Best Heroes in Dota 2: Complete Tier List and Rankings

Meta Tier List Summary (August 2025)

Using public ranked matchmaking stats we can classify heroes into tiers based on both pick rate (how frequently a hero is picked) and win rate (how often that hero wins when picked). The table below summarizes the meta tier list. S-tier heroes are dominating pub games with both high pick and win rates. A-tier heroes are strong and above average. B-tier heroes are around balanced or situational. C-tier heroes are struggling, with low effectiveness in the current meta.

Carry Role – Safe Lane Powerhouses

In the carry (safe lane) role, a few core heroes stand out as the most effective in the current patch. Juggernaut and Wraith King headline the S-tier carries: Juggernaut is picked in ~16% of all games and wins over 52% of them, while Wraith King sees about 13.8% pick rate with a hefty 54% win rate. These two are reliable winrate leaders among carries, combining high pick popularity and strong win performance. Juggernaut’s versatile kit and scaling make him a consistent choice, and Wraith King’s simplicity and teamfight impact keep him a pub favorite.

Other carries joining the top tier include Spectre and Lifestealer, who both hover around a 9–10% pick rate and a solid ~52% win rate. Spectre’s late-game presence has translated into a 52.0% win rate despite her ~8.9% pick rate, reflecting how games often go late in pubs and favor hard carries. Lifestealer similarly boasts ~52.0% win with a 9.7% pick rate, excelling against the meta’s magic damage and crowd-control with his rage and durability.

Meanwhile, Drow Ranger and Ursa are examples of A-tier carries that are highly popular and performing decently. Drow and Ursa each appear in about 12% of games with win rates just above 50%. They are strong but balanced – often contested in drafts, yet not overly dominant in win rate. Heroes like Medusa (8.2% pick, 51.8% win) and Phantom Lancer (~7.6% pick, 51.1% win) are slightly less picked but show above-average success, making them great situational picks. Medusa’s late-game prowess is evident in her ~51.8% win rate, and Phantom Lancer’s win rate above 51% suggests illusion carries can thrive if played well. Even Venomancer, typically a utility core, has found success as a safe-lane or off-lane carry in some drafts – he enjoys a 51.4% win rate across ~10% of games, highlighting his strength in the meta as a lane dominator and damage dealer.

On the other end, a few carry heroes are underperforming. Phantom Assassin remains one of the more popular carries (~10.8% pick rate) but is suffering with only a 45.1% win rate. PA’s win rate is among the lowest for a commonly picked carry, indicating she struggles in the current meta (likely due to itemization or meta shift favoring her counters). Similarly, Monkey King carry has fallen out of favor – despite a ~7.8% pick rate, MK is only winning 44.3% of the time in pubs. Other agility carries like Morphling (around 5.6% pick) are also struggling (~45.9% win), suggesting high skill-cap or late-game heroes that require favorable conditions are not faring well in average ranked games.

Notably, Pudge deserves special mention. Although not a traditional “carry,” Pudge is by far the most picked hero in Dota 2 pubs (appearing in ~25.8% of all ranked matches) and still manages a positive win rate of 51.3%. This is a remarkable feat – Pudge’s presence in one-quarter of games with above 51% win suggests he has a significant impact on the meta. Many Pudge players run him as a roaming ganker or even offlane core, but his influence is felt across all games, so in a broad sense he is an S-tier factor in the pub environment. His high pick rate and respectable win rate indicate that Pudge is strong even at scale (despite being traditionally considered a beginner-friendly hero, he scales well with farm and changes in the current patch).

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Mid Lane – Balanced Meta and Niche Picks

In the mid lane, the meta is more balanced – no single mid hero completely dominates both pick and win rates at the global level. The most popular mid heroes like Shadow Fiend and Queen of Pain are picked in ~19–21% of games, but their win rates hover around an average 50-51%. For example, Shadow Fiend sits at ~50.7% win rate across 21.4% pick rate, and Queen of Pain about 50.8% win at 19.7% pick. These figures indicate that classic mid lane carries (SF, QoP) are performing decently but not overwhelmingly – they are staple picks that neither overperform nor underperform on average. Other common mid picks such as Invoker and Storm Spirit are actually slightly below average in win rate (Invoker: ~48.7% win; Storm: ~48.0% win), suggesting their high skill ceiling and situational impact keep their overall pub win rates modest.

Interestingly, the mid lane has a set of specialist heroes that, while not broadly popular, yield very high win rates when they are played. These tend to be micro-intensive or non-traditional mid heroes that skilled players can leverage. For instance, Meepo and Arc Warden each have modest pick rates (~2–5% of games) but boast win rates well above 54% in mid. Meepo in particular shows about 54.9% win rate in mid lane engagements – an indicator that in the right hands, Meepo is an extremely potent mid (likely due to the current patch allowing him to snowball and split-push effectively). Similarly, Arc Warden has roughly a 54–55% mid win rate, despite being in only ~4-5% of games, meaning players who can execute Arc Warden’s gameplan are finding great success.

We also see unconventional mids like Visage and Lycan achieving stellar win rates in mid when picked. Visage mid wins 56.2% of the time, and Lycan mid astonishingly has around a 56.3% win rate in the mid lane – albeit both are picked in well under 5% of total matches. These niche picks indicate there are high-reward strategies for mid that revolve around pushing or overwhelming an opponent (Visage’s familiar push, Lycan’s zoo strat), even if they aren’t commonly seen in average games. Heroes like Huskar and Zeus also illustrate the mid trend: Huskar sits at ~52.9% win mid, and Zeus about 52.2%, each being situationally strong counter-picks (Huskar against magic lineups, Zeus for global magic damage).

Overall, no single mid hero is warping the pub meta – instead, mid lane offers a variety of viable picks. Traditional mids (SF, QoP, Ember Spirit ~48% win, Puck ~47-48% win) are performing at parity, while players looking to gain an edge can turn to more specialized mids (Meepo, Arc Warden, Visage, Huskar, etc.) that have higher win potential when mastered. It’s worth noting that in high MMR brackets (Divine/Immortal), mid players may favor some of these niche heroes more, which could slightly increase their overall pick rates in that subset.

Offlane – Dominant Initiators and Durable Cores

In the offlane (pos 3) role, the meta is defined by a few standout initiators and durable heroes that are boasting both high pick rates and high win rates. Axe is the poster child of offlane dominance this patch – he is one of the most picked heroes in the game (picked in ~23.6% of all matches) and also one of the highest win rate heroes, winning 53.5% of those games. This combination of popularity and success puts Axe firmly in S-tier for offlaners. His ability to initiate fights and scale with the right items (e.g. Blade Mail, Blink, plus new shard/upgrades) has made him a consistently winning choice in pubs. Similarly, Legion Commander is thriving in the offlane: with ~18.1% pick rate and a 53.3% win rate, LC is an S-tier offlaner as well. The Duel-centric snowball style of Legion, along with her flex potential (sometimes played jungling or even mid in pubs), leads to a strong win percentage in the current meta.

Dawnbreaker has also emerged as a top-tier offlaner/support hybrid. Often played in offlane, Dawnbreaker sees about 13.4% pick rate and maintains a robust 53.0% win rate. Her global ultimate and strong laning allow her to impact games significantly, and the stats reflect that impact. Other strength offlaners like Centaur Warrunner (~6.3% pick) and Slardar (~7.0% pick) are performing well above 50% win rate too (Centaur at ~51.1%, Slardar ~51.7%). While not as ubiquitous as Axe or LC, these heroes provide initiation and frontline tankiness that fits the meta’s needs, landing them in A-tier.

Another noteworthy offlaner is Necrophos, who sometimes is played mid but in pubs often goes offlane. Necro has around a 13.7% overall pick rate with a 52.1% win rate, making him one of the highest-impact heroes when chosen. His sustained % damage and anti-healing tools likely counter many popular carries, explaining his strong win rate. Abaddon is similar in that regard – frequently played as a support or offlane core, Abaddon holds a 52.9% win rate on a 6.5% pick rate. This indicates that Abaddon offlane/support is quietly effective (his Aphotic Shield and survivability seem valuable in the meta).

Offlane heroes that provide teamfight and scaling are clearly favored. In contrast, some traditionally strong offlaners are struggling this patch. Beastmaster, for example, has only a 45.4% win rate in pubs (with a low ~3% pick rate), despite his dominance in pro games – perhaps due to coordination and micro requirements not translating as well to pub play. Doom is one of the worst-performing offlaners at the moment: he’s picked in ~5.7% of matches but wins only 42.8% of them, the lowest win rate of any offlaner (and one of the lowest overall). Doom’s greedy playstyle seems punished in fast-paced pub games, where he often can’t fully capitalize on Devour gold before fights break out. Similarly, Pangolier offlane is underwhelming in pubs (only ~45.3% win), and Batrider offlane is at ~46% win – these heroes might require high execution or team synergy that’s inconsistent in public matchmaking.

In summary, the offlane meta in August 2025 favors straightforward initiators and survivable heroes: Axe, Legion, Dawnbreaker, Slardar, Centaur, Necrophos – all capable of front-lining and playmaking – are enjoying very healthy win rates. High complexity offlaners (Beastmaster, Pangolier) or very farm-dependent ones (Doom) are currently lagging far behind in effectiveness in pub games.

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Support Role – Winning Supports vs Popular but Weak Picks

The support role (both position 4 and 5 combined) in the August 2025 meta shows a clear split between supports that drive wins and supports that are simply popular without much success. On the winning side, a few support heroes stand out with exceptional win rates and solid pick rates:

• Witch Doctor – a top-performing support with a 53.4% win rate while being picked in ~19.4% of matches. Witch Doctor’s strong lane presence and scaling stun (Paralyzing Cask) plus healing make him a consistent game-winner in pubs. He is both popular and effective, placing him in S-tier for supports.
• Silencer – another highly picked support (16.3% pick rate) with a win rate of 52.7%. Global Silence is a game-changing ultimate in chaotic pub fights, and Silencer’s damage output and scaling intelligence steal likely contribute to his high win rate. He’s one of the most impactful supports right now, as reflected by the data.
• Lich – picked in about 10.7% of games with a strong 52.7% win rate. Lich provides sustain with Frost Shield and a big teamfight ult; his win rate indicates that defensive support play and chain frost setups are paying off. Despite not being as picked as Silencer or WD, Lich’s win percentage is equally impressive, putting him firmly in A-tier (arguably S-tier) among supports.

Other supports in the high-win category include Dazzle and Vengeful Spirit. Dazzle is only in ~7.4% of games, but when picked he wins 52.8% of them. The saving power of shallow grave and strong laning poison touch harass seem to yield a very good win rate for Dazzle. Vengeful Spirit is similar – about 11.2% pick rate and a huge 54.3% win rate, one of the highest win rates among all heroes. Venge’s aura and swap save/initiations might be undervalued, but the stats show that teams with a Venge support often come out ahead. Undying also deserves mention: with 14% pick rate and 52.2% win, Undying is an extremely effective lane bully support/offlaner that translates early advantage into wins (tombstone is very strong in uncoordinated fights).

On the flip side, some of the most picked supports are not performing well in terms of win rate. Lion and Rubick are prime examples:

• Lion is one of the most common supports (picked in ~25% of games, the second most-picked hero overall after Pudge), but his win rate is only ~48.9%. This places Lion below the 50% benchmark, meaning despite his popularity, he tends to lose more than he wins. The data suggests many teams pick Lion for his reliable stun and burst, but he may be struggling due to being squishy and the pace of the game not always allowing him to snowball with Finger of Death stacks.
• Rubick, similarly, is picked in ~17.9% of matches but wins just 47.8% of them. Rubick’s skill cap and the need to steal good spells may be limiting his pub winrate – he remains a fan-favorite (A-tier in popularity, C-tier in effectiveness). This trend of “popular but not winning” is important: it shows that pick rate alone doesn’t equal strength in the meta.

Other supports that are struggling include Crystal Maiden (9.4% pick, 49.0% win) – just under 50% – and Snapfire (5.8% pick, only 47.6% win). Techies (8.5% pick) also has a sub-48% win rate after reworks to his mines, indicating an average performance at best. On the contrary, a few less-picked supports actually have decent success: Winter Wyvern (only 4.2% pick but ~52.0% win) and Oracle (~5.6% pick, 52.0% win) are examples of niche supports with high impact. These heroes require more finesse, but when played well they can swing a game (and their win rates reflect that potential).

In summary, the support meta is somewhat polarized. The heroes that excel – Witch Doctor, Silencer, Lich, Dazzle, Venge, Undying – provide a mix of teamfight, sustain, and strong lane presence, which are yielding win rates in the 52–54% range (well above average). Meanwhile, the popular staple supports like Lion and Rubick are not converting their high pick rates into wins, sitting below 50% win rate. Players might consider shifting to the higher impact supports mentioned above if they want to climb, as the data clearly favors them in the August 2025 meta.

Struggling Heroes: Low Pick and Win Rate

Finally, it’s worth highlighting the heroes on the bottom end of the spectrum this patch – those with abysmal win rates and often low pick rates (or in some cases, decent pick rate but still very low win rate). These heroes can be considered C-tier or worse in the current meta and may need either buffs or a favorable draft to succeed. Here are some of the most underperforming heroes as of August 2025, based on global ranked stats:

• Doom – ~5.7% pick rate, 42.8% win rate. Doom has the lowest win rate of any commonly picked hero this patch. Despite his theoretical late-game power, he’s struggling immensely in pubs.
• Monkey King – ~7.8% pick rate, only 44.3% win rate. MK carry/offlane hasn’t found a foothold this meta, possibly due to nerfs or being outshined by other carries.
• Tiny – ~5.5% pick rate, 44.6% win rate. Whether played as core or support, Tiny is having a rough time this patch in pubs, likely because his burst combos are less effective and he requires farm.
• Lina – ~9.2% pick rate, 45.3% win rate. Once a dominant mid, Lina has fallen off severely; her win rate is very low, suggesting recent nerfs and a shift away from spell-damage mids.
• Phantom Assassin – ~10.8% pick rate, 45.1% win rate. As noted earlier, PA is a popular carry that’s simply not converting to wins this patch.
• Beastmaster – ~3.3% pick rate, 45.4% win rate. Despite strong push and vision, Beastmaster’s micro-intensive style isn’t succeeding in pubs, where coordination is lower.
• Pangolier – ~2.2% pick rate, 45.3% win rate. Pango’s win rate is quite low; he can be game-changing in skilled hands, but overall results are poor this meta.
• Snapfire – ~5.8% pick rate, 47.6% win rate. Snapfire’s win rate is below 48%, indicating she’s a bit weak or situational in pubs right now.
• Sniper – ~18.4% pick rate, 47.7% win rate. Worth mentioning again: Sniper is very popular especially at lower ranks, but he’s actually a consistently underperforming hero in terms of win rate. Teams picking Sniper are winning only 47-48% of the time globally, likely due to how easily he can be countered or how games end before Sniper comes fully online.
• Rubick – ~17.9% pick rate, 47.8% win rate. Another popular hero that falls in the under-50% club. Rubick isn’t as drastically low as some listed above, but given his high pick rate, his sub-48% win stands out and lands him among the struggling heroes.

Many of these struggling heroes are either high skill-cap heroes that aren’t paying off in average play (e.g. Meepo is high skill-cap but does pay off, whereas Pangolier or Rubick may not as much in pubs), or they are heroes that were recently nerfed or countered by the meta (Lina, PA, MK all received nerfs in recent patches and are being eclipsed by other picks). If you’re looking to climb MMR, these heroes are riskier choices at the moment. Conversely, if you see the enemy picking one of these, know that statistically they are at a disadvantage and try to exploit their weaknesses.

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Author: Michael Peters Site Editor at askboosters.com

Michael Peters is a video game enthusiast who demystifies the complexities of the games in reviews. He is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in the gaming industry. He writes more about games, boosting, and leveling services. Michael leverages his in-depth gaming knowledge to provide valuable information to video gamers.