Enigma commands Eidolons, farms quickly, and can turn a team fight around with Black Hole. His abilities pull enemies together, deal area damage, and threaten structures. In this article, we’ll cover Enigma counters for every position, useful items, and ways to play against him at different stages of the game.

Hero Overview

Enigma commands Eidolons to apply pressure in lane and accelerate his farm. Malefice stuns its target multiple times, Midnight Pulse deals damage based on enemies’ maximum health, and Black Hole pulls enemies together and holds them in place. If Enigma catches multiple heroes, it’s difficult for the team to survive his combo.

The hero is not very mobile and depends on items and good positioning. Eidolons can be quickly killed with area damage, and Black Hole can be interrupted with control that pierces spell immunity. It’s important not to group up and to prevent Enigma from freely farming his first initiation items.

Best Heroes Against Enigma

Enigma most often plays position 3—the offlaner—and sometimes plays as a support. Heroes that can stop Black Hole, protect an ally, or quickly kill Eidolons are useful against him.

Carry

  • Wraith King can return to the fight with Reincarnation, even if Enigma used Black Hole to kill him.
  • Medusa quickly kills Eidolons with area attacks and can stop Enigma with Stone Gaze.

Mid

  • Zeus can interrupt Black Hole with Lightning Bolt if Enigma isn’t protected from disables. Nimbus from Aghanim’s Scepter also helps interrupt the ability from a distance.
  • Silencer can prevent Enigma from using Black Hole with Global Silence if he uses his ultimate at the right time.

Offlaner

  • Beastmaster can interrupt Black Hole with Primal Roar, even if Enigma has activated Black King Bar.
  • Axe catches Enigma with Berserker’s Call and interrupts his ultimate if he manages to use the ability in time.

Support

  • Rubick can interrupt Black Hole and steal the ability to use it against Enigma’s team.
  • Clockwerk can help interrupt Black Hole with Hookshot or Battery Assault if Enigma is within range.

Hard Support

  • Warlock can stop Enigma with his golem, whose stun pierces spell immunity.
  • Winter Wyvern can save an ally from danger with Cold Embrace and stop enemies with Winter’s Curse.

What to Build Against Enigma

  • Aeon Disk helps you survive heavy damage if Enigma catches its owner with Black Hole.
  • Force Staff helps you escape a dangerous area if your hero hasn’t been caught by Black Hole’s control.
  • Glimmer Cape helps protect an ally and reduce magic damage, as long as they haven’t been revealed.
  • Blade Mail returns some of the damage taken if Enigma attacks its owner during a fight.
  • Orchid Malevolence or Scythe of Vyse can help catch Enigma before he uses Black Hole.
  • Pipe of Insight reduces magic damage from Midnight Pulse and other abilities.

How to Play Against Enigma at Different Stages

Laning

Don’t let Enigma take ranged creeps and create Eidolons without interference. If the support is disrupting pulls, you can manipulate the creep wave so Enigma doesn’t get easy farm. Kill Eidolons quickly, and don’t stand next to an ally who is under Malefice.

Mid Game

Break Enigma’s Blink Dagger with damage and place vision near the approaches to fights. Don’t group up in narrow passages. Keep at least one interrupt ready for Black Hole, and make sure the hero with the disable doesn’t get caught by the ultimate.

Late Game

In the late game, a single Black Hole can decide the outcome of the match. Distribute disables across the team, and don’t start a fight until Enigma has shown himself or used his ultimate. If Black Hole is on cooldown, use the window to attack structures or other objectives.