Dota 2 is one of those games that’s way too complex and kind of mind-boggling at first, but with the right strategies and understanding of its mechanics, you can really make quick progress in it. If you are either a new player or someone looking to hone your skills and become a master of this game, then these tips and tricks could become your alley.
1. Complete the Tutorials First
Familiarize yourself with game mechanics before playing actual matches. You can carry skills further, for example, after completing in-game tutorials by playing the beginner mode or trying various Heroes in demo mode to get a feel for their abilities and playstyles.
2. Stick to the Safe Lane
The Safe Lane is an excellent best friend to a new player where you can play very defensively and easily win on the side for your team in this lane of the early game. It pays to keep yourself close to the tower and behind your creep wave, forcing them to overextend and make sacrifices for your advantage. It is at this juncture that people are prudent in their approach so as not to perish without a viable cause while getting a feel of the game flow.
3. Utilize Wards to Control the Battlefield
Wards are essentially crucial in Dota 2. They exist to keep control of the map and grant vision. There are two kinds of wards:
- Observer Wards: Give you vision over a defined area for a period in time and will not be seen by the enemy team. Place these wards appropriately so you do not get ambushed, or worse, set up your own surprise attack.
- Sentry Wards: These will show everything that is invisible. That includes wards and stealth heroes put up by the enemy. They allow you to deny your enemy’s sight while catching them completely off guard in the jungles. The warding of enemy jungle camps also denies them their creep spawn in such a camp, decreasing their XP and gold income.
4. Harass Enemy Heroes
One of the key early-game strategies to whittle away at an opponent’s HP is called Harassment. In this technique, you poke at the enemy to take away their ability to farm and force them into a position where they are unable to extract easily. This strategy works to weaken them for more potential kills or to send them entirely out of the lane.
5. Master Creep Blocking
While you do not have control over the Creeps, you can limit their way through your map by Creep Blocking. Position yourself ahead of your wave of Creeps as they move toward the enemy to slow them down. This strategy keeps the battle on your side of the map. That is safer for you and more dangerous for your opponent.
6. Take Advantage of Runes
Runes are super powerful items. They spawn periodically in the river and can provide you with game-changing benefits. Some of the key Runes include:
- Invisibility Rune: Makes you invisible for a short duration.
- Illusion Rune: Creates copies of your Hero to confuse and attack enemies.
- Regeneration Rune: Restores lost health and mana.
- Double Damage Rune: Temporarily increases your attack damage. Additionally, each team has designated areas for Bounty Runes (which provide gold) and Wisdom Runes (which grant experience to the person who picks it and the lowest-level player on the team). Always keep an eye on Rune locations and secure them for your team.
7. Destroy Tormentors for Shards
Tormenters appear around your base. If you destroy some of them, a random teammate will get Aghanim’s Shard, which either upgrades an existing spell or provides a new one. Once you have given every teammate a Shard, the Tormenters drop XP and gold. Tormenters regenerate health and retaliate rapidly, so coordination among teammates is necessary to kill them.
With these tips, you will definitely lay a solid foundation when playing Dota 2. With practice and perfecting these strategies, you will know that improvement is the key in your game, thus increasing the opportunities for good coordination of teamwork and shooting you up the ranks quickly. Remember, Dota 2 is a game of strategy and patience-so take your time while learning and adjusting to each match. Good luck!
