Sentry Ward in Dota 2: who buys it, when it wins and what it costs
Kevin · Dota2Arena · updated Oct 28, 2026 · numbers live from our scannerSentry Ward costs 50 gold and shows up in 38% of ranked matches. Players holding it at the end win 43.6% of their games across 960,793 inventories, most often on Lion and Witch Doctor. It wins most in the early game (49.3%) and least in the late game (43.2%).
What Sentry Ward does
Use: Plant
Plants a Sentry Ward, an invisible watcher that grants True Sight, the ability to see invisible enemy units and wards, to any existing allied vision within a 1050 radius. Lasts 7 minutes. Does not grant ground vision. Hold Control to give one Sentry Ward to an allied hero.
Who buys Sentry Ward
The share says how many games of a hero end with Sentry Ward in the inventory, the win rate is that hero's win rate in exactly those games. A high share with an average win rate means the item is standard on the hero; a low share with a high win rate means it is a situational pick that works when it is needed.
| Hero | Share of games | Win rate with it | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion | 10% | 43.8% | 55,418 |
| Witch Doctor | 11% | 48.7% | 42,479 |
| Shadow Shaman | 12% | 48.3% | 41,693 |
| Rubick | 9% | 43.3% | 39,096 |
| Crystal Maiden | 11% | 47.4% | 35,285 |
| Pudge | 6% | 42.6% | 35,160 |
| Lich | 12% | 51.0% | 29,787 |
| Techies | 9% | 48.3% | 27,303 |
When to buy it
Win rate by match length tells you in which kind of game the item pays off. Items that win short games are usually bought early and snowball; items that win long games are late-game purchases or things you buy when the game is already going well, so read the number as "games with this item at this length" rather than as advice to rush it.
| Phase | Match length | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early game | under 25 min | 49.3% | 25,981 |
| Mid game | 25–40 min | 43.7% | 495,215 |
| Late game | over 40 min | 43.2% | 440,250 |
What to combine it with
These items sit in the same final inventory as Sentry Ward most often (based on every 4th match). Boots and other staples appear on almost every list; the interesting entries are the ones specific to this item.
| Item | In the same inventory | Cost |
|---|---|---|
 Arcane Boots | 45% | 1,500 |
 Blink Dagger | 39% | 2,250 |
 Aghanim's Scepter | 26% | 4,200 |
 Glimmer Cape | 25% | 2,150 |
 Tranquil Boots | 23% | 900 |
 Aether Lens | 16% | 2,275 |
 Eul's Scepter of Divinity | 12% | 2,600 |
 Force Staff | 12% | 2,200 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sentry Ward good right now?
In our window Sentry Ward ends up in winning inventories 43.6% of the time across 960,793 ranked games, below the 50 % mark. It does best in the early game (49.3%) and worst in the late game (43.2%).
Which heroes buy Sentry Ward?
Lion (10% of games), Witch Doctor (11% of games), Shadow Shaman (12% of games), Rubick (9% of games), Crystal Maiden (11% of games). The highest win rate with it belongs to Lich at 51.0%.
How much does Sentry Ward cost?
Sentry Ward costs 50 gold and has no recipe; it is bought directly from the consumables section of the shop.