DotaLeak › Heroes › Tidehunter
Tidehunter in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Tidehunter — Strength, melee; roles: Initiator, Durable, Disabler, Nuker, Carry. Public match win rate — 49.3%. In short: Tidehunter is strong against Necrophos, Sniper, Dragon Knight but suffers against Clockwerk, Treant Protector, Ember Spirit.
Lost the game?Paste a match ID — we show who threw and why: deaths, lanes, items, map replay.
Tidehunter win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald49.6%
Guardian50.3%
Crusader50.0%
Archon49.9%
Legend49.3%
Ancient48.4%
Divine47.7%
Immortal—
Tidehunter is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Tidehunter
How to play Tidehunter against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs ClockwerkClock traps you with Cogs and Hookshot through BKB — stay behind allies and Ravage right after he jumps in.38.6%
What to build against it
Blink DaggerLets you blink out of the Cogs ring or instantly Ravage into his initiation.
Pipe of InsightReduces his team-wide magic damage from Battery Assault, Flares and Hookshot.
Force StaffPushes you or an ally out of the Cogs trap.
Magic WandHe spams Flares and Battery — Wand gets many charges.
How to use the spells of Tidehunter
RavageHold Ravage for his Hookshot: once he lands in your team, ult everyone around.
Kraken ShellActivate Shell inside Cogs to tank damage; threshold strong dispel clears his slows.
Dead in the WaterAnchor Clock after his jump so he can't escape with Jetpack.
Watch out for Clockwerk
HookshotPierces BKB — don't stand in open lines, hide behind creeps and allies.
Power CogsCogs pierce BKB and burn mana — save mana for Ravage, attack a cog to escape.
vs Treant ProtectorTreant saves allies with armor and traps with Overgrowth — blink-initiate after he has used his ult.40.5%
What to build against it
Blink DaggerOvergrowth prevents blinking, so initiate before or after his ult, not inside it.
Spirit VesselCuts healing from Living Armor and Leech Seed on your target.
Sentry WardTreant goes invisible near trees — sentries expose his ganks.
Pipe of InsightSoftens magic damage from Overgrowth and Nature's Grasp for the team.
How to use the spells of Tidehunter
GushGush lowers armor — helps burst through Living Armor on their carry.
Kraken ShellTaking enough damage in Overgrowth strong-dispels the root — keep fighting and wait for it.
Anchor SmashSpam Anchor Smash on Treant and carry to reduce their attack damage.
Watch out for Treant Protector
OvergrowthPierces BKB and blocks blink — don't clump, engage from a different angle.
Living ArmorArmor blocks hero damage — burst until it breaks, don't waste Ravage on one shielded target.
vs Ember SpiritEmber is slippery via remnants — hold Anchor and Ravage for when he commits, not for empty remnants.40.8%
What to build against it
Blink DaggerLets you catch Ember after he jumps and land Ravage.
Pipe of InsightMost of his damage is magical: Chains, Immolation, Remnants.
Blade MailReflects Sleight of Fist damage when he hits you.
Heaven's HalberdDisarms Ember, removing his right-click damage.
How to use the spells of Tidehunter
Dead in the WaterAnchor Ember to leash him; then remnants are his only way out, so watch them.
Kraken ShellBlock reduces Sleight of Fist damage; damage threshold dispels Searing Chains.
GushGush slows and shreds armor — use right after he returns from Sleight.
Watch out for Ember Spirit
Searing ChainsChains root you — don't stand near him without Shell ready.
Fire RemnantRemnants give escape and burst — track where he sends them and Ravage his landing spot.
vs SnapfireSnapfire kites with slows and Mortimer Kisses — blink in close where her ult has minimum range.41.8%
What to build against it
Blink DaggerMortimer Kisses has a minimum range — blinking on top of her ruins her ult.
Pipe of InsightAlmost all her damage is magical; Pipe protects the whole team.
Black King BarProtects from Cookie stun, Scatterblast and Kisses pools when initiating.
Magic WandShe casts often in lane — Wand charges up quickly.
How to use the spells of Tidehunter
RavageRavage when she starts Mortimer Kisses — reduced turn rate, she can't escape.
Kraken ShellDamage threshold dispels Scatterblast slow — keep closing the gap.
Dead in the WaterAnchor stops her from hopping far away with Cookie.
Watch out for Snapfire
Mortimer KissesLeave the pools or walk straight to her — up close the ult can't reach.
Firesnap CookieCookie stuns on landing — don't stand near her initiating allies.
vs Keeper of the LightKotL disrupts with Blinding Light and Wisp — bait his spells, then blink in.43.6%
What to build against it
Blink DaggerFast initiation before Blinding Light can knock you back.
Pipe of InsightReduces Illuminate's magic damage for the whole team.
Black King BarProtects from knockback, Solar Bind and Will-O-Wisp pull.
Lotus OrbSolar Bind is unit-target, Lotus reflects it back to KotL.
How to use the spells of Tidehunter
GushGush interrupts Illuminate's channel — hit KotL while he charges.
Kraken ShellThreshold strong dispel removes Solar Bind and blind.
Dead in the WaterAnchor the fast KotL — otherwise he runs away with Bright Speed.
Watch out for Keeper of the Light
Blinding LightKnocks you away — don't commit Ravage until you see the light used.
Will-O-WispPulls you toward the wisp — keep Shell/BKB ready, attack it or leave the radius.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Tidehunter builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Gauntlets of Strength35%
Iron Branch28%
Tango10%
Quelling Blade6%
Magic Stick6%
Faerie Fire5%
Circlet5%Early game
Boots of Speed22%
Chainmail21%
Phase Boots18%
Bracer16%
Soul Ring15%
Morbid Mask2%
Ring of Health1%Mid game
Blink Dagger14%
Staff of Wizardry11%
Ogre Axe11%
Point Booster10%
Aghanim's Shard9%
Blade of Alacrity8%
Aghanim's Scepter8%Late game
Aghanim's Scepter12%
Shiva's Guard11%
Mystic Staff10%Black King Bar10%
Scythe of Vyse8%
Soul Booster7%
Refresher Orb6%Situational items on Tidehunter: when to buy
red — heroes that counter Tidehunter
Orchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Tidehunter: Ember Spirit
Storm Spirit
Queen of Pain
Puck
Anti-Mage
Void Spirit
WeaverBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damage
Lion
Shadow Shaman
Lina
Zeus
Skywrath Mage
Earthshaker
Tidehunter
Invoker
Bane
Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly
Phantom Assassin
Windranger
Brewmaster
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)
Bristleback
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Ursa
Timbersaw
Axe
Linken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimates
Doom
Legion Commander
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
Manta StyleDispels silences and roots
Silencer
Death Prophet
Riki
Drow Ranger
Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroes
LeshracHeaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carries
Troll Warlord
Juggernaut
Sven
Faceless VoidBlade MailPunishes heroes that commit damage into you
Why players lose on Tidehunter
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 29- Too many deaths and fed goldin 21 of 29 matches
- Lost lanein 15 of 29 matches
- Dying right before losing Roshan or buildingsin 13 of 29 matches
- Dying first in deciding fightsin 9 of 29 matches
- Wrong items vs the enemyin 8 of 29 matches
- Weak farmin 7 of 29 matches
FAQ
Who counters Tidehunter?
Tidehunter loses most often against Clockwerk, Treant Protector, Ember Spirit. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Tidehunter good against?
Best matchups: Necrophos, Sniper, Dragon Knight.
What is Tidehunter's win rate?
In public matches — 49.3%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Tidehunter?
In the mid game players most often buy Blink Dagger, Staff of Wizardry, Ogre Axe. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
