DOTA 2's constantly evolving meta ensures that the game always has something new to offer for players. Be it heroes and items or simply the layout of the map, Icefrog often likes to shuffle the entire meta to provide a fresh experience in DOTA 2.
These regular meta-shifts make sure that the game is in a state of constant flux with even the strongest heroes getting hit by a random nerf.
Having said that, the off-lane is an extremely important role in DOTA 2. The main objective of this role is to create chaos in a game that further creates space for the carry hero to farm without any risks. With that in mind, players are suggested to draft in-meta heroes that are more likely to win their lanes and take over the map.
Apart from this, off-lane heroes can also be elusive heroes that are extremely difficult to catch. Such heroes can not only evade the enemy's ganks and ambushes but also create space for the Carry without actually feeding resources to the enemy.
Here are the top five in-meta DOTA 2 off-lane heroes that players should draft to gain an advantage from the draft phase itself.
Top 5 off-lane heroes in DOTA 2
#5 - Omniknight
One of the most sustain-heavy off-lane heroes in Dota 2, Omniknight is capable of withstanding massive amounts of damage owing to his arsenal of abilities. Ranging from Purification and Degen Aura's offensive capabilities to Heavenly Grace and Guardian Angel's defensive mechanics, Omniknight is an absolute tempo controller in DOTA 2.
On top of everything, Omniknight features a strong dispel that allows the hero to save his allies from unfavorable situations. This makes the hero incredibly useful in various scenarios when the enemy team is executing a gank or even in team fights.
Considering everything that the hero has to offer, Omniknight is one of the strongest off-lane hero in the current meta.
#4 - Underlord
Underlord is one of the strongest team fight heroes in DOTA 2. On top of that, the hero also features a high amount of sustainability. These factors had landed the hero with the title of a stable off-lane hero.
However, with the release of update 7.30 and the rework to his Aghanim's Sceptre upgrade, Underlord is currently one of the strongest heroes in the off-lane role. Apart from being equipped with an AOE nuke ability, Underlord also features an AOE root that allows him to zone out fights and ganks.
Nevertheless, the newly introduced Fiend's Gate ability provides the hero with a massive buff that can be used both aggressively as well as defensively. Considering these factors, Underlord is one of the most IMBA off-lane heroes in the current meta.
#3 - Dark Seer
Dark Seer is one of the best split-push heroes in the game. The hero makes up for his squishy nature with an arsenal of utilities that can overturn the entire course of a match. Apart from Ion Shell being one of the best split-push abilities in the game, Dark Seer's other abilities are also extremely useful.
The hero features a vacuum ability which can be used to drag in enemies inside a fixed radius. This ability can be used to combo multiple lethal spells that can even result in a team-wipe. Additionally, Dark Seer's surge can be utilized to grant a massive movement speed bonus to a specific hero while chasing or running away from an enemy.
Dark Seer's Parallel Wall is arguably one of the best team-fight abilities in DOTA 2. All the illusions created by this ability can be controlled by Dark Seer to focus massive amounts of physical damage on enemy heroes.
#2 - Broodmother
One of the scariest and most active heroes in DOTA 2, Broodmother is capable of solo-killing any enemy that makes the mistake of crossing her path. Additionally, the hero is also accompanied by an entire army of spiderlings that can deplete the health pool of any hero when caught off-guard.
The recent AniMajor 2021 was a clear example of how lethal the hero can be in most situations. Despite the high complexity tier featured for Broodmother, the hero can be absolutely devastating in the right hands. Broodmother is also exceptionally strong when it comes to melting towers and securing objectives for her team.
However, players should note that abilities like Echo Slam, Stroke of Fate, and Overwhelming Odds amongst others can be lethal for Broodmother. Having said that, players are advised to draft Broodmother only in favorable situations. This is because playing the hero can be fairly difficult against heroes that counter her objectives.
#1 - Night Stalker
Definitely the strongest hero in the current meta, Night Stalker features an extremely aggressive arsenal of abilities. As the name suggests, the hero is most scary during the nights in DOTA 2. On top of gaining bonus movement speed and vision during the night, the hero also gains a massive attack speed bonus during the night.
Ever since the release of update 7.30, Night Stalker has regained his position as one of the most aggressive off-lane heroes in the game. Similar to Broodmother, Night Stalker is also capable of hunting down unsuspecting enemies from the fog of war.
Apart from everything else, the amount of mental pressure created on the enemy team during the nights in DOTA 2 is one of Night Stalker's biggest capabilities in DOTA 2. Needless to say, with his return to the meta, Night Stalker is currently one of the strongest off-lane heroes with an incredible win rate in public matches.
General Tips for the Off-Lane
While the role of an off-lane hero is to primarily create space for their carry hero, it is important to do so without feeding farm to the enemy heroes. For this reason, there are a few tips that off-lane players should keep in mind while playing DOTA 2. These tips include:
- Ensure that you have the vision of the region or enemy that you wish to gank
- Catch enemies that are the easiest to burst to earn solo kills or pick-offs.
- Ensure that you are positioned correctly to prevent the enemy from jumping on the squishy heroes on your team.
- Try and disrupt the enemy carry during the laning stage.
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