Countering a Terrorblade

Since his addition into Captain's mode, TB has clearly been enjoying a solid pick/ban rate. I think the hero is extremely powerful late game. Unlike most carries he has both split push and teamfight potential.

That being said, I know the general strategy against him is to disrupt his farm as much as possible, and stop him from getting big. However, pro teams are pretty good at being able to make space for their carry, and ensure that he gets big. With the new comeback mechanics, all it takes is one or two teamfights for TB to bounce right back into the game and start getting uncontrollable.

I was thinking, wouldn't Sven be a great counter pick? Traditionally, Sven has been a great counter to the old Phantom Lancer (Here's an awesome game incase you haven't watched it: Sven vs PL/KotL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxvAO84Opdk ). His Great Cleave does short work of illusion based heroes. Warcry can boost his entire team against TB's right clicks in teamfights. He can potentially start fighting a lot earlier than TB, and carry the game late if necessary. All he needs to start fighting is Power Treads, Drum of Endurance and Black King Bar (to ensure he doesn't get controlled or God's Strength doesn't get purged). Late game Sven can be a beast with Boots of Travel, Black King Bar, Daedalus, Monkey King Bar, Heaven's Halberd and Heart of Tarrasque or Satanic.

Is there some downside that prevents pro teams from picking Sven as a 1 position to counter a TB pick?

Play Video /dota-2/hero/sven-2

Actually I think Kunkka would be a really good counter to Terror Blade.
He can stay out of sunder range and basically 1hit Terror Blade if he's farmed.

I think OD is much more of a counter to him, can easily deal with illusions, can seriously 1 shot TB with ult (and maybe the rest of the team - and it ain't luck dependant like Kunkka - It's not CRIT or Lose.)


To ansver the Sven question - Sunder.

Tinker perhaps? Until he's fed, Terrorblade is hideously squishy which equals food for Tink's burst. He can also be at any tower at any time to stop his pushes and chase him away from killing the tower. Laser also makes his right click null and void for a few seconds, which is a plus.

A fully farmed TB is probably stronger than a fully farmed Tinker, but I think he could stop him enough early and mid to prevent a lategame completely.

But is OD even viable in the current meta, where supports constantly roam early and pick off the mid? OD is pretty much food in the mid lane and doesn't usually go Bottle so it would be a waste of exploiting the runes..

He actually is. You can get a roaming support that benefits from Bottle like Mirana or Bounty Hunter. Plus, a good Astral Imprisonment in an attempted gank and some TP response from your team can turn around said gank.

I think it's not so much about outcarrying him in teamfights (teamfights he's not joining anyways), as it is about punishing split push and preventing him to Sunder when you gank him.

Carries with cleave like Sven, Medusa, Kunkka etc or outworld devourer might sound appealing but you need something that can effectively stop rat dota and they just don't cut it. Gyrocopter maybe though, with aghs.

Personally I'd go with Legion Commander or Storm Spirit. LC can clear illusions and disable him for 5 seconds, while Storm has mobility, burst and many ways of stopping Sunder (vortex, orchid, sheep, linkens...). Tinker is a pretty strong counter too yes.

I would not say so. TB can just buy a BKB just to manfight those. While Legion Commander sounds good, she'll lose most Duels due to Metamorphosis, meaning she needs at least 1 more teammate with her. Which leaves their team 3v4 on another lane, where the Terrorblade team can just speculate.

Well, if we're talking BKBs here then he'll just manfight OD as easily as the rest.