Apollo’s main threat#
Apollo is a diver: closes distance fast to reach the enemy back line.
The kit is weapon-leaning, so bullet resistance and weapon shields do the most to blunt it.
Abilities to play around#
Ability 1
Disengaging Sigil
Draws a sigil sphere in front of him, then leaps backward as it explodes, damaging and slowing enemies caught in it. He also gains a fire rate and bullet speed buff.
Play around it Mobility — it’s also the escape. Don’t chase it into their team; force it out first, then commit. Slowing Hex shuts down many movement abilities.
Play around it Slows — Enduring Speed and Debuff Reducer help you walk out of it.
Ability 2
Riposte
Prepares to deflect the next attack. On a successful deflection he becomes briefly invulnerable and dashes to a targeted enemy hero, stunning them and reducing their melee resist.
Play around it Disable or displacement — this is what starts kills. Track its cooldown and punish the window after it’s used; Debuff Reducer shortens it, and Unstoppable or Indomitable answer the biggest ones.
Play around it Mobility — it’s also the escape. Don’t chase it into their team; force it out first, then commit. Slowing Hex shuts down many movement abilities.
Ability 3
Flawless Advance
Lunges in a chosen direction with piercing stabs. Holding the key lets him time the attack; releasing in the perfect window deals maximum damage.
Play around it Respect its range and cooldown; fight when it’s been used.
Ultimate
Itani Lo Sahn
A long-range slash that freezes struck enemies in slow motion, stopping their actions and healing. When the slow expires they take heavy delayed damage, with bonus damage against half-health enemies.
Play around it Healing or sustain — buy healing reduction (Healbane, Toxic Bullets or Decay) so it’s worth less, and focus burst damage rather than chip damage.
Play around it Slows — Enduring Speed and Debuff Reducer help you walk out of it.
Counter items, with reasons#
Specific answers to this kit
Counterspell
Vitality · 3,200 souls
Counterspell can block the damage from Itani Lo Sahn, since struck enemies can still parry.
Divine Barrier
Vitality · 6,400 souls
Dispelling Itani Lo Sahn's time slow early (for example with Divine Barrier) makes its damage land immediately.
General answers
General answers are our editorial reading of the kit. Counter items only help if you’re the one being hit — buy for the threat you actually face.
How to beat Apollo#
- Counterspell can block the damage from Itani Lo Sahn, since struck enemies can still parry.
- Dispelling Itani Lo Sahn's time slow early (for example with Divine Barrier) makes its damage land immediately.
Mistakes to avoid
- Standing at the back with no one to peel for you.
- Using crowd control before they jump in.
Want to see the hero from the other side? Read the Apollo guide, or open the counter-pick helper to plan against a whole enemy team.