There is a common misconception that Earth Spirit is an absurdly complicated hero. Many players ignore him, thinking he is too hard to execute. However, this myth can be shattered, and a potential new role for the hero proposed.

Recent patches removed additional attribute benefits, significantly impacting Earth Spirit. His attribute growth is terrifying, with 4.4 Strength and 2.4 Agility per level, making him one of the tankiest heroes in the game. This growth allowed Topson to successfully play him in mid lane back in the day, and it’s why Earth Spirit can be a powerful core hero: he becomes a tanky frontliner with high damage output.

Melee supports face a significant challenge in trading effectively in lane. Heroes like Tusk and Earthshaker are high-risk due to their lack of consistent HP trading. Earth Spirit’s early level tools are less impactful compared to Tusk’s Tag Team or Earthshaker’s Fissure. However, his Rolling Boulder and Boulder Smash scale strongly and can be game-changers if he gets enough levels.

Earth Spirit excels as a position three hero, not necessarily in the offlane. He is best suited as a tanky frontline, ideal for utility items and auras. His role isn’t to farm but to get early levels and make plays. You can achieve this in mid lane, as Topson did, or in the offlane or safelane if your carry doesn’t match up well against the enemy offlaner.

Earth Spirit’s hard lockdown is mostly single-target, which is a drawback compared to other offlane heroes. However, his silence and slow can be powerful in team fights. His ultimate, Magnetize, can melt supports, and with smart remnant usage, his economy should be fine.

Earth Spirit also gets one of the strongest level 10 talents in the game: +50 Damage at level 10. This allows him to dish out powerful right-clicks early in the game. He doesn’t need a Blink Dagger to be effective, but he needs a stable laning stage with consistent XP flow to reach level seven and ten in time.

Despite his potential, Earth Spirit is not commonly seen in professional play. This is partly due to habit and the extensive training required to master him. Professional players often have signature heroes they know well, and Earth Spirit is no exception. His single-target lockdown and limited remnant economy make him less appealing in competitive play.

In conclusion, Earth Spirit is a powerful hero who excels in specific roles. He requires dedication and understanding to play effectively, but for those who master him, he can be a game-changer in pubs and competitive play alike. Finding the right role and making him work is the ultimate Dota experience, and with the right strategy, he can shine in any match.