As one of the most iconic heroes in the popular game Dota 2, Axe is known for his ferocity and strength on the battlefield. With his intimidating presence and powerful abilities, he can be a formidable foe to face. However, every hero has their weaknesses, and Axe is no exception. In this article, we will explore the heroes and strategies that can counter Axe and turn the tide of battle in your favor.
One of the main weaknesses of Axe is his reliance on close-quarters combat. His abilities are most effective when he is surrounded by enemies, as they allow him to deal damage to multiple targets at once. However, heroes with strong ranged attacks and abilities can keep their distance from Axe, preventing him from initiating fights and taking control of the battlefield. Heroes like Drow Ranger and Sniper, with their long-range attacks, can kite Axe and slowly whittle down his health from a safe distance.
Another weakness of Axe is his vulnerability to disables and crowd control. His main initiation ability, Berserker’s Call, forces enemies to attack him, but it also leaves him open to being stunned or disabled. Heroes with reliable disables, such as Lion and Shadow Shaman, can lock him down and prevent him from using his powerful abilities. Additionally, heroes with mobility spells, like Queen of Pain and Antimage, can easily escape from Axe’s range and avoid being caught in his AoE abilities.
Lastly, Axe’s effectiveness is greatly reduced when he is unable to sustain himself in fights. His signature ability, Battle Hunger, relies on him getting kills or assists to keep himself healthy and fighting. Heroes with burst damage or the ability to quickly burst him down, such as Zeus and Lina, can prevent Axe from getting those crucial kills and render him less impactful in team fights. Items like Heaven’s Halberd, which disarms Axe and reduces his overall damage output, can also hinder his ability to sustain himself and make him easier to deal with.
While Axe can be a challenging hero to counter, with strategic picks and careful game-play, it is possible to neutralize his impact and gain the upper hand. By understanding his weaknesses and exploiting them, you can ensure that Axe’s battle cry will be nothing more than an empty threat on the battlefield.
Top Counters for Axe
Axe is a formidable hero in Dota 2 with his high health pool and powerful damage output. However, there are several heroes that can effectively counter Axe in the game. These heroes possess abilities that can take advantage of Axe’s weaknesses and make it difficult for him to be effective in team fights.
1. Necrophos
Necrophos is a strong counter to Axe due to his ability to deal sustained magical damage and negate Axe’s high health pool. Necrophos’ Death Pulse ability can heal himself and his teammates while dealing damage to Axe, making it difficult for Axe to sustain through fights. Necrophos’ ultimate ability, Reaper’s Scythe, can also instantly kill Axe if he is below a certain health threshold, bypassing Axe’s tankiness.
2. Lifestealer
Lifestealer is another hero that can counter Axe effectively. Lifestealer’s Feast ability allows him to steal a percentage of Axe’s health with every attack, making it difficult for Axe to outlast him in a fight. Additionally, Lifestealer’s Rage ability provides him with magic immunity, negating Axe’s abilities that rely on crowd control.
Other heroes that can be strong counters to Axe include Outworld Devourer, who can steal Axe’s intelligence and deal massive damage with his Arcane Orb, and Dazzle, who can heal and protect his teammates from Axe’s damage with his Shadow Wave ability and Shallow Grave ability.
When facing an Axe as an enemy team, it is important to pick heroes that can exploit his weaknesses and make him less impactful in team fights. By countering Axe effectively, you can turn the tides of the game in your favor and secure victory for your team.
Natural Axe Counters
There are several heroes in Dota 2 that naturally counter Axe’s abilities and playstyle. These heroes possess abilities that can render Axe’s strengths useless or capitalize on his weaknesses:
- Timbersaw – One of the biggest counters to Axe, Timbersaw’s reactive armor makes him extremely tanky against Axe’s physical damage. His whirling death ability can also reduce Axe’s attributes, weakening him significantly.
- Undying – Undying’s decay ability can quickly drain Axe’s strength, reducing his health pool and tankiness. Additionally, his tombstone ability can create zombies, overwhelming Axe and his teammates in team fights.
- Viper – Viper’s Nethertoxin ability is a natural counter to Axe’s Berserker’s Call, as it prevents Axe from regenerating health during the duration of the spell. Viper’s high poison damage can also quickly melt Axe’s health pool.
- Bane – Bane’s ultimate ability, Fiend’s Grip, goes through Axe’s spell immunity and disables him for a long duration. Bane can also use his Enfeeble ability to reduce Axe’s damage, making him less of a threat in team fights.
- Phoenix – Phoenix’s ability to dive and use sun ray can be a nuisance for Axe, as it can prevent him from initiating with Blink Dagger. Additionally, Phoenix’s ultimate ability, Supernova, can force Axe to either focus the egg or risk getting stunned and taking damage.
When facing an Axe, it is crucial to pick heroes that can counter him in order to gain an advantage in the game. These natural counters can exploit Axe’s weaknesses and turn the tides in your team’s favor.
Hero Picks That Can Counter Axe
Axe is a powerful melee hero that excels at initiating team fights and causing chaos among enemy ranks. However, there are several hero picks that can effectively counter Axe’s strengths and turn the tide of battle in your favor.
1. Viper
Viper is a ranged hero that can easily harass Axe in the laning phase. His Poison Attack ability not only deals damage over time but also reduces Axe’s attack speed, making it difficult for him to trade hits effectively. Viper’s Nethertoxin can also bypass Axe’s high armor, dealing a significant amount of damage to him. Additionally, Viper’s Corrosive Skin can slow down Axe’s mobility and provide him with some much-needed magic resistance.
2. Shadow Demon
Shadow Demon is an excellent hero pick to counter Axe. His Disruption ability can create illusions of Axe, negating his effectiveness in team fights. These illusions will not only reduce Axe’s damage output but also grant vision of him, making it easier for your team to focus and eliminate him. Shadow Demon’s Demonic Purge can also slow down Axe and remove his buffs, further reducing his impact in engagements.
3. Dazzle
Dazzle is a support hero that can provide valuable utility against Axe. His Shallow Grave ability can prevent Axe from securing kills, ensuring that your carries survive the fight. Dazzle’s Weave ability can also reduce Axe’s armor over time, making him more vulnerable to physical damage. Dazzle’s Shadow Wave can heal your team and damage Axe simultaneously, potentially turning the tide of battle in your favor.
- Pugna
- Timbersaw
- Bristleback
These hero picks are just a few examples of the many options available to counter Axe. It’s crucial to understand Axe’s strengths and weaknesses and draft heroes that can exploit them effectively. By countering Axe, you can turn the tables on the enemy team and secure victory in the battle.
Item Builds That Can Counter Axe
Axe is a formidable hero in Dota 2, but there are several item builds that can effectively counter him and limit his impact on the game. These item builds focus on reducing Axe’s durability, negating his damage, or providing crowd control to keep him from initiating fights. Here are a few item builds that can counter Axe:
Builder’s Greaves and Eul’s Scepter of Divinity
Builder’s Greaves and Eul’s Scepter of Divinity provide crowd control that can help neutralize Axe’s initiation potential. Builder’s Greaves can remove his debuffs and provide extra durability to the team. Eul’s Scepter can be used to lift Axe into the air, disabling him and preventing him from using his abilities.
Blade Mail and Heaven’s Halberd
Blade Mail and Heaven’s Halberd can be effective against Axe because they reduce his damage output. Blade Mail reflects a percentage of the damage back to Axe, making him think twice before attacking. Heaven’s Halberd can disarm Axe, preventing him from attacking for a short duration.
Additionally, items like Force Staff, Glimmer Cape, and Ghost Scepter can help heroes escape Axe’s clutches or reduce the damage taken from his attacks.
Remember, the key to countering Axe is to disable him or reduce his effectiveness during team fights. These item builds can give your team the edge they need to successfully deal with Axe’s aggression.
Strategies to Counter Axe
Axe is a formidable hero in Dota 2, known for his tankiness and ability to deal a lot of damage. However, with the right strategies and teamwork, it is possible to counter Axe and shut him down. Here are some effective strategies against Axe:
- Hero Picks: Certain heroes have abilities that can counter Axe effectively. These heroes include Viper, who can break Axe’s passive ability with his Nethertoxin, and Omniknight, whose Guardian Angel can nullify a lot of Axe’s damage.
- Kiting Axe: Axe is a melee hero, so kiting him can be an effective strategy. Heroes with mobility and long-range abilities like Windranger or Drow Ranger can keep their distance from Axe and slowly whittle down his health.
- Disabling Abilities: Stunning, silencing, or rooting Axe can prevent him from initiating fights or using his abilities effectively. Heroes like Lion, Shadow Shaman, or Treant Protector can be useful in this regard.
- Armor Reduction: Axe relies heavily on his high base armor to tank damage. Heroes like Slardar or Clinkz, who have abilities that reduce armor, can significantly weaken Axe and make him more vulnerable to physical damage.
- Timely Creep Cutting: Axe gains a lot of his farm by cutting creep waves between tier 1 and tier 2 towers. By warding the jungle and responding quickly to Axe’s movements, you can prevent him from farming efficiently and delay his power spike.
- Team Coordination: Coordinating with your team is crucial when dealing with Axe. Initiating fights together, focusing him down first, and using defensive abilities at the right time can make it difficult for Axe to have a significant impact on team fights.
By employing these strategies and adapting to the situation, you can effectively counter Axe and turn the tides of battle in your favor. Remember, teamwork and communication are key when dealing with any challenging hero in Dota 2.
