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Nyx Assassin in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Nyx Assassin — Universal, melee; roles: Disabler, Nuker, Initiator, Escape. Public match win rate — 52.5%. In short: Nyx Assassin is strong against Void Spirit, Puck, Timbersaw but suffers against Pangolier, Axe, Storm Spirit.
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Nyx Assassin win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald52.4%
Guardian51.9%
Crusader52.4%
Archon52.7%
Legend52.3%
Ancient52.9%
Divine52.9%
Immortal—
Nyx Assassin is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Nyx Assassin
How to play Nyx Assassin against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs PangolierCatch Pangolier before Rolling Thunder: in the ball he is debuff immune and your disables are useless.46.5%
What to build against it
Orchid MalevolenceA silence before he rolls stops Rolling Thunder and denies a Swashbuckle escape.
Ghost ScepterSwashbuckle is physical and pierces BKB, and ethereal form blocks physical damage.
Force StaffThe ball turns poorly; a sideways Force Staff takes you off his path.
Blink DaggerLets you land Impale and Mind Flare while his ball is on cooldown or unused.
How to use the spells of Nyx Assassin
ImpaleNever waste Impale into the ball or Roll Up; stun him before or right after Rolling Thunder.
Mind FlareBurn his mana in lane; without it he can't afford Rolling Thunder plus Swashbuckle.
Spiked CarapacePress it as he dashes in with Swashbuckle outside the ball to reflect damage and stun him.
Watch out for Pangolier
Rolling ThunderSidestep sharply off the ball's line and wait for it to end before unloading your combo.
SwashbucklePhysical damage pierces BKB and procs Lucky Shot; don't stand in a straight line in front of him.
vs AxeStay out of Blink+Call range and shut down Axe's passives with Vendetta.48.4%
What to build against it
Eul's Scepter of DivinityEul's dispels Battle Hunger from you or lifts Axe before he jumps your team.
Blink DaggerLets you stand far from Call and jump in only after he initiates.
Force StaffA timely self or ally save pushes you out of Culling Blade range.
How to use the spells of Nyx Assassin
VendettaThe Vendetta hit applies break, disabling Counter Helix and One Man Army.
Mind FlareAxe has a small mana pool; Mind Flare can leave him without Culling Blade or Call.
ImpaleImpale right after he jumps in to stop his follow-up and save allies.
Watch out for Axe
Berserker's CallPierces BKB: don't clump with your team and respect his blink range.
Culling BladePierces BKB and executes low HP; back off early, not at the last second.
vs Storm SpiritStorm lives on mana; Mind Flare and mana burn take away his Ball Lightning.49.3%
What to build against it
Orchid MalevolenceSilence stops him from zipping away with Ball Lightning while you finish him.
Linken's SphereElectric Vortex is unit target, so Linken's blocks the pull.
Magic WandStorm spams Static Remnant constantly, feeding you wand charges.
How to use the spells of Nyx Assassin
Mind FlareDamage scales with his max mana; cast after Impale, especially once he builds intelligence.
Spiked CarapacePress when he balls in to hit with Overload; the reflect stuns him.
VendettaVendetta's break disables passive Overload, cutting his damage hard.
Watch out for Storm Spirit
Ball LightningDon't chase far; wait until he's low on mana, then commit.
Electric VortexKeep Carapace ready when he vortexes you to punish the follow-up hits.
vs JakiroKill Jakiro first from Vendetta before he floods the fight with Ice Path and Macropyre.49.4%
What to build against it
Black King BarAll of Jakiro's damage and stuns are magical and don't pierce BKB.
Blink DaggerLets you go around Ice Path and jump him from the side.
Force StaffQuickly pushes you out of the long Macropyre line.
How to use the spells of Nyx Assassin
VendettaFragile support: the invis hit plus Impale and Mind Flare usually kills him.
Mind FlareBurn his mana so he can't afford an expensive Macropyre.
ImpaleBurrowed Impale has more range; catch him as he steps up to harass.
Watch out for Jakiro
Ice PathDon't approach in a straight line; come from the side after Ice Path is used.
MacropyreLeave the fire line sideways immediately; don't stand in it to attack.
vs PhoenixStun Phoenix during Sun Ray and burst down the Supernova egg fast.49.7%
What to build against it
Spirit VesselCuts Sun Ray healing on Phoenix and his allies.
Black King BarDive, Fire Spirits and Sun Ray are magical and don't pierce BKB.
Blink DaggerGets you to the Supernova egg fast or catches Phoenix mid-beam.
How to use the spells of Nyx Assassin
ImpaleStun Phoenix during Sun Ray to stop its damage and healing.
Spiked CarapacePress as Fire Spirits or Dive hit you; the reflect stuns Phoenix.
Mind FlareFinish with Mind Flare while he spends HP on Sun Ray, before he can Supernova.
Watch out for Phoenix
SupernovaPierces BKB: unburrow and attack the egg, or leave the radius.
Sun RayStep out of the beam; damage grows the longer you stay in it.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Nyx Assassin builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch15%
Tango15%
Observer and Sentry Wards13%
Boots of Speed8%
Faerie Fire7%Early game
Boots of Speed54%
Bottle2%
Point Booster2%
Void Stone1%
Power Treads1%Mid game
Blink Dagger21%
Essence Distiller18%
Staff of Wizardry13%
Aghanim's Shard7%Point Booster4%
Vitality Booster3%Late game
Blink Dagger25%
Aeon Disk13%
Aghanim's Scepter10%
Consecrated Wraps5%
Mystic Staff3%Starting items
Iron Branch15%Tango15%
Blood Grenade13%
Sentry Ward9%Boots of Speed8%Faerie Fire7%
Observer Ward5%Early game
Boots of Speed54%
Tranquil Boots23%
Arcane Boots9%
Urn of Shadows7%Mid game
Arcane Boots12%Eul's Scepter of Divinity7%Late game
Eul's Scepter of Divinity20%Force Staff9%
Wind Waker2%Situational items on Nyx Assassin: when to buy
red — heroes that counter Nyx AssassinBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Lion
Shadow Shaman
Lina
Zeus
Earthshaker
Invoker
Bane
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)Especially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Axe
Bristleback
Phantom Assassin
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
UrsaLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Lion
Doom
Legion Commander
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
NecrophosOrchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Storm Spirit
Queen of Pain
Anti-Mage
Ember Spirit
Weaver
Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Storm Spirit
Medusa
LeshracAeon DiskSaves you from burst and single-target combosEspecially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Lion
Dust of AppearanceReveal invisible heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Templar Assassin
Riki
Clinkz
Bounty Hunter
Nyx Assassin
Mirana
Treant Protector
Sand KingSentry WardReveal invisible heroes and dewardEspecially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Templar Assassin
Glimmer CapeSave an ally from magic and focusEspecially vs heroes that counter Nyx Assassin: Jakiro
Why players lose on Nyx Assassin
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 18- Too many deaths and fed goldin 11 of 18 matches
- Little visionin 7 of 18 matches
- Dying right before losing Roshan or buildingsin 4 of 18 matches
- Wrong items vs the enemyin 3 of 18 matches
- Ultimate or BKB not used in fightsin 2 of 18 matches
- Dying first in deciding fightsin 1 of 18 matches
FAQ
Who counters Nyx Assassin?
Nyx Assassin loses most often against Pangolier, Axe, Storm Spirit. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Nyx Assassin good against?
Best matchups: Void Spirit, Puck, Timbersaw.
What is Nyx Assassin's win rate?
In public matches — 52.5%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Nyx Assassin?
In the mid game players most often buy Blink Dagger, Essence Distiller, Staff of Wizardry. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
