How to counter Paquito
4 hard counters, 5 soft · 3 counter-items · full Paquito guide
What Paquito is bad at
- No damage without landing skills — a missed Jab wastes the whole combo window
- Champ Stance timing is fixed to a 3-cast counter, so it can't be saved for a specific moment
- Low base utility for the team outside of his own duel
- Squishy once his shields from Heavy Left Punch expire mid-fight
Every counter below works by pressing one of these.
Hard counters to Paquito
Pick one of these and the matchup is decided before the fight starts.
PhoveusFighterHardPaquito's Jab dash feeds Phoveus's Demonic Force passive, and once Sinner's Mark is on him, Judgement lands before Champ Stance is even ready.
KhufraTankHardBouncing Ball knocks Jab's dash out of the air the moment Paquito tries to close, and Tyrant's Rage slams him into a wall for a stun before Champ Stance can trigger.
BaratsTank · FighterHardDetona's Welcome devours and suppresses Paquito for 1.2 seconds, breaking the 3-cast rhythm Champ Stance needs, and Big Guy stacks Hybrid Defense faster than his burst can cut through it.
KajaSupport · FighterHardKaja's Divine Judgement suppresses Paquito outright and drags him away, removing him from the fight regardless of where he is in his Champ Stance rotation.
Soft counters
Favourable, but Paquito can still play around them.
EsmeraldaTank · MageSoftEsmeralda's shield absorbs the full Jab-into-Heavy Left Punch combo before it can chunk her HP, and she out-sustains him once his shields expire.
GlooTankSoftEach Stick, Stick stack cuts the damage Paquito deals him and slows him further, and Grab, Grab attaches Gloo to Paquito outright, dumping 80% of the damage Gloo takes onto him.
MelissaMarksmanSoftGo Away!'s dome repels Paquito every time Jab tries to dash in, while Eyes on You! links him with a 60% slow and Melissa kites him down before his combo lands.
TerizlaFighter · TankSoftPenalty Zone's knockup and Scaffold's repeated hooks lock Paquito down before Champ Stance triggers, and Body of Smith's damage reduction climbs as Terizla's HP drops.
FredrinnFighter · TankSoftCrystalline Armor turns the damage Paquito deals into HP for Fredrinn, and Energy Eruption's taunt holds him there through his own burst window.
Items to build against Paquito
You cannot always change your pick. You can always change your fourth slot.
Winter CrownNegates the instant burst window right after Champ Stance's enhanced skill lands.
Antique CuirassStacks damage reduction against Heavy Left Punch and Jab, since both are skill damage, not basic attacks.
Tough BootsCuts the slow duration on Knockout Strike, letting the target escape before Paquito can follow up.
Do not pick these into Paquito
Heroes whose own counter list names Paquito — these matchups go the other way. A red dot marks a hard counter.
Why Paquito works
Common questions
Who counters Paquito in Mobile Legends?
Esmeralda, Phoveus, Khufra, Gloo, Melissa all beat Paquito. Phoveus is the hardest counter: Paquito's Jab dash feeds Phoveus's Demonic Force passive, and once Sinner's Mark is on him, Judgement lands before Champ Stance is even ready.
What items should I build against Paquito?
Winter Crown: Negates the instant burst window right after Champ Stance's enhanced skill lands. Antique Cuirass: Stacks damage reduction against Heavy Left Punch and Jab, since both are skill damage, not basic attacks. Tough Boots: Cuts the slow duration on Knockout Strike, letting the target escape before Paquito can follow up.
What is Paquito's biggest weakness?
No damage without landing skills — a missed Jab wastes the whole combo window