Highground › Heroes › Necrophos
Necrophos build, counters and guide for Dota 2 7.41
Necrophos wins 49.5% of its 86,010 Divine+ games on patch 7.41f (games from 2026-09-15 to 2026-10-30). Necrophos is played as Mid (pos 2) in 45% of its 257 Divine+ games with a recorded position, and as Offlane (pos 3) in 40%. 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
Necrophos at a glance
| Divine+ win rate | 49.5% over 86,010 games |
|---|---|
| Main position | Mid (pos 2), Offlane (pos 3) |
| Primary attribute | Intelligence |
| Attack type | Ranged |
| Roles | Carry, Nuker, Durable, Disabler |
Necrophos abilities
The spells on the hero's ability bar and its innate ability, as the game lists them.
Which position Necrophos is played in
| Position | Share of Divine+ games | Divine+ tier | Pro tier · picked / banned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry (pos 1) | 13% | – | B · picked 5%, banned 40% |
| Mid (pos 2) | 45% | A | – |
| Offlane (pos 3) | 40% | B | A · picked 7%, banned 40% |
| Soft support (pos 4) | 1% | – | – |
| Hard support (pos 5) | 1% | – | – |
Share of the 257 Divine+ games with a recorded position (patch 7.41f). Tiers are this patch's tier list at that position, from Divine+ and pro games.
Necrophos starting items
The most common whole starting basket of recent pro and Divine+ players at each position, with the newest games counted most.
Mid (pos 2)
×2
×2
Brought whole by 12% of the 1,764 players counted at this position.
Offlane (pos 3)
- ×3
Brought whole by 12% of the 1,071 players counted at this position.
Necrophos 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.
Mid (pos 2)
Divine+ players
88%
85%
77%
56%
42%
39%
36%
26%
115 Divine+ games at this position.
Pro games
- 95%
- 86%
81%- 78%
55%- 42%
- 41%
- 40%
71 pro games on this patch at this position, the newest counted most.
Offlane (pos 3)
Divine+ players
- 97%
- 85%
- 73%
- 50%
- 48%
- 42%
- 39%
- 33%
103 Divine+ games at this position.
Pro games
- 100%
- 94%
- 93%
- 93%
- 66%
- 65%
- 41%
40%
113 pro games on this patch at this position, the newest counted most.
When Necrophos 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.
Mid (pos 2)
| Item | Median | Middle half | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiance | 14:27 | 13:05–16:15 | 101 |
| Boots of Travel | 17:07 | 14:49–20:01 | 89 |
| Consecrated Wraps | 21:58 | 19:52–23:29 | 48 |
| Heart of Tarrasque | 29:36 | 26:13–32:59 | 45 |
| Shiva's Guard | 32:56 | 28:32–35:36 | 30 |
Offlane (pos 3)
| Item | Median | Middle half | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiance | 15:36 | 13:29–17:36 | 88 |
| Boots of Travel | 18:03 | 15:46–21:04 | 75 |
| Consecrated Wraps | 22:16 | 20:28–24:55 | 49 |
| Heart of Tarrasque | 31:54 | 28:34–36:02 | 43 |
| Shiva's Guard | 33:33 | 29:50–36:25 | 34 |
Necrophos 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 Necrophos
Heroes Necrophos is strong against
Laning against Necrophos
- At level 3, Necrophos deals about 378 damage to a typical laner in 8 seconds of fighting, mostly through spell burst – more than 42 of the other 126 heroes (items not counted).
Quick answers about Necrophos
What is the best item build for Necrophos?
Divine+ players at Mid (pos 2) most often finish Radiance, Magic Wand, Boots of Travel, Null Talisman.
What starting items should I buy on Necrophos?
At Mid (pos 2) the most common starting basket of recent pro and Divine+ players is Iron Branch, Circlet, Faerie Fire, Tango, Observer Ward.
Who counters Necrophos?
In Divine+ drafts Necrophos struggles most against Ancient Apparition, Keeper of the Light, Medusa.
Which position is Necrophos played in?
Mostly Mid (pos 2): 45% of its Divine+ games with a recorded position.
Play Necrophos 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.