Semi-daily hero tips. Day 6: Axe

PREVIOUS HEROES

• Abaddon
• Alchemist
• Ancient Apparition
• Anti-Mage
• Arc Warden

DISCLAIMER

A lot of you probably know about the weekly hero discussion, but that often ends up in a meta discussion (whether or not the hero needs buffs, etc) or a meme war than actual tips to play, itemize and build the hero.

This is what I'd like to do. Please discuss any notes I made and possible improvements while also giving tips of your own if you have them.

The roles, skill builds and item builds, as well as a lot of the notes are my opinion on matters and should not be seen as a must do or don't. Also remember that almost every single build or role is situationally possible.

A lot of the tips on heroes were also mentioned in tsunami's amazing hero tips series he did over the last couple of years.

Axe

Notes:

• Berserker's call goes through BKB.
• Good versus: SF (Berserker's call while he ults), Dazzle (culling blade goes through grave), Broodmother, PL, CK, Troll, PA, TB, Meepo, Naga (counter helix), Invis/slippery heroes e.g. Riki, Weaver (Berserker's call)
• You can use Berserker's call just for the +40 armor
• Don't activate blademail in berserker's call if there isn't magical damage threat outside it. You won't be taking much damage with +40 armor anyway.
• Versus: Deny debuffs battle hunger
• Counters: Timber (Whirling death, tanky, barely right clicks, high burst in small areas)

Role: tanky solo laner, initiator

Item build: Tranquils, Blink, Blademail, (Crimson, Halberd, Heart, Aghs, Eul's, Pipe, BKB, Lotus Orb, Shiva's, Force, Rod of Atos, Hex)