12 Best Heroes To Counter Johnson In Mobile Legends

Johnson can be one of the most disruptive heroes in Mobile Legends, especially when played by someone who knows how to crash perfectly into a team and start devastating fights. With his high mobility, AoE damage, and crowd control, he’s a serious threat in both early and late-game skirmishes. However, like every hero, Johnson has his weaknesses—and with the right pick, you can stop his engages, expose his pathing, and shut him down before he becomes a problem. In this article, we’ll go over 12 of the best heroes to counter Johnson and explain why they’re so effective at keeping the metal menace in check.

#12: Popol and Kupa

Popol and Kupa are great at countering Johnson thanks to their ability to scout and trap key areas of the map. Popol’s traps (Passive: Bite ‘em, Kupa!) can reveal Johnson’s path before he crashes, making it easier for your team to avoid or prepare for the engage. In fights, Kupa can help lock Johnson down with crowd control, while Popol deals consistent damage from a safe distance. Their vision control and poke potential make this duo perfect for shutting down surprise ganks and keeping Johnson from making successful plays.

#11: Gusion

Gusion is a strong counter to Johnson because of his high burst damage and mobility. After Johnson crashes in and uses his skills, Gusion can quickly dash in, unload his full combo, and burst him down before he gets a chance to activate his passive or escape. Gusion’s agility also makes it easier for him to dodge Johnson’s skill shots, especially his Impact Wrench and Electromagnetic Waves. In the right hands, Gusion can pick Johnson off before he becomes a real threat in team fights.

#10: Aurora

Aurora is a solid counter to Johnson thanks to her powerful freeze combo and reliable crowd control. Her passive allows her to stun Johnson the moment he crashes in, completely halting his momentum and making it easy for her team to follow up. Since Johnson’s strength lies in initiating fights, freezing him right after he lands can stop him from chaining his abilities or supporting his team. Plus, Aurora’s burst damage helps cut through his defenses before he can benefit from his shield or allies’ follow-up.

#9: Benedetta

Benedetta is a strong pick against Johnson due to her high mobility and ability to dodge skill-based engages. Her dash-heavy kit makes it easy to avoid Johnson’s Full Throttle crash and his skill combos afterward. She can also punish him during his cooldown window, diving in with burst damage and quickly retreating before he can retaliate. Since Johnson relies on hitting key targets with his initiation, Benedetta’s evasiveness makes her a frustrating hero for him to lock down or kill.

#8: Valir

Valir is an excellent counter to Johnson thanks to his strong zoning, knockback, and consistent area damage. When Johnson tries to engage with Full Throttle, Valir can use his Searing Torrent to knock him back immediately upon landing, interrupting his combo and creating space for his team. His Burst Fireball and ultimate also deal great AoE damage, allowing him to melt through Johnson’s shield and slow him and his allies caught in the electrified zone. With proper positioning, Valir can completely neutralize Johnson’s engages and keep the backline safe.

#7: Natalia

Natalia is a strong counter to Johnson because of her stealth, silence, and high burst potential. She can catch Johnson before he activates Full Throttle or pick off his backline ally after a crash. Her silence prevents him from following up with his skills immediately, giving her team time to reposition or disengage. Additionally, since Johnson is heavily telegraphed when using his ultimate, Natalia can wait in ambush and quickly punish him or his partner post-crash, turning his initiations into failed engages.

#6: Zhask

Zhask is a great counter to Johnson because of his strong lane control, zone denial, and damage-over-time capabilities. His Nightmaric Spawn can absorb Johnson’s Full Throttle crash, reducing the impact of his engage while continuing to deal damage. Zhask’s ability to lock down an area with his turret and slow effects makes it difficult for Johnson to dive successfully or follow up with his combos. If Johnson gets caught in the middle of Zhask’s ultimate form, he’ll struggle to escape the barrage of damage, making this matchup very risky for him.

#5: Esmeralda

Esmeralda is a strong counter to Johnson because she directly benefits from one of his main strengths—shields. Her passive allows her to absorb and convert enemy shields into her own, which means Johnson’s Electro Airbag passive and defensive items work against him in this matchup. On top of that, Esmeralda’s mobility lets her dodge his skills and chase him down after a failed engage. In extended fights, she easily outlasts him, making it difficult for Johnson to be effective against her.

#4: Karrie

Karrie is one of the best marksmen to counter tanky heroes like Johnson. Her passive deals true damage based on the enemy’s max HP, allowing her to shred through Johnson’s thick defenses and shields with ease. While Johnson relies on soaking up damage and controlling fights, Karrie’s consistent DPS and mobility make it hard for him to survive long enough to make an impact. In team fights, she can quickly melt him down—even with full tank items—making her a top-tier pick to neutralize his frontline pressure.

#3: Atlas

Atlas is a great counter to Johnson because of his ability to punish overcommitted initiations. When Johnson crashes in with Full Throttle, Atlas can immediately respond with Perfect Match followed by Fatal Links, turning the fight around by pulling in Johnson and his team for a devastating counter-initiation. His natural tankiness also allows him to absorb Johnson’s combo without going down easily. Atlas excels in tight fights, and if Johnson drives into the wrong spot, Atlas can make him regret it with a full team wipe setup.

#2: Martis

Martis is a strong counter to Johnson thanks to his crowd control immunity and fast, disruptive combos. With his second skill, Mortal Coil, Martis can shrug off Johnson’s stun and knockback while displacing him and breaking his momentum. Martis also excels at punishing heroes who dive in, making him perfect for turning Johnson’s engage into an opening for a counterattack. His burst damage and reset potential with Decimation allow him to quickly finish off Johnson or his ally right after the crash.

#1: Diggie

Diggie is the ultimate counter to Johnson because his Time Journey completely nullifies Johnson’s engage. When Johnson crashes in and tries to stun the team with Full Throttle, Diggie can instantly activate his ultimate to grant crowd control immunity, keeping allies safe from both the stun and the follow-up damage. His traps also provide vision, helping predict Johnson’s route before he lands, and his poke damage can chip away at Johnson over time. With Diggie on the team, Johnson’s biggest strength—his initiation—becomes almost useless.

Conclusion

Johnson can be a game-changing initiator when left unchecked, but with the right counterpicks, his impact can be greatly reduced—or even completely shut down. Whether it’s heroes like Diggie and Valir who can nullify his engage, or damage dealers like Karrie and Gusion who melt him down quickly, each of these counters offers a unique way to punish his predictable playstyle. By choosing smartly and positioning well, you can turn Johnson’s aggressive crashes into easy punish opportunities and keep your team one step ahead.