Sniper · Mid (pos. 2)
Sniper 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
Sniper is a ranged Agility hero that Valve tags as Carry and Nuker. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 78% 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 crowd control (knock-up) with Headshot. Its ultimate is Assassinate. This patch, Sniper wins 49.5% of the 717,813 public matches we measured (C tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable knock-up: Headshot sets up kills.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
- Clear job in the team: win the solo lane, control the runes and create pressure on the other lanes.
Weaknesses
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Sniper is easy to catch.
- Low base armor (0): 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 Sniper players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Maelstrom and Mjollnir — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Sniper 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 Sniper players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Hurricane Pike and Phylactery. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Sniper 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 Sniper players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
215%178%- MidMain78% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- Safe lanePriority 215% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Maelstrom
- 2Force Staff
- 3Hurricane Pike
- 4Mjollnir
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shrapnel›Headshot›Take Aim
| 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
- -30s Shrapnel Charge Restore Time+50 Max Headshot Knockback Distance25
- +2s Take Aim Duration+30% Shrapnel Damage20
- +45 Attack Speed During Take Aim+150 Assassinate Damage15
- +50 Take Aim Passive Attack Range+30 Headshot Damage10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Maelstrom and Mjollnir — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Sniper players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
215%178%- MidMain78% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- Safe lanePriority 215% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Maelstrom+25 Damage, +25 Attack Speed.
- 2Mjollnir+25 Damage, +90 Attack Speed. Active: Static Charge.
- 3Mask of Madness+20 Damage, +22% Lifesteal. Active: Berserk.
- 4Crystalys+32 Damage.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shrapnel›Headshot›Take Aim
| 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
- -30s Shrapnel Charge Restore Time+50 Max Headshot Knockback Distance25
- +2s Take Aim Duration+30% Shrapnel Damage20
- +45 Attack Speed During Take Aim+150 Assassinate Damage15
- +50 Take Aim Passive Attack Range+30 Headshot Damage10
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 Sniper players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
215%178%- MidMain78% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- Safe lanePriority 215% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Force Staff+10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- 2Hurricane Pike+15 Intelligence, +200 Health, +20 Agility. Active: Hurricane Thrust.
- 3Aghanim's Scepter+10 All Attributes, +175 Health, +175 Mana.
- 4Phylactery+6 All Attributes, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.25 Mana Regeneration.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shrapnel›Headshot›Take Aim
| 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
- -30s Shrapnel Charge Restore Time+50 Max Headshot Knockback Distance25
- +2s Take Aim Duration+30% Shrapnel Damage20
- +45 Attack Speed During Take Aim+150 Assassinate Damage15
- +50 Take Aim Passive Attack Range+30 Headshot Damage10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Hurricane Pike and Phylactery. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Sniper players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
215%178%- MidMain78% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- Safe lanePriority 215% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Hurricane Pike+15 Intelligence, +200 Health, +20 Agility. Active: Hurricane Thrust.
- 2Phylactery+6 All Attributes, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.25 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Khanda+450 Health, +450 Mana, +8 All Attributes.
- 4Mage Slayer+18% Magic Resistance, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.5 Mana Regeneration.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Shrapnel›Headshot›Take Aim
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- -30s Shrapnel Charge Restore Time+50 Max Headshot Knockback Distance25
- +2s Take Aim Duration+30% Shrapnel Damage20
- +45 Attack Speed During Take Aim+150 Assassinate Damage15
- +50 Take Aim Passive Attack Range+30 Headshot Damage10
Abilities
- Shrapnel75 mpConsumes a charge to launch a ball of shrapnel that showers the target area in explosive pellets. Enemies are subject to damage and slowed movement. Reveals the targeted area. Shrapnel charges restore every 35 seconds.
- Movement slow
- -12%·-18%·-24%·-30%
- Radius
- 400·425·450·475
- Damage
- 30·45·60·75
- Duration
- 10
- HeadshotPassiveSniper increases his accuracy, giving him a chance to deal 20 extra damage and knock back his enemies. Knockback distance increases based on how close the enemy is to Sniper. Headshots briefly slow enemy movement and attack speed by -100%.
- Damage
- 20·50·80·110
- Chance
- 40%
- Max knockback distance
- 50
- Slow duration
- 0.2·0.3·0.4·0.5
- Take Aim20 / 18 / 16 / 14s50 mpPassively increases Sniper's attack range by 160.
On cast, Sniper gains increased vision, Headshot chance, and attack range. Slows you by 65% for the duration and restricts your vision to a frontal cone.
- Duration
- 3
- Headshot chance
- 100%
- Active bonus attack range
- 75·150·225·300
- Bonus vision
- 500·750·1000·1250
- Attack speed
- 0
Concussive Grenade10s50 mpLaunches a grenade at the target area, dealing damage to enemies and knocking them and Sniper back. Enemies affected are disarmed and have their movement slowed after the knockback.- Damage
- 200
- Radius
- 375
- Move slow
- 50%
- Slow duration
- 3
- Knockback distance
- 475
Keen ScopePassiveSniper’s attacks deal bonus damage for every 100 units of distance Sniper is from the target.- Bonus damage
- 1.50%
- Assassinate20 / 15 / 10s175 mpSniper locks onto a target enemy unit and, after a short aiming duration, fires a devastating shot that deals Sniper's attack damage plus bonus damage at long range and mini-stuns the target. Whenever Sniper kills an enemy hero, Assassinate is refreshed.
- Damage
- 300·400·500
- Aim duration
- 2
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:Shrapnel›Headshot›Take Aim
| 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: Wraith Band and Javelin.
2Mid game
With Maelstrom, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are level 6, when Assassinate comes online, and your core items: Maelstrom and then Force Staff.
- Core items: Maelstrom, Force Staff and Hurricane Pike.
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: Black King Bar and Crystalys.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position, and use Assassinate where it hits the most heroes.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Maelstrom 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 Assassinate: without it, Sniper is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Lich62.5%win rate in the matchup
Sniper wins 62.5% of the 104 games measured against Lich this patch.
104 matches
- Zeus59.0%win rate in the matchup
Sniper wins 59.0% of the 122 games measured against Zeus this patch.
122 matches
- Ursa58.8%win rate in the matchup
Sniper wins 58.8% of the 114 games measured against Ursa this patch.
114 matches
- Shadow Shaman58.5%win rate in the matchup
Sniper wins 58.5% of the 130 games measured against Shadow Shaman this patch.
130 matches
- Invoker57.8%win rate in the matchup
Sniper wins 57.8% of the 109 games measured against Invoker this patch.
109 matches
Weak against
- Warlock41.5%win rate in the matchup
Sniper only wins 41.5% of the 106 games measured against Warlock this patch.
106 matches
- Axe42.2%win rate in the matchup
Sniper only wins 42.2% of the 116 games measured against Axe this patch.
116 matches
- Tidehunter42.6%win rate in the matchup
Sniper only wins 42.6% of the 101 games measured against Tidehunter this patch.
101 matches
- Crystal Maiden42.7%win rate in the matchup
Sniper only wins 42.7% of the 171 games measured against Crystal Maiden this patch.
171 matches
- Dawnbreaker43.6%win rate in the matchup
Sniper only wins 43.6% of the 101 games measured against Dawnbreaker this patch.
101 matches
Works well with
Assassinate from Sniper holds enemies in place for Psionic Trap from Templar Assassin.
Assassinate from Sniper holds enemies in place for Soulbind from Grimstroke.
Assassinate from Sniper holds enemies in place for Black Hole from Enigma.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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