Necrophos is picked in about 15–16% of matches in every bracket and wins 49.7% / 50.7% / 51.6%. Death Pulse damages enemies and heals allies around him, Ghost Shroud makes him ethereal, Heartstopper Aura drains a percentage of nearby enemies' health, Sadist gives him regeneration for each kill, and Reaper's Scythe deals damage based on how much health the target is missing. His team gains more XP in 56.7% of games before minute 15, then 50.6% and 48.1%, and he wins 51.1% of games under 25 minutes, 51.1% at 25–50 and 49.7% past 50.
Countered by Ancient ApparitionNecrophos wins the lane: Ancient Apparition's team gains more XP in only 39.7% of games before minute 15. Chilling Touch gives AA's attacks extra range and magic damage, but he can't keep up with Death Pulse's healing early.
Necrophos survives by healing: Death Pulse, Sadist and Ghost Shroud all keep him in the fight. Ice Blast marks an area from anywhere on the map, and every enemy in it stops healing and shatters if their health falls low enough. Cold Feet stuns a Necrophos who stays near the curse, and Ice Vortex slows him and makes him take more magic damage. AA's team evens out at 51% of games ahead on XP between minutes 15 and 35.
AA's team gains more XP in 56% of games after minute 35. He wins 56.5% of 25–50 minute games (8,839 games) and 53.5% past 50 (2,606 games); the 190 games under 25 minutes are even (50%). The edge is high in every bracket: +9.85 in Very High, +8.62 in High and +10.6 in Normal. AA wins 55.8% / 55.3% / 55.9% (Very High / High / Normal) against Necrophos, against his usual 50.6% / 51.6% / 52.2%.
Best teammate: MagnusThe pair wins the lane: their team gains more XP in 56.8% of games before minute 15. Shockwave pulls enemies toward Magnus and damages them, into Death Pulse range.
Heartstopper Aura drains enemies who stay near Necrophos, and Magnus keeps them there. Skewer drags heroes along with him, Horn Toss launches enemies behind him, and Reverse Polarity pulls a whole group together and stuns it. Empower gives Necrophos extra damage and cleave. A group stunned by Reverse Polarity is a perfect target for Reaper's Scythe. The XP-gain share is 50.8% between minutes 15 and 35.
The pair wins 56.3% of games under 25 minutes (288 games), 52.4% at 25–50 (9,919 games) and 50.9% past 50 (2,108 games), with an XP-gain share of 51% after minute 35. The pairing works mostly in High (+6.92), with +2.73 in Very High and +3.46 in Normal. The pair wins 51.1% / 53.9% / 52.1% (Very High / High / Normal), with Magnus normally at 50% / 49.7% / 48.7%.
Based on 2,111,000 public ranked matches of patch 7.41, played 30 September – 14 October 2026. Advantage is the win-rate difference from what the two heroes' own win rates predict, times two (+6 is about 3 win-rate points), weighted over the skill brackets. The live numbers on the Necrophos page update every few hours. More guides: Dota 2 counter guides.
