Wraith King counters, Wraith King, one of Dota 2’s most iconic carry heroes, is a powerhouse that combines durability, high damage output, and game-changing sustain thanks to his ultimate, Reincarnation. His ability to dominate late-game fights makes him a formidable foe for many players. However, like any hero in Dota 2, Wraith King has his weaknesses and specific counters that can be exploited to turn the tide of battle in your favor. In this article, we’ll delve deeply into Wraith King’s strengths and weaknesses, explore hero, item, and strategy-based counters, and provide actionable insights to counter him effectively in your matches.
Understanding Wraith King – Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths of Wraith King
- Formidable Carry: Wraith King excels as a durable late-game carry with high damage output, making him a menace in prolonged teamfights.
- Reincarnation: His ultimate allows him to revive after death, ensuring his presence in fights even after being taken down.
- Lifesteal Sustainability: Wraith King’s ability to restore health through lifesteal makes him a strong dueler and hard to kill in one-on-one situations.
- Stun and Damage Output: Skills like Wraithfire Blast provide crowd control, while Mortal Strike ensures he deals significant burst damage to enemies.
Weaknesses of Wraith King
- Mana Dependency: Wraith King’s Reincarnation requires mana, and with a limited mana pool in the early-to-mid game, he can be rendered ineffective by mana-burn strategies.
- Lacks AoE Damage: Wraith King’s single-target focus leaves him vulnerable against illusion heroes or heroes with multiple summons.
- Early-Game Vulnerability: Low armor and farm dependency in the early game make him susceptible to harassing heroes and ganking strategies.
Hero Counters for Wraith King
Several heroes cater specifically to Wraith King’s weaknesses, exploiting his mana dependency, lack of AoE control, and vulnerability to sustained damage. Here are some of the most noteworthy Wraith King counters in Dota 2:
Anti-Mage – The Mana Breaker
Anti-Mage is one of the strongest counters to Wraith King due to his innate ability to burn mana through Mana Break. By depleting Wraith King’s manapool, Anti-Mage can prevent him from using Reincarnation, putting his team at a distinct advantage. Moreover, Anti-Mage’s Mana Void punishes Wraith King’s high mana loss during fights, disrupting his flow.
- Counter Strategy: Pick Anti-Mage if you aim to end Reincarnation fights early by denying the mana needed for Wraith King’s revival.
Phantom Lancer – Illusion Overload
Wraith King struggles against heroes that can summon multiple units or illusions. Phantom Lancer excels in overwhelming him with illusions, making it difficult for Wraith King to focus on a single target since he lacks AoE skills. Phantom Lancer’s mobility also allows him to kite Wraith King during fights.
- Counter Strategy: Opt for Phantom Lancer if you’re looking for an elusive pick that can continuously pressure Wraith King throughout the game.
Chaos Knight – Single-Target Destruction
Chaos Knight is another excellent counter. His Phantasm illusions deal significant damage and force Wraith King into awkward engagements. Furthermore, Chaos Knight’s burst damage and tankiness enable him to persist through drawn-out fights against Wraith King.
- Counter Strategy: Deploy Chaos Knight to exploit Wraith King’s single-target focus, making him ineffective when overwhelmed by illusions.
Weaver – Harass and Kite
Weaver is a fantastic choice to deal with Wraith King’s limited mobility. Using Shukuchi, Weaver can continuously chip away at Wraith King’s health and mana while evading his attacks. A Diffusal Blade pick up can further deny Wraith King’s mana pool, nullifying Reincarnation.
- Counter Strategy: Pick Weaver to harass Wraith King in the early game and kite him effectively during the later stages.
Juggernaut – The Precise Slayer
Juggernaut boasts exceptional tools to counter Wraith King. His Omnislash ability ignores Reincarnation during its duration and deals massive damage, while Blade Fury grants him magic immunity to mitigate Wraith King’s Wraithfire Blast. Juggernaut’s sustain through healing also makes him a durable match-up.
- Counter Strategy: Utilize Juggernaut to secure focused kills on Wraith King, especially during early teamfights.
Underlord – Crowd Control Specialist
Underlord’s teamfight abilities directly counter Wraith King’s lack of AoE damage. Using Pit of Malice and Firestorm, Underlord can manipulate fights, slow Wraith King’s movements, and reduce his effectiveness.
- Counter Strategy: Underlord is ideal for controlling skirmishes while neutralizing Reincarnation impacts.
Necrophos – Preventing Reincarnation
Necrophos excels against Wraith King due to his ultimate, Reaper’s Scythe, which can outright kill Wraith King before Reincarnation activates. Coupled with Heartstopper Aura, Necrophos reduces Wraith King’s survivability during fights.
- Counter Strategy: Opt for Necrophos to eliminate Wraith King efficiently during critical moments of the game.
Item Counters to Wraith King
Items play an essential role in countering Wraith King’s strengths. Here are some of the key items to utilize:
- Diffusal Blade: Burns Wraith King’s mana, preventing Reincarnation or forcing him to purchase mana-restoring items.
- Black King Bar (BKB): Allows heroes to survive Wraith King’s disables and output consistent damage during fights.
- Maelstrom/Mjollnir: Effective against illusion-based heroes, these items enable you to counter Wraith King’s lack of AoE.
- Heaven’s Halberd: Disarms Wraith King, reducing his physical damage output and effectiveness.
- Scythe of Vyse: Provides an additional form of control to isolate Wraith King.
How-To Guide – Countering Wraith King Effectively
- Focus on Mana Burn: Pick mana-draining heroes like Anti-Mage or purchase items like Diffusal Blade to deny Reincarnation.
- Harass in the Early Game: Use heroes with strong lane presence to prevent Wraith King from building farm.
- Play Around Reincarnation: Time your abilities and teamfights to coordinate attacks after Wraith King revives.
- Prioritize AoE Damage: Items like Maelstrom and heroes like Underlord can chip away at illusions or grouped enemies, neutralizing Wraith King’s lack of AoE damage.
FAQs – Wraith King Counters
How does Anti-Mage counter Wraith King?
Anti-Mage counters Wraith King by BurNIng his mana with Mana Break, making it impossible for Wraith King to use his Reincarnation.
Is Phantom Lancer a good pick against Wraith King?
Yes, Phantom Lancer’s illusions overwhelm Wraith King, who struggles against multiple targets due to his lack of AoE damage.
What items should I buy to counter Wraith King?
Diffusal Blade, Black King Bar, and Maelstrom are essential items that target Wraith King’s weaknesses effectively.
Does Necrophos counter Wraith King effectively?
Yes, Necrophos’s Reaper’s Scythe can eliminate Wraith King before Reincarnation activates, disrupting his impact in fights.
How do I deal with Wraith King’s Reincarnation?
Focus on mana burn strategies, control heroes like Underlord, or time your damage abilities for after Reincarnation triggers.
Can Juggernaut counter Wraith King effectively?
Juggernaut counters Wraith King with Omnislash and Blade Fury, providing immunity and high burst damage during fights.
Should I avoid single-core drafts against Wraith King?
Yes, avoid relying on one core hero, as Wraith King excels at late-game duels. Opt for multiple damaging heroes instead.
What timing should I focus on when playing against Wraith King?
Pressure Wraith King during the early game while he is weak and deny him farm before his late-game power spike.
How does Underlord counter Wraith King?
Underlord’s crowd-control abilities, like Pit of Malice, isolate Wraith King and exploit his lack of mobility and AoE damage.
What is the most important strategy when countering Wraith King?
Draining his mana pool early and playing around his Reincarnation cooldown is the most crucial strategy.
Source : DotTa 3
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