Positioning and Targeting
Good positioning is critical in fights against Undying. Have designated heroes deal with the Tombstone while the rest of the team isolates and focuses on him or his teammates. Always approach team fights while being aware of high-ground jerks and possible Tombstone drop locations.
Item Choices
- Black King Bar (BKB): Grants spell immunity, countering Undying’s spells and letting your cores focus on dealing damage.
- Manta Style: Great for clearing zombies and dealing with decays from Tombstone.
- Diffusal Blade: Provides high attack speed for clearing zombies while burning Undying’s mana pool.
- Crimson Guard: Reduces the physical damage output of Tombstone zombies and enhances team survivability.
Team Coordination
Fighting Undying requires a coordinated team effort. Assign one or two heroes to prioritize destroying the Tombstone while the others focus on controlling the enemy cores or dishing out damage. Employing crowd-control abilities like stuns, silences, and roots can prevent Undying from maximizing his Flesh Golem or Soul Rip.
Step-by-Step Guide – How to Counter Undying Effectively
- Draft an anti-Undying hero like Medusa, Ember Spirit, or Gyrocopter. Prioritize heroes with either AoE abilities or high attack speed to deal with Tombstone effectively.
- Focus on early aggression in your lane. Pick strong laners to deny Undying his farm and experience early in the game.
- Buy the right items. Include items like BKB, Manta Style, and Diffusal Blade in your core builds to directly address his impact in team fights.
- Prioritize objectives wisely. Target Tombstone first in fights to eliminate his zombie advantage.
- Maintain careful positioning. Spread out during engagements to minimize the impact of his abilities like Decay and Soul Rip.
FAQs About Undying Counters
What is the best way to counter Undying in the laning stage?
Aggression is key in the early game. Strong laning heroes such as Bristleback or Viper can pressure Undying, deny farm, and reduce his impact later in the game.
Which carries excel against Undying in late game?
Heroes like Medusa, Luna, and Phantom Lancer excel due to their high attack speed, AoE damage potential, and the ability to deal with Tombstone and zombies effectively.
How can supports deal with Undying’s Tombstone in fights?
Supports can contribute by purchasing items like Crimson Guard or using AoE spells to assist core heroes in destroying the Tombstone early in the fight.
Is Undying a weak hero in late-game scenarios?
Yes, Undying tends to fall off in the late game as his abilities, particularly his Flesh Golem and Tombstone, become less impactful compared to high-damage cores.
Which items should I prioritize to counter Undying’s sustain?
BKB, Diffusal Blade, Manta Style, and Crimson Guard are excellent items that mitigate his sustain and provide tools to counter his abilities.
Can silences stop Undying effectively?
Yes, silencing Undying prevents him from casting his spells and utilizing his Flesh Golem in team fights, significantly reducing his impact.
Should I focus Undying in fights?
In most cases, your primary focus should be on destroying Undying’s Tombstone first. Once that is dealt with, you can determine whether Undying or his teammates pose a greater threat.
What counters Undying’s zoning capabilities?
Reliable disable spells and long-range heroes like Sniper can dismantle Undying’s zoning potential, allowing you to handle his Tombstone with less risk.
How does mobility help counter Undying?
Heroes with high mobility, such as Anti-Mage and Ember Spirit, can reposition easily, avoid Decay stacks, and escape unfavorable team fights.
Are there soft counters to Undying?
Yes, heroes with significant wave-clear, such as Venomancer and Gyrocopter, serve as soft counters to Undying, particularly when it comes to mitigating his Tombstone’s impact.
Source : Dota2 Gameplay
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