The Dota 2 Competitive Hero Tier List for November 2019 includes data from MDL Chengdu Major, for a total of 156 games played during patch 7.22h.

All heroes are arranged in five tiers based on their draft rate. The tiers are viewed as clusters of data, and each hero is placed in the one they are closer the most.
The requisites for each tier never change. The goal is offering a neutral comparison that shows how the meta evolves over time.
The win rate has no effect on the tiers, but is included for further info. The tiers depend only on drafts (picks + bans), and aren't affected either by the win rate of a hero, or by their performance in pub matches.

This tier list contains all pro matches played from November 1st to 25th during patch 7.22h, including Mars Dota 2 League Chengdu Major.

Past Tier List: October 2019

More: Updated Dota 2 Hero Tier List

Quick links

Tier 1 - Tier 2 - Tier 3 - Tier 4 - Tier 5

All tables are responsive and sortable. If you are using a phone, turn it sideways for a full view. Otherwise, zoom in or click the grey area of each table to swipe and sort them.

Tier 1

Name	P+B	P+B%	Picks	Picks%	Bans	Bans%	Win%
Kunkka	132	84.6%	39	25.0%	93	59.6%	53.9%
Chen	129	82.7%	22	14.1%	107	68.6%	63.6%
Faceless Void	126	80.8%	48	30.8%	78	50.0%	66.7%
Mirana	126	80.8%	52	33.3%	74	47.4%	55.8%
Abaddon	112	71.8%	29	18.6%	83	53.2%	37.9%
Gyrocopter	109	69.9%	59	37.8%	50	32.1%	50.9%
Keeper of the Light	106	68.0%	58	37.2%	48	30.8%	46.6%
Night Stalker	103	66.0%	32	20.5%	71	45.5%	65.6%
Lina	97	62.2%	48	30.8%	49	31.4%	54.2%

The division in tiers is never perfect, and sometimes the heroes at the limit between the highest tiers have similar draft rates.

Tier 2

Name	P+B	P+B%	Picks	Picks%	Bans	Bans%	Win%
Outworld Devourer	89	57.1%	25	16.0%	64	41.0%	44.0%
Templar Assassin	89	57.1%	37	23.7%	52	33.3%	48.7%
Ogre Magi	86	55.1%	53	34.0%	33	21.2%	60.4%
Leshrac	84	53.9%	42	26.9%	42	26.9%	50.0%
Rubick	81	51.9%	59	37.8%	22	14.1%	50.9%
Earthshaker	79	50.6%	32	20.5%	47	30.1%	46.9%
Magnus	74	47.4%	22	14.1%	52	33.3%	45.5%
Alchemist	71	45.5%	17	10.9%	54	34.6%	52.9%
Morphling	68	43.6%	23	14.7%	45	28.9%	56.5%
Chaos Knight	66	42.3%	29	18.6%	37	23.7%	48.3%
Tiny	65	41.7%	41	26.3%	24	15.4%	48.8%

KotL is one of the best lane-phase supports

In this patch, Keeper of the Light excels as an utility position 4/5 support as he doesn’t require items to do his job.

The combination of Blinding Light and Chakra Magic is a sort of cheat in the laning stage, and in this meta winning the lane also means securing the game.

If you wish to play him, I suggest alerting the team beforehand in the lobby as you want them to pick a core who can make a good use of your mana supply: they will be able to spam their abilities to harass the opponents, zone them out, and eventually get a kill.

Nevertheless, KotL is powerful in lane both as a passive support and a bully (with Blinding Light), so he can be rather effective even with the wrong companion.

In pubs, the hero isn’t very-well welcomed because (at most ranks) we find greedy players who do not act as a support and prioritize their farm over the team.

Keeper of the Light’s skill build

Almost all the skill builds used in competitive games during November had three or four points of Chakra Magic in the first seven levels.

Illuminate is your last resort in the laning stage. Illuminate is great to depush the enemy creeps and zone out heroes, but in most cases you don’t want to steal farm from your carry by clearing entire creep waves. One point into Illuminate is abundant in the early game.

Blinding Light is a very underrated ability

Most pub players use Blinding Light only in team fights, but it is a handy tool also in the early game to prevent last hits (70% miss chance for 3 seconds at level 1) and harass the opponent carry (pushing them out of position).

Most pro players get Blinding Light at level 1 because of its usefulness in the first skirmishes: thanks to the knockback effect (350 range) you can secure a Bounty Rune for the team, or push a weak target towards your team for the first blood.

Patch 7.22g gave a massive buff to Blinding Light because it reduced its cooldown from 30/25/20/15 to 14 on each level, so now you can effectively spam it without problems.

Securing the ranged creeps (and denying them) can make a substantial impact in the laning stage as they provide 48‒58 gold bounty and 69 experience, and KotL is one of the best at doing it because of Blinding Light.

Chakra Magic has an impact at all stages of the game

Chakra Magic grants an infinite supply of mana. Keeper of the Light is one of the few casters in Dota 2 who doesn’t worry about mana because he can generate an infinite amount for himself and his lane partner via Chakra Magic. Beside the utility provided by your own spells, there are dozens of heroes who can easily win the lane phase by spamming their skills.

In particular, I love playing KotL together with another popular pick of this patch: Night Stalker. With a couple of levels into Chakra Magic and Void, this duo can easily gain the upper hand against most safe laners, and become an unstoppable force at level 7.

Chakra Magic is also a team fight ability because it reduces the cooldown of all skills currently on cooldown by a fixed amount (4/5/6/7), so you can cast it on the hero who benefits the most from this cooldown reduction: disablers are your top priority.

In the laning phase, the cooldown reduction is unreasonably strong with single-target stuns and nukes.

Patch 7.22 brought back Mana Leak, although a lot weaker: Chakra Magic can now be cast on enemies to place a debuff on them which drains 4%/4.5%/5%/5.5% of their current mana for every 100 range moved for 5 seconds (increased to 4.5%/5%/5.5%/6% in 7.22g).

The Mana Leak portion isn’t the strongest effect of the spell because you mostly want to use it to refill friendly’s mana, but it is still a hard counter versus strength-based heroes with a low mana pool, such as Bristleback and Mars.

Counter ganking

Finally, the combination of Blinding Light and Chakra Magic also grants an impressive counter ganking potential:

Keeper of the Light must teleport as soon as a teammate is getting dived, then use Blinding Light to knockback the enemy away or push them into tower range, and cast Chakra Magic on the ally to give them mana and reduce their cooldowns, so they can utilize their spells again. In most scenarios, you will be able to save your teammate, and sometimes even kill the foe.

Loading Screen of the First Dawn for Keeper of the Light - Valve

Will-O-Wisp’s keyword is versatility

The perfect Will-O-Wisp is a huge (725 radius) crowd control ability that can literally change the fate of the team fight, but you can’t always achieve it, and saving the ultimate for the whole battle would be pointless.
Alternatively, it can be used as a zoning tool to split the opponent team, and to engage some of them while the others are disabled or busy trying to kill your Ignis Fatuus (which requires some time due to the 70% miss chance debuff).
It also forces the enemy cores to activate their Black King Bar to destroy it. They will be able to counter Blinding Light during the first encounters, but later on it will be troublesome to deal with it and your team with just a 5-second-long BKB.

Most bought items by pros

These are the most bought items on Keeper of the Light by pro players during November:

Tranquil Boots: 41
Glimmer Cape: 22
Magic Wand: 20
Force Staff: 15
Gem of True Sight: 11
Ghost Scepter: 5
Mekansm: 2

Note: No one purchased Aghanim’s Scepter.

The list doesn’t include consumables and basic items.

I need to point out that you must not rely exclusively on Chakra Magic, and in fact pros bought more Clarity potions than Tangos. Generally, you want to use Clarity on yourself because you can stay at a safe distance, and cast your skill on the core, so they won’t have to worry about being hit. With this simple tactic, both of you will almost never run out of mana in the early game.

Tranquil Boots is a straightforward choice as you do not require the mana provided by Arcane Boots.

Glimmer Cape and Force Staff are cheap and immensely useful at all stages of the game to save yourself and your teammates. In particular, Keeper of the Light is one of the best Glimmer Cape and Force Staff users in the whole game thanks to the +350 Cast Range talent at level 15.

Eul’s Scepter of Divinity and Rod of Atos are viable picks as well depending on the heroes in the match.

Aghanim’s Scepter can be helpful in the mid game if the team requires more pushing power, but it is a poor option in most matches because you will end stealing critical gold from your cores in order to complete it at a reasonable time.

Night Stalker’s popularity also hinders the use of Aghanim’s Scepter on KotL as you will rarely fight during daytime due to Dark Ascension.

Tier 3

Name	P+B	P+B%	Picks	Picks%	Bans	Bans%	Win%
Lich	62	39.7%	50	32.1%	12	7.7%	46.0%
Timbersaw	60	38.5%	17	10.9%	43	27.6%	70.6%
Ember Spirit	58	37.2%	22	14.1%	36	23.1%	59.1%
Legion Commander	57	36.5%	29	18.6%	28	18.0%	41.4%
Omniknight	57	36.5%	21	13.5%	36	23.1%	52.4%
Centaur Warrunner	54	34.6%	26	16.7%	28	18.0%	46.2%
Shadow Demon	51	32.7%	21	13.5%	30	19.2%	47.6%
Drow Ranger	49	31.4%	22	14.1%	27	17.3%	45.5%
Bloodseeker	49	31.4%	17	10.9%	32	20.5%	23.5%
Invoker	46	29.5%	24	15.4%	22	14.1%	41.7%
Undying	44	28.2%	20	12.8%	24	15.4%	50.0%
Beastmaster	42	26.9%	17	10.9%	25	16.0%	64.7%
Lifestealer	41	26.3%	13	8.3%	28	18.0%	53.9%
Puck	41	26.3%	17	10.9%	24	15.4%	47.1%
Sand King	39	25.0%	25	16.0%	14	9.0%	56.0%
Naga Siren	34	21.8%	8	5.1%	26	16.7%	62.5%
Zeus	33	21.2%	13	8.3%	20	12.8%	69.2%

Tier 4

Name	P+B	P+B%	Picks	Picks%	Bans	Bans%	Win%
Axe	29	18.6%	15	9.6%	14	9.0%	40.0%
Enigma	28	18.0%	8	5.1%	20	12.8%	37.5%
Bristleback	25	16.0%	14	9.0%	11	7.1%	50.0%
Viper	25	16.0%	13	8.3%	12	7.7%	53.9%
Skywrath Mage	24	15.4%	17	10.9%	7	4.5%	58.8%
Winter Wyvern	23	14.7%	16	10.3%	7	4.5%	31.3%
Broodmother	23	14.7%	3	1.9%	20	12.8%	33.3%
Ancient Apparition	22	14.1%	12	7.7%	10	6.4%	58.3%
Storm Spirit	22	14.1%	12	7.7%	10	6.4%	50.0%
Razor	22	14.1%	9	5.8%	13	8.3%	77.8%
Juggernaut	22	14.1%	16	10.3%	6	3.9%	50.0%
Huskar	20	12.8%	5	3.2%	15	9.6%	60.0%
Grimstroke	19	12.2%	17	10.9%	2	1.3%	29.4%
Batrider	19	12.2%	5	3.2%	14	9.0%	40.0%
Jakiro	18	11.5%	15	9.6%	3	1.9%	46.7%
Venomancer	18	11.5%	9	5.8%	9	5.8%	55.6%
Pugna	17	10.9%	5	3.2%	12	7.7%	40.0%
Sniper	17	10.9%	7	4.5%	10	6.4%	57.1%
Disruptor	16	10.3%	16	10.3%	0	0.0%	56.3%
Lycan	16	10.3%	7	4.5%	9	5.8%	42.9%
Death Prophet	16	10.3%	10	6.4%	6	3.9%	30.0%
Shadow Shaman	14	9.0%	10	6.4%	4	2.6%	40.0%
Meepo	13	8.3%	2	1.3%	11	7.1%	100%
Slark	12	7.7%	8	5.1%	4	2.6%	25.0%
Oracle	11	7.1%	6	3.9%	5	3.2%	33.3%
Dragon Knight	11	7.1%	8	5.1%	3	1.9%	50.0%
Queen of Pain	11	7.1%	6	3.9%	5	3.2%	50.0%
Wraith King	10	6.4%	5	3.2%	5	3.2%	20.0%
Crystal Maiden	10	6.4%	7	4.5%	3	1.9%	28.6%
Pangolier	9	5.8%	8	5.1%	1	0.6%	37.5%
Treant Protector	9	5.8%	6	3.9%	3	1.9%	33.3%
Enchantress	9	5.8%	6	3.9%	3	1.9%	16.7%
Nature's Prophet	9	5.8%	6	3.9%	3	1.9%	50.0%
Clockwerk	9	5.8%	3	1.9%	6	3.9%	33.3%
Warlock	9	5.8%	7	4.5%	2	1.3%	57.1%

In tier 4 and 5 we find all the situational heroes. They are strong when paired with others, or against specific lineups. These heroes aren't bad, they just don't work in every game, so the pick and ban rates aren't outstanding.

Tier 5

Name	P+B	P+B%	Picks	Picks%	Bans	Bans%	Win%
Elder Titan	7	4.5%	6	3.9%	1	0.6%	50.0%
Phantom Assassin	7	4.5%	6	3.9%	1	0.6%	33.3%
Vengeful Spirit	7	4.5%	7	4.5%	0	0.0%	71.4%
Phantom Lancer	7	4.5%	5	3.2%	2	1.3%	40.0%
Monkey King	6	3.9%	5	3.2%	1	0.6%	80.0%
Lion	6	3.9%	6	3.9%	0	0.0%	50.0%
Bane	6	3.9%	5	3.2%	1	0.6%	100%
Anti-Mage	6	3.9%	3	1.9%	3	1.9%	66.7%
Phoenix	5	3.2%	5	3.2%	0	0.0%	20.0%
Nyx Assassin	5	3.2%	4	2.6%	1	0.6%	75.0%
Luna	5	3.2%	4	2.6%	1	0.6%	75.0%
Witch Doctor	5	3.2%	4	2.6%	1	0.6%	75.0%
Pudge	5	3.2%	4	2.6%	1	0.6%	50.0%
Shadow Fiend	5	3.2%	4	2.6%	1	0.6%	25.0%
Dark Willow	4	2.6%	3	1.9%	1	0.6%	33.3%
Earth Spirit	4	2.6%	4	2.6%	0	0.0%	25.0%
Dazzle	4	2.6%	3	1.9%	1	0.6%	66.7%
Necrophos	4	2.6%	2	1.3%	2	1.3%	0.0%
Tidehunter	4	2.6%	3	1.9%	1	0.6%	33.3%
Mars	3	1.9%	2	1.3%	1	0.6%	50.0%
Underlord	3	1.9%	3	1.9%	0	0.0%	33.3%
Silencer	3	1.9%	3	1.9%	0	0.0%	66.7%
Spectre	3	1.9%	3	1.9%	0	0.0%	0.0%
Tinker	3	1.9%	2	1.3%	1	0.6%	0.0%
Arc Warden	2	1.3%	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0.0%
Terrorblade	2	1.3%	2	1.3%	0	0.0%	0.0%
Tusk	2	1.3%	2	1.3%	0	0.0%	0.0%
Visage	2	1.3%	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0.0%
Dark Seer	2	1.3%	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0.0%
Lone Druid	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	100%
Brewmaster	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	0.0%
Ursa	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	0.0%
Weaver	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	0.0%
Bounty Hunter	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	100%
Clinkz	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	0.0%
Slardar	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	0.0%
Windranger	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	100%
Sven	1	0.6%	1	0.6%	0	0.0%	0.0%

Heroes not drafted

Next Tier List: December 2019

Header image (Crucible of Light loading screen for Keeper of the Light) and hero icons: Valve - Statistics: DatDota