Introduction and Position 5 Meta

This guide covers the Position 5 tier list for Dota 2 patch 7.40c. The patch brings many small changes, with the most significant ones affecting heroes like Timbersaw and Clinkz. The list is updated for the current meta so you can apply it right away.

Understanding the safe lane meta is key. The S tier heroes share one trait: they are very strong laners. The laning stage has never been more important in Dota, and recovering from lost lanes is harder than before. Strong combos can crush you early, so picking heroes that win or hold the lane is essential.

C Tier — Situational Picks

These heroes can work in the right draft or lane but are inconsistent or niche as position 5.

• Pudge: Unchanged for months. If you hit early hooks and get kills under tower, he feels great; if you lane normally as pos 5, he is weak.
• Bounty Hunter: Strong as position 4; as position 5 he only works into favourable lanes. His high base armor (9) makes him fine when the matchup allows it.
• Skywrath Mage: Zero armor but good harass. Better as pos 4; as pos 5 your comfort depends heavily on having a Stun in lane.
• Hoodwink: After the three-bounce Facet was removed, she dropped from an overpowered laner to okay. She wants to rotate, and pos 5 gives fewer chances for that.
• Alchemist: Aghanim’s timings are still strong. With the right carry (e.g. Clinkz: Stun + armor reduction) he can lane decently, but heavy harass lanes are tough.
• Magnus: Few pos 1 heroes both want to lane with him and fit his later game. Good with melee carries but often means a double melee lane.
• Phoenix: Very weak laning; otherwise a good hero, more suited to position 4.
• Tiny: S tier as pos 4 because he can skip creeps; as pos 5 you do not get that, so he sits in C tier.
• Vengeful Spirit: Bad laning and awkward itemisation; she wants Aghanim’s to shine.
• Abaddon: Strong in theory, but most carries he synergises with need to deal a lot of damage for the lane to work.
• Naga Siren: Recent nerfs hit her hard. Illusion vision change is significant, and she was never easy as pos 5; she is fairly weak now.

B Tier — Solid Options

B tier heroes are reliable and can be picked when they fit the draft. They lack the consistency or lane dominance of A and S tier.

Healing and Utility

Wisp is situationally A tier in the right games and is very strong with heroes like Marci or Slark, but he is mostly a party pick. Omni Knight has an okay laning stage and very strong spells later; excellent with carries like Shadow Fiend. Snapfire received small nerfs and is not as dominant as before but remains a solid B tier. Bane is strong at creep dragging and stopping it; solid overall, though early picks get countered and his ultimate can be underwhelming. Winter Wyvern could be A tier: good harass and early healing, as long as you are not overrun in the first few levels. Undying has been at least solid for a long time; he loves a Stun in lane and many current carries lack one. Oracle remains B tier; healing is better in lanes than the returned disarm on W. Marci is easily A tier or even S tier with Shadow Fiend and has strong synergy with ranged carries like Clinkz, Drow or Morphling; she is a hero to watch for more play.

Control and Specialists

Lion is seen often but has a weak laning stage: no damage, no armor to trade early; he is a weaker version of Shadow Shaman right now. Enchantress is strong but needs practice, so she stays B tier. Dark Willow and Silencer are solid; Silencer’s main issue is that he is usually picked early and then countered. Nature’s Prophet was hit by number nerfs but is still good for what he offers. Elder Titan is a specialist: players who pick him often make him work, but he is harder to use well than he looks. Shadow Demon was nerfed recently; conceptually one of the best heroes in Dota but his laning is awkward unless enemies trade into him. Ancient Apparition is held back by weak laning and early draft picks; he is very strong after level 6. Ring Master was bumped down to the top of B tier by a small nerf; he remains solid with good damage, safety and teamfight impact.

A Tier — Strong Picks

A tier heroes are strong in most games and pair well with the current meta. Picking any of them regularly is a solid way to gain MMR.

Lane Dominators and Control

Shadow Shaman deserves A tier for his level one Shackles alone: a 200 HP trade with a Stun, plus tower push and great utility. If your team lacks control and lane push and Jakiro is banned, he is one of the best picks. Grimstroke received a small buff and works very well with current meta heroes, including most offlaners and carries like Ursa, Slark and Juggernaut. Tinker can struggle in lane versus spell-heavy combos but later becomes a strong healing support with utility; learning to balance farming and fighting makes him one of the best supports. Lich is a very strong laning support, barely affected by clarity changes, with great damage and utility. Crystal Maiden has a very strong lane, can afford many Mangos and demolish lanes; she is not picked more only because S tier options are so strong. Clockwerk is excellent but needs a ranged damage dealer; most carries fit that now, and Clock specialists can do very well. Venomancer dominates the lane and can protect the tower; he offers a lot and mainly needs damage from his carry. Pugna kept his strong laning despite nerfs; if the enemy pos 4 drags waves, you can use Nether Blast (W) to remove creep aggro and stop them. Dazzle could be S tier: healing, lane dominance, similar to Warlock but without the big tower-taking ultimate. Disruptor has a relatively weak laning stage; in terms of pure gameplay he is top tier, but in the current meta he sits just below S. Vengeful Spirit (as A tier Augur-style) is a dream partner for many ranged carries; his only issue is level one timing — a smart pos 4 can force you away by dragging creeps. Witch Doctor is strong as pos 5; his laning is average and he still lacks a great Facet. Take Heal at level two if needed; he excels with kill combos (e.g. PA, CK). Aghanim’s Scepter is highly recommended on him.

S Tier — Best Position 5 Heroes

Picking and spamming any three heroes from this tier is a reliable way to gain MMR. They are the strongest position 5 options in the current patch.

Chen and Warlock

Chen is an amazing pub hero. He has strong laning, can farm waves safely later, push towers and heal. If you invest time in him, it pays off. The main barrier is microing units. Warlock has an absurd level 6 timing — in some games you have it as early as 7 minutes with the Tome. He has a heal, good laning presence, and his ultimate often secures a kill and then takes a tower. He is currently the best healing support in Dota.

Tusk, Treant and Jakiro

Tusk is a killing machine. He does not want a passive carry; with an aggressive lane he is one of the best 2v2 heroes. All his early spells are strong, both Facets are viable, and he pairs well with Clinkz, Drow and Morphling. Treant Protector is similar: slightly weaker laning than Tusk but offers global armour and a strong 15-minute timing. Versus Treant, destroy his trees on the lane or he will dominate. The change that his Shard gives gold to enemies may not change his impact much if you are ahead. Jakiro is arguably the best hero in the game right now: ranged, huge damage, takes towers and wins lanes on his own. His nerf was small (one damage in lane). He can be played as 4 or 5, has two good Facets and is an MMR machine.

Conclusion

Patch 7.40c rewards strong laners in the position 5 role. S tier heroes — Chen, Warlock, Tusk, Treant Protector and Jakiro — combine lane dominance with scaling and utility. A tier offers excellent alternatives such as Shadow Shaman, Lich, Crystal Maiden, Venomancer and Dazzle. Use this tier list to prioritise heroes that win the lane and fit the meta; focusing on a small pool of S and A tier picks will give you the best results on the ladder.