Juggernaut is a melee carry who combines high physical damage with defensive abilities. Blade Fury helps him survive some forms of magical control, Healing Ward sustains his team, and Omnislash can quickly eliminate an isolated target. In this article, we’ll look at Juggernaut’s strengths and weaknesses, suitable heroes against him in every role, useful items, and a game plan for every stage of the match.

Hero Traits

In lane, Juggernaut is dangerous thanks to Blade Fury: if an enemy can’t quickly get away or stop him, the ability deals a lot of damage and lets him chase down a target. Healing Ward significantly increases the whole team’s survivability, but the ward itself is vulnerable and can be destroyed quickly. Omnislash deals massive damage to isolated enemies, especially when there are no nearby creeps or allied heroes for its strikes to bounce to.

Despite his defensive options, Juggernaut depends on cooldowns and isn’t always able to reach a mobile target. Blade Fury doesn’t protect him from every type of control, and Omnislash loses effectiveness when there are many units nearby. So it’s useful to spread out, save your control abilities while he’s spinning, and keep ways to interrupt his ultimate or save its target.

Best Heroes Against Juggernaut

Juggernaut almost always plays position 1, or carry. Counterpicks in the other roles should help the team survive his attack, catch him after Blade Fury, and stop him from dealing damage freely. Below are options for all five positions.

Carry

  • Phantom Lancer creates many illusions, making it harder for Juggernaut to choose a target for Omnislash. Doppelganger helps dodge some attacks and shake off pursuit, while in a drawn-out fight, the illusions make the enemy waste time trying to find the real hero.
  • Razor weakens Juggernaut’s physical damage with Static Link and can chase him once Blade Fury ends. It’s important not to start a close-range trade while the enemy has all his abilities available, and to bring in allies at the right time.

Mid

  • Shadow Fiend clears waves quickly and can deal massive damage before Juggernaut reaches his target. Keeping your distance and having allies provide control help you survive his initiation, while Requiem of Souls can stop his pursuit after Blade Fury ends.
  • Queen of Pain dodges attacks with Blink and quickly retaliates. She punishes Juggernaut effectively after he uses Blade Fury, but should avoid a solo encounter with an Omnislash-ready Juggernaut and keep track of his movements in advance.

Offlaner

  • Underlord reduces enemy damage with Atrophy Aura and restricts movement with Pit of Malice. He helps the team prevent Juggernaut from freely reaching the backline, while Fiend’s Gate lets the team retreat quickly or change the direction of an attack.
  • Centaur Warrunner can withstand physical damage and help allies escape pursuit with Stampede. Hoof Stomp can be saved for when Blade Fury ends, to hold Juggernaut in place and give the team time to focus their damage on him.

Support

  • Shadow Demon can remove an ally from Omnislash with Disruption. This gives the team time to wait out the ultimate or create distance. If possible, save the ability for a dangerous moment instead of using it as soon as a skirmish begins.
  • Winter Wyvern protects allies from physical attacks with Cold Embrace. Winter’s Curse can turn an enemy initiation into a threat to Juggernaut himself if his allies are nearby. Don’t cast the ultimate on a target your team won’t be able to follow up on.

Hard Support

  • Oracle saves an ally with False Promise and protects them from some magical damage. Fate’s Edict helps them survive Blade Fury if you need to wait for reinforcements. Try to stay out of Omnislash range while supporting your team.
  • Shadow Shaman can catch Juggernaut after Blade Fury with Hex and Shackles. His control helps the team quickly take down the carry if he has used his defensive abilities. Don’t start locking him down while Juggernaut is still immune to the effects you’ve chosen.

What to Build Against Juggernaut

  • Ghost Scepter helps you survive physical attacks and Omnislash if Juggernaut hasn’t bought an item that dispels the effect.
  • Force Staff lets you create distance after Blade Fury and move an ally out of a dangerous position.
  • Heaven’s Halberd temporarily disarms the target and reduces their attack accuracy if Juggernaut isn’t protected from the effect.
  • Solar Crest boosts an ally’s armor and helps the team withstand physical damage.
  • Scythe of Vyse provides reliable control after Blade Fury ends and prevents Juggernaut from immediately continuing his attack.

How to Play Against Juggernaut at Different Stages

Laning

In lane, don’t stand too close to your support, so Juggernaut can’t catch both of you with Blade Fury. Keep an eye on his level and mana: if the ability is ready, leave yourself a way to retreat and don’t trade when you’re low on health. After he uses Blade Fury, you’ll have a brief window to retaliate. Try to destroy Healing Ward as soon as possible if it’s safe; otherwise, the enemy will restore health and keep up the pressure.

Midgame

In the midgame, don’t move around the map alone, especially if Juggernaut is missing. Place vision near the approaches to lanes and don’t give him isolated targets for Omnislash. In teamfights, spread out, have a save ready in advance, and don’t waste stuns during Blade Fury. Once the defensive ability ends, slow Juggernaut and focus your damage on him before he can get away.

Late Game

In the late game, Juggernaut can quickly kill a hero who’s been left without allies. Stay close together, but don’t bunch up: this makes it easier to prevent Omnislash strikes from bouncing between multiple targets. Destroy Healing Ward as soon as you can, and don’t start a fight while the team’s important defensive items are on cooldown. If Juggernaut uses his ultimate without getting a result, take advantage of that window to counterattack.