Learn about the lanes youll probably be going to:




Bottom lane
Top lane

Typically, beginner players should NOT play the Midlane if a more experienced player is able to take it. This is due to the fact that the Midlane routinely becomes a skill based match up, which is something you should seek to avoid as a beginner lest a practised player dominate you in lane while learning.

Basically, what is expected of you in a game.
It is important to have a balanced spread of roles, and typically you want 1 farming hero in each lane with a support in the sidelanes. (farming hero = carry) (more complex setups covered later)

Support - If the supports don't support, the carry doesnt carry.

Carry - get as many Last Hits as you can , get your items and try not to die unless its for a good trade. (etc killing 4 heroes in the process)

Its important to know how to play both of these major roles (there are others such as mid and offlane, but we will leave those until you have greater experience). In a setting with a team of people in a stack, often times people specialise in one particular role. The final chapter demonstrates how to coordinate a team approach rather than playing in a normal pub.

Both roles require practise, carries at last hitting , supports at allowing the carry to do so but ultimately both for decision making.

These are heroes that you can use to fill the previous roles, but are only a sample to get you started.

ABBADON - Support

Venomancer - Support

Witch Doctor - Support

Dragon Knight - Carry

Wraith King - Carry

Centaur Warruner - Carry

This section covers more advanced team setups, typically for when involved in a stack of players.

Note that this is the last 'core' section covered by videos, and that later sections on outplaying oponents are concepts not often explored concisely on youtube and thus i have typed out.

These Trilanes (3-1-1) should NOT be attempted until you and your friends are well practised at your role and some heroes for that role, as while this method is more successful when done perfectly, if mistakes are made, it is even worse than normal laning with 1 player mid and 2 in each sidelane (2-1-2).

Being surprised in dota is a natural part of the game, especially while learning. Often this results in better players being the ones that are aware of what is going on beforehand due to experience, or knowing what to do to defeat sometihng unexpected.

Here are some common things people will try to do to mix things up:

Jungling:

Some heroes do not need to start the game in a lane, and will farm the camps between lanes. remember that most junglers are weak at this time and can often be ganked and killed. Also the person in a lane by themselves is now a weak target that the supports should harass out of lane, with the carry helping if needed.

Invisibility:

invisibility gets less effective the better the people against it are. there are cheap items that players in both roles (ideally the support, but not always) should consider getting if faced with a hero going invisible:
Dust of Appearence
Best used when you know a invis hero is nearby and are able to kill it.
Sentry Wards:
Can be used for the above, but best used in places where heroes often are, such as around roshan or when defending a base, as well as used to remove enemy observer wards.

Congratulations! after alot of games and some success, the enmies you face are now better players, who know most of what youve learned.in essence... youre now fighting...yourself...

So, you ask, how do i defeat these people?

Practice, and having some aces up your sleeve.

I cant help with the practice, but I can certainly stack your deck for you- i mean, give you some aces.

Firstly, the concept of cause and effect. this may sound obvious, but you'll be amased at how often teams dont abuse the fact they are ahead. For example, if your team just defeated every enemy or a very important enemy, that's the time to take barracks or the ancient if you can, or at least pressure a tower or secure Roshan. Doing this helps to keep you ahead, and if you are ahead the whole game, then that's great, casue it means that you won.

The second tip I'll give is one of the most important things in dota: use your minimap.
For example, if you can see 5 enemies in your jungle, you shouldnt be there by yourself. however, what does knowing their location MEAN. it means that because they are there, the rest of the map is open- you could pressue another lanes tower, farm elsewhere, try for Roshan. likewise there's alot to be said when for when you cannot see enemies on the minimap, especially if you're support is a stellar individual who actually wards properly. This means you need to be alert- you could be getting ganked or they could be taking Roshan- Don't let either happen if you can avoid it.

Finally, embrace the way of the ninja-
Use smoke to move around undetected!
This item will allow you and close allies to walk past enemy wards undetected to get off the impossible gank, and kill a big target. Doing this with 'cause and effect' is often gameturning.

But above all else, have fun, and if youre playing AUS servers hopefully ill catch you sometime as you steadily improve.

Best of luck, -『NAA』LGD FaN