Our last hero to analyze was the Drow Ranger. Now, it's Lina, the Slayer, a formidable force in Dota 2 renowned for her fiery abilities and versatile play style. As of December 2024, she holds 12th place in popularity with a win rate of 49.33% on Dotabuff.
| Attribute | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Attribute | Intelligence | Lina excels in spellcasting and mana-based abilities. |
| Attack Type | Ranged | Her attack range allows for safer positioning in fights. |
| Base Health | 620 | Fragile; requires positioning and defensive items. |
| Base Mana | 375 | High mana pool for early spell usage. |
| Base Damage | 48-56 | Decent for last-hitting in early stages. |
| Attack Range | 670 | One of the longest attack ranges in the game. |
| Base Armor | 1 | Low survivability against physical damage. |
| Movement Speed | 295 | Average; benefits significantly from movement speed items. |
| Strength Growth | 2.2 | Improves survivability but remains on the lower side. |
| Agility Growth | 1.5 | Minimal improvement to attack speed and armor. |
| Intelligence Growth | 3.8 | Excellent scaling for mana and spell amplification. |
| Base Health Regen | 0.25 | Requires early investments in health sustain. |
| Base Mana Regen | 0.6 | Helps maintain spell usage early game. |
| Turn Rate | 0.6 | Decent, aids in quick re-positioning. |
Description
Lina is a versatile ranged intelligence hero renowned for her ability to deal overwhelming magic and physical damage, making her a strong presence in every game stage. She can function as a mid-laner, position four support, or even a semi-carry, depending on the needs of her team. Lina excels at nuking down enemies with her powerful magical abilities in the early game, while her attack speed scaling from Fiery Soul allows her to transition into a physical damage dealer in the late game.
Early Game
In the early game, Lina typically shines as a mid-laner due to her excellent ability to secure last hits and harass enemies with Dragon Slave. This ability provides wave-clear and harassment from a safe distance, giving Lina an edge in the lane. Light Strike Array, her stun, adds utility by enabling her to set up kills with teammates or escape ganks. Itemization in the early game focuses on mana sustainability and survivability. Items like Null Talisman, Magic Wand, and Boots of Speed are essential. If Lina is struggling in her lane, a quick purchase of Raindrops can help mitigate incoming magical harassment.
Mid-Game
As the game transitions into the mid-stage, Lina becomes a fearsome nuker. With Laguna Blade as a potent single-target nuke, she can delete squishy heroes or significantly weaken tankier opponents. During this phase, itemization often involves a combination of mobility, mana regeneration, and utility items. Eul's Scepter of Divinity is a core item for most Lina players, allowing her to set up Light Strike Array reliably. Aether Lens enhances her ability range, making it easier to dish out damage while staying safe. In games where magic burst is prioritized, Kaya or Kaya and Sange can amplify her spell damage.
Late Game
In the late game, Lina's role often transitions into that of a hybrid physical and magical damage dealer. Thanks to Fiery Soul, which grants attack and movement speed with spell usage, she can itemize into right-click builds. Black King Bar (BKB) is a must for team fights to avoid being interrupted while channeling damage. To enhance her carry potential, items like Daedalus, Monkey King Bar, or Satanic allow Lina to shred through even the tankiest opponents. For games focused on utility and survivability, Shiva's Guard or Scythe of Vyse can provide additional control options.
Skill Builds
Most players prioritize Dragon Slave early for wave-clear and harassment, followed by maxing Fiery Soul to maximize her attack speed scaling. Light Strike Array is leveled for utility and stun duration, while Laguna Blade is taken whenever available for its sheer burst potential.
Lina's flexibility makes her a high-risk, high-reward hero. With proper itemization and sharp decision-making, she can adapt to the needs of her team, excelling as a magical nuker, a utility support, or a late-game right-click carry.
Lore
The sibling rivalries between Lina the Slayer and her younger sister Rylai, the Crystal Maiden, were legendary in their homeland. Lina's fiery ardor, tempered by cleverness, often gave her the upper hand. Their exasperated parents eventually separated them, sending Lina to the blazing Desert of Misrule, where she mastered her fiery abilities.
Latest Updates
In the recent (although earlier than 7.37) patches, Lina has undergone several adjustments:
- Patch 7.36 (May 22, 2024): Fiery Soul became her innate ability, with rebalanced attack and movement speed bonuses per stack. Dragon SSlave's cast point was reduced, and damage is no longer applied over time by default. Laguna BBlade'scast point was also reduced, and it no longer sets Fiery Soul stacks to 10.
- Patch 7.36b (June 5, 2024): Fiery SSoul'smovement speed bonus per stack was increased, enhancing Lina'smobility.
Benefits
High Burst Damage: Lina's abilities, particularly her ultimate, Laguna Blade, can swiftly take down important targets.
Area Control: Light Strike Array and Dragon Slave enable Lina to effectively control areas, making her a significant threat during team fights.
Scaling Potential: With Fiery Soul, Lina gains increased attack and movement speed, boosting her damage output as battles advance.
Downsides
Fragility: Lina has low base health and armor, making her susceptible to bursts of damage.
Mana Dependency: Her abilities have high mana costs, requiring effective mana management and itemization.
Skill Reliance: Success with Lina demands precise skill shots and positioning, presenting a steep learning curve for new players.
Abilities
Dragon Slave: Lina channels the might of a dragon, unleashing a devastating wave of fire that incinerates all foes in its trajectory.
Light Strike Array: Lina conjures a fiery column that inflicts damage and stuns enemies following a brief delay, providing a strategic offensive option.
Fiery Soul: Each time Lina strikes an enemy with her spells, she gains heightened attack and movement speed, and these effects can stack for more significant benefit.
Laguna Blade: Lina releases a powerful lightning bolt targeting a single enemy, resulting in substantial damage and showcasing her lethal potential.
Hints and Tips to Master
- Combo Execution: Utilize items like EEul'sScepter to set up Light Strike Array, ensuring your spells land effectively.
- Positioning: Maintain safe distances in fights to leverage your range while avoiding enemy focus.
- Mana Management: Invest in items that provide mana regeneration to sustain your spellcasting throughout engagements.
Recommended Allies
- Crystal Maiden: Her Arcane Aura provides essential mana regeneration, sustaining LLina's spellcasting needs. Additionally, Frostbite can set up easy Light Strike Arrays.
- Faceless Void: Chronosphere immobilizes enemies, allowing Lina to land her area-of-effect spells effortlessly, leading to devastating combinations.
- Earthshaker: His stuns synergize with LLina's burst damage, enabling effective chain control and ensuring enemies remain locked down.
- Shadow Demon: Disruption can set up a Light Strike Array, and his Soul Catcher amplifies the damage Lina deals, making it easier to eliminate key targets.
- Magnus: Reverse Polarity groups enemies for LLina'sarea spells, and Empower boosts her physical attacks, enhancing her overall damage output.
Counters
- Anti-Mage: With Blink, he can close the gap swiftly, and Mana Break depletes LLina'smana pool, limiting her spellcasting capabilities. Mana Void can deal massive damage due to her high mana pool. By the way, he's one of the five most handsome Dota 2 heroes.
- Nyx Assassin: Spiked Carapace can reflect LLina's area damage, stunning her in the process. Mana Burn is particularly effective against her high intelligence, and Vendetta allows for surprise attacks.
- Puck: With high mobility and Phase Shift, Puck can dodge Lina's skill shots and punish her with Dream Coil, exploiting her low durability.
- Phantom Lancer: His illusions can overwhelm Lina, and Diffusal Blade quickly drains her mana, rendering her spells useless.
- Templar Assassin: Refraction absorbs Lina's burst damage, and Meld allows for high burst physical damage, exploiting Lina's low armor.