Mars counter and synergy picks
Pick Mars with Wraith King to increase win-rate from 48.7% to 54.4% or against Tiny to increase win-rate to 54.9% in Patch 7.39b.
Good with...
...based on stats [7.39b]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▼ |
|---|---|
5.7% | |
5.3% | |
4.9% | |
4.7% | |
4.5% | |
4.3% | |
3.9% | |
3.8% | |
3.8% | |
3.5% | |
3.1% | |
3.1% | |
2.8% | |
2.8% | |
2.6% |
...based on gameplay [7.39b]
Mars can keep enemies trapped with Arena of Blood, providing an ideal setup for Disruptor's Kinetic Field and Static Strom. Glimpse further complements this by giving Mars time to reposition and perfectly land Spear of Mars at the spot where the enemy returns.
Mars often benefits from allies who can help set up his abilities. Shadow Shaman provides reliable disables, allowing Mars to land his full combo early on without relying on Blink Dagger or Eul’s Scepter for initiation.
Arena of Blood prevents enemies from attacking Supernova if it’s placed outside the arena. Meanwhile, Phoenix can deal significant damage to trapped enemies with Sun Ray and Fire Spirits. This combo is especially strong in teamfights, as it controls enemy movement and forces them to either retreat or take heavy damage while trapped.
Trapping enemies in Arena of Blood makes it easy for Ancient Apparition to land Ice Blast. Cold Feet is a strong follow-up to Spear of Mars, providing additional disable. In addition, Ice Vortex amplifies the magic damage from Spear of Mars, increasing its impact.
Landing a Spear of Mars provides the perfect setup for Skywrath Mage to burst a target with Ancient Seal and Mystic Flare. The guaranteed lockdown ensures Skywrath can maximize his combo’s damage output.
Paired with Dawnbreaker in lane, the duo brings strong damage, sustain, and tankiness, allowing them to pressure opponents early. Later in the game, Dawnbreaker can follow up Arena of Blood with Solar Guardian, healing allies and dealing significant damage to enemies trapped inside, making the combo very effective in teamfights.
...core items [7.39b]
A core Boots upgrade to boost damage and tankiness while allowing you to close the gap on enemy heroes to do damage with Spear of Mars and Gods Rebuke.
A core item that helps with mana sustain to spam Spear of Mars and Gods Rebuke. You should always make it if you get Phase Boots instead of Arcane Boots.
A core item that allows you to initiate fights by Blinking in and setting up kills with Arena Of Blood and Spear of Mars.
A core item that lets you avoid most disables and silences on the enemy team to land your spell combo in teamfights. Also improves your right click damage and tankiness through HP pool and magic resistance.
A core item that maintains your teamfight prowess on the map more often by reducing the cooldown of all your spells and items. Also provides mana pool to use your ultimate twice with Refresher Orb.
Good against...
...based on stats [7.39b]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▼ |
|---|---|
6.2% | |
5.8% | |
5.8% | |
5.4% | |
5.2% | |
5.0% | |
4.8% | |
4.4% | |
4.4% | |
3.9% | |
3.8% | |
3.7% | |
3.6% | |
3.6% | |
3.6% |
...based on gameplay [7.39b]
Slark struggles to sustain against Mars in lane due to his high burst and control. Arena of Blood prevents Slark from escaping with Pounce, allowing your team to follow up with damage and potentially kill him while he is trapped inside.
Batrider’s Firefly allows him to drag enemies over cliffs and reposition in fights, but Arena of Blood traps him inside, blocking all movement—even flying—without debuff immunity (e.g. Black King Bar). Mars also counters Batrider by interrupting Flaming Lasso with Spear of Mars, preventing him from repositioning or dragging targets.
All of Mars' spells bypass Phantom Assassin’s evasion, allowing him to reliably damage her throughout the game. A core Mars can deal significant burst with God’s Rebuke. Additionally, Bulwark greatly reduces PA’s physical damage in manfights—unless she has a source of Break (e.g Aghanim's Shard)
Mars is a strong counter to Drow Ranger because he can quickly close the distance and disrupt her positioning. Bulwark significantly reduces Drow’s physical damage, helping Mars survive her attacks and win manfights. Additionally, Arena of Blood blocks Drow’s ranged attacks when she is outside of it, protecting your team.
Mars counters Sniper by closing the gap quickly and forcing him into unfavorable fights. Bulwark helps reduce Sniper’s physical damage during engagements, increasing Mars’ survivability. Additionally, Arena of Blood blocks Sniper’s ranged attacks when he’s outside of it, shielding your team from his damage.
Mars can destroy trees with Arena of Blood, potentially stunning Monkey King even while he’s hidden, setting up kills. A well-placed Spear of Mars can also drag Monkey King away from his ultimate, disrupting his impact in fights.
Spear of Mars can interrupt Charge of Darkness, significantly reducing Spirit Breaker’s impact in teamfights. Eul’s Scepter is also effective against his status resistance, while Arena of Blood traps him in place, making it easier to secure kills.
Treant Protector relies heavily on trees, making him an easy target for Spear of Mars. Additionally, Arena of Blood destroys trees in its area, greatly reducing Treant’s effectiveness in fights.
Bad against...
...based on stats [7.39b]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▲ |
|---|---|
-7.2% | |
-5.6% | |
-4.8% | |
-4.5% | |
-4.1% | |
-3.9% | |
-3.8% | |
-3.6% | |
-3.6% | |
-3.6% | |
-3.2% | |
-3.0% | |
-2.9% | |
-2.8% | |
-2.8% |
...based on gameplay [7.39b]
Lifestealer can use Rage to escape Arena of Blood and avoid Spear of Mars’ stun, making him difficult to control. Additionally, he thrives against heroes with large health pools, which can reduce Mars’ relative tankiness and make him more vulnerable.
Blade Fury lets Juggernaut escape Arena of Blood and dodge Spear of Mars’ stun. It’s also a strong tool for chasing and killing Mars early, since he is more susceptible to magical damage.
Puck is highly elusive and difficult to control. Without items like Hex or Eul’s Scepter, landing a Spear of Mars and killing her can be very challenging.
Dazzle excels at saving teammates during fights with his Shallow Grave, which can keep allies alive even inside Mars’ Arena of Blood. His strong healing and damage mitigation make it difficult for Mars to secure kills inside the arena, giving Dazzle’s team a significant advantage in prolonged engagements.
Oracle can save allies from lethal damage inside Arena of Blood using False Promise, negating Mars’ burst potential. Additionally, Fate’s Edict can disarm Mars, lowering his threat in fights, or grant magic immunity to teammates against Spear of Mars and Arena of Blood.
Astral Imprisonment can save allies trapped inside Arena of Blood. Additionally, Outworld Devourer ignores Bulwark by dealing pure damage. His Sanity’s Eclipse deals significant damage due to the large mana difference between Mars and OD.
...counter items [7.39b]
Lowers the armor of Mars with right clicks to reduce his tankiness and burst him down with physical damage as well as prevent him from running at you as easily.
Gives you HP sustain to stay in the lane and not get zoned by Mars' high damage from spells and right clicks.
Gives you movement speed to kite Mars and make it harder for him to connect with Spear of Mars. Also lets you counter the movement slow from Gods Rebuke.
Gives you movement speed to kite Mars and make it harder for him to connect with Spear of Mars. Also lets you counter the movement slow from Gods Rebuke.
Lets you absorb a massive instance of damage from Spear of Mars and Arena Of Blood.
Gives you magic resistance to significantly reduce the damage taken from Mars' magic heavy toolkit.
Provides armor and helps lower the HP regen on Mars and chase him down with a movement speed slow on right clicks.
Gives you and your team magic resistance and barrier to significantly reduce the damage taken from Mars' magic heavy toolkit.
Gives you debuff immunity and magic resistance to avoid Mars' stun and walk through Arena as well as reduce the damage taken from his magic heavy toolkit.
Lets you apply the break effect on Mars and make him significantly less tanky to burst him down in its duration.
Boosts your damage output and lowers the armor of Mars with right clicks to burst him down with physical damage.
Gives you magic resistance and barrier to significantly reduce the damage taken from Mars' magic heavy toolkit as well as save yourself or an ally caught by his control spells.
Gives you an instant silence and massive burst damage against Mars to kill him before he can cast his control and damage spells.
Lets you save an ally caught by Spear of Mars inside Arena. Also lets you kite Mars and reposition out of Arena during Cyclone.
Gives armor to your team to take less damage from Mars' Gods Rebuke and right clicks to nullify his kill potential.
Bad with...
...based on stats [7.39b]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▲ |
|---|---|
-6.4% | |
-6.3% | |
-6.3% | |
-5.7% | |
-5.5% | |
-5.2% | |
-5.0% | |
-4.7% | |
-4.3% | |
-4.2% | |
-4.2% | |
-4.1% | |
-3.4% | |
-3.3% | |
-3.2% |
