Slardar, the Slithereen Guard, is a formidable strength hero in Dota 2 known for his relentless pursuit of enemies and his ability to weaken their defenses. As one of the Deep Ones, he serves as a guardian of sunken cities, protecting their hidden treasures from intruders. He emerges from the depths, enduring the pain of brightness, to ensure no one conspires against his aquatic realm. With immense strength forged under the crushing pressure of the deep ocean, Slardar is a relentless enforcer, built to chase, crush, and control enemies with his powerful abilities. His taciturn nature hides deep knowledge of the secret places of the sea, making him a highly disciplined and unwavering protector. Because of his duty, he is willing to endure the harsh conditions of the shallows, even if they cause him discomfort.

Abilities

Guardian Sprint

Slardar’s Guardian Sprint enables him to move at high speeds while phasing through units. When activated, he gains a significant movement speed boost, allowing him to chase down enemies or escape from dangerous situations. The ability grants additional benefits while in water, including increased health regeneration and armor. An Aghanim’s Scepter further enhances these effects, making him even more resilient while in puddles or rivers. The effect is instantaneous, allowing Slardar to seamlessly engage or disengage from battles with unparalleled speed. It also allows him to bypass terrain and other obstacles, giving him superior mobility compared to most melee heroes.

Slithereen Crush

This ability allows Slardar to slam the ground, stunning and damaging all nearby enemies. After the initial stun, affected units are slowed, making them easy targets for follow-up attacks. With an Aghanim’s Shard, Slithereen Crush applies Corrosive Haze to all enemies hit, amplifying the physical damage they take. The ability’s puddle also grants Slardar additional bonuses when combined with Guardian Sprint. This ability is particularly effective in team fights, as it disrupts enemy formations and sets up opportunities for allies. Slardar’s ability to repeatedly stun enemies makes him a high-impact hero in prolonged engagements.

Bash of the Deep

A passive ability that ensures every fourth attack stuns the target while dealing bonus physical damage. This mechanic makes Slardar an effective duelist and initiator, as he can lock down enemies with repeated attacks. While illusions cannot use this ability, the additional damage it provides when fighting in water further strengthens his impact in fights. The stun duration remains consistent, allowing Slardar to chain bashes effectively, especially when combined with high attack speed. This ability also synergizes well with items that provide lifesteal, enabling Slardar to sustain himself in battle while applying consistent crowd control.

Corrosive Haze

Slardar’s ultimate reduces an enemy’s armor and grants vision of them, including True Sight to reveal invisible units. This ability greatly enhances his team’s ability to eliminate priority targets, as the armor reduction significantly amplifies physical damage dealt. The trail of water left behind by affected targets also synergizes with Guardian Sprint, allowing Slardar to chase down enemies more effectively. With its low cooldown and mana cost, Slardar can continuously apply pressure on key enemy heroes, ensuring they are never safe. The vision granted also makes Corrosive Haze an invaluable scouting tool, helping to track enemy movements and secure objectives.

Talents

Slardar’s talents offer various improvements to his abilities, such as increased Bash of the Deep damage, reduced cooldown for Slithereen Crush, and making Corrosive Haze undispellable. Choosing the right talents depends on whether he is played as an initiator, a tank, or a semi-carry. His level 25 talent choices can greatly impact his late-game performance, allowing players to either maximize their crowd control or amplify their team’s damage output. Understanding when to prioritize specific talents based on the match-up is key to fully utilizing Slardar’s potential.

Recommended Items

Early Game

Slardar benefits from items that enhance his durability and sustain in the lane. Tango and Healing Salve provide necessary regeneration, while Clarity ensures he has enough mana for multiple casts of Slithereen Crush. Boots of Speed is a priority to capitalize on his chase potential with Guardian Sprint. Items like Magic Wand can also provide quick bursts of health and mana, improving his ability to survive skirmishes. Securing last hits and controlling lane equilibrium early on will set Slardar up for a strong mid-game.

Mid Game

At this stage, items that boost his attack speed and mobility are essential. Blink Dagger is crucial for initiating fights with Slithereen Crush. Echo Sabre complements Bash of the Deep, allowing him to quickly land multiple attacks. Armlet of Mordiggian provides additional strength and attack damage, enhancing his tankiness and damage output. A well-timed Black King Bar can be game-changing, ensuring he isn’t controlled in crucial fights. Shadow Blade is another option, allowing for stealthy initiations and providing an escape mechanism if needed.

Late Game

Slardar’s itemization in the late game focuses on survivability and increasing his physical damage potential. Black King Bar ensures he can engage in fights without being controlled by crowd control abilities. Assault Cuirass boosts his armor and attack speed while reducing the armor of nearby enemies, stacking effectively with Corrosive Haze. Overwhelming Blink allows for even stronger initiations, while Aghanim’s Shard and Aghanim’s Scepter further enhance his abilities. Heart of Tarrasque can make him nearly unkillable, allowing him to act as a frontline tank in team fights. Picking the right item combinations will dictate whether he plays as a bruiser or a high-impact damage amplifier.

Strategies and Playstyle

Laning Phase

Slardar thrives in the offlane due to his high armor and ability to trade effectively with melee heroes. Using Slithereen Crush to harass and secure last hits while conserving mana is key. Partnering with heroes that provide sustain or armor reduction can enhance his effectiveness in lane. Proper creep equilibrium management will also ensure Slardar doesn’t get zoned out. Securing early kills with a well-timed stun can set the tone for the rest of the game.

Mid Game

This is when Slardar becomes a dominant force. With Blink Dagger, he can initiate fights effectively, setting up kills for his team. Rotating to different lanes and using Corrosive Haze to secure kills is crucial. His ability to amplify physical damage makes him an excellent partner for heroes that rely on right-click attacks. Capitalizing on his strong mobility can allow him to create space for his team while pressuring the enemy’s cores. Engaging at the right moment is crucial, as mistimed initiations can leave him vulnerable.

Late Game

In the late game, Slardar transitions into a tanky initiator or secondary carry. His role is to disrupt enemy formations by stunning key targets and ensuring that his team capitalizes on the armor reduction from Corrosive Haze. Proper positioning and timely use of Black King Bar are essential to maximizing his impact. Keeping track of enemy buybacks and cooldowns will help determine when to engage. Slardar’s ability to lock down enemy carries makes him a key component of any lineup aiming for physical damage dominance.

Counters and Synergies

Heroes That Counter Slardar

Slardar struggles against heroes with high burst damage and crowd control. Phantom Assassin can evade his attacks, while Anti-Mage can drain his mana, limiting his ability to use Slithereen Crush. Heroes like Viper and Zeus can also harass him effectively in lane, making it difficult for him to farm.

Heroes That Synergize with Slardar

Slardar excels when paired with heroes that deal heavy physical damage. Shadow Fiend and Naga Siren benefit greatly from Corrosive Haze, as they can shred enemies with their attacks. Crystal Maiden and Keeper of the Light help mitigate his mana issues, allowing him to use his abilities more frequently.

Conclusion

Slardar is a powerful offlane hero with strong initiation tools and armor-reducing capabilities. His ability to chase down enemies and control fights makes him a valuable asset in any lineup. By mastering his abilities, itemizing correctly, and executing proper positioning, Slardar can dominate matches and secure victories for his team.