Kunkka is a melee hero who combines control, powerful attacks, and high area damage. Tidebringer lets him quickly clear waves and deal painful hits, while the X Marks the Spot and Torrent combination helps him catch a target. In this article, we’ll cover Kunkka’s strengths, choose counters for every role, list suitable items, and explain how to play against him at different stages of the match.
Hero strengths
Kunkka excels in fights where enemies are standing close together. Torrent and Ghostship let him start a fight with control, while Tidebringer damages several targets at once. X Marks the Spot returns an enemy to the marked location, so even dodging Torrent doesn’t always save them. However, Kunkka needs to choose the right moment to use his abilities in advance, and he can have trouble reliably landing his combo against mobile heroes.
In lane, Kunkka is dangerous thanks to his high damage and ability to quickly last-hit creeps. In team fights, he often moves to the front, expecting to withstand counterattacks and deal damage with his attacks. You can punish him after he has used his control, dodge Torrent, and avoid standing in line with your allies so Tidebringer doesn’t hit several targets at once. Remember X Marks the Spot and prepare a way to avoid being hit again.
Best heroes against Kunkka
Kunkka most often plays in position 2 or 3. Support counters help dodge his combo and keep allies safe, while cores can win the lane or survive his initial damage.
Carry
| Hero | How they counter him |
|---|---|
| Templar Assassin | uses Refraction to absorb several sources of damage from Kunkka’s abilities. Meld helps her avoid some attacks and deal damage in return, while her fast farming lets her keep up with Tidebringer in lane. |
| Ursa | can quickly close the gap and win a melee fight if Kunkka has used Torrent and Ghostship. Enrage helps him survive magical damage, while Earthshock slows the enemy and makes it harder for him to retreat. |
Midlaner
| Hero | How they counter him |
|---|---|
| Outworld Destroyer | can remove himself or an ally from danger with Astral Imprisonment. This helps them wait out Torrent or the moment the target returns under X Marks the Spot. Kunkka also struggles to withstand OD’s high damage in trades. |
| Queen of Pain | dodges Torrent with Blink and keeps her distance from Tidebringer. She can respond to an attempt to close the gap and punish Kunkka when his combo is on cooldown. In lane, it’s important not to get caught by a series of empowered attacks. |
Offlaner
| Hero | How they counter him |
|---|---|
| Underlord | reduces the attack damage of enemy attackers with Atrophy Aura and holds Kunkka in Pit of Malice. He helps his team withstand physical attacks and control the area, preventing the offlaner from freely choosing a target. |
| Razor | can tether Kunkka with Static Link and drain his attack damage. This is especially useful when Kunkka tries to move forward and trade with Tidebringer. Razor needs to avoid getting hit by the full set of control abilities at the start of a fight. |
Support
| Hero | How they counter him |
|---|---|
| Shadow Demon | saves an ally with Disruption and can wait out the dangerous part of the combo. If Kunkka marks a target with X Marks the Spot, a timely banish helps the team buy a few seconds and prepare counter-initiation. |
| Rubick | stays at a safe distance and can steal Torrent or Ghostship. Telekinesis disrupts Kunkka’s attack tempo and helps protect an ally caught by X Marks the Spot. |
Hard support
| Hero | How they counter him |
|---|---|
| Oracle | saves a target with False Promise and can reduce magical damage with Fate’s Edict. Fortune’s End helps dispel some effects and slow Kunkka so an ally has time to retreat. |
| Winter Wyvern | protects an ally from physical attacks with Cold Embrace. Winter’s Curse can punish Kunkka if he enters the fight alongside his team. Make sure there are enemies standing near the target when you use the ultimate. |
What to buy against Kunkka
- Heaven’s Halberd helps disarm Kunkka and prevent him from dealing attack damage at a crucial moment.
- Black King Bar protects against some magical damage and control, allowing you to keep attacking or leave the fight.
- Lotus Orb helps protect against targeted abilities and provides armor against Tidebringer.
- Force Staff lets you move an ally out of a dangerous position and create distance after X Marks the Spot.
- Glimmer Cape helps you survive the damage from his combo and hide a hero while retreating.
How to play against Kunkka at different stages
Laning
In lane, don’t stand near creeps and allies when Kunkka is preparing Tidebringer. Change your position after each empowered attack, and don’t let him hit both a hero and the entire wave at once. If Torrent misses, that’s a good opportunity to trade back. In mid, keep an eye on the runes and don’t let Kunkka freely rotate to the side lanes after quickly clearing the creeps.
Midgame
In the midgame, avoid narrow paths and keep your team slightly spread out. If Kunkka marks a hero with X Marks the Spot, prepare a save and move away from the return point in advance. Don’t start a fight against him while he still has all his abilities available. After Ghostship and Torrent, your team has a window to counterattack or take an objective on the map.
Late game
In the late game, Kunkka’s combination of control can decide a fight in a matter of seconds. Don’t group around one ally or enter a narrow path as a full team. Save Black King Bar and save items for the first initiation attempt. If Kunkka uses his combo, immediately put pressure on him or his team while his abilities are still on cooldown.
