The Butcher · Melee Assassin
The Butcher Matchups and Counters
More The Butcher 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
This guide covers The Butcher's matchups and how to adapt to them. Blizzard publishes no matchup statistics, so the matchups below come from each hero's role, range and kit: crowd control, mobility and sustain. They describe an advantage on paper, not a measured result.
Strengths
- Can hold a lane alone.
- Crowd control: Ruthless Onslaught applies a stun.
- Strong gank potential around the map.
Weaknesses
- Mana-hungry: Blizzard flags its energy as important, so manage it early.
- Melee range: ranged heroes can poke it freely.
- Relies on basic attacks: blinds and armor hurt its damage.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
Builds
Against dive
When to use it
When the enemy has several heroes who jump on you: the survival picks at every level.
Map job
Battlegrounds change every match, so this is its job on any of them.
Solo laneMainHolds a lane alone so the rest of the team can rotate.- Double soakSoaks experience in two lanes at once.
- RotatePriority 2Rotates between lanes to create kills and pressure.
- Mercenary campsPriority 3Takes mercenary camps on its own when the map is quiet.
- With the teamStays with the team for fights and objectives.
Talents by level
InvigorationIf Hamstring hits a Hero, half of the Mana cost is refunded and the cooldown is reduced by 1 second.Q
Chop MeatIncreases Hamstring damage by 100% to Minions, Mercenaries, and Monsters.Q
BlockEvery 5 seconds, gain 75 Physical Armor against the next enemy Hero Basic Attack, reducing the damage taken by 75%. Stores up to 2 charges.Passive
- 1The most survivability-focused option at level 1.
- 4Upgrades Hamstring for more utility.
- 7Upgrades Ruthless Onslaught for more survivability.
- 10Heroic ability focused on damage.
- 13Upgrades Ruthless Onslaught for more survivability.
- 16The most survivability-focused option at level 16.
- 20Adds an active ability.
Against mobile heroes
When to use it
Slows, roots and stuns first, to pin down heroes who would otherwise escape.
Map job
Battlegrounds change every match, so this is its job on any of them.
- Solo laneMainHolds a lane alone so the rest of the team can rotate.
- Double soakSoaks experience in two lanes at once.
- RotatePriority 2Rotates between lanes to create kills and pressure.
- Mercenary campsPriority 3Takes mercenary camps on its own when the map is quiet.
- With the teamStays with the team for fights and objectives.
Talents by level
- InvigorationIf Hamstring hits a Hero, half of the Mana cost is refunded and the cooldown is reduced by 1 second.Q
- Chop MeatIncreases Hamstring damage by 100% to Minions, Mercenaries, and Monsters.Q
- BlockEvery 5 seconds, gain 75 Physical Armor against the next enemy Hero Basic Attack, reducing the damage taken by 75%. Stores up to 2 charges.Passive
- 1Upgrades Hamstring for more utility.
- 4Upgrades Hamstring for more utility.
- 7The most utility-focused option at level 7.
- 10Heroic ability focused on utility.
- 13Upgrades Hamstring for more damage.
- 16The most utility-focused option at level 16.
- 20The most utility-focused option at level 20.
Abilities
- QHamstring4s40 mpDeal 110 (+4% per level) damage and slow enemies by 50% fading over 2 seconds. The Butcher's next Basic Attack will strike immediately.
WButcher's Brand14s60 mpDeal 37 (+4% per level) damage to an enemy and Brand them for 4 seconds. The Butcher's Basic Attacks against the Branded target heal him for 75% of the damage done. Basic Attacks against Branded Heroes heal for double and extend the duration of the Brand by 0.5 seconds.
ERuthless Onslaught15s50 mpCharge at an enemy, becoming Unstoppable and gaining Movement Speed. If The Butcher reaches the target, they are stunned for 1 second and take 119 (+4% per level) damage.
RFurnace BlastHeroic60s75 mpAfter a 3 second delay, fire explodes around The Butcher dealing 500 (+4% per level) damage to enemies. Can be cast while using Ruthless Onslaught.
RLamb to the SlaughterHeroic90s75 mpThrow a hitching post that attaches to the nearest enemy Hero after a 1 second delay. This deals 171 (+4% per level) damage and causes the enemy to be chained to the post and Silenced for 3 seconds.
Fresh MeatTraitUpon dying, nearby enemy Minions drop 1 Fresh Meat and enemy Heroes drop 20 Fresh Meat. Fresh Meat can be picked up to gain 0.5 Attack Damage per Meat. The Butcher loses 15 Fresh Meat upon dying. Quest: Collect 200 Fresh Meat. Reward: Gain an additional 125 Attack Damage and 25% increased Attack Speed. Heroes continue to drop 10 Fresh Meat, Minions no longer drop Fresh Meat, and Fresh Meat is no
Strategy
1Good matchups
The Butcher does well against these:
- Zul'jin: Blizzard classifies Zul'jin as a Ranged Assassin: once The Butcher is on top of them, that distance stops mattering.
- Azmodan: Blizzard classifies Azmodan as a Ranged Assassin: once The Butcher is on top of them, that distance stops mattering.
- Cassia: Blizzard classifies Cassia as a Ranged Assassin: once The Butcher is on top of them, that distance stops mattering.
2Tough matchups
The Butcher struggles against these:
3Synergies
The Butcher works well alongside these, because their kits fit together:
- Anub'arak: Ruthless Onslaught from The Butcher holds enemies in place for Locust Swarm from Anub'arak.
- Sylvanas: Ruthless Onslaught from The Butcher holds enemies in place for Wailing Arrow from Sylvanas.
- Lunara: Ruthless Onslaught from The Butcher holds enemies in place for Thornwood Vine from Lunara.
4Adapting the build
The situational builds in this guide answer specific threats: Against dive and Against mobile heroes.
5Playing against The Butcher
If you're on the other side, this is what to exploit:
- Mana-hungry: Blizzard flags its energy as important, so manage it early.
- Relies on basic attacks: blinds and armor hurt its damage.
- Has to dive in to deal damage, so it needs follow-up.
Tips
Matchups
Strong against
Blizzard classifies Zul'jin as a Ranged Assassin: once The Butcher is on top of them, that distance stops mattering.
Blizzard classifies Azmodan as a Ranged Assassin: once The Butcher is on top of them, that distance stops mattering.
Blizzard classifies Cassia as a Ranged Assassin: once The Butcher is on top of them, that distance stops mattering.
Weak against
Rexxar fights at range and The Butcher is melee with no dash in the kit to close the gap.
Malfurion fights at range and The Butcher is melee with no dash in the kit to close the gap.
Jaina fights at range and The Butcher is melee with no dash in the kit to close the gap.
Works well with
Ruthless Onslaught from The Butcher holds enemies in place for Locust Swarm from Anub'arak.
Ruthless Onslaught from The Butcher holds enemies in place for Wailing Arrow from Sylvanas.
Ruthless Onslaught from The Butcher holds enemies in place for Thornwood Vine from Lunara.
Changelog
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98304.
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98297.
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98285.
- Guide created for patch 2.55.17.98025.
Was this helpful?
Your vote helps other players find the best guides.