Highground › Heroes › Axe
Axe build, counters and guide for Dota 2 7.41
Axe wins 48.8% of its 90,183 Divine+ games on patch 7.41f (games from 2026-09-15 to 2026-10-30). Axe is played as Offlane (pos 3) in 92% of its 226 Divine+ games with a recorded position. Below: starting items, the item build and when its core items come, counters and lane notes – measured from recent pro and Divine+ games and rebuilt as the patch and the meta move.
Data through 2026-10-31 · patch 7.41f · page updated 2026-11-01
Axe at a glance
| Divine+ win rate | 48.8% over 90,183 games |
|---|---|
| Main position | Offlane (pos 3) |
| Primary attribute | Strength |
| Attack type | Melee |
| Roles | Initiator, Durable, Disabler, Carry |
Axe abilities
The spells on the hero's ability bar and its innate ability, as the game lists them.
Which position Axe is played in
| Position | Share of Divine+ games | Divine+ tier | Pro tier · picked / banned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid (pos 2) | 2% | – | – |
| Offlane (pos 3) | 92% | A | C · picked 8%, banned 8% |
| Soft support (pos 4) | 4% | – | – |
| Hard support (pos 5) | 2% | – | – |
Share of the 226 Divine+ games with a recorded position (patch 7.41f). Tiers are this patch's tier list at that position, from Divine+ and pro games.
Axe starting items
The most common whole starting basket of recent pro and Divine+ players at each position, with the newest games counted most.
Offlane (pos 3)
×2
Brought whole by 10% of the 6,325 players counted at this position.
Axe item build
The items that Divine+ and pro players of this hero complete most often at each position, with the share of games that finished each one.
Offlane (pos 3)
Divine+ players
99%
98%
92%
66%
63%
62%
19%
18%
209 Divine+ games at this position.
Pro games
- 99%
- 99%
- 87%
- 86%
67%- 62%
57%- 44%
237 pro games on this patch at this position, the newest counted most.
When Axe finishes core items
The game minute at which Divine+ players complete each key item: the median, and the range the middle half of them fall in.
Offlane (pos 3)
| Item | Median | Middle half | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blink Dagger | 15:06 | 12:36–17:09 | 207 |
| Blade Mail | 15:53 | 12:54–19:28 | 204 |
| Black King Bar | 28:01 | 25:01–31:48 | 139 |
 Kaya | 28:30 | 23:26–32:25 | 32 |
 Lotus Orb | 33:05 | 29:15–37:58 | 33 |
| Aghanim's Scepter | 34:11 | 29:22–38:06 | 37 |
Axe counters and matchups
From the Divine+ draft tables the coach drafts with: each number is how many points of win chance the matchup moves when the two heroes meet, with both heroes' own win rates taken out. Only matchups that clearly stand out are listed.
Heroes that are hard on Axe
Laning against Axe
- At level 3, Axe deals about 435 damage to a typical laner in 8 seconds of fighting, mostly through attacks – more than 75 of the other 126 heroes (items not counted).
Quick answers about Axe
What is the best item build for Axe?
Divine+ players at Offlane (pos 3) most often finish Blink Dagger, Blade Mail, Phase Boots, Black King Bar.
What starting items should I buy on Axe?
At Offlane (pos 3) the most common starting basket of recent pro and Divine+ players is Iron Branch, Circlet, Gauntlets of Strength, Quelling Blade, Tango.
Who counters Axe?
In Divine+ drafts Axe struggles most against Lone Druid, Spectre, Lifestealer.
Which position is Axe played in?
Mostly Offlane (pos 3): 92% of its Divine+ games with a recorded position.
Play Axe with a live coach in your ear
Highground is a live voice coach for Dota 2: it watches your game while you play and tells you the item, danger and map calls, tuned to your hero and position.