Slardar · Offlane (pos. 3)
Slardar Guide
More Slardar guides
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
Slardar is a melee Strength hero that Valve tags as Carry, Durable and Initiator. It is played mainly as Offlane (pos. 3): 71% 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 Slithereen Crush, sustain with Seaborn Sentinel and invisibility with Corrosive Haze. Its ultimate is Corrosive Haze. This patch, Slardar wins 49.4% of the 259,369 public matches we measured (B tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable stun: Slithereen Crush sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Invisibility with Corrosive Haze to scout, escape or set up ganks.
- Sustain from Seaborn Sentinel to stay in lane and in fights.
- Valve tags Slardar 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.
- Hard lane: you usually play outnumbered.
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 Slardar players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Echo Sabre and Mask of Madness — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Slardar players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Black King Bar and Echo Sabre. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Slardar players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Echo Sabre and Harpoon. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Slardar 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 Slardar players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
222%176%- OfflaneMain76% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- MidPriority 222% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Blink Dagger
- 2Aghanim's Shard
- 3Black King Bar
- 4Echo Sabre
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Slithereen Cr…›Bash of the D…›Guardian Spri…
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
 | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- Corrosive Haze Undispellable-3s Slithereen Crush Cooldown25
- +125 Slithereen Crush Damage+16% Seaborn Sentinel Bonus Attack Damage20
- -3 Corrosive Haze Armor+250 Health15
- +2s Guardian Sprint Duration+30 Bash of the Deep Damage10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Echo Sabre and Mask of Madness — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Slardar players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
222%176%- OfflaneMain76% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- MidPriority 222% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Echo Sabre+20 Damage, +15 Strength, +1.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 2Mask of Madness+20 Damage, +22% Lifesteal. Active: Berserk.
- 3Harpoon+25 Damage, +25 Strength, +10 Agility. Active: Draw Forth.
- 4Hand of Midas+40 Attack Speed. Active: Transmute.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Slithereen Cr…›Bash of the D…›Guardian Spri…
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- Corrosive Haze Undispellable-3s Slithereen Crush Cooldown25
- +125 Slithereen Crush Damage+16% Seaborn Sentinel Bonus Attack Damage20
- -3 Corrosive Haze Armor+250 Health15
- +2s Guardian Sprint Duration+30 Bash of the Deep Damage10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Black King Bar and Echo Sabre. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Slardar players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
222%176%- OfflaneMain76% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- MidPriority 222% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Black King Bar+10 Strength, +24 Damage. Active: Avatar.
- 2Echo Sabre+20 Damage, +15 Strength, +1.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 4Drum of Endurance+8 Strength. Active: Endurance.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Slithereen Cr…›Bash of the D…›Guardian Spri…
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- Corrosive Haze Undispellable-3s Slithereen Crush Cooldown25
- +125 Slithereen Crush Damage+16% Seaborn Sentinel Bonus Attack Damage20
- -3 Corrosive Haze Armor+250 Health15
- +2s Guardian Sprint Duration+30 Bash of the Deep Damage10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Echo Sabre and Harpoon. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Slardar players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
222%176%- OfflaneMain76% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- MidPriority 222% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Echo Sabre+20 Damage, +15 Strength, +1.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 2Harpoon+25 Damage, +25 Strength, +10 Agility. Active: Draw Forth.
- 3Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 4Drum of Endurance+8 Strength. Active: Endurance.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Slithereen Cr…›Bash of the D…›Guardian Spri…
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- Corrosive Haze Undispellable-3s Slithereen Crush Cooldown25
- +125 Slithereen Crush Damage+16% Seaborn Sentinel Bonus Attack Damage20
- -3 Corrosive Haze Armor+250 Health15
- +2s Guardian Sprint Duration+30 Bash of the Deep Damage10
Abilities
- Guardian Sprint33 / 28 / 23 / 18s25 mpSlardar slithers ahead, moving significantly faster and passing through units. Slardar has 100% slow resistance for the first 2.5s. The slow resistance gradually fades over the remaining sprint duration.
- Bonus move speed
- 10%·18%·26%·34%
- Duration
- 10
- Slithereen Crush8.5 / 8 / 7.5 / 7s100 mpSlams the ground, leaving a puddle of water, and stunning and damaging nearby enemy units. After the stun, the affected units are slowed.
- Radius
- 325
- Movement slow
- -20%·-25%·-30%·-35%
- Attack slow
- -20·-25·-30·-35
- Slow duration
- 3·4·5·6
- Stun duration
- 0.8
- Puddle duration
- 7
- Bash of the DeepPassiveAfter 3 attacks, your next attack will bash the target.
- Bonus damage
- 35·90·145·200
- Bash duration
- 1
Seaborn SentinelPassiveSlardar gains bonus movement speed, health regeneration, attack damage, and armor while in a puddle, trail, or river.- Bonus move speed
- 18%
- Hp regen
- 1.75
- Bonus armor
- 1.8
- Bonus attack damage
- 11.4%
- Corrosive Haze5s25 mpReduces enemy armor to amplify physical damage and provides True Sight and vision of the targeted unit, revealing invisibility. The enemy unit leaves a trail of water behind it.
- Armor reduction
- -8·-14·-20
- Duration
- 18
- Trail radius
- 100
- Trail duration
- 7
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:Slithereen Cr…›Bash of the D…›Guardian Spri…
| 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 Corrosive Haze comes online, and your core items: Blink Dagger and then Aghanim's Shard.
- Core items: Blink Dagger, Aghanim's Shard and Black King Bar.
3Late game
Late, your value is in starting fights and absorbing spells. Decide who you jump on before you jump.
- Late items: Nullifier and Aghanim's Scepter.
4Team fights
You go in first: land Slithereen Crush on as many heroes as you can and soak the spells your carry fears. Use Corrosive Haze where it hits the most enemies or catches the key target.
Tips
- Hold Slithereen Crush 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 Corrosive Haze: without it, Slardar is far less threatening.
- Keep Corrosive Haze for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
- Lifestealer61.0%win rate in the matchup
Slardar wins 61.0% of the 100 games measured against Lifestealer this patch.
100 matches
- Underlord59.4%win rate in the matchup
Slardar wins 59.4% of the 175 games measured against Underlord this patch.
175 matches
- Void Spirit59.4%win rate in the matchup
Slardar wins 59.4% of the 165 games measured against Void Spirit this patch.
165 matches
- Viper59.3%win rate in the matchup
Slardar wins 59.3% of the 113 games measured against Viper this patch.
113 matches
- Mars58.3%win rate in the matchup
Slardar wins 58.3% of the 276 games measured against Mars this patch.
276 matches
Weak against
- Crystal Maiden40.6%win rate in the matchup
Slardar only wins 40.6% of the 101 games measured against Crystal Maiden this patch.
101 matches
- Marci43.3%win rate in the matchup
Slardar only wins 43.3% of the 104 games measured against Marci this patch.
104 matches
- Invoker44.2%win rate in the matchup
Slardar only wins 44.2% of the 163 games measured against Invoker this patch.
163 matches
- Windranger44.5%win rate in the matchup
Slardar only wins 44.5% of the 245 games measured against Windranger this patch.
245 matches
- Terrorblade45.0%win rate in the matchup
Slardar only wins 45.0% of the 231 games measured against Terrorblade this patch.
231 matches
Works well with
Slithereen Crush from Slardar holds enemies in place for Psionic Trap from Templar Assassin.
Slithereen Crush from Slardar holds enemies in place for Thundergod's Wrath from Zeus.
Slithereen Crush from Slardar holds enemies in place for Exorcism from Death Prophet.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
Was this helpful?
Your vote helps other players find the best guides.