Monkey King Hero Guide: Versatility and Precision

Monkey King was the first original hero introduced in Dota 2. Inspired by the Chinese legend Journey to the West, Monkey King boasts a balanced mix of damage and mobility, making him a highly versatile hero.

If you’re looking to try to play this hero, there are a few key tips that can give you an edge over your opponents. Read our guide for a comprehensive overview of what matters when playing this hero—and how to stand out in your matches.

He has 5 core abilities and plenty of depth to master if you want to win. 

Monkey King: Game Progression

Facets

Before the match begins, you’ll want to start strong by selecting the right facet. Currently, the most popular and effective choice is Wukong's Faithful. This facet allows your clones from Wukong’s Command to remain active for up to three seconds even if you leave the ability’s outer ring.

If you're aiming for a mobility-focused build, Simian Stride adds a fifth level to Tree Dance, removing its cooldown entirely. This is especially helpful for scouting and map control.

Wukong’s Faithful emphasizes offense, while Simian Stride focuses on mobility. — Credit: Dota 2

Abilities

Moving into the early game, your skill build is relatively straightforward: focus on Jingu Mastery. Start with a value point in Boundless Strike at level 1 — it’s your only stun and helps with securing last hits on ranged creeps.

Next, invest two points into Jingu Mastery, grab a value point in Tree Dance, and continue alternating between Jingu and Wukong’s Command until level 7. If you're playing offlane or support, you might prioritize Tree Dance and opt for the mobility-centric facet.

The renowned Torte de Lini guides offer multiple build options for MK. — Credit: Dota 2

Item Build

To finish off the early game, consider your starting items: Iron Branches, Magic Stick, and an Orb of Venom. These can be upgraded into Magic Wand, Orb of Corrosion, and Power Treads.

From there, your core build depends on your matchup and team composition. A typical progression involves Maelstrom to boost farm, later upgraded to Mjollnir for increased attack speed. A Black King Bar is essential in most games, as Monkey King thrives in close-range engagements.

These are your core options for playing Monkey King as a carry. — Credit: Dota 2

If you’re playing as a support or offlaner, you may want to focus more on crowd control. In that case, swap out Maelstrom for Orchid Malevolence, and consider items like Eul’s Scepter and Rod of Atos. These help you disable enemies and escape quickly. Aghanim’s Shard is also a valuable pickup for mobility and escapes.

For disabler builds, utility items like these make all the difference. — Credit: Dota 2

Early Game: Poke from a Safe Distance

During the laning phase, Monkey King’s extended melee range (300 units) gives you an early advantage. This allows you to poke and trade effectively — even against ranged opponents.

Your goal should be to harass consistently, especially after acquiring Orb of Corrosion. Enemies will avoid giving you stacks for Jingu Mastery, and you can use that hesitation to your advantage.

Remember: Jingu Mastery charges apply to Boundless Strike, adding lifesteal and bonus damage. And if the tree you're standing on is destroyed, you’ll fall and get stunned — so be mindful of that risk.

Mid and Late Game: Bursting Down Enemies

By mid-game, you should have maxed out Jingu Mastery. Your gameplay loop revolves around landing four hits to activate it. Use Primal Spring to initiate from a tree or ambush enemies in the jungle.

Once you close the gap, cast Wukong’s Command. Your fast attacks, empowered by Jingu, will shred enemies. Use Boundless Strike for area damage and healing. If you’ve purchased Aghanim’s Shard, make sure the toggled effect is off before using Boundless Strike — otherwise, it will push you out of your ultimate.

Your ultimate creates a deadly zone filled with attacking clones. — Credit: Dota 2 Wiki

Your items should help keep enemies locked inside your ultimate’s radius. Abyssal Blade, Gleipnir, Rod of Atos, and the slow from Diffusal Blade/Disperser are all great choices to hold them in place.

Monkey King continues to perform above average in professional tournaments throughout 2025. If you want to capitalize on that success, follow this guide to make the most of his toolkit.

For more hero guides, tournament previews, and the latest Dota 2 news, be sure to check out the Strafe website!

Featured Image Source: Dot Esports