Best hero combo in dota 2
What are the best hero combinations in Dota 2?

Dota 2 has more than 100 playable heroes in the game which opens up many possibilities. There are thousands of possible combinations in Dota 2’s hero pool but there are a few that have separated themselves from the rest of the pack.

Since Dota is mainly a team game with five players on both sides, you can expect that some people will create unique combos that will help them succeed. This kind of synergy is seen when you watch or play the game because they will make an impact on the game no matter what. 

You might have played against some of these combos as well which can be frustrating and respectable at the same time. Some combos are hard to pull off but when they are used properly, they can become one of the most devastating combos in Dota 2 matchmaking. With that being said, let’s look into some of the best hero combos in the game and find out why they work so well.

Io and Tiny

Io and Tiny form one of the most feared duos in all of Dota. These two are both strength heroes but they function vastly different from each other. However, their skills synergise well together which has led to them being used countless times over the past decade. 

The main argument for this combo is Io’s ability to buff its teammate in movement speed, attack speed, and incredible health and mana regeneration. This happens because of Tether which involves Io tethering itself to an allied unit. His E skill named Overcharge makes Tether even stronger because it gives the stat boosts but it also helps the healing become stronger. However, one of the main reasons why Io is such a perfect pick is because of its ultimate ability called Relocate. 

With Io’s ult, any hero that is tethered to it will be together with Io when they teleport anywhere on the map. This is where Tiny comes in because he is already one of the strongest gankers in the game with how much damage his skill combo of Avalanche and Toss can deal. Tiny’s ult involves him becoming a bigger stone giant but it also slows him down. With Io serving as the buff that Tiny needs, the stone giant can turn into one of the hardest carry heroes because he can blow them up in mere seconds with his burst damage. 

The Io and Tiny combo have been done in almost every matchmaking bracket but it mostly shines in professional play. The likes of Kuro Salehi ‘KuroKy’ Takhasomi, Johan ‘N0tail’ Sundstein, and Maroun ‘GH’ Merhej have built legacies with Io as a centrepiece and they have helped strengthen this duo. 

Drow Ranger and Vengeful Spirit

Range heroes in the lane are one of the hardest matchups that you can check out. A strong combo in every part of the game from their combo in the first few minutes and they become even stronger is Drow Ranger and Vengeful Spirit. 

While some people will speak about how Visage is the traditional support for Drow, it has become apparent that the archer and Venge are a phenomenal duo that will continue to be one as time progresses.

The main argument for this partnership is how hard Drow hits when Venge is around. The latter has a passive aura called Vengeance Aura which increases the damage to nearby friendly heroes. This is a boost for any allied hero but it is one of the best buffs for Drow because of how fast and powerful the archer can hit using her normal attack and Frost Arrows. 

It also helps that Venge is a fantastic support hero for Drow because she can get the archer out of sticky situations using Nether Swap. At the same time, Venge also makes sure that Drow can get kills using Magic Missile to disable the enemy but at the same time, use Wave of Terror to lower the enemy’s armour which Drow shred using her basic attacks.

Dazzle and Huskar

Alongside Io and Tiny, Dazzle and Huskar have always been seen as a top hero combo. This is mostly because of the design for Huskar where he becomes a much stronger hero when his health is low. Dazzle’s task when paired with Huskar is to keep him alive. One skill, in particular, called Shallow Grave will make the target unkillable for a long while still retaining the low-health boost. 

This has been a killer duo in ranked matches because there are limited counters to his. Huskar’s main weakness is physical damage which means that a hero like Windranger is a bad matchup for him. This is largely due to WR’s ability to keep attacking the enemy using her Focus Fire ultimate. If a WR is farmed, it will be like facing a truck head-on for Huskar players because they will melt when a WR gets on them with a Shackleshot and then a Focus Fire to finish it off.

Even pro teams like TNC Predator have used this strategy to perfection because Huskar is a niche pick but when he is used, you can expect that it will have a strong likelihood that the hero will be better than ever.

Jakiro and Faceless Void

In terms of the overall team fight, it is hard to go against the reason behind Jakiro and Faceless Void’s synergy. This will be largely due to their two ultimates called Macro Pyre and Chronosphere respectively. The latter is one of the strongest skills in the game because it does freeze and unit in the sphere in their place which leaves them open for Faceless Void to rain in the auto-attacks. 

While inside the Chrono, Jakiro can use Macro Pyre to deal so much damage. This is one of the most devastating combos in the game and it is challenging to overcome this because they deal so much damage and the Chronosphere is one of the hardest skills to live through.

Disruptor and Terrorblade 

You might be wondering how these two heroes coexist but it does have some rather obscure strengths. Disruptor is arguably the strongest lane harasser in the game because of Thunder Strike. 

Paired with one of the hardest carries in the game like Terrorblade, Disruptor can devastate the opposing offlane duo. This is one of the toughest combos to face in the early game because they have everything you can ask for in a lane. They have the power to pull off kills but they can also stay stagnant and just farm for the late game. 

This duo will shine in almost every part of the game because they will be stellar in the early game with a mix of solid lane supporting and creep last hits. When the late game comes around, Disruptor has a game-changing ult with Static Storm paired with the Kinetic Field to keep them trapped. Terrorblade will have the freedom to hit enemies and deal loads of damage. 

Those are just a few of the best hero combinations in the game. If you are looking for many more Dota 2 combos, you should check out the game itself. Since you will be looking to play, don’t forget to have fun!

Tiny
Why is 7.31 Tiny so good?

Tiny’s prominence in the metagame has grown dramatically during the 10tu The International (TI). In recent years, he’s re-emerged as one of the most sought-after sports stars in the world. Throughout Patch 7.31, Tiny’s influence becomes stronger.

The pro scene has undergone a metamorphosis with the recent release of the latest patch. When it comes to the number of DPC contests won, this hero is just behind Death Prophet, according to Spectral Stats. 

Tiny has been the most popular hero in Tour 2 thus far, with 125 choices. It also boasts a healthy 52 percent victory rate. The hero has now been banned 122 times for being too powerful. Here is why this Dota 2 character is incredibly overpowered! 

Overpowered Tiny

This rugged hero has always been in the meta pool, but this time he climbed to even greater strength.

Tiny received a slew of changes in Patch 7.31, making it difficult to tell whether this hero will be as strong as first thought. One substantial adjustment, on the other hand, validated its applicability.

Aghanim’s Shard may now be purchased in 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes. Unrestricted Tree Grab is provided by Tiny’s shard.

This ability grants a permanent benefit to base damage of 20, a bonus to building damage of100%, a huge attack range of 350. Most crucially, splash damage bonus 50% with 100% pure damage. At 15 minutes, you obtain a free Battle Fury that may help you farm more quickly than other carriers.

Tiny’s overwhelming strengths

As a Strength hero, Tiny is bound to be tough. He also gets a tonne of Armour with his ultimate. He has a diverse range of skills that enable him to:

  • Stun
  • Burst Damage
  • A way to distort enemy’s positioning
  • A way to farm
  • Tankiness and Status Resistance
  • Fast tower push

Tiny, on the other hand, has the flexibility to play an aggressive or passive role because of the variety of spells he can cast. Snowballing the game may be done early on if your team is dominating. 

Tiny’s drawbacks

Tiny has few flaws that may be taken advantage of. Neither his mobility nor his escape options are strong points for this hero. So Tiny is a kite target for certain death.

With his inherently high HP, dealing with abilities that deliver damage dependent on your health may be excruciating. Death Prophet’s Spirit Syphon and Necrophos’ Heartstopper Aura are a lot like this.

Playing Tiny in 7.31 patch

Basically, Tiny’s new playstyle has been shaped by the meta. Aghanim’s Shard time has changed, so you’ll have to make it a priority of purchasing it when it’s available. Before obtaining their primary equipment, players choose many routes.

With Tiny, he has Tangoes (set), a Quelling Blade (two Gauntlets of Strength), and two iron branches (Iron Branches).

Bracers and a Magic Wand would be added to these goods. Construct Power Treads and an Echo Sabre and then proceed with the next phase of construction. The early attack speed and damage provided by Power Treads can’t be beaten. Tiny’s Echo Sabre is almost always required since it complements his powers.

As a result, Tiny’s attack speed is quite sluggish at first. Additionally, Echo Sabre’s other useful attributes may aid in each of these areas, increasing mana recovery and granting him the double attack bonus. Additionally, this item may be dismantled into a Black King Bar if the game becomes too difficult for you.

Your Echo Sabre should be done in 12-13 minutes on average. As a result, you should start saving money now so that you can buy Shard in 15 minutes. After then, you may either finish the Silver Edge or acquire a Black King Bar, depending on the scenario.

Due to Tiny’s increased mobility and speed in combat, the Shadow Blade is a must-have for him. In addition, it gives you a way out while also increasing your damage.

If his opponent’s lineup didn’t contain any annoying stuns and was leading the game, Ana, who is a pro Dota 2 player, decided to forego the BKB. He then went out and purchased a Satanic.

Countering Tiny

some heroes can counter Tiny very well. Here are two heroes who can counter him with efficiency:

Death Prophet

As seen by the amount of bans this hero received in DPC, Death Prophet serves as an excellent counter to this hero. Death Prophet has been picked 99 times and banned 203 times. Thus, making him the most popular hero.

The Spirit Syphon, which does HP-based damage to Tiny, is what makes her so powerful. Tiny may be repeatedly targeted by the spell because of its long cooldown and several charges. DP’s innate speed allows her to follow Tiny and maximise her Spirit Syphon damage.

Necrophos

Heartstopper Aura: Necrophos can deliver harm over time to his allies with this aura. Based on the percentage of an enemy’s health, this aura causes damage. The Reaper’s Scythe also works well against Tiny, dealing damage according to the amount of HP the victim has remaining.

Heroes with high HP who can slash through him are often good foes. The tanky rock may be melted with the help of a Viper or a Venomancer. To fight Tiny’s high armour, it’s a good idea to use heroes like Slardar.

Items who can counter Tiny

To equip yourself, you may choose from the standard weapons and armour that can take down even the toughest of heroes. To keep him from recovering his HP, a Spirit Vessel is always a smart idea. 

A Diffusal Blade plus an Eye of Skadi may be quite beneficial. Shiva’s Guard, which reduces his resistance to damage, is a powerful tool for destroying his health. Magic Resistance gear like Raindrop, Glimmer Cape, and Hood of Defiance are good choices for heroes that don’t want to get blown apart by Tiny.

As you can see, Tiny has very few weaknesses and a ton of advantages when playing him. This is why he is banned in almost all aspects of Dota 2. If you are interested in trying the hero out, you’ll definitely see some enjoyment which will put you in the position to dominate even more! 

Techies
Techies guide after their rework in patch 7.31

Dota 2 players had to endure a long toxic relationship with Squee, Spleen, and Spoon, the Techies. For a long time, they’ve just been considered a troll pick to make the game harder for everyone, including allies. Patch 7.31 gave the Techies a much needed rework that will hopefully end its reign of terror for prankster players and make him a viable hero for competitive scenes. 

All abilities and descriptions

Techies’ hero talents have remained untouched so his overall identity as a mobile glass cannon is still intact. However, they had a huge overhaul in their abilities so that they can be considered a new hero altogether. All of these changes are for the better to make them healthier to work with his teammates but his overall identity still makes him a force to be reckoned with.

Here are the basic descriptions of each one and which situation is ideal in using them in any normal Dota 2 match. Everything except the proximity mines is replaced, making dedicated Techies fans still capable of controlling the field. 

Sticky Bomb (Q)

Techies lobs a Sticky Bomb up to 1000 range that stays in place for 2 seconds before exploding up to 300 area of effect (AoE). It can attach to an enemy unit, creep or hero, within 250 of its perimeter either as soon as it lands or if the unit walks into its range. The two-second delay is too long to secure a creep kill if an opponent is in range to deny it but it’s great for harassing heroes from a distance. 

Reactive Tazer (W)

Techies surround themselves in an electric field, boosting their movement speed by +30% while also disarming all attackers for a brief moment. It’s a great defence tool to disengage as this hero has weak armour and magic resistance. However, it can be a devastating offensive ability when paired with Blast Off! with allies also attacking with them. It’s also great for chasing enemy heroes using Sticky Bomb ahead of the target’s path to ensure that they can’t get away.

Blast Off! (E)

Blast Off! makes Techies lunge 1000 units forward and cause an explosion on impact up to 400 radius. The damage can be devastating even without scaling items and it hurts Techies a fraction of their health on impact. It also silences all enemies hit, making a great opportunity to strike. Pair it with Reactive Tazer to render a target completely defenceless for a brief moment.

One of the most infuriating of Techies’ abilities was Suicide Squad which allow them to blow themselves up with the opponent. It kills them both but gives the user a faster revival rate. Blast Off! cannot be used in the same manner as, while also hurting Techies, it cannot deal lethal damage to the user. 

Proximity Mines (R)

Before the rework, Proximity Mines used to be Techies’ first ability and now it’s their ultimate. Its description remains the same such as giving 3 charges upon unlock and casting makes a mine be planted up to 400 away from the user. Proximity Mines are invisible and cannot be detected by True Sight but they will be revealed if an enemy unit moves within its 500 radius.

Proximity Mines detonate when the opponent is 350 away from them so there’s enough time for enemies to react between detecting the bombs and having them explode. However, this is usually a split-second difference as most Dota 2 heroes have fast movement speed and are more focused on the minimap than what’s in front of them. The mines’ maximum damage is inflicted within 150 AoE radius from the source and minimum damage up to 500 AoE radius.

Although there are only three charges, Techies can plant approximately over a thousand of it in a game. The limit can change with each patch but on average, players only manage to plant no more than 20 at a time as most of them explode within 3 minutes after being planted. 

Proximity Mines are more reactive compared to Techies’ other skills. The idea is to plant as many of them as you can manage if you are not in the lanes or joining teamfights. It’s best used when sneaking behind enemy lines to cover their possible escape routes then have your teammates strike from the front when ready. Alternatively, you can use these as defensive systems to cover routes enemies can use to flank your team. 

What exactly changed

What made Techies objectively hated is how it is designed to mess up everyone’s playstyle if piloted by a prankster. All of his abilities are just variations of mines except for the aforementioned Suicide Squad replaced by Blast Off! His first ability, Proximity Mines, was bearable in the early stage of the game but devastating with proper placing. 

Techies’ Stasis Traps are like Proximity Mines in a way that they are invisible but they stun enemies rather than inflict damage or just slow them down. This makes opponents vulnerable to ambushes or ruin their well-planned entrance against your allies. 

Techies’ old ultimate, Remote Mines, is the most hated of all his arsenal. They had a wide casting range and devastating damage as individual units. What makes them unhealthy to play against is how they can be stacked, invisible like Proximity Mines, and can be remotely detonated individually or simultaneously. 

Techies’ destructive force should be greatly appreciated by their allies on paper but it’s not the case in all situations. He is impossible to form a combo with regardless if he’s passive or active and he can take all of the kills whether it’d be accidental or not. This creates a vacuum in gold distribution, leaving positions 1, 2, and 3 lacking the funds to buy the items they need. Their rework at patch 7.31 is greatly welcomed by the player base as it creates a healthier pub gaming environment for the future of Dota 2. 

Marci
The ultimate guide to playing Marci

Become a hero in DOTA 2 with the help of Marci, a quiet superpowered sidekick. Because of the DOTA: Dragon’s Blood anime, you may indeed know that Marci is a formidable martial artist. 

Even after two nerfs in ten days, Marci is still one of the most playable and fun characters in the game right now. Shockwaves may be caused by her powerful punches since she has excellent agility and pro-wrestling skills.

As a physical burst hero with strong initiation and scaling, Marci is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. 

Despite the fact that it is still too early to tell exactly what Marci’s role should be, it appears that she would be most effective in a central one (Carry, Midlaner or Offlaner).

To make use of her skills, which are entirely melee-based, she must be in the thick of a teamfight. Here, you’ll learn how to play Marci and everything you need to know to dominate with her in Dota 2!

Marci skill build 

Marci is another new hero with spells that seem to be difficult but are really rather easy to use in gameplay. Here’s a brief rundown of who she is and what she skills she has under her belt:

Q: Dispose 

Dota 2 description: ‘Dispose is a powerful initiation tool, stunning and throwing the target back towards your team’.

As soon as Marci has her hands on a target, she yelps as loudly as she can. Stunned and damaged if the seized unit is an enemy. In addition, any enemy units in the impact area will be stunned and inflicted with damage.

This is an excellent talent for starting things off, mostly due to the fact that (DUH). However, the motion is lightning-fast, making it difficult for foes to react or dodge. As a last bonus, it may help your team reposition the opposing hero so that they can burst them in the process.

In addition, this ability’s exceptional laning phase performance should not be underestimated. As a result, you have more time to harass and even kill an enemy hero if you are able to hurl them back towards your tower.

When laning, don’t be hesitant to use a few Disposes, which have a short cooldown and minimal mana cost! Finally, stuns or even being forced to staff during the animation might disrupt Dispose. With this, it’s vulnerable to an attack from an opponent with rapid fingers.

W: Rebound

Dota 2 description: ‘Marci’s mobility spell is great for closing the gap to land Dispose or finish off fleeing enemies’.

To really grasp Marci’s Rebound, you’ll need to experiment with it a little, as you must with many of DOTA’s more bizarre spells. Here’s what you need to know, however:

After picking a target, Marci dashes for that target, whether it be an opponent, friend, hero, or creep. 

When she reaches the unit, she will leap to a specific position, harming and slowing down any adversaries in her path. You must first target a unit, then use vector targeting to choose the region where the jump will fall.

However, you need someone to leap off of before you can jump in the first place!

This ability may be used to catch up to fleeing heroes or to yeet an opponent back into your team by bouncing off of allies. Even if there’s nothing to leap off of, this is a good way to get away.

Dispose and Rebound are both excellent in the lane for similar reasons. Enemy heroes who are caught off guard may be easily harassed and killed as a result.

In addition, Rebound has an 11-second cooldown when maxed out, meaning you may use it numerous times in a single battle or pursuit.

If Marci jumps off of a friendly unit, that unit gains an additional 35% movement speed for five seconds. When a teamfight has gone awry and you need to get out quickly, this is a great tool to have.

E: Sidekick 

Dota 2 description: ‘Sidekick gives Marci bonus damage for the laning phase as well as lifesteal for sustainability’.

Sidekick, on the other hand, is a really straightforward spell. After selecting an ally, Marci activates a six-second benefit to her and the associated hero’s damage and lifesteal.

A 700-radius search for an allied hero is made when you cast it on yourself. Marci will gain the perk even if she doesn’t have an ally. As a result, having an ally nearby isn’t a need.

Marci’s weakest laning phase skill, this ability grants +20 additional damage (+40 if you include your boosted buddy). As a matter of fact, the other two are better at actually securing kills than this one. Sidekick, on the other hand, is a must-have early on to keep you and your lane companion going (and to win the harass war)

After a while, when Marci has damaged items, this ability becomes a lot more powerful since the +damage and lifesteal may be considerably enhanced.

R: Unleash 

Dota 2 description: ‘Unleash is Marci’s ‘transform’ ultimate (like Dragon form or Shapeshift), it’s best saved for important moments like team fights where you can use the extra move speed and attack speed for maximum impact’.

Marci’s most dreadful trait is her mastery of the Unleash power. As a result of casting Unleash Marci obtains 15% movement speed for 16 seconds and is put into ‘Unleash mode’ for the duration.

Flurry Combos are a kind of additional attack speed that Marci gets while she’s in her ‘Unleash mode’, and they last for a specified number of attacks. The final punch in the combo will send a damaging shockwave 800 feet in Marci’s direction.

One consequence, though, is that Marci cannot strike for 1.75 seconds after each shockwave. As a result, you punch fast, then halt, and so on.

The Flurry combination attacks must be used up within a second, which seems difficult on paper, but because you’re effectively hitting at the speed of light. It’s not a huge concern until you are stunned or disarmed, the target moves out of range, or the target gets hit. 

Marci’s 1.75-second disarm period will be activated if she fails to utilise all of her Flurry strikes in a single combination.

Practising the Flurry combination doesn’t need you to worry too much about failing it, since many of the reasons why you could fail the combo are outside your control. There are several ways an opposition team might interrupt Marci’s flurry of punches, which is why Black King Bar is so effective on Marci.

On top of that, the Flurry combination works on Spell Immune targets, causing a shockwave, and Unleash can’t be deactivated. Magical damage cannot be absorbed by the shockwave, though.

Item build

Here are the items that will make Marci a force to be reckoned with:

Early game

Go acquire some brown boots and finish your Magic Wand. Once your boots are upgraded (Treads or Phase boots, as explained below), the next thing you should do is work on an Armlet (starting with the Helm of Iron Will for extra sustain).

As soon as you’ve finished Armlet, you’ll be prompted to choose the order in which Marci’s core goods should be built.

Core items

Armlet of Mordiggian: 

Marci’s lifesteal from Sidekick offsets the HP loss from using Armlet, making this the most valuable item on any strong hero. With Helm of Iron Will in the buildup, it provides a lot of lane support.

Black King Bar:

The tanky and mobile Marci depends heavily on her ability to stay on top of a victim in order to kill them, despite her mobility. This implies that she is vulnerable to stuns, slows, and silences. Build a BKB and you’ll have a solution to this. As a strong hero, you’ll appreciate the high stats, and the magic immunity will come in handy during Unleash, when you don’t want to get kited!

Skull Basher

It’s a perfect match for Unleash, which has a high attack speed, resulting in almost-certain bashes (which in turn means fully landing your Flurry Combo).

Blink Dagger

You may use this during Unleash to keep the Combos flowing while Dispose is in use.

Silver Edge 

Sidekick and Unleash benefit greatly from the crit’s synergy. In addition, invisibility allows for movement and sneakiness, which is a bonus (especially in pubs). The ‘break’ mechanism is also included.

Now that you know how to play Marci, it’s time to test your Dota 2 knowledge to the test and start winning big games using this amazing new hero! 

OG DOTA BEST DOTA
Why 2018-19’s OG is the best example of Dota excellence

When you think about success in esports, you will always think of who has been the most successful in the biggest tournaments. In League of Legends, you have T1, and in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you have Astralis. In Dota 2, OG is the winningest squad that every team looks up to.

Ever since they were established back in 2015, OG has been one of the most consistent teams in the Dota 2 pro scene. They were created by Tal ‘Fly’ Aizik and Johan ‘N0tail’ Sundstein and they were built around the concept of friendship and loyalty. They managed to win four Valve Majors together but their once-spotless relationship became blemished when Fly left the team to join Evil Geniuses in 2018. 

After he left, N0tail was left to build the team back up with coach turned player Sébastien ‘Ceb’ Debs and Jesse ‘JerAx’ Vainikka. They brought in Topias ‘Topson’ Taavitsainen and old teammate Anathan ‘ana’ Pham to round out the lineup just before TI8. 

They had low expectations at the time but they managed to go on a Cinderella run as they won the biggest Dota 2 tournament in the world. Some people deemed it as a fluke win that led to the next TI in 2019 as they proved that they are the best team of all time with another victory. While they have all parted ways, they left a lasting impression on the Dota 2 scene. Let’s discuss why they are the symbols of excellence in Valve’s flagship MOBA game.

OG proved chemistry is key to success

While there were rightfully many doubters before their TI8 run, the team built immense chemistry behind the scenes. That is what fans do not see because they are not only teammates but they treat each other like family. It is a sign that the team is cohesive because they made sure to build relationships with each other that will also help them in the game. 

You can see that ana and N0tail have a little and big brother dynamic which is evidenced by how they were lane partners. Ana is obviously the hard carry that farms creep while N0tail is the support that ensured the carry with the farm that he needed to keep up with the enemy.

On the other hand, Ceb and JerAx were lane partners and you can tell that they have a quiet relationship with each other but when needed, they always spoke out. Ceb is the more talkative of the two players because he is the voice of the team. Before he joined the team as a player, he was the coach which meant that he already had an authoritative presence that seamlessly transitioned into the offlane role. 

Topson was the quiet yet explosive mid laner that completed the dynamic of this team. They were all special players but their best asset had to be their chemistry. It looked like every player on the team knew what each other was doing which is not a skill that is taught. That kind of chemistry comes naturally and OG managed to prove that building that kind of dynamic is the key to their success in both TI8 and TI9.

OG was always ahead in the meta

The Dota 2 metagame is always changing every few months but in that span, you will see players and teams ensuring that they are doing their best to take advantage of the patch’s strongest hero. This is not only contained to the heroes because items and game mechanics are also important to how the meta works.

Back in TI8, there was no true number one hero but during OG’s run, their ace was Earthshaker used by JerAx. They picked up that hero when they needed a team fight ace but also as an initiator. However, when it was picked against them, they also knew what to do when they picked Rubick in the fifth game of the Grand Finals to win the title. Another factor that people tend to forget about is OG’s use of buybacks in this tournament as they kept fighting knowing they have another life waiting for them.

At TI9, everyone knows about how they used Io en route to a dominant run. That kind of run was special because OG had a hero that would always be banned against them. Their Io was a special monster because it was one of the strongest heroes that Dota 2 has ever seen. Thankfully, that has been patched out of the game because it was too strong. 

OG overcame adversity

OG faced tons of problems during their run. The most prominent has to be Fly leaving the team because he was a co-founder and the captain. N0tail managed to rebuild the team and he led the new ship as its captain. 

However, that was not the only adversity that this two-time TI-winning squad faced. Before TI9, the team being labelled flukes was at an all-time high but they used it as motivation for their eventual run towards back-to-back TI wins. They were not a strong team outside of TI but they proved that they deserved to be called the best team of all time because of how they managed to step up during the hardest times. 

Every OG player represented their roles well

From the hard carry to the hard support, every OG player was rock-solid. Here are the reasons why they were filled with strong players in every position: 

  • Ana was the quintessential hard carry for the team as he truly kept them afloat when they needed him. He was always a stellar farmer but you can always count on him to make quick decisions that can end up winning the game. That kind of play was crucial for their success as he truly carried the teams to victory.
  • Topson is an unorthodox player but he always made it work. He was a wild card for the team which is needed in any top team. He is the type of player who is hard to prepare for because you could never expect what he will do. Thankfully, he thrives in those situations which led to two TI wins.
  • Ceb was the stable leader from the offlane that you can rely on to step up when the other two core players were struggling. He was the type of player who knew his role as an offlaner and he was always willing to serve as their tank.
  • JerAx is the team’s unsung hero because he was their ace at the playmaker role. He was crucial to the team’s success with his excellence with playmaking heroes and this led to supreme success.
  • Lastly, N0tail was not only reliable support but he was the captain and emotional leader. You can always see him trying to lift his team’s spirits and it worked almost every time. He is the most successful Dota 2 player of all time and it’s not a surprise because he is the optimal teammate.

Those were the top reasons why OG is the symbol of excellence in Dota 2. If you are looking for a set of players to emulate, you should look back at the principles that OG operated on. They were a team built through friendship but also trust in each other’s abilities. That kind of success can serve as inspiration for your future Dota matches.

how to win rank games
The best tips on how to win your Dota 2 ranked matches

Dota 2 ranked matchmaking is a challenging task but there is always room for improvement. Everyone knows that ranked games are tough but there are lessons that you can learn while playing these ranked matches. As the most-played mode in Dota 2, performing well in ranked matchmaking is crucial to playing this game. 

In every ranked match, there are challenging factors like playing against experienced players. However, you will also encounter teammates that pick bad heroes. That should not happen but that will always pop up when playing ranked games. If you want to thrive in Dota 2’s matchmaking system, you should follow these tips and principles so you can improve as a player.

Learn to work well with your teammates

While anyone can become a star player, they still have to work with their teammates. This is important because some players love to branch out on their own which should not be the case. Even if you queue on your own, Dota 2 is a team game that revolves around the dynamics between the players. 

Communication will be a huge part of success in matchmaking. Some people like to talk with their mic so they can be clear with what they want to do. However, most players will only type their thoughts out in the in-game chat. If you are not a player who likes to talk on the mic, make sure that you are saying all of the necessary points in the in-game chat. 

Being a good teammate is also crucial to success because some people only play the game for themselves. This has led to players only using carry or mid heroes which should not be the case. While there is a role ranked matchmaking mode, there is a limited amount of games that can be playe. You will eventually have to play the normal ranked mode where you will have to compromise at times. 

Try to be versatile with your role

When you’re playing ranked, you can always play carry or mid but that should not be the case. You should also diversify your roles because other players also want to play the roles that you prefer. You can play as an offlane or support player in some matches so you can fit with the team much better. 

This is where compromise comes into play because you can have a better time playing these games if you’re being a good teammate rather than imposing your will on the match. If you work on your support play with proper warding and the right timing with saves, you can expect that your teammates will love playing with you which will likely lead to wins and more matchmaking rating points. 

You will most likely love playing carry heroes like Juggernaut but you can’t play that all the time. Diversify your hero pool so you can be a better team player as well. If you are playing Jugg in one game, you should also know how to play Earthshaker support or Lion support. This kind of switchblade ability is rare for Dota players but you will have a much better chance of winning MMR if you play heroes that are good fits with the team. 

Manage your moves well

You will encounter some impulse decisions during the game. You should always make sure that you’re building good habits for yourself because that will factor in when you make your impulse moves. This will pop up in various situations like ganking. 

A bad habit that many players share is overextending during ganks which lead to the team pulling off a counter-gank. Players should know that if they don’t eliminate the enemy in just a few seconds, there will be a chance that the enemy team will respond. 

You should coordinate your moves well with your teammates as well like smoke ganks or team fights. This is one of the most important parts of Dota because if you coordinate your moves properly, you will win fights and get to take objectives. 

Know the right timings

In Dota 2, timing is everything. If you make the right decision at the right time, you can expect that your team will benefit from it. This can come in the form of buying the best item possible at the right time. Farming is a huge part of the game and if you are farmed at the best time possible, you can expect the rest of the team will thrive as well. 

To know the right timing, you should have a better sense of the game. This can be worked on by watching games and knowing the common tendencies that players have. If you can nail this down, you will be a much smarter player than before because you can properly predict what the enemy team is going to do. 

Know the meta

Dota 2’s metagame is always in constant flux but you can keep up with this during every patch. This will be seen in the common trends that you see in Dota matches and resources like Dotabuff where you can see the heroes that are big in the meta. When you have heroes like Io and Tiny emerging as stars of the meta, you should try and learn those heroes as well so you can use them to your advantage. 

It will be a long process to keep up with the meta but your life can become easier if you use the best heroes there. At the same time, you should also remember that the meta is not only restricted to the heroes because items are also part of the trends. 

Items like the Black King Bar and Blink Dagger will always be a huge fixture of Dota but you should look at items that will be important during a certain meta. Look at the Meteor Hammer or the Aghanim’s Shard which can be impactful in the games because of their effects on team fights and hero progression. 

Having the best mentality is key

While Dota 2 has immense dynamics, you should also know that there is also a mental battle during ranked matches. There will be times when you want to release your rage but you should always keep in mind that being toxic to your teammates will not result in anything positive. Always have the right mentality so you can take all of the obstacles at face value without having to stoop down to trash talk. 

Those are just a few of the tips that you can use to win your matches and MMR. Dota 2 matches are challenging but you should always remember that it is just a game at the end of the day. You should always enjoy the games that you are playing. As most of the players say, good luck and have fun with your ranked games!

dota 2 the guide
The ultimate guide to playing Dota 2

With the introduction of PC gaming, a slew of game designers have been pushing the boundaries by inventing new styles for the general public, and Dota 2 is no exception. While many players would like to convince you that Dota 2 is simply a duplicate of League of Legends, this is one of the most common misconceptions in the MOBA world.

While Riot Games’ League of Legends (LoL) may have created the name as a genre, this kind of game has existed as a custom game since Blizzard’s Warcraft III: Frozen Throne; they were simply the first to transfer the style to an improved platform engine.

Valve decided to enter the fray after seeing LoL’s massive popularity as the first standalone, teaming up with the secretive Icefrog to stake their claim as the second. The direction and style of marketing initiatives would eventually show to be the distinguishing factor.

Are you ready to play your best Dota 2 game? Here is the best guide to be ahead of Dota 2 from beginner to professional. 

Basics of Dota 2’s mechanics 

To win the game, you must kill the enemy’s Ancient before they can kill yours. When the game starts, each of the two teams of five players has a pool of over 100 distinct characters to pick from. Each of the three primary abilities, speed, strength, and intellect, has a distinct role to play in the game’s overall outcome.

Classes

Your tanky bruisers are typically Strength heroes, whereas Agility heroes like to acquire things that boost their attack damage and attack speed, even if they have a lesser HP pool. Intelligence heroes have a wide range of abilities, ranging from powerful magical bursts to defensive abilities that are crucial to any team.

Skills and features

What makes this game so challenging is the fact that each hero has four talents to level up, with their strongest being the ‘ultimate’, which essentially defines the hero.

The game’s map is shown on the bottom part of the screen. You may earn money and experience points by killing Non-playable character (NPC) minions that are generated and go along three lanes of defensive towers. 

There are a wide variety of stores from which to choose. You can also level up your character and talents with gold. This is also the point at which the game’s hero tactics and techniques begin to take impact and advance.

A challenging MOBA

One of the game’s main flaws is that it is not welcoming to newcomers. If you want to go through the rankings, you’ll have to memorise a lot of information and understand several game principles, which may be difficult at first. 

One of the game’s primary selling points is that you don’t need a lot of brainpower to play. Humans have always and will always want to utilise their minds to the utmost extent possible. This desire will never change.

When it comes to playing the game of Dota 2, you need a great blend of arithmetic and logic, as well as a sense of timing and intuition. 

Dota players that excel in certain areas are compared to the top-ranking players, who are revered for their intellect and moral character. When millions of dollars are on the line and tens of thousands of people are paying attention, the stakes are high, and the pressure is on to succeed against all odds.

Skills you need to develop to be great 

When it comes to the actual gameplay, below is everything you need to know to get started in owning your lanes and win more games like a pro.

Laning 

Laning is one of the most important skills that you need to master. This allows you to get a lot of farm and be effective at your role. Depending on your position, you should help your team win the game despite the little moves that you’ll be making when laning. 

To be more effective in the mid lane, you need to improve your ability to take more last-hits. The only way to do this is to keep playing more and more Dota 2. Stopping your foes will allow you to take the last blows. The ‘Auto-attack’ option should also not be used while you’re farming.

Hero strategy 

Every hero fits into one of three groups. Whenever the type of hero’s attribute matches the type of hero’s attribute, all of the hero’s attributes will.

Strength: Increases maximum HP, health regeneration, and spell resistance with this ability (Tanky, low mana pool).

Intelligence: Increases maximum MP and mana regeneration and spell damage with intelligence (Powerful spells, low hp and movespeed).

Agility: Increasing Armour, Basic Attack Speed, and Movement Speed are all benefits of Agility (Late game damage, low hp pool, item dependent).

The player gets to choose their own hero. Since your Dota character will ultimately become an extension of yourself, it is recommended that you form attachments to certain heroes early on.

The well-known Torte de Lini has created three in-game hero manuals, one for each of the game’s three hero classes. Being able to play one of each sort of hero will allow you to be far more versatile than a player who just plays intelligence heroes. 

It’s important to know what your opponents’ heroes are capable of, so you can anticipate what they’ll do.

Play with more party members

To add to the excitement, you may have a few of your friends join you in playing the game. It is possible to speed up your learning process if you practise often with the same folks. 

A significant benefit of already removing the anonymity of others is that it makes it easier to communicate with new individuals. 

Positions like mid, carry, offlane, and support are all assigned by the finest teams in the world, so you should keep an eye out to see whether you like one of these roles over the others.

The majority of players will have a preference for at least one position, but this does not exclude you from learning the other roles as well. Instead, focus on one role and master it. Having a high-ranking acquaintance in your party may serve as a mentor and provide you with advice on how to progress.

Now that you know how to play Dota 2, it’s time to test this newfound knowledge to the test and start owning opposing teams and winning big games! 

Heroes you should learn
Seven Dota 2 heroes you should learn how to use

Learning to pick the best Dota 2 heroes that will be used in certain tournaments should be a big concern for a lot of players who want to get crucial wins in the game. This says a lot about the way they choose their heroes and the standard they have when it comes to picking one.

Dota 2 heroes are easy to pick especially if players know how popular they are in terms of wins and usage rate. This is why it is a must to learn how each hero works and know why each of them is effective at a given time.

The more you know about Dota 2 heroes, the better chances you have of winning a certain tournament. This is why you should always learn to consider each of the options you have before starting out a game.

Dota 2 games are rewarding, especially the big tourneys. Using the right hero in a given game could turn the tide of a match and turn out to be an unexpected win at most. This is why it is a must to always make the right pick at this point.

Here are seven Dota 2 heroes you should learn how to use:

Arc Warden

Zet has proven to be a reliable ranged hero in Dota 2. He is known for his ability to nuke enemies since that allows him to take control of the pace of the game. His micro skills also allow him to move around the map and help his teammates all around.

The Arc Warden works both as a hitter and a support at the same time. Zet has the ability to at least cripple an enemy and deal him a lot of damage. He can create shields for his allies and buildings when needed. He gets an attack speed bonus when he uses that skill as well.

Winter Wyvern

Winter Wyvern has been a top pick since patch 7.29. As one of the best support heroes, he can make use of his crowd control skills and turn up the heat in a snap to initiate big clashes. His heavy damage and big health also make him one of the big favourites especially in the top tourneys.

The hero is also known for being one of the late game risers in the game. A maxed out Winter Wyvern with a strong build can surely bring the best wins in a given match. His high defence makes it clear that he can actually lead the way in tanking for a lot of kills as well.

Outworld Destroyer

Harbinger is one of the best-ranged heroes in the intelligence class. Unlike most carries, Outworld Destroyer can deal a lot of damage on armoured targets, which means that he can actually chuck up and stick around for some time against some of the tightest enemies out there.

Outworld Destroyer is known for his carry and support role and being able to shuffle through various spots means that the hero can play well to push lanes and even work some ganks as well. With Astral Imprisonment, Harbinger can be a good killer in early game.

Invoker

Invoker is known to be one of the complicated heroes in Dota 2 thanks to his strong skill set. While he has been nerfed for some time now, most players still use Invoker to win some of the best tourneys in the past few years. This is why he is still a fan favourite at most.

The hero is designed to play as a support with his crowd control skills. He can even spark clashes and deal AOE in team fights, and most players focus on skills such as Quas and Wex – leaving Exort or getting a level at the very least.

For most players, Tornado and Cold Snap are the go-to spells as it offers a strong set-up for ganks and deals a lot of damage at the same time. Ghost Walk is used as an escape skill, but can also be used as an initiating skill.

Shadow Fiend

Nevermore is known as a menace and one of the best midlaners in the game. The hero has been a favourite over the years and he can be a lethal killer at the hands of the best player in the game. Having him as the main lead hero or an ally makes the game much easier to win since he can dominate in any lane.

As a ranged hero, Shadow Fiend can deal burst damages on multiple ranges. He can also put up a huge offensive power in terms of physical damage and magical strength thanks to his well-balanced stats. With every kill, Nevermore becomes much stronger and can come up with a bigger burst as well.

Crystal Maiden

Rylai is known as one of the top support heroes in Dota 2 and has been a consistent pick in most tourneys ever since. She can change the tide of the battle when her skills are used well, which means the hero is one of the best played characters for seasoned players in Dota 2.

With the use of both frost and ice, Crystal Maiden can disable and take out pockets of heroes at a given time. Despite being a fragile and slow hero, Rylai’s strength lies within her various set of abilities that can change the whole game.

Warlock

Demnok Lannik is a hero well-used by known players thanks to his wide variety of skills. The Warlock is said to be one of the heroes who can control a given lane with bursts of mana-draining attacks. This is what makes him a key pick in some of the biggest Dota 2 games.

Warlock inflicts chaos on the enemy at most and can even support allies by just healing them. On top of that, his chaos damage allows him to deal damage to his enemies over time, giving him a strong lane presence at most.

Dota 2’s wide array of heroes is a vast pool for players to take their pick. Learning how some of the best Dota 2 heroes work can be a key to victory, but always take note that strategies pay off well at the end of any game.

This is why starting out with the favourite heroes is a good start. Everyone knows that these heroes are quite reputable for their strong success over the years, which is why it is a must to see how one can use them to the fullest.

why mirana is one of the best heroes in dota 2
Why Mirana is one of the best heroes in Dota 2

Mirana is one of the best heroes that Dota 2 players love to use. The Princess of the Moon has been one of the regulars in the game and she is always a top pick to win matches. Her skills and easy use have led her to be the best hero for most tourneys up to this moment.

Mirana is a mid hero that produces strong stats in the entire game. This made her one of the most popular heroes in Dota 2. She is naturally a mid hero because she has strong stats for the entire game. However, in recent years, most Dota 2 players have tried to use her as a support hero.

Mirana is a well-rounded hero who can fill every role needed in a team. Her skills can get her to disable, nuke, push, escape or even gank heroes at any given time. Depending on the lineup, Mirana can serve as a carry, semi carry, roamer, support or even jungler if the team needs her to do so.

Playing her in that role was just a unique experience before but with her Sacred Arrow maxing out as a five-second stun, it is hard to deny that playing her in that role is what’s best. Moonlight Shadow is also a strong skill to help the team because it makes the entire ally team invisible which can help them either engage or escape team fights. 

While she is mostly played in the support role nowadays, you can still have her as a core hero when needed. She can farm fast due to her stats but she also has Starstorm which she can use to flash-farm creeps. When she gets the right items, you can rely on Mirana to be a hard-hitter in the late game because of her agility stats and the item build.

Mirana is a versatile hero

As a ranged agility hero, Mirana uses her skills to get the jump on other heroes. She is even used to chase even some of the fastest heroes in the game. The hero is a great huntress and her skills have proved to be a great help in crucial games.

Mirana is played as a roamer at most. In the early game, players use her Sacred Arrow to stun enemies in the lane and set up for a kill. Mirana players should buy wards when needed and they can even turn her into a hero that can deal a lot of damage and match the best carries in the game.

If Mirana has a good early game, players can even direct her to be a carry right away. Items such as Manta Style and the Stygian Desolator can help her get a bigger damage. Some players even put Aghanim’s Scepter to allow her to deal damage at burst rate on more than two heroes.

Thanks to her low base strength and low growth rate, Mirana is frail unless built with the right items. She needs to focus on Leap and Moonlight Shadow to get some advantages over the enemy and turn a big chance to score kills as well.

The low rate of intelligence means she needs more mana items and that means Mirana players need to give her those items with double purpose. Arcane Boots is the best pick among those since it gives mana and additional speed at the same time.

This strong build for Mirana may turn out to be a rewarding end for her since she can max out most of her stats. That means that every build for Mirana is centred around improving her attack and intelligence at the same time, which means a lot for her growth to start off the game.

Mirana’s skills are deadly when used well

Starstorm calls down big meteors that deal damage to any enemies near Mirana. A second star strike will deal more damage and it is a nuke move that allows her to kill any chasing units. This is why it is easy to master this skill in the early game to earn creep kills.

Sacred Arrow works like a charm since this arrow moves in one direction and can deal a huge chunk of damage to enemy heroes and can instantly take out any creep or non-Ancients. This skill is hard to manage but landing a long range arrow can be promising and can open up more chances for heroes to get a big kill.

Leap is a good spell to use with Mirana jumping forward. This is a key skill that can help her get a chance to escape or get to a good spot where she can score skills in a snap. That makes it easy for Mirana players to join clashes as well, and this move is popular among many esports Canada players.

Moonlight Shadow works like a charm since it places a buff on all allied heroes. This gives them a short time to be invisible and move faster as long as they do not attack or cast spells. In turn, it would give her allies some time to get into position to spot and put up either an ambush or move out of the area to escape.

Mastering Mirana’s skills is a huge plus especially in late game. A maxed out Mirana will surely deal a lot of damage to her enemies and even crush them in a single blow. She can take on any opponent when not caught by surprise. This only shows a lot of promise for Mirana’s abilities since it can take out a whole squad if used well.

Mirana is definitely a promising hero to use in Dota 2, this says a lot about the rising usage rate for the hero since the last The International was played. Mirana may just be the strongest hero there is if used right. That shows how the hero is still one of the iconic heroes in the game and has been there since the Defence of the Ancients mod from Warcraft III.

If players can master how Mirana works well with other heroes, she may turn the tide of any game and give them a lot of wins in the long run. That shows how much of a great hero Mirana is if used well.

Elite heroes to use in pro Dota 2 gaming
Elite heroes to use in pro Dota 2 gaming

Dota 2 has a lot of heroes for starters that can be quite difficult to use. This only shows that there are some of those heroes that can be tiring to use for newbies but a lot promising for certain players who play at an elite level.

Dota 2 has been one of the best games that showed a lot of options for players to play at their own pace. Each hero is unique and has a lot of skills to choose from. They also have varying builds depending on their roles, which only means that they need to learn each of those to thrive.

These heroes are always dependent on the meta and are designed to be stronger than the usual baby heroes in the game. Dota 2 created a lot of heroes with various abilities and advantages over others, and it is up to the players to make it work.

Players have made some strategies of their own to make use of some of the top heroes in the game over the years. Here are some of the elite heroes that players should use in pro Dota 2 gaming:

Queen of Pain

The Queen of Pain is known as one of the biggest icons in the game thanks to her skillset. Akasha is one of the best heroes that can deal damage in a huge area, which is why players use her in key games that need coverage. 

QoP is known for her ability to use sounds to her advantage and score kills while distracting her enemies. She is played in the middle lane as a ganker and even as a semi-carry. She can appear in battle and score big hits and flee with ease when needed. 

She is one of the heroes who need to be in a great position to make big hits with her skills. Most pro players use Akasha to trap heroes and lead allies to a strong spot where they can kill the rest of the enemies.

When using her spells, it is best to add spell boosters such as Aghanim’s Scepter and it should be the first item for QoP. Unless players have no gold, Orchid Malevolence is the next build for her and it should even move on to the Scythe of Vyse. 

QoP users who die most of the time should add a Linken’s Sphere and Shiva’s Guard is the next best option. Both items work well to add extra armour and burst damage as well.

Arc Warden

The Arc Warden is an agility hero who serves both as a hitter and a support at the same time. Zet has the ability to cripple an enemy down and deal big damage. He can also create shields for his allies and buildings and gain swift attack speed at the same time.

Zet also can place wraiths that can attack a nearby enemy and has a lot of magical damage. Arc Warden can also create a perfect copy of himself and use all of the skills and items at the same time. That makes the hero a menace to deal with at any point in the game.

Maelstrom is a good build for Zet and adding a Boots of Travel helps him traverse the map for farming, fighting and split pushing. He also needs mana to farm lanes and neutrals with the bonus attack speed from Magnetic Field. 

Zet is also squishy in the early game but he can work with them by adding certain heroes who can help him rotate to his lane. Vision is a huge weapon for him to avoid incoming ganks. Without a Blink Dagger or other escape tools, it would be fatal for Arc Warden to get ganked as well.

Axe

Mogul Khan is one of the best melee heroes in the game and he is known for sparking chaos in battle. As one of the best initiators, his strong style needs him to be up close and personal against his enemies. He can rack up a lot of kills in just a snap which makes him a dangerous foe to face.

Axe is one of the heroes that can harass others, thanks to his attack speed and huge base damage. That gives him an edge over other melee heroes who have to fight him at any part of the map. His skills are also a strong factor for his rising usage in most tourneys in the current meta.

Axe is a strong initiator, and this is his edge that players should use all the time. His piercing spell in Berserker’s call makes him strong in clashes and one on one battles. On top of that, he can use his Battle Hunger to boost his speed and Counter Helix to shred many enemies at once. Cunning Blade is even an instant win to wreak havoc at any point in the game.

In the late game, players even try to use Berserker’s Call as much as they can in any fight. This gives them a huge boost and could even make it easy for Axe to move in and out of a fight. There are big chances that he can get out of it without any scratch.

Enigma

Enigma is a tactical spellcaster who has a lot of tough skills. Playing him needs players to be efficient when it comes to farming and they would also need to work on their positioning to use his gravity-related abilities at most. A well-played Enigma can take on a whole team on his own and decide a match outcome as well. 

There are many ways to use Enigma in games, but most players try to use him early in the jungle to farm with efficiency. His Eidolons are the best to set up either ganks or farms, so it is important for players to put mastery on that skill first.

He also has a limited casting range, but enough to cover a lot of area within his sight. It is important to build him with some of the best position tools such as the Blink Dagger or Force Staff. He should have the role of a ward supporter for the whole team or either have someone else do that for him. Players also use him as a carry with the use of wards or the Gem of True Sight, which is a huge help for all Dota 2 teams.

Heroes vary from one another, but it all depends on how players would work on their games and push for a win. At the end of the day, it is how players manage their heroes’ builds and skills at a given game, and there is no guarantee that picking the right hero can lead to a win in the end.