Broken Monkey King build from Crystallis with 70% win rate on the pro scene

Tundra Esports carry Remco "Crystallis" Arets once again proved that Monkey King is his signature hero. At Riyadh Masters 2025, the team picked him this hero four times in a row — and each time he delivered a confident performance with high KDA scores: 9/2/20, 6/1/16, 9/3/10, and 12/5/8.

Crystallis’ Monkey King

His starting items focus on lane dominance, transitional items boost mobility and survivability, and the core build is designed to maximize damage in teamfights and efficiently target priority heroes.

Selected talents:

• +100 max damage from Primal Spring

• +450 cast range on Tree Dance

• +60% critical damage from Boundless Strike

• +1 additional ring of soldiers from Wukong’s Command

One standout feature is the Changing of the Guard aspect, which makes the hero even more durable and dangerous in combat.

Starting items:

• Tango – health regeneration on the lane

• Iron Branch ×4 – cheap stats, can be used to build Magic Wand

• Slippers Of Agility ×2 – grants agility, helps with last-hitting

• Quelling Blade – helps to secure last hits on creeps

• Magic Stick – instant heal and mana when used

Transition items:

• Wraith Band – boosts agility and early damage

• Power Treads – attack speed and attribute switching

• Orb Of Corrosion – slows enemies and reduces armor

• Echo Sabre – double attack and mana regen for active play

Core items:

• Black King Bar (BKB) – control immunity in teamfights

• Abyssal Blade – stun and strong damage in late game

• Eye Of Skadi – powerful slow plus HP, mana, and damage all-in-one

• Butterfly – damage, agility, evasion — ideal for carry

• Satanic – lifesteal and survivability in prolonged fights

Crystallis firmly ranks among the top carry players of the tournament, and his approach to Monkey King could serve as a solid reference for players aiming to win more games in Dota 2 matchmaking.