Dota 2 is known for its diverse roster of heroes. Some heroes dominate the spotlight, while others remain underrated. These overlooked heroes can be powerful but often go unnoticed. Let's explore the top 10 underrated Dota 2 heroes that can change the tide of battle.
Viper
- Pick Rate: 7.43%
- Win Rate: 50.35%
Viper is a powerful mid-lane hero. He has high damage over time and can dominate his lane. His first ability, Poison Attack, slows and deals damage. Nethertoxin, his second ability, silences and deals massive damage in an area. Corrosive Skin increases his survivability. Viper Strike, his ultimate, slows and deals heavy damage over time. Despite his strength, Viper is often underestimated. He can control lanes and dominate mid to late game.
Strategies
Viper thrives in the mid-lane. Focus on harassing the enemy mid-laner with Poison Attack. Use Nethertoxin to secure creeps and deny the enemy farm. In team fights, position yourself to hit multiple enemies with Nethertoxin and Viper Strike. Build items such as Dragon Lance and Black King Bar to enhance your survivability and damage.
Synergies
Viper pairs well with heroes that can control and disable enemies. Heroes like Earthshaker and Lion can set up kills for Viper. He also benefits from supports that can heal and sustain him, like Dazzle and Oracle.
Underlord
- Pick Rate: 2.94%
- Win Rate: 49.48%
Underlord excels in team fights and controlling the map: his first skill, Firestorm, deals area damage over time. The pit of Malice roots enemies in place, disrupting their movements. Atrophy Aura reduces enemy damage and increases his own. Dark Rift allows him to teleport his team across the map. These abilities make Underlord a strong pick for controlling fights and objectives. Yet, he is often overlooked in drafts.
Strategies
Underlord excels at controlling lanes and team fights. Use Firestorm to push lanes and harass enemies. Pit of Malice can disrupt enemy movements, making it easier to land Firestorm. In team fights, position yourself to reduce enemy damage with Atrophy Aura. Use Dark Rift to assist allies and escape dangerous situations. Items like Guardian Greaves and Pipe of Insight can enhance your team's fight presence.
Synergies
Underlord excels with heroes that can follow up on his control abilities. Pair him with heroes like Sven or Juggernaut, who can capitalize on Pit of Malice. He also benefits from supports that can enhance his durability, like Omniknight and Warlock.
Bane
- Pick Rate: 2.18%
- Win Rate: 50.12%
Bane is a support hero with strong disabling abilities. Nightmare puts enemies to sleep, taking them out of the fight temporarily. Enfeeble reduces enemy attack damage significantly. Brain Sap deals pure damage and heals Bane for the same amount. Fiend's Grip, his ultimate, channels to stun and deal massive damage. Despite his potential to turn fights, Bane is not picked as often as other supports.
Strategies
Bane's strength lies in his disabling abilities. Use Nightmare to isolate key targets during fights. Enfeeble can cripple enemy carries, reducing their damage output. Brain Sap can be used both offensively and defensively, providing damage and healing. Fiend's Grip is a powerful ultimate that can turn the tide of battle. Prioritize items that increase your survivability and mana pool, like Aether Lens and Glimmer Cape.
Synergies
Bane pairs well with heroes who can follow up on his disables. Heroes like Mirana and Kunkka can combo with Nightmare and Fiend's Grip. He works well with heroes who can protect him during channeling, like Treant Protector and Abaddon.
Pangolier
- Pick Rate: 6.34%
- Win Rate: 50.22%
Pangolier is a versatile hero with high mobility and team fight potential. Swashbuckle allows him to dash and attack multiple enemies. Shield Crash reduces incoming damage and deals area damage. Lucky Shot passively grants a chance to slow and disarm enemies. Rolling Thunder, his ultimate, turns him into a rolling ball, stunning enemies on impact. Pangolier can be effective in many roles but is often undervalued.
Strategies
Pangolier's mobility and team fight presence make him versatile. Use Swashbuckle to harass enemies and escape danger. Shield Crash can be used during fights to reduce incoming damage. Rolling Thunder is excellent for disrupting enemy formations. Build items such as Blink Dagger and Lotus Orb to enhance mobility and survivability.
Synergies
Pangolier benefits from heroes who can initiate fights. Pair him with heroes like Tidehunter and Enigma, who can start fights for him to follow up. He works well with heroes who can provide vision, like Beastmaster and Night Stalker.
Treant Protector
- Pick Rate: 2.16%
- Win Rate: 51.02%
Treant Protector is a support hero who uses powerful healing and crowd control. Nature's Grasp creates a path of vines that slow and damage enemies. Leech Seed drains life from enemies and heals allies. Living Armor protects allies and structures, providing regeneration and damage blocks. Overgrowth, his ultimate, roots all enemies in a large area. His ability to defend and heal makes him valuable, but he remains underrated.
Strategies
Treant Protector's strength is in his ability to heal and protect. Use Nature's Grasp to slow enemies and control areas. Leech Seed can be used to harass enemies and heal allies. Living Armor is crucial for protecting allies and structures. Overgrowth can turn team fights by rooting all enemies. Items like Force Staff and Guardian Greaves can enhance your support capabilities.
Synergies
Treant Protector excels with heroes who can benefit from his protection. Pair him with carries like Phantom Assassin and Anti-Mage, who need time to farm. He also works well with heroes that can initiate, like Centaur Warrunner and Axe.
Visage
- Pick Rate: 0.79%
- Win Rate: 47.23%
Visage is a unique hero with strong push and burst damage capabilities. Grave Chill steals movement and attack speed from an enemy. Soul Assumption deals burst damage based on the number of nearby damage instances. Gravekeeper's Cloak provides damage reduction and health regeneration. Summon Familiars calls forth stone gargoyles that can stun and deal damage. Visage is robust but requires skill to play effectively, leading to his underutilization.
Strategies
Visage requires skill to master. Use Grave Chill to steal speed from enemies, making them easier to kill. Soul Assumption is powerful in fights with multiple damage sources. Gravekeeper's Cloak makes you tanky. Summon Familiars can push lanes and provide stuns. Build items like Aghanim's Scepter and Pipe of Insight to maximize your potential.
Synergies
Visage benefits from heroes that can create chaos in fights. Pair him with heroes like Chaos Knight and Sand King, who can disrupt enemies. He works well with heroes like Wraith King and Necrophos, who can provide sustainment.
Clinkz
- Pick Rate: 2.45%
- Win Rate: 51.36%
Clinkz is a stealthy carry with high burst damage and mobility. Strafe increases his attack speed for a short period. Searing Arrows adds bonus damage to his attacks. Skeleton Walk makes him invisible and increases his movement speed. Death Pact consumes a creep, granting him bonus health and damage. Clinkz can quickly eliminate key targets but requires careful positioning.
Strategies
Clinkz excels at picking off isolated targets. Use Skeleton Walk to position yourself for kills. Strafe and Searing Arrows provide significant burst damage. Death Pact ensures you have enough health and damage to sustain fights. Build items like Desolator and Black King Bar to maximize damage output and survivability.
Synergies
Clinkz pairs well with heroes who can provide vision or disable enemies. Heroes like Beastmaster and Bane can help set up kills for Clinkz. He also benefits from support, such as Oracle and Dazzle, that can sustain him.
Elder Titan
- Pick Rate: 2.59%
- Win Rate: 49.51%
Elder Titan excels in team fights with his disruptive abilities. Echo Stomp puts enemies to sleep in a large area. Astral Spirit sends forth a spirit that damages and slows enemies. Natural Order reduces enemy resistance. Earth Splitter, his ultimate, creates a fissure that damages and splits enemies. Despite his impact in team fights, Elder Titan is rarely picked, making him an underrated gem.
Strategies
Elder Titan's team fight impact is immense. Use Echo Stomp to initiate fights or save allies. Astral Spirit can be used to scout and damage enemies. Natural Order is powerful in reducing enemy resistances. Earth Splitter can turn team fights. Build items like Solar Crest and Force Staff to enhance your fight utility.
Synergies
Elder Titan excels with heroes who can capitalize on his disruption. Pair him with heroes like Gyrocopter and Lina, who can follow up on Echo Stomp. He also benefits from heroes who can enhance his mobility, like Weaver and Dark Seer.
Winter Wyvern
- Pick Rate: 4.29%
- Win Rate: 50.97%
Winter Wyvern is a support hero with strong defensive and offensive capabilities. Arctic Burn allows her to fly over obstacles and slows enemies. Splinter Blast deals damage to a target and nearby enemies. Cold Embrace heals an ally while making them immune to physical damage. Winter's Curse, her ultimate, forces enemies to attack a target, dealing significant damage. Winter Wyvern can turn fights with well-timed abilities but is often underrated.
Strategies
Winter Wyvern excels at saving allies and controlling fights. Use Arctic Burn to harass enemies and escape danger. Splinter Blast is excellent for wave clear and harassing multiple enemies. Cold Embrace can save allies from imminent death. Winter's Curse can disable key enemies and turn team fights. Build items like Glimmer Cape and Aether Lens to enhance your utility.
Synergies
Winter Wyvern pairs well with heroes who can capitalize on her disables. Pair her with heroes like Sven and Faceless Void, who can follow up on Winter's Curse. She works well with heroes who benefit from her saving capabilities, like Juggernaut and Lifestealer.
Jakiro
- Pick Rate: 5.59%
- Win Rate: 51.57%
Jakiro is a versatile support with substantial area control. Dual Breath slows and damages enemies. Ice Path creates a path of ice that stuns enemies. Liquid Fire burns enemies over time and slows their attack speed. Macropyre, his ultimate, makes a line of fire that deals massive damage over time. Jakiro's ability to control the battlefield is immense, yet he often remains in the shadows of more popular supports.
Strategies
Jakiro controls the battlefield with his abilities. Use Dual Breath to slow and damage enemies in lanes. Ice Path can be used to stun and control areas. Liquid Fire can harass enemies and push towers. Macropyre is devastating in team fights. Build items like Eul's and Aghanim's Scepter to enhance your control abilities.
Synergies
Jakiro benefits from heroes who can keep enemies in place. Pair him with heroes like Faceless Void and Dark Seer, which can be a combo with Ice Path and Macropyre. He works well with heroes who can enhance his spell ‹›åcasting, like Crystal Maiden and Keeper of the Light.
These heroes bring unique strengths to Dota 2. They can dominate lanes, control team fights, and secure victories when used effectively. Players often overlook them due to the popularity of other heroes. However, mastering these heroes can provide a significant advantage. Exploring and understanding their abilities can lead to unexpected wins and thrilling gameplay. Don't overlook their potential. Master them to gain an edge in your games.
All rates are taken from www.dotabuff.com