Leshrac is a ranged magical hero who damages several enemies at once and quickly destroys structures. Diabolic Edict helps him pressure towers, while Pulse Nova makes it dangerous to approach him in a team fight. This article covers Leshrac’s strengths and weaknesses, counters by role, useful items, and tactics for playing against him in the laning stage, midgame, and late game.
Hero Characteristics
Leshrac is especially strong when he can stay near his opponents for a long time. His abilities cover a large area, and his high movement speed helps him chase heroes and escape some attacks. Diabolic Edict damages structures, allowing Leshrac to quickly turn a won fight into pressure on a tower. However, he depends on mana and items, and his main source of damage requires him to stay close to his target.
Heroes that keep Leshrac at a distance, silence him, or hold him under control can greatly limit his impact. Reducing healing is useful if he has bought Bloodstone, and you should avoid fighting near him without magical protection. Keep in mind that Leshrac moves quickly: don’t expect to simply run away in a straight line. It’s better to slow him or catch him with a stun ahead of time.
Best Heroes Against Leshrac
Leshrac most often plays position 2—the midlaner. Supports should help maintain distance and save allies, while cores can either control Leshrac or deal damage from outside Pulse Nova’s range.
Carry
- Ursa quickly closes the gap and deals heavy damage in melee. Enrage helps him survive magical damage, while Earthshock slows Leshrac if he tries to escape. Attack with your team so you don’t end up alone inside Pulse Nova.
- Phantom Assassin can quickly reach Leshrac with Phantom Strike and deal heavy physical damage. Blur helps her choose the right moment to attack, but she needs to avoid disables and shouldn’t jump into several enemies without support.
Midlaner
- Outworld Destroyer deals high damage and can remove himself or an ally from danger with Astral Imprisonment. This helps survive Pulse Nova or buy time while the team prepares its disables.
- Huskar can pressure Leshrac in lane and attack him from a distance. Life Break quickly closes the gap between the heroes, while Inner Fire knocks the enemy back and prevents him from staying close to his target.
Offlaner
- Clockwerk restricts Leshrac’s movement with Hookshot and Power Cogs. If the team can deal damage quickly, the mage won’t have time to retreat and continue the fight. Be careful not to isolate yourself inside the cogs without allied support.
- Primal Beast charges into the fight and holds his target with Pulverize. His disables help prevent Leshrac from dealing uninterrupted damage near the team, while his high mobility lets him chase Leshrac even if he tries to retreat.
Support
- Ancient Apparition reduces healing with Ice Blast, which is especially useful against a Bloodstone build. Cold Feet helps keep Leshrac in place if the team is ready to continue the attack.
- Shadow Shaman catches Leshrac with Hex and Shackles. If he is disabled before activating his defenses, allies can quickly take him out. The support needs to stay outside Pulse Nova’s range and avoid starting a fight alone.
Hard Support
- Oracle helps an ally survive magical damage with Fate’s Edict and False Promise. Fortune’s End slows the enemy and helps the team retreat or launch a counterattack.
- Silencer prevents Leshrac from using abilities with silence. Global Silence can stop him before he enters a fight, when he expects to activate Pulse Nova and quickly destroy the frontline.
What to Buy Against Leshrac
- Spirit Vessel reduces healing and health regeneration, and is especially useful against a Bloodstone build.
- Pipe of Insight helps the entire team survive magical damage in a fight.
- Black King Bar protects a core from many magical abilities and lets them attack Leshrac without backing off after the first hit.
- Orchid Malevolence or Bloodthorn provide silence and prevent Leshrac from continuing to deal damage with his abilities.
- Scythe of Vyse lets you reliably stop Leshrac and prevent him from using his mobility to retreat.
How to Play Against Leshrac at Different Stages
Laning Stage
In lane, Leshrac can quickly clear creeps and pressure you with area-of-effect abilities. Don’t stand near an ally or take damage for every creep if that will leave you low on health. His abilities cost mana, so you can increase the pressure after an unsuccessful attempt. In mid, watch the runes and call your support if Leshrac approaches the wave too aggressively.
Midgame
In the midgame, don’t try to fight Leshrac in a narrow passage while his abilities are ready. Keep your distance and force him to spend mana pushing out lanes. Use disables to initiate a fight or approach from the flank so he can’t stay freely near your team. If he has Bloodstone, agree in advance on who will buy Spirit Vessel and when to use it.
Late Game
In the late game, Leshrac remains dangerous in prolonged fights and can quickly take down structures after a victory. Don’t give him space around your towers, and don’t group up as a team under Pulse Nova. Engage from a distance, save magical protection and stuns for when he jumps in. If Leshrac has spent his key items or abilities, finish him off quickly or move on to an objective before he returns.
