In the chaotic world of Dota 2, Lion stands as a timeless terror among POS 4 supports. This hex-wielding menace controls fights with chain disables while threatening squishy carries with his iconic Finger of Death. Though he melts faster than ice cream in a furnace when focused, mastering his spell combos and positioning unlocks game-winning potential. For 2025's aggressive meta, understanding Lion's matchups, talent choices, and smoke plays separates the feeding noobs from the playmaking chads. 🧙♂️💥
🔥 Lion's Spellbook: Your Toolkit for Chaos
Lion's kit screams "lockdown specialist" with three crowd-control abilities and a scaling nuke:
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Earth Spike (Q):
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Releases spikes in a line (900→1700 range)
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Stuns enemies 1.4→2.6 seconds
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Pro Tip: Use through trees for surprise engages!
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Hex (W):
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Instantly turns foes into frogs 🐸 (2.5→4s duration)
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Level 25 talent makes it AoE!
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Secret Sauce: Pair with Blink Dagger for pickoffs
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Mana Drain (E):
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Drains 120 mana/sec from up to 3 enemies (with Shard)
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Grants spell immunity while channeling
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Why it slaps: Solves Lion's mana hunger
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Finger of Death (R):
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Deals 600→850 damage (scales +40→60 per kill)
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Aghanim's Scepter makes it AoE
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Mindset: Don't save it—execute low-health targets!
🌟 Talent Tree: Path to Power
| Level | Critical Choices | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | +15 Movement Speed | Zoom across map for rotations 🏃♂️ |
| 15 | -2s Earth Spike Cooldown | More stuns = more chaos |
| 20 | Finger Dmg / Hex AoE | Matchup-dependent |
| 25 | AoE Hex / Spike Range | Teamfight vs. pickoff focus |
⚔️ Matchup Intel: Who to Fear & Feast On
🚫 Hard Counters (Play Defensively):
- Puck: Phase Shift dodges everything. Silence ruins your day 😩
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Lifestealer: Rage = spell immunity. Run or feed!
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Rubick: Steals your spells and turns them against you!
✅ Free Wins (Go Aggro):
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Drow Ranger: No escape + low HP = Finger food 🍴
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Phantom Assassin: Blink on her before she blinks away!
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Ember Spirit: Catch him mid-sleight with Hex!
🎮 Gameplay Breakdown: POS 4 Mastery
Early Game (Levels 1-6):
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Start with Earth Spike to contest runes & harass
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Stop being a mana hoarder! Cast spells constantly—pros use Q 12+ times in 3 mins!
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Buy Wind Lace + Regen → upgrade to Tranquil Boots
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At level 2, choose Mana Drain vs. spell-heavy lanes or Hex for kill potential
Mid Game (Smoke & Gank Era):
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Night = gank o'clock! Abuse vision disadvantage at 5:00 🌙
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Smoke of Deceit is your BFF—bypass wards for surprise picks
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Core items: Magic Wand + Raindrops → Glimmer Cape/Force Staff
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Golden Rule: Ward your lane BEFORE rotating!
Late Game (Stay Alive, Win Fights):
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Blink Dagger for initiation
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Aeon Disk if targeted first
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Fight from fog—don’t frontline!
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Pro Move: Drain mana from 3 heroes during chaos
📦 Itemization Cheat Sheet
| Stage | Must-Buys | Situational Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Tranquil Boots, Raindrops | Wind Lace, Fairy Fire |
| Mid | Glimmer Cape, Force Staff | Blink Dagger, Aether Lens |
| Late | Aeon Disk, Aghanim’s Scepter | Lotus Orb, Refresher Orb |
❓ People Also Ask
Q: Is Lion POS 4 viable in high MMR?
A: Absolutely! Pros like Kaka dominate with him. Key is aggressive early spells and smart rotations.
Q: How do I avoid feeding as Lion?
A: Position like a scaredy-cat! Hide behind trees, use Glimmer Cape, and never walk alone vs. gap closers.
Q: Which heroes combo best with Lion?
A: Burst carries like Ursa/Juggernaut—they need your lockdown to delete foes.
Q: When should I pick Lion?
A: When enemies lack purges (e.g., vs. Drow/PA) and your team needs disables. Avoid vs. Nyx/Lifestealer.
🤔 Food for Thought
What’s the most savage Lion play you’ve pulled off? A 3-hero Hex? A Finger rampage? Share your war stories! 🔥 (And admit it—how many times have you Finger-killed a 50-HP creep? 😉)