Dota 2 support heroes tier list (Patch 7.41d, August 2026) — every position 4 and 5 ranked

How we ranked them

This Dota 2 support tier list is current to Patch 7.41d (shipped Aug 12, 2026, 1 day after TI 2026 group stage opened). The patch is a small balance pass — the meta is essentially the same as 7.41c with 2 support buffs (Chen, Io) and 1 support nerf (Warlock).

We ranked every support by:

• Win rate at TI 2026 group stage (Aug 13-14) across all 80 games
• Save rate per game — the rate at which the support saved a core from death, the most underrated support stat
• Lane dominance — how much the support won their lane vs the opposing support (pulls, denies, trades)
• Item timing — how quickly the support gets the core items (Glimmer Cape, Force Staff, Mekansm) that enable their team to fight
• Flex potential — can the support be played as both position 4 and position 5? Position 4 is the playmaking support, position 5 is the hard-warding save support

The list is split into two sections: position 4 (roamers) and position 5 (hard supports). The S-tier overall — the supports you should always pick or ban — are Chen, Io, Rubick, and Crystal Maiden.

Position 4 (Roaming Support)

S Tier

Chen — The 7.41d patch buffed Chen's Holy Persuasion cooldown from 32 to 24 seconds, the biggest support buff of the patch. Chen is the S-tier position 4 in the current meta. The buff makes Chen the strongest neutral-creature farmer in the game (the converted neutral gives 200% XP and gold) and the strongest early-game ganker (the converted neutral can solo-kill an offlaner at level 3). Chen's win rate at TI 2026 group stage is 67%, the highest of any position 4.

Rubick — The 7.41c meta had Rubick as the top position 4. The 7.41d patch didn't touch Rubick, so he's still S-tier. Rubick's Telekinesis is the best single-target setup in the game, and Fade Bolt is the best save. Rubick's win rate at TI 2026 group stage is 64%, the second-highest of any position 4.

Earth Spirit — The 7.41d meta put Earth Spirit back into S-tier after a 3-month absence. Earth Spirit's Rolling Boulder + Magnetize combo is the highest burst damage combo in the support pool, and the silence from Magnetize is the longest in the game (4.5 seconds). Earth Spirit is the meta pick for any team that needs catch.

A Tier

Puck — The 7.41c patch made Puck a viable position 4 (used to be a mid). Puck is the strongest pick-off support in the game — Illusory Orb + Waning Rift + Dream Coil is a guaranteed kill on any squishy. Puck is the meta pick for any team that needs initiation.

Snapfire — The 7.41d meta kept Snapfire in A-tier. Snapfire's Scatterblast is the best CQC support nuke in the game, and the slow from Mortimer's Kisses is the best in the support pool. Snapfire is the meta pick for any team that needs sustained team fight.

Skywrath Mage — The 7.41c meta buffed Skywrath's attack range, and the change stuck. Skywrath is the strongest burst-damage position 4 — Mystic Flare is the highest single-target magic damage in the game. Skywrath is the meta pick for any team that needs burst.

B Tier

Mars — The 7.41d meta kept Mars in B-tier for position 4 (he's still mostly a position 3). Mars's Spear of Mars + God's Rebuke combo is the best initiation combo in the game, but the position 4 Mars build is less effective than the position 3 Mars build.

Bounty Hunter — The 7.41d meta put Bounty Hunter back into B-tier. Bounty Hunter's Track is the best ganking passive in the game, and the gold steal is the best economy support. Bounty Hunter is the meta pick for any team that needs economy.

Hoodwink — The 7.41d meta kept Hoodwink in B-tier. Hoodwink's Scurry + Sharpshooter combo is the best long-range initiation in the support pool. Hoodwink is the meta pick for any team that needs vision.

C Tier

Dark Willow — The 7.41d meta kept Dark Willow in C-tier. Dark Willow's Bedlam is the highest AOE magic damage in the support pool, but the position 4 Dark Willow build is less effective than the position 2 Dark Willow build.

Nyx Assassin — The 7.41d meta put Nyx Assassin in C-tier. Nyx's Impale is the longest single-target stun in the support pool, but the mana cost is too high for the role. Nyx is a niche pick.

D Tier

Pangolier — The 7.41d meta put Pangolier in D-tier for position 4 (he's still a position 3). Pangolier's Rolling Thunder is the best initiation ultimate in the game, but the position 4 Pangolier build is less effective than the position 3 Pangolier build.

Position 5 (Hard Support)

S Tier

Io — The 7.41d patch buffed Io's Tether cooldown from 12 to 6 seconds, the second-biggest support buff of the patch. Io is the S-tier position 5 in the current meta. The buff makes Io's Tether heal the most in the game (250 HP/sec at level 4) and the relocate is the best global presence. Io's win rate at TI 2026 group stage is 71%, the highest of any position 5.

Crystal Maiden — The 7.41c meta had Crystal Maiden as the top position 5. The 7.41d patch didn't touch Crystal Maiden, so she's still S-tier. Crystal Maiden's Frostbite is the longest single-target root in the support pool, and Freezing Field is the best AOE damage ultimate in the position 5 pool. Crystal Maiden's win rate at TI 2026 group stage is 68%, the second-highest of any position 5.

Warlock — The 7.41d patch nerfed Warlock's Fatal Bonds damage, dropping him from S-tier to A-tier. Warlock is still a strong position 5 — Fatal Bonds is still the best AOE damage amplifier in the support pool, and Chaotic Offering is still the best AOE stun ultimate. Warlock's win rate at TI 2026 group stage is 58%, down from 64% in 7.41c.

A Tier

Lich — The 7.41d meta kept Lich in A-tier. Lich's Frost Blast is the best CQC support nuke in the position 5 pool, and Ice Spire is the best AOE slow. Lich is the meta pick for any team that needs lane dominance.

Dazzle — The 7.41d meta kept Dazzle in A-tier. Dazzle's Shadow Wave is the best AOE heal in the position 5 pool, and Shallow Grave is the best single-target save. Dazzle is the meta pick for any team that needs sustain.

Oracle — The 7.41d meta kept Oracle in A-tier. Oracle's Fate's Edict is the best single-target save in the position 5 pool, and False Promise is the best reversal ultimate. Oracle is the meta pick for any team that needs to save a key core.

B Tier

Treant Protector — The 7.41d meta kept Treant Protector in B-tier. Treant's Living Armor is the best shield in the position 5 pool, and Overgrowth is the best AOE root ultimate. Treant is the meta pick for any team that needs push.

Abaddon — The 7.41d meta kept Abaddon in B-tier. Abaddon's Aphotic Shield is the best single-target damage absorb in the position 5 pool, and Borrowed Time is the best self-save ultimate. Abaddon is the meta pick for any team that needs survivability.

Keeper of the Light — The 7.41d meta kept Keeper of the Light in B-tier. Keeper's Illuminate is the best long-range magic damage nuke in the position 5 pool, and Chakra Magic is the best mana restore. Keeper is the meta pick for any team that needs mana sustain.

C Tier

Ogre Magi — The 7.41d meta kept Ogre Magi in C-tier. Ogre's Bloodlust is the best attack speed buff in the position 5 pool, and Multicast is the best RNG ultimate. Ogre is a niche pick — RNG-dependent, hard to plan around.

Disruptor — The 7.41d meta kept Disruptor in C-tier. Disruptor's Thunder Strike is the best AOE magic damage in the position 5 pool, and Static Storm is the best silence ultimate. Disruptor is a niche pick — needs setup.

D Tier

Witch Doctor — The 7.41d meta put Witch Doctor in D-tier. Witch Doctor's Paralyzing Cask is the best AOE stun in the position 5 pool, but the mana cost is too high for the role. Witch Doctor is a niche pick — too mana-hungry.

What's next

The next major update (Update 7.41e, expected September 2026) will add a new hero and rebalance the support meta. The next tier list will be updated after the patch lands.

For the carry and mid lane meta, see the Dota 2 carry tier list and Dota 2 mid lane tier list — both were updated earlier this month.