Why is Phantom Lancer so Strong in the Current DOTA Meta

It feels like there’s a huge surge of PL games – what gives? Not enough counters? PL feels to me like a hero you 100% lose to late game if you don’t have the right draft. Everyone says that the draft doesn’t matter at all here so how do you deal with him without using earth shaker or timber…

1. How come he is so popular? Was there a nerf or buff that made him really good all of a sudden?
2. How do you beat him without the hard counter heroes? Strategy/Items?
3. What other heroes besides the two mentioned are good at beating him? I know legion commander is decent and maybe ember spirit?
4. Is he balanced/where he should be in comparison the other heroes?
5. When he hits level 6 should I just abandon lane as an offlaner or is there any point in staying?

It’s actually not that hard to deal with a PL.

In general, illusion heroes like PL and Naga have become decent picks this patch. In the PL games I’ve seen, people counter PL with an ultra fast draft. The point is to choke the enemy out of their jungle and into high ground by minute 20-25

1. He has the highest base damage in level 1 in the agility section, making him have a good lane because he can last hit easier, with quelling blade, its almost assured that u can last hit every creep,
2. Id say the best counter to PL is Axe, Lion, Ember, Puck, Magnus and many more, I wouldnt say ES because in late game, if PL has heart ES wouldn’t do anything even with his ult to PL because of his high hp.
3. Yeah Legion can counter PL in the early game because of her aggressiveness and her 1st skill.
4. I’d say he is one of the best carries this meta.
5. If you are an offlaner, you shouldn’t let the enemy carry farm freely. ask help from your fellow supports or your midlaner. and if you are still in the draft selection of heroes, NEVER LET THE ENEMY TEAM LAST PICK PL.

About his level 6, if you as offlaner along with your 4 can dumpster their lane before the PL hits 4-5, then you should aggressively take their safelane tower. Try cutting the creepwave while chipping away at their tower. Then ward their jungle areas. Absolutely no breathing space should be given. PL is actually weak even with lev6, and is pretty easily killable until he gets a Diffusal + Manta up. PL loves farming jungle, so you have to choke him out. Mid plus 1 or 2 supports can easily kill PL in the mid game, if you have some sort of wave clear.

IIRC, in the minors game of Nigma vs RNG, Nigma picked PL, while RNG picked Lifestealer and Underlord. The game was pretty matched even at 70+ minutes. Underlord’s atrophy meant PL can’t deal any damage at all, and Lifestealer had built Mjollnir for the illusions. Miracle, being the madlad that he is, ultimately bought a divine rapier for his damage issues.