What A Hero Truly Needs: 10 Dota 2 Tips For Beginners

Dota 2 can be tough to get into, that much is clear. There are years of strategies built up and tons of info for players to digest. But with these 10 Dota 2 tips, getting oriented on the battlefield won’t be quite so challenging.

Tip #1: Make sure to deny 

While getting last hits on the enemy’s creeps is important, it can also be useful to deny the same opportunity to opponents. If a creep is below 50% health, a friendly player can attack it to kill it themselves. There are two methods to doing this. First, pressing A and then clicking on the chosen creep will force the Hero to attack the target even if they can’t yet deny it. The other method requires players to go to their settings and tick the box labeled “Right-Click to Force Attack” under the Options heading.

Doing this will force a Hero to attack whatever unit is right-clicked, meaning that players can deny with just one click. However, this can cause some issues with moving around friendly creep waves, so different players prefer different methods.

[Related: What Makes Dota 2 So Successful]

2: Practice in Bot matches instead of New Player Mode

New Player Mode is a recent addition by Valve to help new players get accustomed to Dota 2’s wealth of information and mechanics. While it is helpful, it’s also a hotspot for smurfs. The option to play against Bots provides a learning environment free of more experienced foes.

3: Don’t be afraid to jump into an unranked match 

While some new players may be hesitant to move from Bot matches to Unranked play, they don’t need to worry. There’s no penalty for losing a match, and a good attitude can often keep teammates from becoming annoyed.

4: Start at the Bounty Runes

Bounty Runes give free gold to whoever claims them, and so the enemy will often be there to try to contest them. It’s a good place for players to go if they want to get early damage on the enemy or even grab first blood.

5: Start out with easier Heroes

This may seem obvious, but it’s important to keep in mind as it helps twofold. Firstly, to keep the huge roster from being overwhelming, and secondly to help new players focus on learning the game rather than their Hero. Juggernaut, Lina, Lion, and Tidehunter are a few good choices for those just starting out.

6: Try Demoing Heroes

On the Hero roster, there’s a “Demo Hero” button. Using this is a quick and easy way for players to get a feel for Heroes they might like, without being locked into an entire match with them.

7: Remember to use items

In the thick of battle, it can be hard to remember which items to use when. But items in Dota 2 are extremely useful, so learning when and where to use them can give players a distinct advantage in-game.

8: Check the Backpack

If a player’s inventory is full, items go to their backpack, where they’re inactive. Taking a moment to check which items are equipped can help give players the tools they need at the right moment.

9: Ward, Ward, Ward

Vision is extremely important, so buying and placing wards is too. A team can have a maximum of four Observer Wards, which are the yellow ones they start with. They can also have ten Sentry Wards, which can spot enemy wards but must be bought. Wards can be placed in likely ambush spots, or on pillars for maximum coverage.

10: Learn to communicate

Dota 2 has a variety of options for quick communications, such as pinging and emotes. Using these can help keep everyone up to speed. It also prevents teammates from arguing over whose fault things are.

Extra Tip: Take the high ground

The difference in elevation matters a lot in Dota 2. Attacks from the low ground have a 25% chance to miss targets that are uphill. Heroes also see farther out from the high ground, while inclines such as stairs can block vision entirely.

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