Season 39 · Cloudrise Patch · February 2026

EXP Lane Draft & Counter Guide

Click any hero card to expand · Filter by tier or search by name
Tier
S Tier — Must Ban / First Pick
A Tier — Strong & Reliable
B Tier — Viable Comfort Pick
Roamer Style — Niche EXP Pick
Draft Advisor — EXP Pick Suggester
Enter enemy bans & picks to get your best EXP counter recommendation
Ban slot 1
Ban slot 2
Ban slot 3
Ban slot 4
Ban slot 5
Pick slot 1
Pick slot 2
Pick slot 3
Pick slot 4
Pick slot 5
🛡 My Team
My ban slot 1
My ban slot 2
My ban slot 3
My ban slot 4
My ban slot 5
Teammate slot 1
Teammate slot 2
Teammate slot 3
Teammate slot 4
🎮 My Hero Pool
Add heroes you know how to play — get personalized play/avoid advice
No heroes added yet — type below to add
Recommended EXP Picks
From Your Hero Pool
✓ Best to Play This Game
✗ Avoid This Game
No heroes found matching your search.
SO
Sora
Fighter / Assassin Pace Forcer
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

The newest S-tier menace of Season 39. Sora has 9 abilities across 3 forms — Thunder Form for burst, Torrent Form for CC and tankiness. Extremely versatile and can adapt to any situation mid-fight. His wave clear is fast and he forces pace from level 1.

Early Power
9.5/10
Wave Clear
8.5/10
Teamfight
9/10
Assassin EmblemWar Cry / Festival of Blood
High skill ceiling — needs practice to switch between forms correctly mid-fight.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has no Phoveus in EXP
Enemy team is squishy (mage/marksman heavy)
Your team needs a diving frontliner
You want fast rotations and early fights
Enemy jungler is non-tank type
✗ Avoid When
Enemy picks Phoveus EXP — hardest counter
Enemy has multiple CC chains (Atlas, Khufra)
Your team has zero tank or frontline
You're not yet comfortable with 9-ability kit
Enemy has Fredrinn jungle (his taunt counters)
1
Phoveus
Every form-change dash triggers Phoveus passive. He teleports onto Sora relentlessly and can't be outplayed without completely abandoning Sora's kit.
2
Fredrinn
Taunt forces Sora to hit him, converting burst into gray HP. Sora feeds Fredrinn's ult while accomplishing nothing.
3
Chou
Immune frames dodge Thunder Form burst; Chou's kick interrupts Torrent Form CC chains mid-cast.
Lancelot / Hayabusa Jungle — Sora's CC in Torrent Form sets up their burst perfectly. Dive duo that shreds backlines.
Mathilda Roam — Her dash transport lets Sora arrive in fights faster with more HP, amplifying his rotation style.
Granger Gold Lane — Sora dives, Granger burst finishes. Simple, deadly, fast combo that ends games early.
Avoid all-mage teams — Sora is physical damage. Balance the team's damage types to avoid getting hard-countered by Athena's Shield.
LL
Lapu-Lapu
FighterPace Forcer
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

One of Season 39's most picked heroes globally. His dual-form kit (Light and Heavy) gives him two distinct playstyles in one fight. Heavy form AoE CC is one of the best teamfight tools in the game. Fast wave clear and excellent rotations once heavy form unlocks at level 4.

Early Power
8/10
Wave Clear
9/10
Teamfight
9.5/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will / Brave Smite
Strong from level 4 onwards. Relatively forgiving — good hero to learn pace-forcing fundamentals.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has grouped/slow teamfight comps
Your jungler is damage type (needs CC support)
Enemy has no Phoveus, Esmeralda or Chou
You want reliable teamfight presence every game
✗ Avoid When
Esmeralda is open — she counters hard
Enemy has high-mobility split-push comp
Enemy team can kite from range all game
1
Esmeralda
Absorbs his heavy-form burst with shields and converts it to healing. Out-sustains him in any extended trade.
2
Phoveus
His heavy-form dash combo triggers Phoveus passive constantly, punishing every aggressive move.
3
Chou
Immune frames dodge his burst window; well-timed kick breaks the heavy form combo chain every trade.
Tigreal / Atlas Roam — Double AoE CC in teamfights creates a grouping combo enemies can't survive.
Vale / Vexana Mid — His heavy form groups enemies perfectly for their AoE nukes to hit everything at once.
Granger / Beatrix Gold Lane — Heavy form AoE CC locks down priority targets for burst marksmen to eliminate safely.
YZ
Yu Zhong
FighterSustain Brawler
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

The Black Dragon is a sustained brawler who wins through lifesteal and pressure. His coil throw forces constant repositioning and his Black Dragon form is one of the best ults for grouping enemies. Self-sufficient — he rarely needs to recall, perfect for roaming windows.

Early Power
8.5/10
Wave Clear
9/10
Teamfight
8.5/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Black Dragon form clears waves in seconds — activate on a full wave then rotate immediately.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has no anti-heal (Dominance Ice)
Enemy EXP doesn't have Esmeralda or Thamuz
You want a self-sufficient lane bully
Your team needs someone to group enemies
✗ Avoid When
Enemy rushes Dominance Ice early — kills his lifesteal
Esmeralda is EXP — she wins sustained trades
Enemy has Chou — immune frames break Dragon form
1
Esmeralda
Converts every hit he lands into more shields. Wins the sustained trade war comfortably at all stages.
2
Thamuz
Scythe poke harasses Yu Zhong in lane; true damage passive bypasses his armor and chips through his sustain over time.
3
Chou
Immune frames dodge the Black Dragon pull; kick during dragon form shuts down the entire combo.
Ixia / Karrie Gold Lane — Dragon form groups enemies so Ixia can hit all of them simultaneously.
Vexana Mid — Her ult pairs devastatingly with Black Dragon form grouping enemies into her puppet zone.
Avoid with Esmeralda — Both are physical sustain fighters that compete for the same role. Pick one or the other.
GL
Gloo
Tank / FighterRoamer Style
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Most banned hero in Season 39 for good reason. His split mechanic lets him be in two places at once, his regen is insane when stacked, and his CC is underrated. Perfect roamer-style EXP — fast rotations, sticky CC in teamfights, and he's nearly unkillable when ahead.

Early Power
7.5/10
Wave Clear
8/10
Teamfight
9/10
Tank EmblemConcussive Blast
Easiest S-tier EXP to pick up. Low skill floor, very high impact even when played simply.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has no anti-heal (Sea Halberd, Dominance Ice)
Your team needs a disruptive frontline
Enemy has key target to isolate with split mechanic
You prefer roamer/tank playstyle from EXP
✗ Avoid When
Enemy rushes anti-heal — cuts regen by 50%
Enemy has strong magic burst (Vexana, Lunox)
Your team already has no damage dealer
1
Yu Zhong
Strong early all-in before regen stacks; sustained pressure from Black Dragon form prevents Gloo from freely regen-ing.
2
Thamuz
Scythe poke keeps Gloo from freely stacking his regen passive; true damage ignores his bulk and chips him down.
3
Esmeralda
Shields block his sticky poke; she farms freely without feeding his glob stacks or getting zoned out.
Franco Roam — Franco hook into Gloo split mechanic is a guaranteed kill combo on any isolated target.
Vexana / Lunox Mid — Gloo's CC sets up magic burst heroes to land their full combo on stuck targets.
Fredrinn Jungle — Double tank frontline creates an unkillable wall. Enemies can't kill either of them before taunt + CC chains.
AL
Alice
Mage / TankRoamer Style
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Most banned hero alongside Gloo in Season 39. Her orb teleport mechanic is the most unique roaming tool in EXP lane — she can teleport between lanes almost instantly. Ult drains HP from everyone around her making her nearly unkillable in grouped teamfights. Very high skill ceiling.

Early Power
6.5/10
Wave Clear
8/10
Teamfight
9.5/10
Mage EmblemImpure Rage / Magic Worship
Place orbs early across the map. Her strength is teleport mobility — use it constantly to affect every lane.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has grouped/clumped teamfight style
Your team needs a roaming magic damage frontliner
Enemy has no true damage (X.Borg counters)
You understand orb placement and teleport timing
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has X.Borg — true damage bypasses lifesteal
Enemy team is very mobile / spread out
Your team already has 3+ magic damage heroes
You're not familiar with orb placement timing
1
X.Borg
True damage bypasses her spell vamp lifesteal entirely. Sustained burn stops her from trading and healing freely.
2
Khaleed
Physical poke outranges her engage; his magic resistance shrugs off her damage consistently.
3
Uranus
Mirror sustain matchup Uranus edges. Neither kills easily but Uranus applies better rotation pressure.
Lancelot / Aamon Jungle — Alice dives in, her ult holds enemies in place while assassins burst them down cleanly.
Ixia Gold Lane — Alice ult makes enemies cluster while Ixia's AoE passive hits all of them simultaneously.
Balance magic/physical damage — Alice is magic. Make sure at least 2 teammates deal physical damage so enemies can't one-item counter your whole team.
FD
Fredrinn
Fighter / TankRoamer Style
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Top 3 most picked hero in Season 39. Fredrinn in EXP is the ultimate roamer-style EXP pick — his taunt CC, gray HP mechanic and teamfight ult make him feel like a roaming tank who happens to be in EXP lane. Very forgiving, strong at all stages. Best starting point for this playstyle.

Early Power
8/10
Wave Clear
8/10
Teamfight
9.2/10
Tank EmblemFighter EmblemConcussive Blast
Most recommended for players learning roamer-style EXP. Forgiving mechanics, massive teamfight impact.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has a high-burst assassin jungle
Your team needs frontline and CC
Enemy team groups up in teamfights
You want to roam and initiate freely
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has Esmeralda — her shields eat his mechanic
Enemy has heavy anti-heal (ruins gray HP regen)
Your team has absolutely zero damage dealers
1
Esmeralda
Shields eat his gray HP conversion. She lanes against him without feeding his ult damage at all.
2
Thamuz
True damage passive bypasses Fredrinn's gray HP mechanic; scythe poke safely harasses from range during conversion phases.
3
Gloo
Tanky enough to survive his taunt and CC chains; Gloo's regen races Fredrinn's conversion mechanic.
Lancelot / Hayabusa Jungle — Fredrinn's taunt locks enemies while assassins delete them in seconds. Textbook combo.
Ixia / Karrie Gold Lane — Fredrinn soaks damage, they deal damage. Perfect division of labor in teamfights.
Mathilda Roam — Her team shield + his taunt makes your team nearly unkillable while winning every exchange.
FY
Freya
FighterPace Forcer
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Revamped Freya is a dominant early-trade bully. Built-in shield sustain, fast wave clear with Valkyrie Descent AoE, and strong 1v1 that few EXP heroes can match. Forces opponents to react to her. Best with Assassin Emblem and Inspire spell for maximum early pressure.

Early Power
9/10
Wave Clear
8.5/10
Teamfight
7.8/10
Assassin EmblemWar CryInspire Spell
See the full Freya guide for deep dive on combos, matchups, and rotation timing.
✦ Pick When
Enemy EXP has no Phoveus or Esmeralda
Enemy is slow/immobile (Terizla, Balmond, Sun)
Your team needs an early snowball pace setter
Enemy has no Dominance Ice in their build path
✗ Avoid When
Esmeralda is open — every attack feeds her shields
Phoveus counters her dashes hard
Enemy team is all tanks — she falls off vs bulk
Enemy has Dominance Ice rush (anti-heal kills her)
1
Esmeralda
Every attack becomes shields for her. The harder Freya hits, the more unkillable Esme becomes.
2
Phoveus
S1 and S2 are dashes that trigger his passive. She can't use her kit without feeding his teleport repeatedly.
3
Chou
Immune frames dodge Sacred Orb procs; kick interrupts her divine shield phase timing.
Franco Roam — Franco hook sets up Freya's gap-close perfectly. Guaranteed kill combo in early skirmishes.
Granger / Beatrix Gold Lane — Freya dives and distracts; marksman cleans up safely from range.
Needs a tank roamer — Freya is not tanky enough to be the sole frontline. Always pair with a tank roamer.
LM
Leomord
FighterPace Forcer
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Once mounted, one of the fastest heroes in the game. His horse phase turns him into an uncatchable pursuit machine with massive AoE damage. Pre-mount he's still a solid fighter with good CC. Excellent against mobile carries who think they can escape — they can't.

Early Power
7.8/10
Wave Clear
7.5/10
Teamfight
8.8/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
His horse form is his entire identity. Time your ult well — use it AFTER you've identified the target to chase.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has a key mobile carry to chase (Fanny, Lancelot)
Enemy EXP is slow/no dash (Hilda, Balmond)
Open map fights where his speed is maximized
Your team needs a reliable gap-closer chaser
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has Phoveus — horse dash triggers his passive
Chou can kick him off his horse mid-ult
Enemy plays very defensive poke comp
1
Phoveus
Mounted gallop is a dash — Phoveus teleports onto him every single engage attempt with his passive.
2
Chou
Kick during the ult mount phase dismounts him entirely, wasting the most powerful cooldown in his kit.
3
Fredrinn
Tanky enough to absorb his burst. Taunt forces him to hit a massive HP pool uselessly during his mounted phase.
Khufra Roam — Khufra Tyrant's Revenge bounces enemies into Leomord's horse path. Devastating catch combo.
Granger / Yi Sun-shin Jungle — Leomord chases, they burst from range. Clean kill pattern in every skirmish.
PV
Phoveus
Fighter / MageAnti-Dash
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Situational but devastating when picked correctly. His passive teleports him to any enemy who dashes nearby — making him the hardest counter to the current dash-heavy meta. If the enemy team has 3+ dash heroes, Phoveus becomes an S+ pick that warps the entire game.

Early Power
8/10
Wave Clear
7.2/10
Teamfight
9/10
Fighter EmblemMage EmblemFestival of Blood
ONLY pick Phoveus if enemy has 3+ dash heroes. Against no-dash teams he's completely useless.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has 3+ dash heroes (Sora, Arlott, Benedetta)
Enemy EXP is Arlott, Cici, Leomord or Ruby
Enemy jungler is Lancelot, Fanny or Ling
Counter-picking is available in draft
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has no dash heroes — his passive is dead weight
Enemy picks Uranus, Alice, Yu Zhong (no dashes)
You're blind picking — too situational for blind pick
1
Uranus
Zero dash kit — his passive never triggers. Uranus out-sustains him completely through the laning phase.
2
Yu Zhong
Black Dragon form doesn't register as a dash. Yu Zhong can engage and fight without triggering the passive.
3
Alice
Her orb teleport isn't classified as a dash — she engages freely without triggering his counter mechanic.
Khufra / Atlas Roam — Phoveus teleports to enemies who try to dash away from their CC. Escape becomes impossible.
Uranus / Gloo EXP variant — The rest of your team can be no-dash heroes, letting Phoveus punish only the enemy team's mobility.
AR
Arlott
Fighter / AssassinPace Forcer
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Mark-and-chase specialist. Arlott keeps dashing as long as he can mark enemies — his constant harassment denies enemy EXP from farming safely. His ult pushes enemies into your team for follow-up. Returns to S-tier viability in S39 with tank junglers freeing up the EXP spot for damage.

Early Power
8.8/10
Wave Clear
8/10
Teamfight
8.5/10
Assassin EmblemWar Cry / Festival of Blood
Never pick into Phoveus — his entire kit feeds the passive. Ban Phoveus before picking Arlott.
✦ Pick When
Enemy EXP has no Phoveus, Chou or Fredrinn
Enemy team has squishy, low-mobility heroes
Your jungler is a tank (Fredrinn) freeing EXP for damage
You want aggressive lane harassment from level 1
✗ Avoid When
Phoveus is open — hard ban before picking Arlott
Chou is enemy EXP — immune frames ruin mark dets
Your team has no frontline tank at all
1
Phoveus
Arlott's entire kit is dashes. Phoveus passive punishes literally every ability he uses all game long.
2
Chou
Immune frames eat mark detonations; kick displaces Arlott out of his own ult AoE at the worst moment.
3
Fredrinn
Taunt forces Arlott to hit him, converting his burst to gray HP. He does damage but kills nothing.
Fredrinn Jungle — Fredrinn tanks, Arlott dives. The duo covers each other's weaknesses perfectly in S39.
Vexana Mid — Arlott ult pushes enemies into Vexana's nuke range for easy double kills in teamfights.
MH
Masha
FighterSplit Pusher
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Three HP bars make her incredibly hard to kill. She's not a teamfighter — she's a split-push machine that forces the enemy team to make a decision: send someone to stop her or lose structures. Her burst at full 3 bars is one of the highest in EXP lane.

Early Power
8/10
Wave Clear
9.2/10
Teamfight
6/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
Best as split-pusher — coordinate with team to 4v4 while Masha destroys structures separately.
✦ Pick When
Your team can win 4v5 teamfights
Enemy has no Phoveus to punish her dashes
Enemy has no Esmeralda to absorb her hits
Map pressure / turret pushing is your game plan
✗ Avoid When
Enemy relies on grouped teamfights — she can't join
Phoveus or Esmeralda counters her hard
Your team needs you to be in every teamfight
1
Esmeralda
Shields absorb her 3-bar burst pattern; converts every hit into shields denying kill windows entirely.
2
Phoveus
Punishes every dash she uses to escape on low HP bars — reverses her hit-and-run playstyle completely.
3
Chou
CCs her when she drops to her final HP bar trying to escape; immune frames dodge her burst windows.
Strong 4-man teamfight heroes — She splits; they fight 4v5. Only works if the 4 remaining teammates can win their fight.
Needs communication — Masha split-push only works in coordinated play. In solo queue she can feel useless if team doesn't understand the strategy.
XB
X.Borg
FighterTrue Damage
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

One of the few EXP heroes with true damage — his Firaga Arms bypass shields and armor entirely. Hard counter to Esmeralda, Alice and tank-heavy teams. His armorless form is a high-risk window but his fire tornado ult is devastating in grouped fights.

Early Power
7.8/10
Wave Clear
8.5/10
Teamfight
8.5/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Pair with Flicker for an emergency escape from armorless form. Offensive emblem is key — defensive emblem kills his damage.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has Alice, Esmeralda or heavy shield/regen heroes
Enemy team groups in teamfights (for ult)
Your team needs true damage to bypass tank bulk
Enemy has no Paquito or burst assassin to target armorless form
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has Paquito — bursts him in armorless form
Enemy has Chou — kick stops the fire tornado
Enemy team is very mobile and spread out
1
Paquito
Bursts him in armorless form before he can recover the suit. Early power advantage denies his entire powerspike.
2
Chou
Immune frames dodge Last Insanity explosion; kick stops the fire tornado at any point during cast.
3
Benedetta
Kites his slow flame radius; constantly pokes from outside his fire zone without stepping into damage range.
Atlas / Tigreal Roam — Their AoE CC groups enemies inside X.Borg's fire tornado for maximum true damage.
Vexana / Lunox Mid — Mixed true + magic damage that no item build can fully counter simultaneously.
BN
Bane
Fighter / MageHybrid Bruiser
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Hybrid physical and magic damage with strong wave clear and sustain. No dash — safe to pick into Phoveus. Excels in late-game teamfights and split push. Weak against mobile burst heroes who can dodge his skillshots and burst him before his sustain kicks in.

Early Power
7/10
Wave Clear
8.5/10
Teamfight
7.8/10
Fighter EmblemMage EmblemUnbending Will
No dash — one of the few S-tier EXP picks safe vs Phoveus. Build hybrid or focus one damage type based on enemy comp. Anti-heal (Sea Halberd, Dominance Ice) hurts his sustain.
✦ Pick When
Enemy EXP is slow or immobile (Terizla, Balmond, Sun, Grock)
Phoveus is in the draft — Bane has no dash so he doesn't feed passive
Your team wants wave clear and late-game teamfight presence
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has Chou, Martis or Alpha — mobile burst shuts him down early
Enemy has Atlas or heavy CC that locks him in place
Enemy rushes anti-heal — kills his sustain advantage
1
Chou
Immune frames dodge Bane's skillshots; burst and mobility prevent Bane from sustaining through trades.
2
Martis
Early burst and CC chain lock Bane down before his sustain and wave clear scale.
3
Alpha
Sustain duel and burst outlast Bane's hybrid damage; hard to kite in extended fights.
Franco / Atlas Roam — CC sets up Bane's AoE skills for maximum teamfight damage.
Lunox / Vexana Mid — Mixed damage (Bane hybrid + mage) makes it hard for enemies to itemize.
PQ
Paquito
FighterBurst Brawler
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

High mobility burst fighter with no mana. Hit-and-run combos and Fury stacks make him dominant in 1v1s and chaotic teamfights. Hook and Uppercut close gaps and grant shields; Riot's Revenge ult delivers devastating multi-hit burst. Weak to Phoveus (every dash feeds passive), Jawhead (Ejector disrupts combos), and Sun (clones absorb and identify him).

Early Power
8.2/10
Wave Clear
7.5/10
Teamfight
8/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Always ban Phoveus before picking Paquito — Hook and Uppercut are dashes that trigger his passive constantly. Dominance Ice and Blade Armor hurt his sustain.
✦ Pick When
Enemy EXP is immobile (Khaleed, Badang, Terizla, Balmond, Silvanna)
Phoveus is banned — non-negotiable for Paquito
Your team wants early aggression and burst from EXP
✗ Avoid When
Phoveus is open — every dash feeds his passive
Jawhead or Sun — Ejector disrupts combos; Sun clones counter burst
Chou, Argus, Minsitthar — immune frames or suppression shut him down
1
Phoveus
Hook and Uppercut are dashes — Phoveus procs passive on every engage and disengage, making Paquito unplayable.
2
Jawhead
Ejector throws Paquito mid-combo, disrupting Fury stacks and Riot's Revenge channel before he can burst.
3
Sun
Clones absorb burst and make it hard to focus real Sun; Paquito's AoE can clear clones but Sun outlasts in extended fights.
Lancelot / Hayabusa Jungle — Paquito creates early pressure; assassins clean up squishies in teamfights.
Granger / Beatrix Gold — Double burst from EXP and gold lane deletes priority targets before they can react.
ES
Esmeralda
Fighter / MageShield Absorb
S
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Unique mechanic that converts enemy shields into her own HP. The more enemies attack her, the more she heals. Hard counter to shield-heavy teams. Dropped to A tier because X.Borg's true damage bypasses her entirely, and Thamuz true damage bypasses her shields, hurting badly.

Early Power
7.2/10
Wave Clear
7.8/10
Teamfight
8.2/10
Mage EmblemMagic Worship
Counter-pick specialist. Extremely strong vs Lapu-Lapu, Freya, Aulus, Fredrinn. Weak to X.Borg (true damage bypasses shields) and Dominance Ice rushes.
✦ Pick When
Enemy EXP is Freya, Lapu-Lapu or Aulus
Enemy has no X.Borg, Thamuz or Sea Halberd rush
Enemy team has many physical shield heroes
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has X.Borg — true damage destroys her
Enemy has Thamuz — his true damage bypasses her shields directly
Enemy team has little shield generation to absorb
1
X.Borg
True damage from Firaga Arms ignores her shields. Melts her HP bar directly regardless of how much she shields.
2
Thamuz
True damage ignores her shield-to-HP conversion entirely; scythe poke shreds through her bulk without feeding her mechanic.
3
Sora
Thunder form burst breaks through shield stacks during the brief recharge window between rotations.
Lancelot Jungle — She dives and distracts with shields while Lancelot assassinates the backline safely.
Karrie / Wanwan Gold — Their physical damage + her magic damage creates balanced split that no one item counters.
CH
Chou
FighterImmune Frames
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

High skill ceiling but incredibly rewarding. His immune frames make him the best anti-CC EXP laner in the game. Can roam effectively, kick key targets, and displace enemies into your team. Essentially plays like a fighter-roamer hybrid once mastered.

Early Power
7.5/10
Wave Clear
7.2/10
Teamfight
8.8/10
Assassin EmblemFighter EmblemWar Cry
High skill floor. Takes many games to master immune frame timing but very powerful when learned.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has key CC abilities to dodge (Kaja ult, Johnson)
Your team needs a reliable pick/displacement tool
Enemy has squishy back line to kick into your team
✗ Avoid When
Esmeralda EXP — she absorbs his burst through shields
Fredrinn jungle — taunt can't be immune-framed
You're still learning — save for when comfortable
1
Esmeralda
Shields absorb his entire burst window. He can't deal damage fast enough between her recharges to kill her.
2
Lapu-Lapu
Out-sustains Chou heavily in extended fights; heavy form CC keeps him grounded and unable to play freely.
3
Fredrinn
Taunt forces Chou to waste burst on a massive HP pool. Immune frames cannot skip the taunt duration.
Granger / Beatrix Gold — Chou kicks priority targets directly into marksman range for clean burst kills.
Lunox / Vexana Mid — Kicked targets land inside mage AoE zones, getting nuked before they can reposition.
TH
Thamuz
FighterTrue Damage
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Sustained true damage fighter. His passive (Grand Lord Lava) delivers delayed true damage eruptions on basic attacks — bypassing armor entirely. Ultimate (Cauterant Inferno) gives massive self-healing, attack speed boost, and a burn zone. Best in prolonged brawls where his true damage and sustain outlast enemies. Countered by anti-heal items like Dominance Ice which shuts down his ultimate regen.

Early Power
7.5/10
Wave Clear
8/10
Teamfight
8/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
True damage passive synergizes with attack speed items (Corrosion Scythe, Demon Hunter Sword). Avoid picking into Dominance Ice rushes — it kills his ultimate healing.
✦ Pick When
Enemy team is tanky with high armor (true damage bypasses it)
You want sustained brawl presence with built-in self-healing
Enemy has no Phoveus — scythe retrieve triggers Phoveus passive
Your team needs a durable frontline who can solo fights
✗ Avoid When
Phoveus is open — scythe retrieve triggers his passive every time
Enemy rushes Dominance Ice — cripples his ultimate self-healing
Chou is on enemy team — immune frames dodge his scythe throws cleanly
1
Phoveus
Scythe retrieve dash triggers Phoveus passive every time — punishing his core damage mechanic.
2
Chou
Immune frames dodge scythe throws; kites Thamuz to waste retrieve time and deny his full kit usage.
3
Yu Zhong
Out-sustains and out-damages in extended fights; Black Dragon form engulfs his scythes on the ground.
Any team vs heavy sustain — True damage passive bypasses armor entirely — great into tanky comps that stack physical defense.
Karrie Gold Lane — Double true damage — Thamuz passive + Karrie passive — absolutely shreds high-armor tank comps.
RB
Ruby
FighterSustain CC
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Sustained CC specialist with excellent lifesteal. Her hook swings chain CC across multiple enemies, making her a surprisingly strong teamfight disruptor. Very forgiving playstyle — you can make mistakes and still lifesteal back to full HP. Good starter fighter.

Early Power
6.8/10
Wave Clear
7.5/10
Teamfight
8/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Every hook swing is a dash — never pick Ruby into Phoveus. He punishes every single swing she takes.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has melee-heavy comp that groups near her
Your team lacks CC chains for teamfights
Enemy EXP is Balmond, Terizla or Sun
You want a beginner-friendly sustain laner
✗ Avoid When
Phoveus is open — every swing feeds his passive
Enemy has strong ranged poke (Khaleed, Badang)
Sora — burst exceeds her lifesteal recovery speed
1
Phoveus
Every hook swing is a dash — he procs passive on each one and closes distance instantly to punish.
2
Sora
Thunder form burst exceeds her lifesteal recovery between swings; she can't sustain fast enough against his speed.
3
Leomord
Mounted form outruns and out-bursts her; any escape attempt she makes turns into a guaranteed kill chase.
Vexana / Lunox Mid — Ruby hook chains cluster enemies right into AoE nuke zones for easy multi-kills.
Atlas Roam — Ruby's follow-up CC after Atlas fatal links creates a 5-man lockdown that ends fights instantly.
CI
Cici
FighterMobile Harasser
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Ribbon swing gives her surprising mobility and AoE poke range. She controls space through constant movement speed boosts and can chase or escape effectively. Post-nerf she no longer dominates 1v1s as hard but remains a strong harasser and teamfight disruptor in A tier.

Early Power
7.2/10
Wave Clear
7.8/10
Teamfight
7.8/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
Her ribbon swing is a dash — always ban Phoveus before picking Cici or you'll have a very bad time.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has slow, immobile EXP (Terizla, Balmond)
No Phoveus in enemy team composition
Your team needs harassment / zone control
✗ Avoid When
Phoveus is open — ribbon dash feeds passive constantly
Lapu-Lapu counters her post-nerf in extended fights
Enemy has heavy burst that deletes her on engage
1
Phoveus
Ribbon swing triggers his passive every rotation. She can't use her primary ability without getting punished.
2
Lapu-Lapu
Heavy form AoE CC hard counters her post-nerf; she can't out-damage him in extended fights anymore.
3
Gloo
Sticky CC disrupts her ribbon movement speed advantage; chains prevent free spinning and poking.
Granger Jungle — Cici zones and harasses while Granger farms safely and bursts priority targets in fights.
Ixia Gold Lane — Cici keeps enemies at mid-range where Ixia's passive AoE hits most effectively.
GV
Guinevere
Fighter / MageBurst CC
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

One of the best burst-CC mage fighters in EXP lane. Her airborne combo is devastating — spatial migration teleports, she slams target airborne, then ultimate deals massive magic damage. High burst potential but requires skill to land the full combo reliably.

Early Power
7/10
Wave Clear
7.5/10
Teamfight
8.8/10
Mage EmblemMagic Worship
Best paired with physical damage teammates. Her magic burst + physical jungler creates uncounterable damage split.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has a squishy key target to airborne burst
Your team has physical damage — she adds magic
Enemy EXP is a melee fighter without CC immunity
✗ Avoid When
Esmeralda — magic shields eat her entire combo
Fredrinn — taunt wastes her airborne window
Chou — immune frames dodge Spatial Migration
Enemy builds Athena's Shield (counters magic burst)
1
Esmeralda
Magic shields absorb her entire burst combo. Simply cannot be killed through the shield wall.
2
Fredrinn
Taunt during ult forces her to hit him, wasting airborne window while feeding his gray HP.
3
Chou
Immune frames dodge Spatial Migration; kick disrupts skill chain after the first ability lands.
Lancelot / Hayabusa Jungle — She airbornes priority target, they burst it. Perfectly synced assassination combo.
Granger Gold Lane — Balanced magic + physical split that no single defensive item fully counters.
HI
Hilda
Fighter / TankRoamer Style
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Classic roamer-style EXP. Bush regen passive keeps her perpetually healthy without recalling, meaning more rotation time. Single-target ult execution is brutal in early fights. She dominates the 1–8 minute window then falls off as enemies build armor. Best on maps with many jungle bushes.

Early Power
8.8/10
Wave Clear
7.2/10
Teamfight
6.5/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Only strong in early game. Finish games before 15 minutes or she falls off hard against full armor builds.
✦ Pick When
Enemy team is squishy — ult one-shots them early
Your team has strong early snowball potential
No Leomord, Sora or Lapu-Lapu to counter her bush regen
You want to roam and execute squishies early
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has vision control — they can deny bush regen
Enemy team is tanky — ult does nothing late
Leomord — mounted chase destroys her mobility
1
Sora
Burst damage removes her before she can fully regen in bush; denies her passive regen window entirely.
2
Leomord
Mounted chase completely counters her slow movement. She cannot escape once Leomord has vision.
3
Lapu-Lapu
Heavy form AoE interrupts bush regen; out-damages Hilda's sustain once heavy form unlocks.
Lancelot / Julian Jungle — Hilda ult locks the target, they burst in 1 second. Fastest kill pattern in early game.
Aggressive early-snowball team — She only shines early. Pair with heroes who can also snowball and end fast.
BD
Badang
FighterWall Combo
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Wall-trap specialist with devastating punch volleys when enemies are cornered. His Fist Crack wall creates free kill situations against immobile enemies. Struggled vs high-mobility teams but very rewarding when the comp is right. Effective in coordinated play with a CC roamer.

Early Power
7.2/10
Wave Clear
7.5/10
Teamfight
7.8/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
Always needs a wall for max damage. Learn the map's terrain — identify the best wall positions before each game.
✦ Pick When
Enemy team is slow and immobile (Terizla, Balmond)
Your roamer has hook/CC to set up wall combos (Franco)
Team has at least one tank frontline to protect him
Enemy EXP has no Chou or Esmeralda
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has Chou — immune frames bypass walls
Enemy is high-mobility (Fanny, Lancelot, Ling)
Your team already has no frontline tank
Enemy has Purify — negates his S2 knockback
1
Chou
Immune frames sidestep walls and punch volleys; Chou roams freely without ever getting cornered by Fist Crack.
2
Esmeralda
Shields absorb burst and she repositions easily; his wall combos simply cannot lock her down at all.
3
Freya
Lifesteal outlasts his sustained punch combo; she takes the wall hit and heals back up fully before he resets.
Franco Roam — Franco hook lands target against Badang's wall. Guaranteed kill combo every single time it lands.
Khufra Roam — Tyrant's Revenge bounces enemies into Badang's wall. Even easier setup than Franco.
Needs immobile enemies — Always confirm enemy comp before picking. If 3+ enemies have dashes, Badang's walls are largely wasted.
KH
Khaleed
FighterRegen Duelist
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Strong 1v1 duelist with natural HP regen from his passive. Sand slide gives him engage and escape. His ult is a point-blank AoE slam that devastates anyone who walks into it. Lane-dependent — he rewards staying in lane and winning 1v1s rather than rotating aggressively.

Early Power
7.5/10
Wave Clear
7.8/10
Teamfight
7/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
Never pick into Phoveus — his slide is a dash that Phoveus punishes every single time. Hard ban before picking.
✦ Pick When
Enemy EXP has no Phoveus (hard counter)
Enemy team has slow sustained teamfight style
You want a reliable duelist / lane bully
Enemy has Alice — he counters her magic damage
✗ Avoid When
Phoveus is open — hardest counter, never fight him
Enemy has fast-paced dive/engage comp
Your team needs you to roam and initiate fights
Enemy has Grievous Wounds items — kills his regen
1
Phoveus
His slide dash triggers Phoveus passive — he gets punished every time he tries to engage or disengage.
2
Freya
Lifesteal and shields outheals his poke; she sustains through his trades freely and wins extended fights.
3
Esmeralda
Shields block his damage; her range lets her harass before he can close inside slide range.
Lancelot / Aamon Jungle — Khaleed controls the lane, letting assassins invade freely without EXP lane pressure.
Sustained teamfight team — Khaleed fits comps that want to macro-play slowly rather than dive and burst.
ZL
Zilong
Fighter / AssassinSplit Push Duelist
A
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Highly mobile fighter-assassin with strong early trades and split push. Spear Strike dash resets on kills; Supreme Warrior gives massive move and attack speed with slow immunity. Buffed in Season 39. Excels at running down immobile laners and taking 1v1s, but struggles into CC-heavy and tanky matchups that lock him down or outlast his burst.

Early Power
7.8/10
Wave Clear
7/10
Teamfight
6.8/10
Assassin EmblemKilling Spree
Buffed in Season 39. Use Inspire for maximum chase and split push. Avoid picking into heavy CC (Chou, Fredrinn) or tanky sustain (Esmeralda, Masha) that he cannot burst down.
✦ Pick When
Enemy EXP is Yu Zhong, Alpha, Balmond or Terizla — you can run them down
Your team wants split push and early lane pressure
Enemy has no heavy CC or suppression to lock you
✗ Avoid When
Fredrinn, Esmeralda, Masha — tank/sustain outlast your burst
Chou — immune frames and kick shut down your engage
Enemy has Franco, Kaja, Akai — suppression cancels your mobility
1
Fredrinn
Gray HP and taunt absorb Zilong's burst; he cannot kill Fredrinn before getting locked down.
2
Esmeralda
Shield absorption and laning dominance; she catches him with Falling Starmoon and out-sustains his damage.
3
Masha
Out-tanks and outlasts Zilong; her HP bars and sustain make it impossible to burst her in one rotation.
Inspire + Split Push — Zilong excels at taking towers and 1v1s when team creates pressure elsewhere.
Lunox / Vexana Mid — Team needs burst; Zilong draws attention while mages nuke from range.
BN
Benedetta
Assassin / FighterMobile Poke
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Mobile poke specialist with a dash-immune ultimate. Dropped to B tier because her entire kit is dashes, making Phoveus a nightmare matchup. In the right conditions she's still a slippery, hard-to-catch EXP harasser who can disengage any bad trade.

Early Power
7/10
Wave Clear
7.2/10
Teamfight
6.8/10
Assassin EmblemFestival of Blood
ALWAYS ban Phoveus before picking Benedetta. Her kit literally cannot function without feeding his passive.
✦ Pick When
Phoveus is banned — non-negotiable requirement
Enemy has no CC chains that lock her out
X.Borg is enemy EXP — she kites him easily
✗ Avoid When
Phoveus is open — literally cannot play her kit
Jawhead is enemy EXP — CC grab ruins her timing
Enemy has heavy CC roamers (Atlas, Khufra)
1
Phoveus
Entire kit is dashes. She literally cannot play the game without feeding his passive every ability cast.
2
Jawhead
CC grab denies her immune window timing; catching her at the wrong frame results in a free kill.
3
Uranus
Regenerates all her poke damage back. She can't produce enough sustained pressure to threaten his HP pool.
Vexana Mid — Benedetta's slashing ult pairs with Vexana's nuke for reliable burst combos in teamfights.
Team needs a tank — Benedetta is a damage dealer not a frontliner. Always have a proper tank elsewhere in your comp.
JH
Jawhead
FighterCC Displacer
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Ejector throw is one of the most versatile CC tools in the game — can grab enemies or allies. In EXP lane he provides displacement that most fighters don't have. Dropped to B tier in S39 as the meta favors tankier EXP picks, but still strong in coordinated draft.

Early Power
7.5/10
Wave Clear
7/10
Teamfight
7.5/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Best used to throw enemies under turret or into your team's burst. Practice throw timing in training mode first.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has a high-value target to throw (carry, mage)
Your team has heavy burst to follow up the throw
Enemy EXP is immobile (Sun, Terizla, Balmond)
✗ Avoid When
Chou — immune frames negate Ejector throw animation
Enemy has mobile squad — hard to land meaningful throws
Your team has no burst to follow up the displacement
1
Chou
Immune frames eat the Ejector throw animation; he escapes or counter-kicks immediately after being launched.
2
Uranus
Regenerates all his burst between engagements. 1v1 trades become completely pointless for Jawhead.
3
Gloo
Tanky enough to survive the throw; sticky CC disrupts his follow-up burst pattern post-Ejector.
Lancelot / Aamon Jungle — Jawhead throws squishy target directly into assassin range for instant kills.
Granger Gold Lane — Thrown target lands in Granger's barrel/end zone for a clean elimination.
DR
Dyrroth
FighterDefense Shred
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Defense shred passive makes him devastating against armor-stacking tanks. Strong early laner with good burst but predictable kit. Best against full tank or armor-building comps. Falls into B tier because the S39 meta favors tankier EXP picks that can also initiate.

Early Power
7.8/10
Wave Clear
7.2/10
Teamfight
6.8/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
Counter-pick specifically vs tank-heavy / armor-stacking comps. Weak into shield heroes who bypass his shred.
✦ Pick When
Enemy team has 3+ tanks or high armor builds
Enemy EXP is Fredrinn, Gloo or Uranus
Your team needs anti-tank physical damage
✗ Avoid When
Esmeralda — shields absorb his defense-shred burst
Fredrinn — gray HP mechanic absorbs his burst
Enemy is mobile — his kit is predictable and punishable
1
Esmeralda
Shields absorb his defense-shred burst; trades freely despite his passive stacking on her.
2
Lapu-Lapu
Out-sustains with heavy form; the defense shred is less effective against his passive shield stacking.
3
Fredrinn
Gray HP absorbs Dyrroth's burst; taunting him into hitting a massive HP sponge wastes his combo.
Karrie / Wanwan Gold Lane — Double anti-tank (Dyrroth shred + Karrie true damage) destroys even the tankiest comps.
SN
Sun
FighterClone Split
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Clone mechanic creates confusion and DPS through split attacks. Best as a sustained damage and split-pusher. Struggles in current meta because AoE abilities instantly identify and delete clones. Comfort pick for those who know him well but outclassed by S/A tier options.

Early Power
6.2/10
Wave Clear
8.2/10
Teamfight
6/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Only pick if you're very comfortable with him. The meta has moved past his clone mechanic being threatening.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has no AoE teamfight heroes
You want sustained split-push pressure
Enemy team lacks AoE clear for his clones
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has Paquito / AoE that clears clones instantly
Lapu-Lapu — heavy form AoE clears clones + CCs real Sun
Jawhead — Ejector grabs real Sun through clone confusion
1
Paquito
AoE burst hits all clones simultaneously. Identifies and deletes real Sun before clones can confuse anyone.
2
Jawhead
Ejector grabs the real Sun even mid-clone spiral; CC nullifies his clone-based escape tool entirely.
3
Lapu-Lapu
Heavy form AoE clears clones instantly and CCs real Sun; impossible to escape the ultimate zone.
Strong 4-man teamfight — Sun splits, team fights 4v5. Same split-push strategy as Masha but less impactful overall.
SV
Silvanna
Fighter / MageBubble CC
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Imperial Sanctuary ult creates an isolated 1v1 bubble — great for neutralizing a key enemy carry in teamfights. Decent magic damage lane bully. Falls to B tier because her ult is countered by Purify and her damage isn't high enough in current S39 meta without being a first pick.

Early Power
7/10
Wave Clear
7.2/10
Teamfight
7.2/10
Mage EmblemMagic Worship
Check if enemy marksman or mage has Purify before picking. Purify completely cancels her ult isolation.
✦ Pick When
Enemy carry has no Purify spell
Enemy has a key damage dealer to isolate (marksman)
Your team has physical damage to add to her magic
✗ Avoid When
Enemy carry has Purify — her ult is cancelled instantly
Gloo — can enter bubble to disrupt her combo inside
Esmeralda — shields block her magic burst combo
1
Gloo
Can enter her Imperial Sanctuary bubble to disrupt; his CC stops her from freely attacking inside her own zone.
2
Esmeralda
Magic shields block her damage inside the ult; she survives the isolation and trades back effectively.
3
X.Borg
True damage melts her even inside the ult circle. Burn damage ignores her position entirely.
Granger / Beatrix Gold Lane — Silvanna isolates the enemy marksman in bubble while your marksman deals damage safely outside.
BM
Balmond
FighterBeginner Friendly
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Simplest fighter in EXP lane. Lifesteal passive keeps him sustained, cleave damage is AoE. Best starter hero for learning EXP fundamentals — his kit is so simple you can focus entirely on positioning and rotation timing. Outclassed in high elo but functional in lower ranks.

Early Power
6.2/10
Wave Clear
7.5/10
Teamfight
6.2/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Good for learning fundamentals. Upgrade to Fredrinn or Gloo once you understand EXP lane rotation basics.
✦ Pick When
You're learning EXP lane mechanics
Enemy EXP is also slow/immobile
Casual / low-rank games where simplicity wins
✗ Avoid When
Enemy EXP is mobile — Paquito/Benedetta kite him
High elo / Mythic rank — too simple to be effective
Enemy team has dive assassins targeting him
1
Paquito
Zero dashes — Paquito kites and deletes him before he can close the gap to trade.
2
Benedetta
Out-mobiles him completely; pokes from outside range and dashes away every engage attempt.
3
Arlott
Chase-down punishes his lack of mobility; marks Balmond every time he tries to farm safely.
Franco Roam — Franco hook brings enemies into Balmond's melee range where he can finally land his cleave.
GK
Grock
Tank / FighterRoamer Style
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Excellent roamer-style EXP tank. Near walls he becomes dramatically stronger — faster movement speed and boosted damage. His wall placement creates chokepoints and his charge ult is a high-damage gap-closer that stuns. Nerfed CC immunity in S39 but still very viable for roaming EXP playstyle.

Early Power
7.2/10
Wave Clear
7/10
Teamfight
7.8/10
Tank EmblemConcussive Blast
Stay near walls at all times — his near-wall bonus doubles his effectiveness. Learn each map's wall positions.
✦ Pick When
Your team needs a roaming initiator from EXP
Enemy lacks true damage (X.Borg counters him)
Team has burst damage to follow his engage
You want tank-style EXP with decent damage
✗ Avoid When
X.Borg — true damage bypasses his wall-buffed defense
Esmeralda — magic damage bypasses physical defense stacks
Enemy has heavy magic burst — he has low magic resist
1
X.Borg
True damage bypasses his near-wall defense bonus; burn ignores the power spike entirely.
2
Esmeralda
Magic damage bypasses physical defense stacks; she pokes freely and absorbs his CC chains.
3
Alice
Mobile enough to avoid wall placements; her orb teleport lets her reposition outside his walls instantly.
Lancelot / Vexana — Grock charges in, stuns, creates a wall chokepoint — teammates burst enemies trapped inside.
Badang Gold/Mid — Double wall placement creates true kill boxes that immobile enemies cannot escape.
KJ
Kaja
Fighter / SupportRoamer EXP
R
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Roamer disguised as an EXP laner. His ult grabs a key target and drags them into your team — one of the most impactful single-target CC tools in the game. Weak early laning but his map presence and pick potential make him a niche but rewarding EXP pick in coordinated drafts.

Early Power
4.5/10
Wave Clear
6.2/10
Teamfight
8.5/10
Fighter EmblemBrave Smite
Only works if your team has heavy burst to follow up the ult grab. Useless if you grab and team can't follow.
✦ Pick When
Enemy has a high-value squishy carry with no Purify
Your team has heavy burst to follow up the grab
Jungler is physical damage (Lancelot, Granger)
Coordinated team — not recommended for solo queue
✗ Avoid When
Enemy carry has Purify — cancels his ult grab instantly
Enemy EXP is a strong early bully (Sora, Arlott)
Enemy team has no squishy priority target to grab
Your team already has zero physical damage
1
Chou
Immune frames cancel Divine Judgment grab channel. Best single counter to Kaja ult in the entire game.
2
Paquito
Out-damages and kills Kaja easily in 1v1; Kaja's low HP pool falls apart when he can't grab squishy targets.
3
Esmeralda
Shields nullify his burst; she is one of few EXP laners who can completely ignore his grab-and-burst pattern.
Lancelot / Granger Jungle — Kaja grabs the carry, they burst it dead in under 1 second. Deadly in coordinated play.
Lunox / Vexana Mid — Grabbed target lands in mage AoE for an instant nuke kill before they can react.
Solo queue warning — Kaja EXP is risky in solo queue. If team doesn't follow up grabs he accomplishes nothing.
GT
Gatotkaca
Tank / FighterRoamer EXP
R
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Global ult makes him the ultimate roamer-style EXP pick. He can literally jump from anywhere on the map to initiate a teamfight, making every rotation instant. His passive converts lost HP into armor, making him tankier as he takes damage. Best paired with CC-heavy teammates to guarantee his long ult wind-up connects.

Early Power
6/10
Wave Clear
6.8/10
Teamfight
9/10
Tank EmblemFighter EmblemConcussive Blast
His global ult has a long wind-up — pair with teammates who have CC to lock enemies in place during the cast.
✦ Pick When
You want maximum rotation potential from EXP
Your team has CC to hold enemies for his ult wind-up
Enemy is playing physical damage heavy comp
Enemy groups in teamfights — his AoE slam hits all
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has mobile comp that dodges his long ult wind-up
Enemy has X.Borg — true damage melts his HP-scaling passive
Your team has no CC to hold enemies during ult cast
1
X.Borg
True damage melts his passive. The HP-scaling armor conversion means nothing against Firaga Arms.
2
Aldous
At full stacks Aldous burst exceeds Gato's armor threshold; single-shots him before passive generates enough armor.
3
Paquito
Physical burst exceeds his sustain before he can proc enough passive stacks to be dangerous.
Tigreal / Atlas Roam — Their CC locks enemies in place perfectly for his long ult wind-up to connect every time.
Vexana Mid — Gatotkaca ult groups enemies, Vexana nuke hits all of them simultaneously for massive AoE damage.
Granger / Beatrix Gold — Grouped enemies from his ult creates perfect burst windows for damage carries.
HY
Hylos
TankRoamer EXP
R
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Pure tank with a unique HP/Mana passive — more mana = more HP. His ult creates a speed-boosting / slowing path that turns teamfights into a one-sided chase. Paired with Revitalize he becomes nearly immortal. Excellent roamer-style EXP who can survive any fight and set up teammates constantly.

Early Power
4.5/10
Wave Clear
5.5/10
Teamfight
8.8/10
Tank EmblemRevitalize SpellConcussive Blast
Always use Revitalize spell with Hylos — it's what makes him unkillable. Build HP/Mana items to maximize passive.
✦ Pick When
Your team needs pure frontline tank from EXP
Team has strong chasing / following damage dealers
Enemy team lacks true damage (his HP pool is huge)
You want unkillable presence in every teamfight
✗ Avoid When
Enemy has Karrie / true damage heroes — ignores HP
Your team already has zero damage — Hylos adds none
Fast-paced early game where his weak laning hurts
1
Karrie
True damage from passive scales with his massive HP pool — the more HP he has, the more Karrie hurts him.
2
X.Borg
True damage cuts through his HP stacking; burn prevents the Revitalize healing from keeping him full.
3
Thamuz
True damage cuts straight through his max HP stacking; scythe poke chips him down even when he activates Revitalize.
Leomord / Arlott EXP variant — Hylos ult path boosts their movement speed to chase, making escaping them impossible.
Granger / Beatrix Gold — Hylos slows enemies on his path while they freely deal damage from safe range.
Estes Support variant — Double healing (Estes + Revitalize Hylos) creates an unkillable duo that enemy teams struggle to deal with.
TZ
Terizla
FighterSlow Brawler
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Highest single-hit damage potential in EXP lane when his slow mechanics work. His ult Execution Zone chains enemies together — devastating in grouped fights. His fundamental weakness is mobility — he has almost none, making him easy to kite. Best against immobile tank comps.

Early Power
5.5/10
Wave Clear
7.2/10
Teamfight
7/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
Always pair with a CC roamer to prevent being kited. Alone he cannot catch anything — he needs setup.
✦ Pick When
Enemy team is slow/immobile (tank-heavy)
Your roamer has CC to stop enemies fleeing from him
Enemy groups tightly — ult chain hits everyone
✗ Avoid When
Enemy is mobile — Benedetta/Chou kite him infinitely
Arlott — chase-down punishes his complete lack of speed
Enemy has Chou — immune frames dodge every swing
1
Benedetta
Kites him perfectly. He has zero mobility and she dances around him perpetually without taking damage.
2
Chou
Immune frames bypass his slow; Chou punishes every swing while his slow movement speed is a constant liability.
3
Arlott
Chase-down marks deny farming; Arlott's speed makes it impossible for Terizla to ever catch him.
Franco / Khufra Roam — Hook/bounce locks enemies in place for Terizla to finally land his devastating swing.
Vexana Mid — Terizla ult chains enemies, Vexana nuke hits all of them simultaneously for a teamwipe.
AU
Aulus
FighterAttack Speed
B
Overview
When to Pick
Counters
Teammates

Unique attack-speed stacking fighter. His axe charge gives him a massive attack speed and damage boost. Strong sustained DPS when he can stick to a target. His weakness is the same as Terizla — limited mobility makes him kitable. Best against tanky comps that can't escape his sustained attacks.

Early Power
6/10
Wave Clear
7.2/10
Teamfight
6.5/10
Fighter EmblemUnbending Will
Ban Phoveus before picking. His charge skill and dash both trigger Phoveus passive — instant lane nightmare.
✦ Pick When
Enemy EXP is slow/tanky (Fredrinn, Gloo, Uranus)
No Phoveus in enemy team
Your roamer provides CC to help him stick to targets
✗ Avoid When
Phoveus is open — charge triggers passive every time
Esmeralda — every attack feeds her shields
Enemy is high-mobility — he can't chase anyone
1
Phoveus
His charge and dash both trigger Phoveus passive; Phoveus teleports in the moment Aulus tries to engage.
2
Esmeralda
Every attack Aulus lands becomes more shields for Esme; the harder he hits the more unkillable she becomes.
3
Chou
Kites him around his slow movement; immune frames waste his enhanced attack timing each trade.
Franco Roam — Franco hook stops the enemy from kiting Aulus, letting him land full sustained attack stacks.
Karrie Gold Lane — Double attack-speed DPS melts tank comps simultaneously from front and back.