Silence WaveSilence Wave creates a cast-denial window before an enemy uses an important ability. Land the projectile as your team is ready to commit, then punish while escape or defensive casts are restricted. A silence is not a universal answer to an already-running channel.
Players creating a team window before an enemy escape or defensive ability is cast.
Land the silence before the important ability starts, then commit while the target's cast options are restricted.
Against Apollo: Layer Silence Wave after his cleanse or when he commits. If Apollo removes the first movement lock, a silence creates a second shutdown window and prevents him from immediately chaining the abilities that let him escape.
Silence alone does not cancel a channel that has already started unless the source also interrupts. Use a interrupt when that is the required job.
Buy it when an escape or defensive ability keeps denying a kill and a direct silence would let your team finish. For a channel that has already begun, check whether you need an interrupt instead.
Average purchase: 23.3 minutes
Game-stage ranges are approximate, and average purchase times are a guide rather than a deadline. Buy sooner when this item would change your next fight.
| Stage | Average purchase |
|---|---|
| Early game · 0–10 min | Not available |
| Mid game · 10–20 min | Not available |
| Late game · 20+ min | 25 min |
Ability-dependent targets whose next defensive or movement cast will decide the exchange.
Apollo →Layer Silence Wave after his cleanse or when he commits.
If Apollo removes the first movement lock, a silence creates a second shutdown window and prevents him from immediately chaining the abilities that let him escape.
Lady Geist →Silence Wave her before she reaches the swap window.
Preventing the ultimate from being cast is more reliable than trying to react perfectly once a low-health Geist is already in range.
Mina →Layer a second control source such as Silence Wave or Cursed Relic.
Mina commonly has a cleanse answer, so one isolated Slowing Hex may not be enough in an important fight.
Paige →Silence Wave before your team commits damage.
Preventing the defensive spell is often more efficient than trying to chew through the barrier after Paige has already stabilized the trade.
Pocket →Silence Pocket before committing the movement lock.
Preventing Briefcase stops Pocket from hiding through the duration of your control and then escaping afterward.
The Doorman →Silence him before the Doorway cast.
Doorway is not treated as a movement ability, so Slowing Hex is not the answer; ability silence is.
These hero guides recommend Silence Wave. Check the individual matchup for the build, situation, and timing.
ApolloPriority situation answer
CalicoSituational counter option
KelvinSituational counter optionLady GeistPriority situation answerMinaPriority situation answerPaigePriority situation answerPocketPriority situation answer
RemSituational counter optionThe DoormanPriority situation answer
VictorPriority situation answer
ViscousSituational counter option
WardenSituational counter option
YamatoPriority situation answer
Cursed RelicCursed Relic creates a powerful team focus-fire window by interrupting, silencing, disarming, locking items, and removing non-ultimate buffs. Its outgoing-damage penalty makes allied follow-up central to the purchase: choose the target together and be ready to punish.
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SilencerSilencer turns sustained weapon hits into pressure against ability-reliant enemies, reducing outgoing spirit damage and building toward silence. It fits gun users who can stay on a target long enough to restrict the cast that would otherwise turn the fight.
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Slowing HexSlowing Hex is a targeted answer to movement-dependent escapes. Use the slow and movement-skill silence before the relevant escape begins, with allies already in range to punish; a catch has little value if no one can finish the target.
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