Monkey King thrives on long trades in lane, surprise attacks from the trees, and fights inside his ultimate. If you let him keep hitting a single target, he’ll quickly restore his health and turn around even a lost fight. Let’s look at who can stop Monkey King from making the most of these strengths, which items can help against him, and how to play from the first creep waves through the late game.

Hero Characteristics

After a series of attacks on a hero, Jingu Mastery gives Monkey King empowered attacks with lifesteal. Combined with Boundless Strike, this lets him stun enemies and rapidly restore his health. Tree Dance helps him move through the trees, while Primal Spring lets him leap to a target area. With Wukong's Command, Monkey King gains bonus armor and surrounds himself with warriors that attack enemies.

The hero is comfortable fighting opponents who stay close together and can’t create distance. However, without the ability to attack, it’s harder for him to build up and use Jingu Mastery. If the tree beneath him is cut down, he falls and gets stunned. Another weakness is that Wukong's Command is tied to an area: if you pull Monkey King himself beyond its boundary, the ultimate ends.

Best Heroes Against Monkey King

Monkey King is usually picked as position 1—a carry—and is sent mid less often. On the lane, ranged attacks and trades he can’t retaliate against give him trouble. As the match goes on, destroying trees, preventing healing, and abilities that pull him out of Wukong's Command are especially useful.

Carry

  • Muerta is protected from physical damage during Pierce the Veil and deals magic damage with her own attacks. Monkey King’s bonus armor from Wukong's Command won’t protect him from these shots.
  • Windranger dodges attacks with Windrun and makes it difficult for Monkey King to build up Jingu Mastery. Powershot cuts down trees, so it can knock Monkey King down if he’s hiding in one.

Mid

  • Zeus deals damage with spells from a distance and doesn’t have to get close enough to be hit. Lightning Bolt helps check suspicious spots among the trees, while Heavenly Jump lets him retreat after an enemy leap.
  • Queen of Pain keeps her distance with Blink and gradually wears Monkey King down with spells. In a fight, she can leave Wukong's Command and continue dealing damage from another position.

Offlaner

  • Timbersaw destroys trees with his abilities, denying Monkey King convenient routes for attacking and escaping. Timber Chain helps him leave the ultimate’s area. Even so, at the first levels, don’t let your opponent build up Jingu Mastery for free.
  • Beastmaster cuts down trees with Wild Axes and can stop Monkey King for a long time with Primal Roar. It’s especially useful to catch him before Black King Bar, or to hold him in place after he activates the item.

Support

  • Bounty Hunter gives the team vision of Monkey King through Track, even when he’s hiding in a tree. The mark makes it easier to spot him preparing to jump and choose which tree to cut down.
  • Phoenix reduces attack speed with Fire Spirits, making it harder to build up Jingu Mastery. Icarus Dive lets Phoenix destroy trees along the way and escape an unfavorable close-range fight.

Hard Support

  • Vengeful Spirit can pull Monkey King out of Wukong's Command with Nether Swap. She can also use it to save an ally caught in the center of the enemy ultimate.
  • Ancient Apparition prevents health restoration with Ice Blast. While affected, Monkey King can’t save himself with lifesteal from an empowered attack or Boundless Strike.

What to Buy Against Monkey King

  • Quelling Blade lets you cut down the tree Monkey King is sitting in. First, you need to figure out exactly where he is.
  • Force Staff helps an ally escape Wukong's Command and create distance from Monkey King.
  • Eul's Scepter of Divinity lets you wait out part of the enemy’s buff. Using it on Monkey King dispels the Jingu Mastery buff he has gained, but don’t confuse this with the attack counters on your target.
  • Ghost Scepter protects against physical attacks from Monkey King and his warriors. It’s a useful purchase for a support who needs to survive an attack.
  • Shiva's Guard provides armor, reduces the health regeneration of nearby enemies, and helps check trees with its active ability.
  • Eye of Skadi slows Monkey King with attacks and reduces his healing. It’s suitable for carries who can hit him regularly in a fight.

How to Play Against Monkey King at Different Stages

Laning

Keep an eye on the Jingu Mastery counters and back off before Monkey King gets the buff. Don’t keep trading just because his health is low: a Boundless Strike that hits several targets can quickly change the situation. Hit him from a distance, use slows, and pull the creeps closer to you so you don’t have to stand near him for long.

Mid Game

Check the trees on the approaches to a fight, and don’t chase Monkey King into the jungle without vision. If he casts Wukong's Command, first consider whether you can leave the area or push him out. Fighting inside just to try to finish off an already wounded hero is risky. Once the ultimate ends, your team will have much more freedom to attack.

Late Game

Don’t group tightly in a narrow passage: Monkey King can hit several heroes with Boundless Strike and his ultimate that way. Before pushing onto the base, find his position or keep escape tools ready in case he jumps in from the flank. Save healing prevention and control until you can attack him with your whole team. A little extra armor may not be enough against Monkey King’s late-game items.