Support heroes in DotA 2 can be quite satisfying to pull off right, even if it can be a thankless and drudging job sometimes. However, as the saying goes, a job well done is its own reward, and it can be extremely satisfying to outplay the enemy support, whether it’s in warding or play-making. Pick the following heroes if you want to pull the strings and control the lane in the palm of your hand.
10. Witch Doctor
Zharvakko, the Witch Doctor
The doctor is in! Excelling at long, drawn-out team fights and packing serious damage at any level, Witch Doctor is an amazing addition to any team that needs a hard support. If you get a good start, rush Aghanim’s to wipe the enemy team in seconds.
What Makes Witch Doctor a Great Support:
- WD’s ability to perma-stun two enemies at the same time with his Paralyzing Cask is one of the most dangerous spells out there
- The physical damage of his ultimate Death Ward pierces BKB and shreds through low health enemies like paper
- Maledict, one of the most powerful damage-over-time abilities in the game, amplifies the damage dealt both by you and your team
Witch Doctor is Strong Against:
- Monkey King
- Lycan
- Lone Druid
How To Play Witch Doctor Like a Pro:
Aui2000's Support Witch Doctor
9. Shadow Shaman
Rhasta, the Shadow Shaman
With a power spike in the mid-game due to his pushing and single-target lockdown abilities, Rhasta the Shadow Shaman has the ability to make an impact at any point in the game. He is even known to easily 1v1 enemy cores.
What Makes Shadow Shaman a Great Support:
- Able to easily clear out enemy waves with his Ether Shock and then barrage their tower with Mass Serpent Ward, Shadow Shaman is one of the best pushing heroes in the game
- With both Shackles and Hex at max level, Shadow Shaman can keep a single enemy out of the fight for 8.5 seconds, and with his duration and cooldown talents he can easily make it a perma-stun
- Shadow Shaman has one of the highest base damage values in the game, helping immensely with both lane harass and pushing down early towers
Shadow Shaman is Strong Against:
- Terrorblade
- Spirit Breaker
- Weaver
How To Play Shadow Shaman Like a Pro:
GH's Support Shadow Shaman
8. Disruptor
Disruptor, the Stormcrafter
Disruptor is one of the best space controllers on the battlefield. Able to move his enemies around the map like pawns on a chessboard, Disruptor has the perfect kit to move a team fight in his favor. He is a little weaker in the early game, so make sure you stick close to your carry.
What Makes Disruptor a Great Support:
- Glimpse has the potential to completely undo an enemy’s recent movement, whether they were dashing away from your team’s gank or trying to teleport into a team fight
- Kinetic Field, like a huge net or spiderweb, can stop the entire enemy team from moving out of any area you choose
- Thunder Strike, with the new MS/AS slow, adds even more disable in the lane
- Static Storm is an amazing AoE silence, but when it really shines is once Disruptor has an Aghanims: it acts as a huge item mute, stopping the enemy from popping that crucial Black King Bar or Blademail
Disruptor is Strong Against:
- Slark
- Storm Spirit
- Anti-Mage
How To Play Disruptor Like a Pro:
SoNNeik0's Support Disruptor
7. Ogre Magi
Aggron Stonebreak, the Ogre Magi
Ogre Magi, though his many spells rely heavily on prayer to the RNG gods, is nevertheless a solid, dependable support with good stats. Very strong in the early game with his damaging abilities, he can also help later in the game by buffing his allies.
What Makes Ogre Magi a Great Support:
- His tankiness means he can trade blow-for-blow in any lane; starting with 8 armor and 700 health means he doesn’t even need spells to stand strong
- Many support heroes have the slow and stun potential as this hero, but his ultimate Multicast adds the potential to sometimes even quadruple cast his abilities; this means Ogre Magi doesn’t have to wait on long-cooldown ultimates to make a huge play
- Bloodlust, adding 60 or even 120 attack speed to his allies with each cast, amazing with high damage allies like Phantom Assassin, Anti-Mage, etc.
Ogre Magi is Strong Against:
- Earthshaker
- Templar Assassin
- Shadow Fiend
How To Play Ogre Magi Like a Pro:
fy's Support Ogre Magi
6. Ancient Apparition
Kaldr, the Ancient Apparition
With low-cooldown, high-damage spells, Ancient Apparition is strong in the lane, team fights, and even the late game, although he does fall off a bit due to his reliance on magic damage. Spam his spells and learn how to land them well; this high-intelligence hero can make plays without the enemy even knowing what hit them.
What Makes Ancient Apparition a Great Support:
- Ice Vortex, Apparition’s ability to surround himself at a great distance with vision-providing frost that also amplifies magic damage, is a great boon when controlling the area around him and his team
- Adding to his ability to control the space around him, Apparition can force the enemy out of position with Cold Feet, all the while mercilessly pounding them with his Chilling Touch
- Ancient Apparition’s Ice Blast, piercing even Black King Bar, stops all enemies from healing and shatters them at a certain percent threshold: use it for culling escaped enemies and stopping all regeneration of opponent’s health pools
Ancient Apparition is Strong Against:
- Alchemist
- Abaddon
- Dazzle
How To Play Ancient Apparition Like a Pro:
Zai's Support Ancient Apparition
5. Treant Protector
Rooftrellen, the Treant Protector
Able to buff his allies and hamper his foes all while hidden in the shadows of the forest, Treant Protector is a strong-but-silent type of support. He excels at giving vision, heals, and protection to his allies and his strong ultimate allows him to thrive even deep into the late game.
What Makes Treant Protector a Great Support:
With the largest base attack damage in the game and a huge strength pool to back it up, Treant Protector can both dish out and tank massive damage
- Treant’s global Living Armor can buff allied heroes and towers alike, hampering both enemy ganks and push attempts
- Treant’s ultimate, Overgrowth, is like that of many other supports: a huge AoE disable; the benefit to his is that can become global with Aghanims while giving free ward vision
- His ultimate pierces Black King Bar and other spell immunity, making him an anti-carry force in the late game
Treant Protector is Strong Against:
- Lycan
- Spirit Breaker
- Drow Ranger
How To Play Treant Protector Like a Pro:
Lil's Support Treant Protector
4. Jakiro
Jakiro the Twin-Headed Dragon
Excelling at stunning, slowing, and burning his enemies, Jakiro the Twin-Headed Dragon is a very strong support thanks to his good stats and long-range abilities. He is strongest in the early to mid-game, where he can most easily disrupt the battlefield, although he can make plays in the late game as well.
What Makes Jakiro a Great Support:
- Jakiro is a surprisingly good pusher thanks to his Liquid Fire; it is very useful in slowing the attack speed of enemy towers and leaving them defenseless
- His Ice Path has a range that almost rivals Earthshaker’s and stuns for longer with a lower cooldown
- With appropriate positioning, it is possible to always have the effects of your spells on an enemy in a team fight, thanks to the low cooldown and high cast range
Jakiro is Strong Against:
- Axe
- Chaos Knight
- Phantom Lancer
How To Play Jakiro Like a Pro:
Aui_2000's Support Jakiro
3. Crystal Maiden
Rylai the Crystal Maiden
Crystal Maiden is a versatile and reliable support that works well with any other heroes. She provides amazing sustain to her team, pushes, stuns, and even tanks. With all magic damage, she will fall off later in the game, but by then her enemies are usually buried beneath six feet of snow.
What Makes Crystal Maiden a Great Support:
- Crystal Maiden’s global passive, Arcane Aura, means that both she and her teammates have to worry that much less about their mana usage. The bonus magic resistance from her talent helps in team fights, as well
- Not only can she turn a battlefield into chaos with her ultimate Freezing Field, but it also gives her a whopping 20 armor for the duration; hardening her up against punishing carry attacks
- Her invis-revealing root, Frostbite, and AoE slow, Crystal Nova, offer amazing lockdown and damage on a low cooldown, and can even be used against jungle and lane creeps for chilling efficiency
Crystal Maiden is Strong Against:
- Phantom Assassin
- Bounty Hunter
- Weaver
How To Play Crystal Maiden Like a Pro:
Cr1t's Support Crystal Maiden
2. Keeper of the Light
Ezalor, the Keeper of the Light
One of the fastest heroes in the game thanks to his horse, Ezalor the Keeper of the Light’s abilities allows him to excel at supporting. He plays with other heroes’ mana like putty in his hands, easily pushes waves, and has a huge stunning ultimate any support would be proud of.
What Makes Keeper of the Light a Great Support:
- With Chakra Magic, KotL ensures his and his teammate’s mana will never run out; it can also help out their damage output by lowering their cooldowns
- With the ability to drain the opponent's health pool with Illuminate, foil their attacks with Blinding Light, and drain their mana with Chakra Magic, Keeper is surprisingly one of the most versatile offensive supports in the game
- Although it can be destroyed in a few attacks, KotL can foil this by using Blinding Light - his ultimate Will-O-Wisp gives an unbelievable 15 to 25 seconds of time where the enemy simply cannot fight in a certain area without ignoring his friend Ignus Fatuus
Keeper of the Light is Strong Against:
- Monkey King
- Wraith King
- Spectre
How To Play Keeper of the Light Like a Pro:
GH's support KotL
1. Warlock
Demnok Lannik, the Warlock
Warlock excels at controlling the battlefield, whether it be by amplifying damage, healing his allies, or turning a team fight around with his ultimate. He also has one of the biggest area of effect slows in the game; just make sure you use your other spells first before you start channeling it. When played right, Warlock has the kit to bring his team to victory and greatness.
What Makes Warlock a Great Support:
- His ability to either heal allies or damage foes with Shadow Word gives him valuable flexibility in team fights and the laning stage
- Fatal Bonds, when linking the health pools of several heroes, can create massive damage that only increases that from his allies and ultimate
- His ultimate, Chaotic Offering, is a huge area-of-effect stun that also gives him one of the strongest summons in the game: his mighty Golem; this can be used to terrorize foes under the effect of Upheaval or simply push towers
Warlock is Strong Against:
- Meepo
- Enigma
- Chaos Knight
