Phantom Lancer turns a prolonged fight into a crowd of identical targets. While the team searches for the real hero, his illusions burn mana and force enemies to retreat. Let’s take a look at who can clear his copies quickly, which items help against Lancer, and how to stop him from reaching his powerful item timings uncontested.

Hero Traits

Juxtapose creates new illusions during attacks. Spirit Lance deals damage and slows from a distance, while Phantom Rush helps him quickly close in on a target. Doppelganger dispels dispellable negative effects and creates additional copies, among which it’s easy to lose track of the original.

Lancer benefits from long fights, where he can constantly refresh his illusions and switch targets. Heroes with a single powerful targeted spell have a particularly hard time against him. His weakness is area damage and control before he uses Doppelganger. In the early stages, his copies aren’t very durable yet, so pressure on the jungle and lanes makes it harder for him to get the items he needs.

Best Heroes Against Phantom Lancer

Lancer is usually picked in position 1—as a carry. You need heroes who can not only find the original, but also clear the illusions surrounding their allies. Control or a noticeable effect that doesn’t disappear after a regular dispel is an additional advantage.

Carry

  • Sven destroys copies thanks to Great Cleave and God's Strength. Storm Hammer helps keep Lancer in place when he’s near his illusions.
  • Gyrocopter hits multiple targets with Flak Cannon. He can easily deal damage to illusions while the team restricts the real Lancer’s movement.

Mid

  • Leshrac deals sustained area damage with Pulse Nova. He doesn’t need to guess which one is the original before he can start clearing the fight of copies.
  • Ember Spirit hits illusions with Sleight of Fist and can escape an unfavorable situation with Fire Remnant. His area damage is especially useful before Lancer has gained a lot of health.

Offlaner

  • Dark Seer gradually destroys copies with Ion Shell. Wall of Replica lets him use a powerful enemy illusion against their team, while Surge helps allies retreat.
  • Axe catches Lancer along with his copies using Berserker's Call. The numerous attacks trigger Counter Helix, and the rooted original can’t immediately use Doppelganger.

Support

  • Earthshaker makes Echo Slam stronger thanks to the large number of targets. He needs to avoid using his ultimate only on copies while the real Lancer is far from the fight.
  • Grimstroke hits the crowd with Stroke of Fate and helps hold heroes in place with Ink Swell. Soulbind limits the escape of a bound Lancer if there’s a suitable second target nearby.

Hard Support

  • Lion removes ordinary illusions with Hex and Mana Drain. Earth Spike can hit several copies at once and continue the control after the team finds the original.
  • Jakiro deals area damage and slows the copies’ attacks. Ice Path is easy to aim at the spot where Lancer appears after Doppelganger, preventing him from escaping again right away.

What to Build Against Phantom Lancer

  • Mjollnir helps destroy illusions with lightning. Its active shield is useful to cast on the hero they’re attacking.
  • Battle Fury gives a melee carry cleave damage. Its effectiveness depends on the hero’s own damage and how easily they can attack during a fight.
  • Radiance gradually damages copies around its owner and causes enemies to miss. The item doesn’t suit every hero and isn’t a substitute for a full clear in the late game.
  • Shiva's Guard provides armor, slows the attacks of nearby enemies, and helps hit illusions with its active ability.
  • Crimson Guard reduces damage from the copies’ frequent attacks. It’s especially useful when the team plans to fight before Lancer gains a major item advantage.
  • Ghost Scepter protects a support from physical attacks and gives them time to restore mana or wait for help.
  • Scythe of Vyse lets you hold the Lancer you’ve found before he can use Doppelganger. Follow up the control with damage, or new illusions will appear once it ends.

How to Play Against Phantom Lancer at Different Stages

Laning

Make it difficult for Lancer to last-hit creeps, and don’t give him a free lane just to chase a support for no reason. After he uses Doppelganger, he has fewer ways to survive an attack. Keep the wave in a favorable position and set up vision in advance in case he heads to the jungle.

Mid Game

Take available camps and pressure buildings while Lancer farms his core items. When attacking, try to catch the original first rather than giving him a warning with random damage to an illusion. Decide who will clear the copies and who will save their control abilities. Don’t try to save every area ability if the illusions are already draining your team’s mana.

Late Game

Keep track of the original before and after Doppelganger. Don’t spend your entire spell combo on the first target that looks like him, especially if Lancer himself hasn’t joined the fight yet. Save mana for saves and follow-up control. If he gets invisibility, carry Dust of Appearance: a won engagement shouldn’t end with the hero getting away for free.