Flying Cloak keeps letting Pocket escape after the dive
Slowing HexWhat to do: Apply Slowing Hex before Pocket takes the cloak.
Why it helps: The cloak can still be thrown, but the movement lock prevents Pocket from teleporting to it.
Deadlock matchup guide
How to Counter Pocket
Learn which items answer Pocket’s threats, how to play the lane, and when to commit or disengage.
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Open quick counter helper →Best Items to Counter Pocket
Slowing Hex
Silence Wave
Cursed Relic
Counterspell
Divine Barrier
Debuff Reducer
Spirit Resilience
KnockdownBuy for the threat you are facing. These are situational options, not a build to purchase in full. Tap an item for its breakdown.
Matchup Overview & Game Plan
Take higher ground against Barrage and watch both the current position and the cloak destination. Force Briefcase before the disable you need to secure the kill. Movement denial, cast prevention, and Affliction protection are separate decisions; buy for the one that is stopping your team from converting pressure.
Slowing Hex, Silence Wave, and Cursed Relic attack the escape chain; Counterspell or Divine Barrier answers Affliction.
Laning Phase
- Use higher ground to make Barrage angles less comfortable.
- Cover the current position and cloak destination with teammates instead of everyone chasing the same option.
- Force Briefcase before using the disable you need to convert the fight.
- Prepare a specific Affliction answer; Dispel Magic does not remove ultimate debuffs.
Most Common Problems vs Pocket
Identify what is losing the exchange, then use the answer and timing below.
Slowing HexPocket Affliction is deciding teamfights
CounterspellWhat to do: Counterspell the telegraphed ultimate, or use Divine Barrier on an afflicted teammate.
Why it helps: Dispel Magic does not remove ultimate debuffs, so you need an answer that prevents or cleanses the ultimate specifically.
Briefcase keeps waiting out your kill window
Silence WaveWhat to do: Silence Pocket before committing the movement lock.
Why it helps: Preventing Briefcase stops Pocket from hiding through the duration of your control and then escaping afterward.
Pocket Affliction is on a teammate and they need an immediate save
Divine BarrierWhat to do: Use Divine Barrier on the afflicted ally.
Why it helps: It can cleanse eligible negative effects from a teammate and is the team-oriented answer when Counterspell only protects the person who bought it.
Gameplay Counterplay
- Use high ground to make Barrage angles awkward and reduce how many projectiles can connect.
- When Pocket is low, have one player cover the cloak destination while another stays on the current position so the escape cannot fake out the whole team.
- Force the Briefcase before committing your important disable if possible.
Mistakes to Avoid Against Pocket
Spending the key disable before Briefcase is forced
Make the defensive tool happen first so your important cooldown reaches a more vulnerable target.
Only covering the position where Pocket started
Cover both ends of the cloak route. Coordinate the destination rather than chasing the same starting angle.
Threat / Fight Plan
Spirit Defense
Mitigates ability-based burst and spirit damage.
Useful answers: Spirit Resilience
Anti-Mobility
Limits affected movement skills or creates a grounding/control window for follow-up.
Useful answers: Slowing Hex · Knockdown
Debuff Cleanse
Removes eligible negative effects; check each item’s exclusions and activation limits.
Useful answers: Divine Barrier
Counter Items Breakdown
Slowing Hex
Slows the target and disables affected movement abilities.
- Pin down mobile heroes
- Stop recasts of move tools like Apollo's 2
Use in this matchup:
Silence Wave
Silences enemies before an important escape or defensive cast.
- Teamfight tool
- Interrupt rotations before they start
Use in this matchup:
Cursed Relic
Locks enemy actions and strips non-ultimate buffs, but lowers your damage.
- Creates a short window where slippery or ability-reliant heroes cannot use their normal escape tools
- Can strip important non-ultimate buffs before your team commits
Counterspell
Upgrades parry to block ability damage and effects.
- Blocks Lash grabs/Infernus ults
- Skill-based defense
Use in this matchup:
Divine Barrier
Shields an ally and purges removable debuffs.
- Support allies
- Anti-burst cleanse
Use in this matchup:
Debuff Reducer
Shortens status effects without needing an active button.
- Shortens negative-effect duration
- Useful when a shorter control or debuff window lets you survive and respond
Spirit Resilience
Passive resistance against recurring spirit damage.
- Basic spell defense
- Scaling durability
Knockdown
Delayed stun for grounding flyers or interrupting vulnerable channels.
- Ground flyers (longer stun)
- Stop channelled ults like Seven/Ivy