Windranger in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes

Windranger — Universal, ranged; roles: Carry, Support, Disabler, Escape, Nuker. Public match win rate — 48.5%. In short: Windranger is strong against Grimstroke, Zeus, Viper but suffers against Treant Protector, Enigma, Ember Spirit.

Lost the game?Paste a match ID — we show who threw and why: deaths, lanes, items, map replay.

Windranger win rate by rank

public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%

Herald

49.1%

Guardian

48.5%

Crusader

48.2%

Archon

48.2%

Legend

48.1%

Ancient

48.5%

Divine

48.9%

Immortal

—

Windranger is strong against

hover a hero for a summary

Grimstroke59.9%77 games

Zeus56.6%106 games

Viper56.6%212 games

Morphling55.8%87 games

Templar Assassin55.7%177 games

Necrophos55.5%131 games

Weaver55.5%86 games

Tusk55.1%348 games

Who counters Windranger

Treant Protector38.1%108 games

Enigma40.2%72 games

Ember Spirit41.9%300 games

Lone Druid43.9%63 games

Clockwerk44.2%182 games

Bane45.1%102 games

Alchemist45.5%72 games

Pudge46.2%189 games

How to play Windranger against counters

items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy

vs Treant ProtectorTreant blanks Focus Fire with armor and roots — hit targets without Living Armor and stay away from his ultimate.38.1%

What to build against it

Monkey King BarMKB adds damage to burn through Living Armor's damage block faster during Focus Fire.

Force StaffPushes you out of Nature's Grasp vines and the Overgrowth area before he casts.

Spirit VesselCuts healing from Living Armor and Leech Seed pulses.

Dust of AppearanceReveals Treant invisible via Nature's Guise near trees.

How to use the spells of Windranger

ShackleshotTreant hugs trees — shackle him into them for a guaranteed stun before he walks in with ult.

Focus FireDon't Focus Fire a Living Armored target — wait for the block to drop or switch targets.

PowershotPowershot cuts trees in its path — clear the woods Treant hides in and his Eyes in the Forest.

Watch out for Treant Protector

OvergrowthPierces BKB and blocks blinks and attacks — keep distance, don't clump with allies.

Leech SeedRoot and disarm ruin your Focus Fire — don't let Treant into attack range.

vs EnigmaBlack Hole decides the game — spread out, stay on the edge and hold Shackleshot to interrupt.40.2%

What to build against it

Black King BarBlocks Malefice and magic damage, though Black Hole and Midnight Pulse pierce BKB.

Linken's SphereMalefice is unit target, Linken's absorbs it.

Battle FuryCleave clears Demonic Summoning eidolons before they multiply.

Blink DaggerQuick reposition away from where Enigma can land Black Hole.

How to use the spells of Windranger

ShackleshotSave Shackleshot for Enigma's blink — the stun breaks Black Hole channel if you're outside.

PowershotShoot through eidolon lines to hit Enigma behind them in lane.

WindrunWindrun evades eidolon attacks and offsets Event Horizon's slow.

Watch out for Enigma

Black HolePierces BKB — play the fight edge, never clump with allies.

Midnight PulseDeals current-HP percentage damage — leave the area immediately.

vs Ember SpiritEmber bypasses Windrun with Sleight of Fist and escapes with remnants — shackle him after his dash.41.9%

What to build against it

Black King BarProtects from Searing Chains and Fire Remnant magic damage.

Orchid MalevolenceSilence stops him from activating remnants to escape.

Mage SlayerReduces Ember's magic damage output on you.

Ghost ScepterBlocks Sleight of Fist physical damage when he jumps in.

How to use the spells of Windranger

ShackleshotShackle after he returns from Sleight of Fist — the stun prevents a remnant escape.

WindrunEvasion stops Ember's normal attacks — use it in fights to deny his right-click damage.

PowershotFlame Guard absorbs magic — fire Powershot after the shield is gone.

Watch out for Ember Spirit

Searing ChainsChains root you — don't stand near Ember, Windrun away early.

Sleight of FistPierces BKB and dodges — don't commit Focus Fire while he can Sleight away.

vs Lone DruidThe bear outtrades you — shackle it to the Druid and focus the Druid himself.43.9%

What to build against it

Battle FuryCleave hits both bear and Druid at once.

Force StaffPushes you out of Entangle and away from the bear.

ButterflyExtra evasion against bear and Druid physical damage.

How to use the spells of Windranger

ShackleshotThe bear is usually near Druid — shackle them together.

Focus FireFocus Fire Druid, not the bear — though bear's death also deals backlash to Druid.

WindrunWindrun evasion stops attacks that stack Entangle.

Watch out for Lone Druid

EntangleRoot pierces BKB — avoid stacks, keep distance.

Savage RoarFear cancels your Focus Fire — don't get close to bear and Druid.

vs ClockwerkClockwerk catches you with Hookshot and cogs — stand behind creeps and save Windrun to escape.44.2%

What to build against it

Force StaffPushes you out of the Power Cogs ring.

Blink DaggerBlink lets you escape the cogs trap.

Black King BarBlocks Battery Assault and Rocket Flare.

Glimmer CapeMagic resistance and invisibility against Clockwerk's nukes.

How to use the spells of Windranger

ShackleshotShackle Clockwerk to a tree or unit after his jump in.

WindrunWindrun evades his attacks inside cogs.

PowershotFire from range — Hookshot catches those who step out of creeps.

Watch out for Clockwerk

HookshotPierces BKB — keep creeps between you and Clockwerk.

Power CogsPierces BKB and traps you — break out of cogs immediately.

Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.

Windranger builds by role

purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an item

Starting items

Iron Branch29%

Circlet15%

Tango14%

Faerie Fire11%

Observer and Sentry Wards10%

Magic Stick2%

Early game

Boots of Speed43%

Power Treads13%

Null Talisman13%

Javelin10%

Bracer10%

Broadsword0%

Chainmail0%

Mid game

Essence Distiller16%

Mithril Hammer14%

Maelstrom8%

Ogre Axe7%

Hyperstone6%

Mjollnir6%

Black King Bar6%

Late game

Blink Dagger17%

Crystalys8%

Demon Edge6%

Daedalus6%

Consecrated Wraps5%

Ultimate Orb5%

Mystic Staff5%

Situational items on Windranger: when to buy

red — heroes that counter Windranger

Linken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Windranger: Bane, Pudge

Force StaffPush an ally out of hooks, cogs or fieldsEspecially vs heroes that counter Windranger: Pudge, Clockwerk

Pudge

Clockwerk

Disruptor

Black King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Windranger: Bane

Orchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Windranger: Ember Spirit

Shiva's GuardCuts attack speed and healingEspecially vs heroes that counter Windranger: Alchemist

Spirit VesselCuts healing and regenerationEspecially vs heroes that counter Windranger: Alchemist

Dust of AppearanceReveal invisible heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Windranger: Treant Protector

Lotus OrbReflects targeted spells and dispelsEspecially vs heroes that counter Windranger: Bane

Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly

Phantom Assassin

Windranger

Brewmaster

Why players lose on Windranger

from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 38

Too many deaths and fed goldin 19 of 38 matches
Dying right before losing Roshan or buildingsin 14 of 38 matches
Ultimate or BKB not used in fightsin 11 of 38 matches
Little visionin 7 of 38 matches
Dying first in deciding fightsin 4 of 38 matches
Low fight participationin 3 of 38 matches

FAQ

Who counters Windranger?

Windranger loses most often against Treant Protector, Enigma, Ember Spirit. What to build and how to play vs them →

Who is Windranger good against?

Best matchups: Grimstroke, Zeus, Viper.

What is Windranger's win rate?

In public matches — 48.5%. It varies by rank, see the table above.

What to build on Windranger?

In the mid game players most often buy Essence Distiller, Mithril Hammer, Maelstrom. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.

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