In games like Dota 2, meta does matter, but the player’s picks and experience reduce the skill gaps with opponents. It might not extremely shuffle the meta-heroes like the new patches. Still, the small balance patches combined with the knowledge of a professional player can significantly impact matches.
Lina is the perfect example of it. With Lina’s skills like Dragon Slave, Light Strike Array, and Laguna Blade, her nuking and disabling ability make her scary in the matches. Lina was primarily used as a semi-carry or support; this is the first time Lina is used as a position one carry in the safe lane.
Table of contents
Lina- contest rate
In the first week of the Dota Pro Circuit winter tour (DPC winter tour) tournament, 138 games were played across 6 Dota 2 playing regions. In those games, Lina was the only hero that has exceeded the contest rate of 90%.
Lina was picked in 31 games and banned in 101 games, with a contest rate of 95.65%. Lina was picked or banned in 132 games out of 138. She was used as a safe lane carry in most matches.
Changes in Dota 2 patch 7.31
Lina’s picking or banning potential has always been high, but the Dota 2 Patch 7.31 has completely changed the scenario. The Fiery Soul skill stacks were increased from 3 to 7. Though balances were made, Lina is getting an advantage in the base ability and level 20 talent.
Due to this patch note, Lina’s stacks no longer depend upon the number of abilities being cast. The stacks depend on the number of enemies being hit by her abilities.
In addition, Stacks can last 18 seconds( patch 7.31c), making it easier to keep seven stacks active without using spamming abilities. In patch 7.31 B, Lina’s agility gain and intelligence got buffed, which enhanced her damage and attack speed.
Skill build
Lina’s Skill build is pretty standard. You start with 1-1-1, max out Fiery Soul, and Light Strike Array, and then max out stats. You can delay the Dragon Slave leveling up as the damage of Dragon Slave is lesser than Fiery Soul’s 7 stacks damage.
Light Strike Array is also worth maxing out as it increases stun duration and reduces cooldown at higher levels.
Item build
Lina’s item progress starts with Boots of Speed, Falcon Blade, and Maelstrom. Depending on the match, Lina can go for Silver Edge or blink. Gleipnir will assist Lina in using Light Strike Array more precisely with colossal damage.
Black King Bar is also a necessary item for Lina. Rest Slots can be filled with Hurricane Pike, Eye of Skadi, Daedalus, Monkey King Bar, and Satanic according to the match choices.
Talents
Level 10: +20 Damage
Level 15: +350 Health
Level 20: +15/1% Fiery Soul Per Stack
The Talents for Lina are pretty straightforward. Level 25 talent does not require to carry Lina’s build. You can focus on either the Laguna Blade Pure Damage talent or Laguna Blade reduced cooldown talent.
Lina’s pros and cons
Using Lina as a safe laner can be beneficial for your team, but you must remember the pros and cons of Lina to get a basic learning of this hero and strategize your move accordingly.
Lina’s Pros:
- High physical damage with passive.
- Long attack range.
- Strong AoE nukes.
- Powerful single-target nuke.
Lina’s Cons:
- Lack of mobility.
- Slow attack Animation.
- Slow cast Animation.
Conclusion
Lina’s win rate in professional games is more than 54%, but in Pubs, Lina’s win rate is relatively low. In the first game of the Tundra Esports vs. OG series, OG Yuragi’s Lina was unbeatable, but after getting caught several times, OG threw the match.
Lina requires strong frontrunners and a few safety items in the build to flourish fully. However, in 31 games where Lina has been picked, her win rate in the Dire is 64.71%, and in the radiant is 42.86. Maybe, she is in beast mode in Dire.
The meta of this game keeps evolving, but we will be monstrously spectating Lina in upcoming DPC Winter tour matches.
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