Countering Bo Main Sub: A Support's Guide

Hey Dota 2 enthusiasts! Are you tired of the same old Bo Main Sub meta dominating your games? Do you feel like your support heroes are just getting run over? Well, fear not! This guide is here to arm you with the knowledge and strategies you need to counter this popular playstyle and reclaim your rightful place on the battlefield. We'll be diving deep into hero picks, itemization, and gameplay tactics that will help you shut down those pesky Bo mains and their submissive counterparts. So, buckle up and get ready to learn how to turn the tables on this meta and lead your team to victory!

Understanding the Bo Main Sub Meta

Before we jump into countering it, let's first understand what the Bo Main Sub meta actually is. In a nutshell, this strategy revolves around a core hero (the "Bo Main") who farms aggressively and takes up a lot of resources, while a support hero (the "Sub") dedicates themselves entirely to protecting and enabling the core. Think of it as a bodyguard and VIP situation. The Bo Main often picks heroes that scale incredibly well with farm, like Medusa, Terrorblade, or Phantom Lancer, while the Sub chooses heroes that offer strong disables, heals, or buffs, such as Dazzle, Oracle, or Grimstroke. The key is understanding the power dynamic and the vulnerabilities inherent in this strategy. This meta is prevalent in both pub games and professional matches due to its straightforward nature and potential for snowballing. When executed correctly, it creates a very difficult situation for the opposing team. The core hero becomes a monstrous threat, capable of dealing immense damage, while the support hero keeps them alive and kicking. However, like any strategy, the Bo Main Sub meta has its weaknesses, and a well-coordinated team can exploit these flaws to their advantage.

This strategy’s primary strength lies in its ability to create a farm-efficient core that can quickly outpace the enemy team in terms of net worth. The dedicated support ensures the core’s safety and farm, allowing them to acquire key items much faster than they would otherwise. Additionally, the Sub hero often provides valuable crowd control and healing, making it difficult for the enemy team to engage on the core. However, the Bo Main Sub meta is not without its Achilles' heel. The most significant weakness is its reliance on the core hero getting farmed. If the core is shut down early, the entire strategy can crumble. This is where counter-picking and early game aggression come into play. Another vulnerability is the Sub hero’s limited farm. They are typically under-leveled and under-farmed, making them susceptible to ganks and pick-offs. A coordinated effort to target the Sub can significantly disrupt the Bo Main’s farm and create openings for your team. Finally, the strategy can be quite predictable, making it easier to anticipate their movements and set up counter-initiations. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the Bo Main Sub meta, you can begin to formulate a plan to counter it effectively. It’s all about exploiting their vulnerabilities and disrupting their core strategy.

To effectively counter the Bo Main Sub meta, you need to identify the specific heroes being played and their individual strengths and weaknesses. For example, if the Bo Main is a Medusa, you know that she is vulnerable to mana drain and strong physical damage. If the Sub is a Dazzle, you know that he can be easily killed if caught out of position. Understanding these nuances is crucial for making informed decisions during the game. You should also consider the overall draft composition of both teams. Are they relying on a single core hero to carry the game? Or do they have multiple threats that you need to address? Identifying the win conditions for both teams will help you prioritize your objectives and make the right calls. In addition to hero picks, it’s important to pay attention to item choices. Items that counter specific heroes or abilities can be incredibly effective in disrupting the Bo Main Sub meta. For example, a Diffusal Blade can be devastating against a Medusa, while a Spirit Vessel can shut down healing from heroes like Dazzle or Oracle. Finally, remember that communication and coordination are key to success in Dota 2, especially when countering a well-coordinated strategy like the Bo Main Sub meta. Make sure you are communicating with your team about your plans and working together to execute them.

Hero Picks to Counter the Meta

Choosing the right heroes is crucial when countering the Bo Main Sub meta. You need heroes that can either shut down the core's farm, target the vulnerable support, or scale well enough to match the core's late-game potential. Let's explore some excellent hero choices for each of these strategies:

Aggressive Lane Dominators

These heroes excel at disrupting the early game and preventing the Bo Main from getting a comfortable farm. They thrive on applying pressure and creating chaos in the laning stage, forcing the enemy to play defensively and hindering their economic growth. By consistently harassing and threatening the Bo Main, these heroes can significantly delay their item progression and cripple their ability to carry the game. They also create space for their own cores to farm and get ahead, shifting the momentum in their team's favor. A successful early game disruption can often snowball into a mid-game advantage, making it much harder for the opposing team to recover. Remember, a farmed Bo Main is a dangerous Bo Main, so shutting them down early is paramount.

• Legion Commander: This hero is a beast in the laning stage, especially against melee cores. Her overwhelming odds skill allows her to trade effectively and secure last hits, while her Duel ability provides kill potential and can disrupt the Bo Main's farm. A well-timed Duel can completely isolate the Bo Main, making them vulnerable to ganks and forcing them to play cautiously. Additionally, Legion Commander's ultimate scales well into the late game, making her a threat throughout the entire match. She excels at punishing greedy cores and can quickly snowball out of control if left unchecked. Her ability to build a Blink Dagger and initiate fights makes her a valuable asset in any team composition, especially when countering a farm-dependent strategy.

• Pudge: Pudge is the master of early game ganks and can punish greedy cores that overextend. His Meat Hook allows him to pull enemies out of position, setting them up for kills. A well-placed Hook can completely disrupt the Bo Main's farm and make them afraid to show their face in lane. Pudge's Rot ability provides sustained damage in team fights, while his Dismember ultimate can lock down key targets and prevent them from escaping. He thrives on creating chaos and disrupting the enemy's plans, making him an excellent choice for countering the Bo Main Sub meta. Pudge's snowball potential is immense, and a few early kills can give him the momentum he needs to dominate the game.

• Timbersaw: Timbersaw is a lane dominator who thrives against strength-based cores. His Reactive Armor skill makes him incredibly tanky, while his Timber Chain ability allows him to jump around the battlefield and deal massive damage. Timbersaw can quickly burst down squishy supports and punish melee cores that try to get close. He is particularly effective against heroes like Bristleback or Dragon Knight, who rely on their tankiness to survive. Timbersaw's Chakram ultimate provides sustained damage and crowd control, making him a valuable asset in team fights. He excels at creating chaos and disrupting the enemy's formation, making him an excellent choice for countering the Bo Main Sub meta.

Support Hunters

These heroes excel at targeting the Sub hero, who is often under-farmed and vulnerable. By repeatedly killing the Sub, you can disrupt the Bo Main's farm and create openings for your team. These heroes are masters of initiation and burst damage, allowing them to quickly eliminate the Sub before they can react. They thrive on isolating the Sub and preventing them from providing support to their core. By consistently applying pressure to the Sub, these heroes can force them to play defensively, limiting their ability to ward, heal, or provide crowd control. This can significantly weaken the Bo Main Sub meta strategy and create opportunities for your team to take objectives.

• Spirit Breaker: Spirit Breaker is the ultimate ganking machine, capable of charging across the map and surprising unsuspecting supports. His Charge of Darkness ability allows him to quickly close the distance and lock down his target, while his Greater Bash ability provides significant burst damage. Spirit Breaker thrives on punishing supports that are out of position and can quickly snowball out of control if left unchecked. His ability to roam the map and create chaos makes him an excellent choice for countering the Bo Main Sub meta. By consistently ganking the Sub hero, Spirit Breaker can disrupt the Bo Main's farm and create opportunities for his team to take objectives.

• Nyx Assassin: Nyx Assassin is a stealthy assassin who excels at bursting down squishy supports. His Vendetta ability allows him to become invisible and deal massive damage with his first attack, while his Mana Burn ability can cripple mana-dependent heroes. Nyx Assassin can quickly eliminate the Sub hero before they can react, disrupting the Bo Main's farm and creating openings for his team. His Spiked Carapace ability reflects damage back to attackers, making him difficult to kill in a one-on-one situation. Nyx Assassin thrives on surprise attacks and can quickly snowball out of control if he gets a few early kills. He is an excellent choice for countering the Bo Main Sub meta due to his ability to target and eliminate the vulnerable support hero.

• Weaver: Weaver is a mobile and elusive hero who can easily dive the backlines and target supports. His Shukuchi ability allows him to become invisible and move quickly around the battlefield, while his The Swarm ability can deal significant damage over time. Weaver's Time Lapse ultimate allows him to rewind to his previous position, making him incredibly difficult to kill. He thrives on harassing supports and creating chaos in team fights. Weaver is an excellent choice for countering the Bo Main Sub meta due to his ability to target the vulnerable support and disrupt their positioning. He can quickly eliminate the Sub hero or force them to retreat, weakening the Bo Main's defenses.

Scaling Carries

These heroes may not be able to shut down the core early, but they can scale well enough to match their late-game potential. These heroes are the insurance policy against a farmed Bo Main. They may struggle in the early game, but their ability to scale into the late game allows them to compete with the enemy core's damage output and survivability. These heroes require patient farming and smart itemization to reach their full potential, but they can become unstoppable forces in the late game. They thrive on extended engagements and are capable of turning the tide of battle with their powerful abilities and high damage output. Picking a scaling carry is a strategic decision that ensures your team has a strong late-game presence, even if the early game is challenging.

• Anti-Mage: Anti-Mage is the quintessential scaling carry, designed to counter mana-dependent heroes like Medusa or Zeus. His Mana Break ability allows him to burn enemy mana with each attack, while his Blink ability provides unmatched mobility. Anti-Mage can quickly farm the jungle and split-push lanes, allowing him to acquire the items he needs to become a late-game threat. His Mana Void ultimate deals massive damage based on the enemy's missing mana, making him a devastating force in team fights. Anti-Mage thrives on farming efficiently and punishing greedy heroes. He is an excellent choice for countering the Bo Main Sub meta if the enemy team relies on a mana-dependent core.

• Phantom Assassin: Phantom Assassin is a physical damage carry who excels at bursting down key targets. Her Phantom Strike ability allows her to jump to enemies and deal critical damage, while her Blur ability provides evasion and makes her difficult to target. Phantom Assassin's Coup de Grace ultimate provides a chance to deal massive critical damage with each attack, making her a terrifying force in team fights. She thrives on getting kills and snowballing out of control. Phantom Assassin is an excellent choice for countering the Bo Main Sub meta due to her ability to quickly eliminate the Bo Main or their support.

• Terrorblade: Terrorblade is a powerful illusion-based carry who can quickly melt towers and heroes. His Metamorphosis ability transforms him into a ranged attacker with increased damage and attack speed, while his Conjure Image ability creates illusions that can deal significant damage. Terrorblade's Sunder ultimate allows him to swap health with an enemy hero, potentially turning the tide of a fight. He thrives on farming efficiently and pushing lanes aggressively. Terrorblade is an excellent choice for countering the Bo Main Sub meta due to his ability to quickly take objectives and out-farm the enemy core.

Itemization Strategies

Choosing the right items is just as important as picking the right heroes when countering the Bo Main Sub meta. The correct item build can amplify your hero's strengths and mitigate the enemy's advantages. Let's explore some key items that can help you shut down the Bo Main and their support:

Items to Disrupt the Core's Farm

These items focus on hindering the Bo Main's ability to farm effectively, either by draining their mana, reducing their damage output, or providing vision in their farming areas. Disrupting the core's farm is crucial to countering the Bo Main Sub meta, as it prevents them from acquiring the items they need to carry the game. By investing in these items, you can significantly delay the core's progression and create opportunities for your team to take control of the game.

• Diffusal Blade: This item is a nightmare for mana-dependent cores like Medusa or Anti-Mage. It allows you to burn enemy mana with each attack, crippling their ability to cast spells and deal damage. Diffusal Blade is particularly effective against Medusa, as it can quickly drain her mana pool and render her vulnerable. The item also provides agility and attack speed, making it a valuable damage item in its own right. Diffusal Blade is a must-have item for heroes like Anti-Mage or Phantom Lancer when countering a mana-dependent Bo Main.

• Orchid of Malevolence/Bloodthorn: These items provide a powerful silence effect, preventing the Bo Main from casting spells for a short duration. This can be crucial for shutting down heroes like Storm Spirit or Ember Spirit, who rely on their mobility and spellcasting to survive. Orchid of Malevolence also provides mana regeneration and attack damage, while Bloodthorn provides critical strike chance and additional attack damage. These items are excellent choices for heroes who need to burst down key targets quickly. Silencing the Bo Main can completely disrupt their strategy and create opportunities for your team to engage.

• Smoke of Deceit: This item allows your team to move around the map undetected, setting up ganks and ambushes. Smoke of Deceit is particularly effective for disrupting the Bo Main's farm, as it allows you to sneak into their jungle and kill them while they are farming. Smoke ganks can completely throw off the enemy's rhythm and create a significant advantage for your team. Coordinating smoke ganks with your team is crucial for countering the Bo Main Sub meta.

Items to Target the Support

These items focus on eliminating the Sub hero, who is often under-farmed and vulnerable. By repeatedly killing the support, you can disrupt the Bo Main's protection and create openings for your team. These items provide burst damage, mobility, or crowd control, allowing you to quickly eliminate the Sub before they can react.

• Blink Dagger: This item provides unparalleled mobility, allowing you to quickly close the distance on the Sub and initiate fights. Blink Dagger is essential for heroes like Legion Commander or Axe, who need to get into melee range to use their abilities. A well-timed Blink Dagger initiation can completely catch the enemy off guard and create a significant advantage for your team. Blinking onto the Sub and quickly eliminating them is a key strategy for countering the Bo Main Sub meta.

• Spirit Vessel: This item is a powerful tool for countering healing-based supports like Dazzle or Oracle. It applies a debuff that reduces healing and deals damage over time, making it difficult for the Sub to keep their core alive. Spirit Vessel is particularly effective against heroes that rely on burst healing, as it can significantly reduce the effectiveness of their spells. This item is a must-have for heroes like Spirit Breaker or Nyx Assassin when countering a healing-heavy Bo Main Sub meta strategy.

• Force Staff: While primarily a defensive item, Force Staff can also be used offensively to reposition the Sub into a vulnerable position. By forcing the Sub away from their core, you can create opportunities for your team to engage. Force Staff can also be used to save your teammates from dangerous situations, making it a versatile item for any support hero. Repositioning the Sub can disrupt their positioning and create openings for your team to take advantage of.

Defensive Items

These items focus on protecting yourself and your teammates from the Bo Main's damage output. Survivability is key when countering the Bo Main Sub meta, as it allows you to withstand the core's attacks and stay in the fight longer. Investing in defensive items is crucial for ensuring that you can survive team fights and continue to disrupt the enemy's plans.

• Glimmer Cape: This item provides invisibility and magic resistance, making it difficult for the Bo Main to target you with spells. Glimmer Cape is particularly effective against magic-heavy cores like Zeus or Lina. The invisibility also allows you to reposition yourself and escape from dangerous situations. Glimmer Cape is a must-have item for supports when countering a magic-damage-heavy Bo Main Sub meta strategy.

• Ghost Scepter/Ethereal Blade: These items provide ethereal form, making you invulnerable to physical damage but also increasing your vulnerability to magic damage. Ghost Scepter is a great defensive item against physical damage cores like Phantom Assassin or Terrorblade. Ethereal Blade also provides agility and magic damage, making it a valuable offensive item as well. Using these items strategically can allow you to survive burst damage and turn the tide of a fight.

• Aeon Disk: This item provides a temporary shield that prevents you from taking damage when you fall below a certain health threshold. Aeon Disk is a great defensive item against burst damage cores like Phantom Assassin or Queen of Pain. The shield can give you the time you need to reposition yourself or escape from a dangerous situation. Aeon Disk is a valuable item for supports or cores who need extra survivability when countering the Bo Main Sub meta.

Gameplay Tactics and Strategies

Beyond hero picks and itemization, your gameplay tactics are crucial for countering the Bo Main Sub meta. A well-executed game plan can disrupt their strategy and lead your team to victory. Let's dive into some key tactics you can employ:

Early Game Aggression

As we've mentioned, preventing the Bo Main from getting a comfortable farm is paramount. This means being aggressive in the laning stage. Don't let the core free-farm! Harass them, deny creeps, and force them to use resources. Ganking the lane early and often can significantly set them behind. This is where those aggressive lane dominators we discussed earlier truly shine. Coordinate with your team to apply constant pressure and make their early game a living hell.

Ward Deep and Control Vision

Vision is always key in Dota 2, but it's especially crucial against the Bo Main Sub meta. Place wards deep in the enemy jungle to track the core's movements and identify their farming patterns. This allows you to anticipate their rotations and set up ganks. Control runes and watch for opportunities to counter-gank if the enemy attempts to make a move on your lanes. Denying vision is just as important as gaining it. De-warding key areas will prevent the enemy from tracking your movements and setting up their own plays.

Target the Weak Link: The Sub

The Sub hero is often the glue holding the Bo Main Sub meta together, but they're also the most vulnerable. As we discussed with the support hunter heroes, focusing your efforts on eliminating the Sub can significantly disrupt the core's farm and protection. A dead Sub means the Bo Main is far more susceptible to ganks and team fights. Coordinate with your team to dive the backlines and eliminate the Sub during team fights, or pick them off when they're warding or rotating.

Split Push and Apply Pressure

Don't get bogged down in head-on confrontations if the Bo Main is significantly farmed. Split pushing can force the enemy to divide their attention and create opportunities for your team to take objectives. A farmed Bo Main can only be in one place at a time. If they're defending a tower, your team can push another lane or secure Roshan. This tactic forces the enemy to make difficult choices and can create openings for you to exploit.

Coordinate Smoke Ganks and Team Fights

Communication and coordination are vital. Use Smoke of Deceit to initiate surprise ganks on the core or the Sub. Coordinate your abilities and focus fire during team fights to quickly eliminate key targets. A well-coordinated team fight can completely turn the tide of the game. Make sure your team is on the same page and working together to execute your strategy.

Exploit Draft Weaknesses

During the drafting phase, identify potential weaknesses in the enemy's lineup. Do they lack crowd control? Are they vulnerable to magic damage? Pick heroes and items that exploit these weaknesses. A strong draft can give you a significant advantage before the game even begins. Don't be afraid to deviate from your comfort picks if it means countering the enemy's strategy more effectively.

Conclusion

The Bo Main Sub meta can be a tough nut to crack, but with the right hero picks, itemization, and gameplay tactics, you can definitely counter it. Remember, it's all about understanding their strategy, exploiting their weaknesses, and coordinating with your team. By applying the strategies outlined in this guide, you'll be well-equipped to dominate your games and leave those Bo Mains wondering what hit them. So, go out there, practice these techniques, and show them who's boss! Good luck, and have fun crushing the meta, guys!