Night Stalker turns the night into a hunt for supports: he quickly finds a target, swoops in from an awkward angle, and prevents them from using abilities. It is especially difficult to play when the team only notices him once he is already nearby. We’ll cover who can withstand this kind of attack, which items help you escape the silence, and how to choose when to fight against Balanar.

Hero Characteristics

Midnight Feast empowers Night Stalker at night, increasing his movement and attack speed. Void helps slow and chase down targets. Crippling Fear silences nearby enemies, while Dark Ascension creates night, grants flight, and lets him move through obstacles.

The hero’s strength is his ability to quickly reach the backline and take an important support out of the fight. His weakness is that he depends on closing the gap and on the time of day. It is harder to force a fight during the day without Dark Ascension. Heroes with illusions, high armor, and powerful basic attacks can keep fighting even while silenced. At the same time, a support with a strong save is useless if they are the first to get caught inside Crippling Fear.

Best Heroes Against Night Stalker

Night Stalker is usually picked in position 3—the offlane. Against him, heroes who can survive the first attack, limit his pursuit, or help allies get out of the silence radius are useful.

Carry

  • Bloodseeker limits the chase with Rupture. Night Stalker has to choose between continuing to fly and losing health, or stopping in an awkward position.
  • Phantom Lancer creates numerous illusions that are difficult for Balanar to deal with quickly. The copies’ basic attacks still work under silence, but you should avoid letting Lancer himself be the first focus target.

Mid

  • Dragon Knight withstands physical attacks thanks to Dragon Blood. He doesn’t have to rely only on a jump to escape, and Dragon Tail helps the team hold Night Stalker in place.
  • Kunkka can survive the start of a fight and respond with control. X Marks the Spot prevents Balanar from flying away with impunity, while Ghostship helps the team withstand the first approach.

Offlaner

  • Beastmaster stops Night Stalker with Primal Roar, even if he has activated Black King Bar. His summoned units also help scout approaches and prevent the night hunter from taking over the whole map.
  • Legion Commander holds Balanar in place with Duel and forces him to spend time fighting a durable hero. This gives supports a chance to retreat and use their abilities.

Support

  • Bounty Hunter marks Night Stalker with Track. As long as the mark hasn’t been removed, the team can see his movements and reposition in advance.
  • Ogre Magi is not as easy to kill quickly thanks to his large health pool and armor. Fireblast can stop Balanar, provided Ogre hasn’t been silenced himself.

Hard Support

  • Disruptor pulls Night Stalker back with Glimpse when he swoops in on an ally. To do this, Disruptor needs to stay away from the initial target of the attack.
  • Abaddon can survive an attempt to kill him quickly and support an ally with healing and a shield. Aphotic Shield does not solve the problem of a persistent silence aura, so the first priority is to help the target create distance.

What to Buy Against Night Stalker

  • Force Staff helps push an ally out of Crippling Fear. The item can also be used while under a regular silence, if there are no other restrictions.
  • Ghost Scepter protects against physical attacks and gives a support time to wait for help. Once the enemy buys Nullifier, relying on this protection alone is dangerous.
  • Black King Bar lets you use abilities inside Crippling Fear while it is active. The item does not protect against Balanar’s regular attacks.
  • Hurricane Pike helps a ranged hero push Night Stalker away and restore a comfortable distance.
  • Heaven's Halberd temporarily disarms Balanar. Use it with his Black King Bar in mind.
  • Assault Cuirass provides armor to the team and helps withstand physical damage if the fight drags on.
  • Abyssal Blade lets you stop Night Stalker even under Black King Bar and prevents him from freely choosing a target.

How to Play Against Night Stalker at Different Stages

Laning

Use the daytime to apply pressure before Balanar gets his nighttime boosts. Watch for the change of day and night: a position that was safe a minute ago can become a trap. A support shouldn’t stray far from their partner to trade just before night falls. Keep your health up so you don’t become an easy target for Void and the chase.

Midgame

At night, move with backup and check where Balanar might swoop in from. Warding the road alone won’t cover every route through trees and over high ground. In fights, protect your supports: if they survive the first approach, it’s easier for the team to respond. During the day, while Dark Ascension is on cooldown, look for opportunities to take control of the map.

Late Game

Don’t group all your support heroes in one spot. Keep at least one ally with a save outside the range of the first jump. Watch for Nullifier and update your defensive plan: sometimes you need distance or control, not another dispellable effect. If Balanar fails to quickly take out the backline, force him to fight your core heroes.