Mars · Offlane (pos. 3)
Mars Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Mars is a melee Strength hero that Valve tags as Durable, Disabler and Initiator. It is played mainly as Offlane (pos. 3): 85% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Offlane (pos. 3): your job is to survive a hard lane, bother the enemy carry and start the fights. The kit brings crowd control (stun) with Spear of Mars. Its ultimate is Arena Of Blood. This patch, Mars wins 47.6% of the 152,008 public matches we measured (C tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable stun: Spear of Mars sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Sustain from God's Rebuke to stay in lane and in fights.
- Valve tags Mars as Durable: it stays in fights longer than most heroes.
Weaknesses
- Melee: has to walk up to its target, which makes the lane harder against ranged heroes.
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Mars is easy to catch.
- Low base armor (-1): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Mars players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Desolator and Vladmir's Offering — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Mars players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Eul's Scepter of Divinity and Black King Bar. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Mars players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Eul's Scepter of Divinity and Vladmir's Offering. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Mars players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Mars players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
190%- OfflaneMain90% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Blink Dagger
- 2Aghanim's Shard
- 3Eul's Scepter of Divinity
- 4Black King Bar
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Spear of Mars›God's Rebuke›Bulwark
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- God's Rebuke +65% CritArena Of Blood Grants Team +180 HP Regen25
- +70 Arena Of Blood Spear Damage+0.5s Spear of Mars Stun20
- +100 Spear Of Mars Damage-2.5s God's Rebuke Cooldown15
- +1.5 Mana Regen+100 God's Rebuke Distance10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Desolator and Vladmir's Offering — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Mars players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
190%- OfflaneMain90% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Desolator+55 Damage.
- 2Vladmir's Offering+1 Armor, +0.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Armlet of Mordiggian+15 Damage, +25 Attack Speed, +6 Armor.
- 4Assault Cuirass+30 Attack Speed, +10 Armor.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Spear of Mars›God's Rebuke›Bulwark
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- God's Rebuke +65% CritArena Of Blood Grants Team +180 HP Regen25
- +70 Arena Of Blood Spear Damage+0.5s Spear of Mars Stun20
- +100 Spear Of Mars Damage-2.5s God's Rebuke Cooldown15
- +1.5 Mana Regen+100 God's Rebuke Distance10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Eul's Scepter of Divinity and Black King Bar. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Mars players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
190%- OfflaneMain90% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 2Black King Bar+10 Strength, +24 Damage. Active: Avatar.
- 3Vladmir's Offering+1 Armor, +0.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 4Armlet of Mordiggian+15 Damage, +25 Attack Speed, +6 Armor.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Spear of Mars›God's Rebuke›Bulwark
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- God's Rebuke +65% CritArena Of Blood Grants Team +180 HP Regen25
- +70 Arena Of Blood Spear Damage+0.5s Spear of Mars Stun20
- +100 Spear Of Mars Damage-2.5s God's Rebuke Cooldown15
- +1.5 Mana Regen+100 God's Rebuke Distance10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Eul's Scepter of Divinity and Vladmir's Offering. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Mars players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
190%- OfflaneMain90% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 2Vladmir's Offering+1 Armor, +0.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Lotus Orb+10 Armor, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.0 Mana Regeneration. Active: Echo Shell.
- 4Mekansm+5 Armor. Active: Restore.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Spear of Mars›God's Rebuke›Bulwark
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Talents by level
- God's Rebuke +65% CritArena Of Blood Grants Team +180 HP Regen25
- +70 Arena Of Blood Spear Damage+0.5s Spear of Mars Stun20
- +100 Spear Of Mars Damage-2.5s God's Rebuke Cooldown15
- +1.5 Mana Regen+100 God's Rebuke Distance10
Abilities
- Spear of Mars14 / 13 / 12 / 11s90 / 100 / 110 / 120 mpMars throws his legendary Spear with deadly precision, damaging each enemy unit it strikes. The first enemy hero it hits is skewered on the spear, pushing it back. If a skewered hero hits a tree, building, or cliff, they will be impaled to it and stunned.
- Damage
- 100·175·250·325
- Cast range
- 900·1000·1100·1200
- Stun duration
- 1.3·1.6·1.9·2.2
- God's Rebuke16 / 14 / 12 / 10s90 mpMars smashes enemies in front of him with his shield, knocking them back and damaging them with a critical hit based on his attack. Bonus damage is added when hitting heroes. Has True Strike.
- Critical damage
- 150%·200%·250%·300%
- Distance
- 500
- Knockback slow
- 40%
- Knockback slow duration
- 2.5
- Bonus damage vs heroes
- 5·10·15·20
- BulwarkMars wields his massive shield to block a portion of each physical attack when hit from the front or sides.
Can be toggled, granting phased movement, removing Mars's ability to attack, and locking the direction he is facing. When active, reduces movement speed and re-directs 70% of the attack projectiles aimed at allies towards himself.
- Front reduction
- 40%·50%·60%·70%
- Side reduction
- 20%·25%·30%·35%
- Active redirect range
- 900
- Speed penalty when active
- 18%
DauntlessPassiveMars gets more HP Regen the more he is outnumbered by enemy heroes in 900 radius.- Hp regen per extra enemy
- 50%
- Arena Of Blood100 / 95 / 90s150 / 200 / 250 mpAfter a short formation time, Mars summons an arena lined with the undead warriors of the Ash Legion, who block enemy attacks and movement. Enemy heroes near the inside edge of the arena will be attacked by spears, dealing damage and knocking them back.
- Duration
- 5.5
- Radius
- 550
- Spear damage
- 80·170·260
- Formation time
- 0.1
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 100 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Spear of Mars›God's Rebuke›Bulwark
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Strategy
1Early game
You usually play outnumbered, so experience matters more than last hits. Stay alive, keep the enemy carry busy and punish them whenever their support leaves. Trade when the enemy support uses their mana or leaves the lane; a level up is worth more than a kill here.
- Early items: Bracer and Soul Ring.
2Mid game
With Blink Dagger you become the initiator: pick the fight, catch the key target and give your cores a good start. Your spikes are level 6, when Arena Of Blood comes online, and your core items: Blink Dagger and then Aghanim's Shard.
- Core items: Blink Dagger, Aghanim's Shard and Eul's Scepter of Divinity.
3Late game
Late, your value is in starting fights and absorbing spells. Decide who you jump on before you jump.
- Late items: Scythe of Vyse and Refresher Orb.
4Team fights
You go in first: land Spear of Mars on as many heroes as you can and soak the spells your carry fears. Use Arena Of Blood where it hits the most enemies or catches the key target.
Tips
- Hold Spear of Mars for the enemy carry or the hero who can save them.
- Blink Dagger is what lets you start fights: get it before you look for them.
- If the lane is lost, farm the nearby jungle and come back for experience: a lost lane is not a lost game.
- Plan fights around Arena Of Blood: without it, Mars is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Weaver54.4%win rate in the matchup
Mars wins 54.4% of the 103 games measured against Weaver this patch.
103 matches
- Dawnbreaker54.0%win rate in the matchup
Mars wins 54.0% of the 198 games measured against Dawnbreaker this patch.
198 matches
- Ogre Magi53.5%win rate in the matchup
Mars wins 53.5% of the 254 games measured against Ogre Magi this patch.
254 matches
- Earthshaker53.4%win rate in the matchup
Mars wins 53.4% of the 116 games measured against Earthshaker this patch.
116 matches
- Bristleback52.3%win rate in the matchup
Mars wins 52.3% of the 153 games measured against Bristleback this patch.
153 matches
Weak against
- Treant Protector35.8%win rate in the matchup
Mars only wins 35.8% of the 109 games measured against Treant Protector this patch.
109 matches
- Huskar39.6%win rate in the matchup
Mars only wins 39.6% of the 101 games measured against Huskar this patch.
101 matches
- Phoenix39.7%win rate in the matchup
Mars only wins 39.7% of the 179 games measured against Phoenix this patch.
179 matches
- Shadow Demon41.0%win rate in the matchup
Mars only wins 41.0% of the 317 games measured against Shadow Demon this patch.
317 matches
- Crystal Maiden41.3%win rate in the matchup
Mars only wins 41.3% of the 126 games measured against Crystal Maiden this patch.
126 matches
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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