Queen of Pain · Mid (pos. 2)
Queen of Pain 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
Queen of Pain is a ranged Intelligence hero that Valve tags as Nuker, Escape and Carry. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 91% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Mid (pos. 2): your job is to win the solo lane, control the runes and create pressure on the other lanes. The kit brings mobility with Blink and sustain with Succubus. Its ultimate is Sonic Wave. This patch, Queen of Pain wins 47.5% of the 330,488 public matches we measured (D tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Sonic Wave can swing team fights: it hits several enemies at once.
- Mobility: Blink gets Queen of Pain in and out of fights.
- Sustain from Succubus to stay in lane and in fights.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
Weaknesses
- Low base armor (0): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- Tough patch: wins only 47.5% of measured public matches.
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 Queen of Pain players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Veil of Discord and Bloodstone — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Queen of Pain players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Lotus Orb and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Queen of Pain 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 Queen of Pain players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
191%- MidMain91% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Kaya and Sange
- 2Aghanim's Scepter
- 3Aghanim's Shard
- 4Black King Bar
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Scream Of Pain›Blink›Shadow Strike
| 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
- +250 Sonic Wave Damage-2s Blink Cooldown25
- +115 Scream of Pain Damage-45s Sonic Wave Cooldown20
- -1s Shadow Strike Damage Interval+30 Damage15
- +35 Attack Speed against Shadow Striked units+7 Strength10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Veil of Discord and Bloodstone — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Queen of Pain players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
191%- MidMain91% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Veil of Discord+175 Health, +10 Intelligence, +18% Spell Lifesteal. Active: Spell Weakness.
- 2Bloodstone+625 Health, +450 Mana, +15 Intelligence. Active: Bloodpact.
- 3Orchid Malevolence+35 Attack Speed, +20 Damage, +2.5 Mana Regeneration. Active: Soul Burn.
- 4Witch Blade+40 Attack Speed, +12 Intelligence, +1.5 Mana Regeneration.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Scream Of Pain›Blink›Shadow Strike
| 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
- +250 Sonic Wave Damage-2s Blink Cooldown25
- +115 Scream of Pain Damage-45s Sonic Wave Cooldown20
- -1s Shadow Strike Damage Interval+30 Damage15
- +35 Attack Speed against Shadow Striked units+7 Strength10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Lotus Orb and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Queen of Pain players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
191%- MidMain91% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Lotus Orb+10 Armor, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.0 Mana Regeneration. Active: Echo Shell.
- 2Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 3Linken's Sphere+16 All Attributes, +6.5 Health Regeneration, +4.25 Mana Regeneration. Active: Transfer Spellblock.
- 4Orchid Malevolence+35 Attack Speed, +20 Damage, +2.5 Mana Regeneration. Active: Soul Burn.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Scream Of Pain›Blink›Shadow Strike
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Talents by level
- +250 Sonic Wave Damage-2s Blink Cooldown25
- +115 Scream of Pain Damage-45s Sonic Wave Cooldown20
- -1s Shadow Strike Damage Interval+30 Damage15
- +35 Attack Speed against Shadow Striked units+7 Strength10
Abilities
- Shadow Strike11 / 9 / 7 / 5s100 / 105 / 110 / 115 mpHurls a poisoned dagger which deals large initial damage, and then deals damage over time. The poisoned unit has its movement speed slowed for 16 seconds. An instance of damage is dealt every 3 seconds.
- Initial damage
- 50·80·110·140
- Damage per tick
- 20·40·60·80
- Movement slow
- -25%·-35%·-45%·-55%
- Duration
- 16
- Blink12 / 10 / 8 / 6s65 mpShort distance teleportation that allows Queen of Pain to move in and out of combat.Basic ability — moves you. Keep it to escape unless the kill is certain.
- Scream Of Pain7.5 / 7 / 6.5 / 6s120 mpThe Queen of Pain lets loose a piercing scream around her, damaging nearby enemies.
25% of the damage dealt to heroes is reflected back to her.
- Radius
- 600
- Damage
- 90·175·260·345
SuccubusPassiveAll sources of Spell Lifesteal also apply to Pure Damage. Queen of Pain gains Spell Lifesteal that increases with proximity to her enemies. Lifesteal is at its maximum when the enemy is 150 units or closer to her and at its minimum when the enemy is 800 units or further from her.- Minimum lifesteal
- 2%
- Maximum lifesteal
- 14%
- Sonic Wave110 / 95 / 80s250 / 400 / 550 mpCreates a gigantic wave of sound in front of Queen of Pain, dealing heavy damage to all enemy units in its wake and pushing them back.
- Wave max radius
- 450
- Damage
- 325·475·625
- Knockback distance
- 350
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:Scream Of Pain›Blink›Shadow Strike
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
Strategy
1Early game
Mid is a one-on-one: whoever has more last hits and levels usually wins it. Contest the power runes every two minutes and use a good one to gank a side lane. Trade when the enemy mid goes for a last hit and when you are a level ahead: in the solo lane each level is a real edge.
- Early items: Bottle and Null Talisman.
2Mid game
With Kaya and Sange, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are level 6, when Sonic Wave comes online, and your core items: Kaya and Sange and then Aghanim's Scepter.
- Core items: Kaya and Sange, Aghanim's Scepter and Aghanim's Shard.
3Late game
Late, choose your fights: you still hit hard, but the enemy carry catches up. Stay with the team and look for picks with vision.
- Late items: Shiva's Guard and Octarine Core.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position, and use Sonic Wave where it hits the most heroes.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Kaya and Sange is your first big spike: once you have it, leave the lane and look for kills.
- Push the wave into the enemy tower before you rotate, or the lane punishes you twice.
- Plan fights around Sonic Wave: without it, Queen of Pain is far less threatening.
- Keep Blink for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
- Sand King60.9%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain wins 60.9% of the 115 games measured against Sand King this patch.
115 matches
- Timbersaw58.2%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain wins 58.2% of the 158 games measured against Timbersaw this patch.
158 matches
- Muerta57.0%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain wins 57.0% of the 135 games measured against Muerta this patch.
135 matches
- Luna55.1%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain wins 55.1% of the 198 games measured against Luna this patch.
198 matches
- Warlock54.8%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain wins 54.8% of the 221 games measured against Warlock this patch.
221 matches
Weak against
- Keeper of the Light33.6%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain only wins 33.6% of the 113 games measured against Keeper of the Light this patch.
113 matches
- Morphling40.2%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain only wins 40.2% of the 102 games measured against Morphling this patch.
102 matches
- Pugna40.4%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain only wins 40.4% of the 104 games measured against Pugna this patch.
104 matches
- Kez41.4%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain only wins 41.4% of the 140 games measured against Kez this patch.
140 matches
- Clockwerk42.0%win rate in the matchup
Queen of Pain only wins 42.0% of the 138 games measured against Clockwerk this patch.
138 matches
Works well with
Bushwhack from Hoodwink holds enemies in place for Sonic Wave from Queen of Pain.
Mana Void from Anti-Mage holds enemies in place for Sonic Wave from Queen of Pain.
Boundless Strike from Monkey King holds enemies in place for Sonic Wave from Queen of Pain.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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