Since 2013 Dota 2 has been dominating the esports industry. With so much fanfare over it, the game receives frequent updates, which you can easily download using Steam.
Dota 2 Updates
The latest updates for Dota 2 include improvements for most of the existing characters. They also eliminate the ability to disassemble certain items in the game, including the solar crest and abyssal blade. In exchange, you can now assemble the echo sabre.
The Basics of Dota 2
In case you aren’t already familiar with Dota 2, here’s a rundown. As a MOBA it matches up teams to head each other off, with the intent of destroying the Ancient Fortress guarded by their opponent. To get to the other team’s fortress first you need to destroy the surrounding defence towers.
Dota 2 was born out of a popular Warcraft 3 mode. It has since spawned 117 characters, any of which you can easily choose to play. This is different than a lot of similar games that force you to purchase the characters you want. Matches begin with each team or solo player choosing their characters. If you need some guidance doing this, consider getting Dota Plus. It’s a tool that you can use to determine which purchases are the best ones to make to strengthen your position in the game.
When you get to the screen where you choose which hero you want to play, All Pick Mode is the one that gives you the choice of any character in the game. Most players use this mode to practice with the characters until they find one they really like. If you use Single Draft mode you only get a selection of three heroes. Your other option is Random Draft. Using this mode means that the game presents you with a choice of 20 heroes and you pick the one you want.
While these are the main modes used for choosing a character, the professional players use Captain’s mode. In this mode each team has a chance to choose a hero or ban one from the selection process. Teams may end up with a Captain they know nothing about if they use this particular mode. Since captains have the ability to ban some team members and attract others, this mode requires effective communication between players.
Once you have a team assembled you are ready to get started. By fighting in matches you earn the gold that you can use to purchase items from the shop. Each item is designed to help your hero in one way or another.
Player Rankings
The way Dota 2 is set up, players have to put in 100 hours of game time before they are eligible to be ranked. By the end of those 100 hours most players will have gotten a lot better than when they first started.
When you are eligible to become ranked, before starting a match you get the option of Ranked Roles and Classic. Each player in the game has a matchmaking rating, which is made up of a combination of core and support. If you want to take on a ranked role you have to choose one of the many roles in the game.
In general, core players are more in demand than support players, so it takes a lot longer to acquire them. To become a core player, you really have to start at the support level and work your way up.
Within the support level, you can provide hard or soft support. Hard support is when you start out fighting off your opponent while other team members are in action. Soft support is when you use your abilities to slow down the opponent’s actions against your team.
Within the core level, you have offlane, safe lane, and mid lane. Some players will say this is a tricky position to be in, but others feel like it gives you a lot of freedom within the game. Offlane and support players work together to coordinate every move their team makes. As an offlane player you will be expected to be objective focused, otherwise you aren’t any help to your team.
Safe line is something you need to work your way up to, but you may find it easier to fill than other positions. One of your main jobs is to farm and kill. In this position you will need equipment to successfully fulfill your farming jobs.
The mid lane is a little more tricky. You have to closely follow the mini map. But you get your own lane to yourself, so now is your chance to show your teammates what you can do in this game.
New Player Tips
If you haven’t jumped on the Dota 2 bandwagon yet, what are you waiting for? It’s free to play and gives you a great opportunity to make friends and flex your creativity. And there is plenty of support and advice out there from players who know the game like the back of their hand.
Any experienced player will advise you to learn from them. They welcome questions from new players, so don’t ever be afraid to ask for clarification on something. And keep in mind that with so many characters, some are easier to play than others. Most beginners start with Lich, or a hero similar to him in skills and assets.
Fighting your first match is never easy, but if you stay hidden behind the fog, the enemy won’t locate you and attack you as quickly. When you are concealed by the fog you have a much better chance at taking out the enemy.
And last, but not least, make sure you purchase some wards in the game. Wards identify the radius where your character can be found. The better you are at placing these strategically, the better of a teammate you will be.
Getting started with Dota 2 is easier than you might think. Are you ready to take the plunge?
