Best Carries in Dota 2
Although all roles in Dota 2 are essential for victory, the carry is undoubtedly a key hero on any team. After accumulating enough experience and gold to purchase valuable items, the carry contributes the most to the team’s damage output.
However, if you want to succeed in this position, you definitely need to choose the best Dota 2 carries. Thus, it is crucial to select a character who meets specific requirements such as fast farming capability, mobility, and high damage potential. Read our guide to discover the top carry heroes, with a special focus on the 7.39c patch.
What Makes a Hero a True Carry?
Before you find out the answer to who is the best carry in Dota 2, it’s essential to understand that, technically, any hero can become a carry. However, if you choose this role while playing as Io or Chen, your chances of victory are close to zero. On the other hand, heroes like Anti-Mage, Ember Spirit, or Chaos Knight are natural fits for the role.
A strong carry should meet several key characteristics that allow them to succeed during the match:
- Farming: Ideally, a good carry has farming abilities with area damage. Alternatively, high base damage and attack speed, which, combined with proper items, can allow a carry to clear creep waves and stacks quickly.
- Late-Game Potential: As the game progresses, a carry should grow into the team’s most powerful weapon.
- Survivability: A carry often enters solo fights or outnumbered situations. They need tools to survive or escape when things go wrong.
- Mobility: As the most dangerous member of their team, a carry should take part in all fights, which means they should be able to reach the place of potential encounter quickly to have maximum impact.
It is also essential to consider the changes caused by every new patch. Even small balance changes can significantly increase or decrease the efficiency of this or that hero. Thus, you should always stay updated with the current meta and the most efficient carries in the current game’s version.
Drow Ranger
With her deadly Frost Arrows, Drow Ranger can easily eliminate enemies from a safe distance. Using her Multishot ability, Traxex can swiftly farm creeps, while her Gust can help her escape when needed. Finally, due to Marksmanship, Drow Ranger steadily increases her damage, turning into a serious opponent during the late-game stage.
To maximize Drow’s potential, your team should include a hero with a large health pool to draw enemy focus. Once the enemy focuses on your ally, Traxes will be able to swiftly eliminate them without any risk. It’s recommended to purchase items with saving potential, such as Silver Edge, Black King Bar, and Butterfly.
Ursa
For years, many players have considered Ursa to be the best Dota 2 carry due to his offlane farming potential, which allows him to excel against his opponents at the early stage. With Morbid Mask and Vanguard, Ursa can even take on Ancient creeps with ease. At the same time, his Enrage ability ensures a stable increase of the hero’s damage as it grows together with the character’s health pool.
Due to Ursa’s high adaptability, you can choose it in almost any in-game situation. For ideal synergy, it’s best to pair this character with a support like Io, Dazzle, or Witch Doctor. Additionally, you can increase his potential with the help of Heart of Tarrasque, Abyssal Blade, and Tranquil Boots.
Juggernaut
Juggernaut is another in-game hero that meets all the characteristics of the best carry in Dota 2. Killing this character turns into a real challenge due to the Healing Ward and Blade Fury. At the same time, he can dish out serious damage thanks to Blade Dance and Omnislash.
It’s better to start the match on a lane with ranged support, such as Crystal Maiden or Keeper of the Light, as these characters can solve early mana issues. Also, it’s strongly recommended to purchase key items like Battle Fury, Satanic, Heart of Tarrasque, and Abyssal Blade to boost both Jugger’s damage potential and survivability.
Sven
Sven stands out as one of the most efficient hard carries thanks to his Great Cleave, which lets him farm at an incredible pace. At the same time, his initially large HP pool and Warcry ability ensure his impressive survivability. And once it comes to a fight, Sven can always rely on his Storm Hammer and God’s Strength, which allow him to withstand even an outnumbered enemy.
Although Sven’s damage heavily relies on his ultimate, you can solve this problem by purchasing Daedalus or Divine Rapier (only if you completely dominate the battlefield). Also, it’ll be a good idea to boost his attack speed with the help of Moon Shard, Mask of Madness, and Assault Cuirass.
Faceless Void
Faceless Void has all the tools needed to be on the list of the best carries in Dota 2 — fast attack speed with bashes and Chronosphere for fighting an overwhelming number of enemies. And when things go wrong, he can always escape using his Time Walk ability.
If you want to avoid suffering the first minutes of the game, it’s better to go on a lane with ranged support. Also, focus on the purchase of Mask of Madness and Maelstrom to increase your attack speed, damage, and farming capability. Choosing this hero is recommended when your enemies have picked characters with a low HP pool, as it’ll be easier for you to kill them inside the Chronosphere.
Slark
Slark is an ideal combination of a dangerous disabler and a nuker, making him one of the best Dota 2 carry heroes for a player who opts for swift maneuvers and ambushes. As the match progresses into the late game stage, killing this hero is nearly impossible due to his high movement speed, significant damage, and the Shadow Dance ability.
Although Slark can easily take down any type of hero, it is not recommended to pick him against characters with strong area-of-effect spells. Also, if you want to unlock his full potential, focus on purchasing key items such as Eye of Skadi, Abyssal Blade, and Black King Bar.
Medusa
Often underestimated, Medusa is undoubtedly one of the best carry heroes in Dota 2, especially after the release of the 7.39c patch. Her Split Shot ability allows her to farm creeps efficiently right from the early stages of the game. And once Medusa faces multiple enemy heroes, she can quickly turn the tide with her powerful Stone Gaze.
It’s a smart choice to pick Medusa against characters like Bloodseeker and Enigma. However, if the enemy has already drafted Anti-Mage, it is better to select another hero from our list. The best items to maximize Medusa’s efficiency include Manta Style, Eye of Skadi, and Butterfly.
