Highground › Heroes › Io
Io build, counters and guide for Dota 2 7.41
Io wins 51.4% of its 32,761 Divine+ games on patch 7.41f (games from 2026-09-15 to 2026-10-30). Io is played as Hard support (pos 5) in 42% of its 162 Divine+ games with a recorded position, and as Mid (pos 2) in 24%. 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
Io at a glance
| Divine+ win rate | 51.4% over 32,761 games |
|---|---|
| Main position | Hard support (pos 5), Mid (pos 2), Soft support (pos 4) |
| Primary attribute | Universal |
| Attack type | Ranged |
| Roles | Support, Escape, Nuker |
Io abilities
The spells on the hero's ability bar and its innate ability, as the game lists them.
Which position Io is played in
| Position | Share of Divine+ games | Divine+ tier | Pro tier · picked / banned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry (pos 1) | 14% | – | A · picked 4%, banned 12% |
| Mid (pos 2) | 24% | – | – |
| Offlane (pos 3) | 3% | – | – |
| Soft support (pos 4) | 17% | – | – |
| Hard support (pos 5) | 42% | B | – |
Share of the 162 Divine+ games with a recorded position (patch 7.41f). Tiers are this patch's tier list at that position, from Divine+ and pro games.
Io starting items
The most common whole starting basket of recent pro and Divine+ players at each position, with the newest games counted most.
Hard support (pos 5)
Brought whole by 5% of the 998 players counted at this position.
Mid (pos 2)
×5
Brought whole by 56% of the 289 players counted at this position.
Soft support (pos 4)
Brought whole by 9% of the 566 players counted at this position.
Io 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.
Hard support (pos 5)
Divine+ players
94%
91%
75%
60%
32%
31%
19%
15%
68 Divine+ games at this position.
Pro games
- 95%
- 91%
- 91%
- 85%
79%
52%
43%- 6%
11 pro games on this patch at this position, the newest counted most.
Mid (pos 2)
Divine+ players
- 95%
- 85%
- 74%
69%
54%
23%
20%- 18%
39 Divine+ games at this position.
Pro games
100%- 100%
- 100%
- 86%
- 83%
72%
47%- 42%
23 pro games on this patch at this position, the newest counted most.
Soft support (pos 4)
Divine+ players
- 93%
- 82%
- 75%
- 64%
- 46%
- 25%
- 25%
- 14%
28 Divine+ games at this position.
When Io 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.
Hard support (pos 5)
| Item | Median | Middle half | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Locket | 20:55 | 18:04–25:25 | 41 |
Mid (pos 2)
| Item | Median | Middle half | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aghanim's Scepter | 14:14 | 13:00–16:15 | 37 |
Io 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 Io
Laning against Io
- At level 3, Io deals about 176 damage to a typical laner in 8 seconds of fighting, mostly through ranged harass – more than 2 of the other 126 heroes (items not counted).
Quick answers about Io
What is the best item build for Io?
Divine+ players at Hard support (pos 5) most often finish Magic Wand, Headdress, Mekansm, Holy Locket.
What starting items should I buy on Io?
At Hard support (pos 5) the most common starting basket of recent pro and Divine+ players is Blood Grenade, Magic Stick, Ring of Regen, Tango, Sentry Ward.
Who counters Io?
In Divine+ drafts Io struggles most against Ancient Apparition, Troll Warlord, Monkey King.
Which position is Io played in?
Mostly Hard support (pos 5): 42% of its Divine+ games with a recorded position.
Play Io 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.