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Sand King

How to counter Sand King in Dota 2

Best counters to Sand King: Largo, Kez, Alchemist. None of the spells pierce BKB.

A plan vs Sand King for your hero and rolePick your hero and position — the coach lays out laning, mid and late game, how to play around each spell and when to buy counter items.
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Best counters to Sand King

win rate vs this hero in public matches

Worst picks vs Sand King

Sand King spells: BKB and dispel

what BKB blocks and what can be dispelled
BurrowstrikeBlocked by BKBStrong Dispel OnlyMagicalCD 14 / 13 / 12 / 11

Sand King burrows into the ground and tunnels forward, damaging and stunning enemy units above him as he resurfaces. Adds Caustic Finale poison to heroes hit Can be put on alt-cast to immediately cast in the desired direction, without walking towards the targeted location.

Sand StormBlocked by BKBCannot be DispelledMagicalCD 40 / 34 / 28 / 22

Sand King creates a fearsome sandstorm that damages enemy units and grants Sand King Invisibility while he is in it. The effect ends when Sand King leaves the area.

StingerPassive / BuffInstant EffectPhysicalCD 15 / 12 / 9 / 6

Sand King strikes an area, performing an attack on all enemies in the area of effect, dealing extra damage to each. Enemies within an innermost radius of 125 take 40% extra damage. Applies Caustic Finale and a slow to all enemies hit.

Caustic FinaleBlocked by BKBBasic DispelMagicalCD —

Sand King's attacks inject a venom that causes enemy units to violently explode when they die that does a flat amount of damage and an additional amount based on the dying units max health.

EpicenterBlocked by BKBCannot be DispelledMagicalCD 120 / 110 / 100

After a cast point of 2 seconds, Sand King sends a disturbance into the earth, causing it to shudder violently. All enemies caught within range will take damage and become slowed. Each subsequent pulse increases the radius of damage dealt.

Items against Sand King

4 counter items with buy timings and conditions: when to buy and which of Sand King’s spells each one shuts down. Tailored to your hero and role.

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What Sand King builds

popular purchases by stage
Early game
Boots of SpeedBottleChainmailPhase BootsBracer
Mid game
Blink DaggerAghanim's ScepterAghanim's ShardBlack King BarSpirit Vessel
Late game
Black King BarShiva's GuardSkull BasherAghanim's ScepterRefresher Orb

When Sand King is strongest

Laning (0–12m)
3/5
Mid Game (12–28m)
4/5
Late Game (28m+)
3/5
A plan vs Sand King for your hero and rolePick your hero and position — the coach lays out laning, mid and late game, how to play around each spell and when to buy counter items.
Build my plan →

FAQ

Who counters Sand King?

By public match stats, Largo, Kez, Alchemist do best against Sand King.

Do Sand King's spells pierce BKB?

No — none of Sand King's spells pierce BKB.

Which heroes struggle against Sand King?

Templar Assassin, Muerta, Lion struggle the most against Sand King.

Which of Sand King's effects can be dispelled?

Dispellable: Burrowstrike, Caustic Finale.

Sand King: win rate by rank, builds and common mistakes →

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