Mid guide

Control the lane with fire, set up the stun and finish the right target with Laguna Blade.

560 HP411 manaLevel 1

LinaDota 2 hero

Lina is a ranged spellcaster with a line nuke, a delayed stun and one of the biggest single-target finishers in Dota 2.

IntelligenceRanged

#4of 127 heroes
by pick rate

Pick rate: 21.5%
Hero win rate: 49.8%

Our game-phase read Editorial · impact 1–5

Source & our read · Sep 12, 2026

OpenDota · retrieved Sep 12, 2026. 813,752 Lina picks and 404,861 wins in approximately 3,780,175 rank-classified public matches. Excludes Turbo and pro stats. This is a sample, not all players.

Pick rate = hero picks ÷ estimated matches; win rate = hero wins ÷ hero picks. Estimated matches = all hero picks ÷ 10, following OpenDota’s calculation. Tied pick counts share a rank. The API does not provide observation timestamps.

Our impact scores · 1 low, 5 high
Early · 4/5	Dragon Slave and Fiery Soul make her a strong laner who can harass and secure creeps at the same time.
Mid · 5/5	Laguna Blade with a few levels and Eul's gives Lina reliable pickoffs across the map.
Late · 3/5	Her burst still matters, but tanky targets and spell immunity push her toward right-click items or Scepter.

The Dota2Freaks take Editorial

Why pick Lina?

Pick Lina when your team needs early kill pressure from mid and a dependable way to remove one dangerous hero in every fight.

When to think twice

Avoid Lina against lineups with several gap closers or long silences, when your team has nobody to hold the front line.

The usual mistake

Do not cast Light Strike Array on a moving target without setup. Use Eul's, an ally's disable or a predictable path first.

Our picks · Mid

Lina item builds

Choose for the game in front of you.

Standard

Default mid path for a spell-focused Lina who wants early kills and a safe way to cast in fights.

01Starting
Empty inventory slot
Trade with Dragon Slave and keep regen
02Lane
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slot
Sustain repeated casting
03First core
Empty inventory slot
Set up your own stun
04Mid game
Reach targets and cast through control
05Late game
Lock down the key enemy
06Luxury
Shorten cooldowns for repeated bursts

Eul's Scepter of DivinitySets up Light Strike Array, dispels silences and buys time when a target gets too close.Guide ↗

How to use these builds

These are our editorial build paths. Labels describe their purpose, not measured popularity or win rate. Click an item for its use. Each stage is an inventory snapshot: keep earlier items, use consumables, upgrade components, and replace small items as space runs out. Boots, defenses, and late slots can change with the draft.

More match and build examples: Dota 2 Pro Tracker. Item names and images: Valve.

The draft check

Friends & counters

Our picks, based on how the spells work together.

5 friends to play with

Lion

Earth Spike and Hex hold enemies still so Light Strike Array and Laguna Blade cannot miss.

Earthshaker

Fissure and Echo Slam group and stun enemies, giving Lina several targets for Dragon Slave and a clean finisher.

Slardar

Slithereen Crush sets up the stun, and Corrosive Haze marks a target Lina can burst from range.

Centaur Warrunner

Hoof Stomp holds enemies in place, which makes Lina's delayed stun reliable.

Tidehunter

Ravage gives Lina a long window to land her full combo on the whole enemy team.

5 counter picks to watch

Anti-Mage

Blink and Counterspell let Anti-Mage reach Lina quickly and punish her targeted spells.

Nyx Assassin

Spiked Carapace reflects her stun and Mana Burn punishes her large mana pool.

Storm Spirit

Ball Lightning closes the distance instantly and Electric Vortex stops Lina from casting.

Spectre

Haunt reaches Lina anywhere on the map and Dispersion returns part of her damage.

Pudge

Meat Hook pulls Lina out of position before she can use her range advantage.

About these picks

These are useful ability interactions, not a statistical ranking or guaranteed matchups. Positioning, items, and cooldowns change the result. Hero links open a full guide when available, otherwise the directory.

Ability references from Valve: Lion · Earthshaker · Slardar · Centaur Warrunner · Tidehunter · Anti-Mage · Nyx Assassin · Storm Spirit · Spectre · Pudge. Checked 2026-10-09.

The buttons

QWER + D · open for spell values

Dragon SlaveUnit targetSends a wave of fire that damages every enemy in a line.

Mana: 90 / 100 / 110 / 120
Cooldown: 11 / 10 / 9 / 8s
Damage: 65 / 125 / 185 / 245

Light Strike ArrayPoint targetSummons a pillar of flame that stuns and damages enemies in a small area after a short delay.

Mana: 100 / 110 / 120 / 130
Cooldown: 13 / 11 / 9 / 7s
Stun duration: 1.2 / 1.6 / 2 / 2.4s

Fiery SoulPassivePassive. Casting abilities grants stacking attack speed and movement speed for a limited time.

Mana: —
Trigger cooldown: 0s
Attack speed per stack: 7 / 14 / 21 / 28

Laguna BladeUltimateFires a bolt of lightning that deals very high damage to a single enemy.

Mana: 150 / 300 / 450
Cooldown: 70 / 60 / 50s
Damage: 400 / 580 / 760

Flame CloakNo targetRequires Aghanim's Shard. Lina rises into the air and gains magic resistance and spell amplification.

Mana: 50
Cooldown: 25s
Spell amplification: 35%

Base stats & innate Level 1 · no items

Strength20+2.4 / lvl

Agility21+2.4 / lvl

Intelligence28+4 / lvl

Attack damage: 49–57
Armor: 3.5
Move speed: 290
Magic resist: 25%
Attack range: 670
Base attack time: 1.6s
Health regen: +2.25/s
Mana regen: +1.4/s

DOTA2FREAKS GUIDE · REVIEWED Oct 9, 2026

Dota 2 Lina guide: mid builds, abilities and tips

Lina is a ranged spellcaster with a line nuke, a delayed stun and one of the biggest single-target finishers in Dota 2.

What role does Lina play in Dota 2?

Lina is a ranged Intelligence hero. Our recommended role is mid, with support as a common alternative.

Lina wins through tempo. Dragon Slave clears waves and harasses from range, Light Strike Array sets up kills, and Laguna Blade removes one target when it matters. Pick her when your team wants early kills around the map and a reliable way to delete a key enemy. She has no built-in escape, so her safety depends on positioning and item choices.

How to play Lina in Dota 2

Lina laning and early decisions
In the mid lane, use Dragon Slave to secure ranged creeps and hit the enemy hero in the same cast. Each spell builds Fiery Soul stacks, so follow a nuke with a few attacks while the bonus attack speed lasts. Look for a Light Strike Array when the enemy stands still to last-hit, and buy Bottle early so repeated casting does not drain your mana.
Lina positioning and teamfights
Stay at maximum range and open with Light Strike Array on a target your allies can reach. The stun has a short delay, so aim where the enemy will be, not where they are. Save Laguna Blade for the hero whose death ends the fight, and cast it before a save or a spell-immunity item becomes available to them.
Dota 2 Lina item build decisions
Bottle, Power Treads and Magic Wand carry the lane. Eul's Scepter of Divinity is the usual first core because it sets up your own stun and dispels silences. Black King Bar follows when enemy control stops you from casting. Blink Dagger, Scythe of Vyse and Aghanim's Scepter extend a spell-focused game; Maelstrom and Dragon Lance support a right-click plan around Fiery Soul.

Dota 2 Lina tips and ability interactions

D2F ADVICE

Lina: Combine Eul's with Light Strike Array

Cyclone an enemy, then cast Light Strike Array under the landing spot. The target comes down into the stun, which gives you a guaranteed Dragon Slave and attacks afterward. Practice the timing in a lobby until the stun lands the moment the cyclone ends.

Lina: Keep Fiery Soul stacks alive

Fiery Soul grants attack speed and movement speed for every ability you cast, stacking several times. Casting a cheap Dragon Slave before a fight or while chasing keeps your attacks fast and lets you finish targets that survive your spells. Watch the buff timer so you refresh it before it expires.

Lina: Use Flame Cloak to survive and amplify

With Aghanim's Shard, Flame Cloak raises Lina into the air, giving magic resistance and spell amplification for its duration. Activate it before you commit to a Laguna Blade in a crowded fight: the amplification makes your burst bigger, and the resistance helps against return fire from enemy casters.

Dota 2 Lina ability mechanics

Key Lina mechanics · Valve snapshot Oct 9, 2026
Detail	What it means in your game
Dragon Slave	A wave of fire that damages every enemy unit in a line.
Light Strike Array	A pillar of flame that stuns and damages enemies in a small area after a short delay.
Fiery Soul	Passive. Casting abilities grants stacking attack speed and movement speed for a limited time.
Flame Cloak	Requires Aghanim's Shard. Lina rises into the air and gains magic resistance and spell amplification.
Laguna Blade	A bolt of lightning that deals very high damage to a single enemy.

Dota 2 Lina FAQ

Which role should Lina play in Dota 2?

Lina is most often played mid, where her ranged nukes and early kill potential let her control the lane and rotate. She also works as a position 4 support with the same stun setup and finisher, trading farm for earlier map presence. In both roles her job is to secure kills with Laguna Blade and keep casting to stay fast.

Which items should Lina buy in Dota 2?

Start with regen and stat items, then Bottle, boots and Magic Wand. Eul's Scepter of Divinity is the common first core for stun setup and a dispel. Black King Bar answers enemy control, while Blink Dagger, Scythe of Vyse and Aghanim's Scepter add reach and reliability. A right-click Lina prefers Maelstrom, Dragon Lance and later crit or Mjollnir.

Is Lina suitable for Dota 2 beginners?

Lina is a fair choice for players learning mid. Her spells are simple to understand, and the stun teaches you to predict enemy movement. The hard part is survival: she is fragile and has no escape, so new players should focus on staying at range and casting from behind allies before attempting aggressive plays.

How should you use Lina's ultimate in Dota 2?

Laguna Blade deals a very large amount of damage to one target almost instantly, so use it to finish a hero who is already damaged or to remove a priority target early in a fight. Check for items that block or absorb targeted spells before casting. Aghanim's Scepter changes the damage type and lets it pierce spell immunity, which makes it an answer to Black King Bar carriers.

Next pick?