Muerta · Carry (pos. 1)
Muerta 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
Muerta is a ranged Intelligence hero that Valve tags as Carry, Nuker and Disabler. It is played mainly as Carry (pos. 1): 54% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Carry (pos. 1): your job is to farm efficiently, hit your item timings and win the late game. Its ultimate is Pierce the Veil. This patch, Muerta wins 47.6% of the 96,729 public matches we measured (C tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
- Scales into a late-game threat as the items come in.
- Clear job in the team: farm efficiently, hit your item timings and win the late game.
Weaknesses
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Muerta is easy to catch.
- Low base armor (0): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- Item-dependent: weak until Maelstrom is done.
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 Muerta players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Force Staff and Hurricane Pike. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Muerta players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Hurricane Pike and Essence Distiller. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Muerta 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 Muerta players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
210%181%- Safe laneMain81% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- MidPriority 210% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Maelstrom
- 2Mjollnir
- 3Mask of Madness
- 4Force Staff
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Dead Shot›Gunslinger›The Calling
| 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
- 2 Dead Shot Charges+20% Gunslinger chance25
- +2s Pierce the Veil DurationThe Calling summons 2 additional revenants20
- +15 Intelligence+3.0% Max HP Regen while inside The Calling15
- +20 Attack Speed+300 Dead Shot Cast Range10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Force Staff and Hurricane Pike. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Muerta players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
210%181%- Safe laneMain81% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- MidPriority 210% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Force Staff+10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- 2Hurricane Pike+15 Intelligence, +200 Health, +20 Agility. Active: Hurricane Thrust.
- 3Black King Bar+10 Strength, +24 Damage. Active: Avatar.
- 4Rod of Atos+12 Intelligence, +275 Health. Active: Cripple.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Dead Shot›Gunslinger›The Calling
| 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
- 2 Dead Shot Charges+20% Gunslinger chance25
- +2s Pierce the Veil DurationThe Calling summons 2 additional revenants20
- +15 Intelligence+3.0% Max HP Regen while inside The Calling15
- +20 Attack Speed+300 Dead Shot Cast Range10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Hurricane Pike and Essence Distiller. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Muerta players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
210%181%- Safe laneMain81% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
- MidPriority 210% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Hurricane Pike+15 Intelligence, +200 Health, +20 Agility. Active: Hurricane Thrust.
- 2Essence Distiller+1.5 Mana Regeneration, +3 All Attributes, +6 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
- 3Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 4Linken's Sphere+16 All Attributes, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.25 Mana Regeneration. Active: Transfer Spellblock.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Dead Shot›Gunslinger›The Calling
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Talents by level
- 2 Dead Shot Charges+20% Gunslinger chance25
- +2s Pierce the Veil DurationThe Calling summons 2 additional revenants20
- +15 Intelligence+3.0% Max HP Regen while inside The Calling15
- +20 Attack Speed+300 Dead Shot Cast Range10
Abilities
- Dead Shot16 / 14 / 12 / 10s100 / 120 / 140 / 160 mp
- The Calling30 / 28 / 26 / 24s135 / 150 / 165 / 180 mp
- Gunslinger
Spectral Slug12s75 mp- Pierce the Veil75 / 60 / 45s150 / 250 / 350 mpUltimate. Plan your fights around its cooldown.
SupernaturalPassive
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 87 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Dead Shot›Gunslinger›The Calling
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Strategy
1Early game
The first ten minutes are about last hits. Stay close to your supports, deny when you can and only trade when the enemy offlaner overextends: a death now costs more than any kill is worth. Trade right-clicks only when the enemy walks up to last hit, and step back as soon as their support shows up.
- Early items: Falcon Blade and Null Talisman.
2Mid game
With Maelstrom done, farm the lanes the map lets you farm safely and join the fights that happen near you. Your team is making space; your job is to turn that space into items like Mjollnir. Your spikes are level 6, when Pierce the Veil comes online, and your core items: Maelstrom and then Mjollnir.
- Core items: Maelstrom, Mjollnir and Mask of Madness.
3Late game
Late, you are the win condition. Farm dangerous areas only with vision, group for Roshan and high ground, and keep gold for buyback: dying before the fight loses the game.
- Late items: Black King Bar and Crystalys.
4Team fights
Walk in after the enemy has used their key disables and hit whatever you can reach safely: your survival is the fight. Use Pierce the Veil where it hits the most enemies or catches the key target.
Tips
- Last-hit every creep you can in the first ten minutes: Muerta needs Maelstrom before taking real fights.
- If you can't see the enemy supports on the map, assume they are coming for you and farm closer to your towers.
- Once Mjollnir is done, stop farming alone: move with your team to take towers and Roshan.
- From the mid game on, keep enough gold for buyback before buying your next big item.
- Plan fights around Pierce the Veil: without it, Muerta is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Bristleback59.8%win rate in the matchup
Muerta wins 59.8% of the 102 games measured against Bristleback this patch.
102 matches
- Tusk58.5%win rate in the matchup
Muerta wins 58.5% of the 195 games measured against Tusk this patch.
195 matches
- Dragon Knight57.4%win rate in the matchup
Muerta wins 57.4% of the 115 games measured against Dragon Knight this patch.
115 matches
- Luna56.8%win rate in the matchup
Muerta wins 56.8% of the 125 games measured against Luna this patch.
125 matches
- Tidehunter55.2%win rate in the matchup
Muerta wins 55.2% of the 145 games measured against Tidehunter this patch.
145 matches
Weak against
- Shadow Demon42.2%win rate in the matchup
Muerta only wins 42.2% of the 128 games measured against Shadow Demon this patch.
128 matches
- Disruptor42.7%win rate in the matchup
Muerta only wins 42.7% of the 150 games measured against Disruptor this patch.
150 matches
- Queen of Pain43.0%win rate in the matchup
Muerta only wins 43.0% of the 135 games measured against Queen of Pain this patch.
135 matches
- Hoodwink44.0%win rate in the matchup
Muerta only wins 44.0% of the 193 games measured against Hoodwink this patch.
193 matches
- Phoenix44.4%win rate in the matchup
Muerta only wins 44.4% of the 162 games measured against Phoenix this patch.
162 matches
Works well with
Fire Shield from Ogre Magi keeps Muerta alive, and Muerta is the damage the team needs to protect.
Shallow Grave from Dazzle keeps Muerta alive, and Muerta is the damage the team needs to protect.
Tether from Io keeps Muerta alive, and Muerta is the damage the team needs to protect.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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