Earth Spirit is a mobile hero who moves quickly around the map and controls opponents with a series of stuns, slows, and silences. He can start a fight unexpectedly and prevent the team from taking a favorable position. In this article, we'll cover Earth Spirit counters for each role, items to buy against him, and tactics for different stages of the game.

Hero Strengths and Weaknesses

Rolling Boulder helps Earth Spirit quickly reach a target or retreat. He uses Stone Remnants to enhance his control and the range of his abilities, while Magnetize deals prolonged damage to multiple enemies. The hero is especially strong when he can move freely between targets and sustain a prolonged fight.

Earth Spirit depends on precise ability usage, mana, and Stone Remnants. After an unsuccessful initiation, he can be caught with control abilities. Dispel and magic resistance reduce the threat of his spells, while vision helps you spot his movement toward the side lanes in advance.

Best Heroes Against Earth Spirit

Earth Spirit usually plays position 2—the midlaner—or position 4—the support. Heroes with magic protection, dispels, and control who can stop him after he initiates are useful against him.

Carry

  • Lifestealer can protect himself from many magical effects with Rage and survive a prolonged fight.

  • Slark removes some negative effects with Dark Pact, while Pounce makes it difficult for Earth Spirit to escape after an unsuccessful attack.

Midlaner

  • Huskar withstands magic damage well and can pressure Earth Spirit with Burning Spear attacks.

  • Viper slows Earth Spirit and attacks him from a distance, preventing him from approaching freely.

Offlaner

  • Centaur Warrunner stuns Earth Spirit with Hoof Stomp and helps allies escape his attack with Stampede.

  • Legion Commander can catch Earth Spirit with Duel and prevent him from continuing his ability combo.

Support

  • Oracle protects an ally from focus with False Promise and removes some negative effects.

  • Shadow Demon saves a target with Disruption if he can cast the ability before Earth Spirit disables them.

Hard Support

  • Abaddon removes some negative effects from an ally with Aphotic Shield and helps them survive an initiation.

  • Shadow Shaman holds Earth Spirit with Hex and Shackles if the team manages to spot him.

What to Buy Against Earth Spirit

Item

How It Helps Against Earth Spirit

Black King Bar

protects against many of Earth Spirit's magical abilities and disables

Lotus Orb

removes some effects from an ally and reflects targeted abilities

Glimmer Cape

reduces incoming magic damage and helps an ally retreat

Force Staff

helps create distance or escape an unfavorable position

Pipe of Insight

reduces magic damage for its owner and nearby teammates

Orchid Malevolence

silences Earth Spirit and prevents him from continuing his combo

How to Play Against Earth Spirit at Different Stages

Laning Stage

  1. Keep an eye on Stone Remnants, and don't stand near an ally if Earth Spirit can hit both of you.

  2. Keep the lane in vision and let your team know if he goes missing.

  3. After the hero has used his abilities, take advantage of their cooldowns to apply pressure.

Midgame

  1. Don't move around the map alone: Earth Spirit can quickly start an attack from an unexpected direction.

  2. Save a dispel or defensive item for the hero he catches.

  3. After he initiates, use control abilities and don't let him escape freely.

Late Game

  1. Before a team fight, keep track of Earth Spirit's position and don't group up in a narrow passage.

  2. Spread out your heroes so his abilities don't hit several targets at once.

  3. If he has spent his Stone Remnants and key abilities without achieving anything, use that moment to counterattack.