Seven strategies for new DOTA 2 players

There are two ways to get the best loot in DOTA 2, either you save your money up and buy it, or you craft it. Crafting is generally the preferred method between the two. Press "Shift" and left-click on the item you want to see if it has prerequisite items. Purchasing these items and placing them in your inventory will craft the item. It's better to buy smaller items and gain bonuses consistently throughout the match.New players frequently make the mistake of focusing their attention solely other heroes, neglecting the mindless mobs that assist them; this is a mistake. Creeps provide money and experience that helps you level and buy more powerful items, making you a greater threat. Focusing too much on enemy players, especially at the beginning of the match, will only feed the other team kills. It's important to know your character's strengths and weaknesses before you begin playing. Some heroes have low durability yet high damage output while the reverse is true for others. Certain characters are excellent at surprising the enemy from stealth while others are designed to disable enemy abilities. Checking under the "Learn" tab before you play a hero will give you an idea of what your strategy should be. Playing a hero like it's something it's not will usually end in defeat, keeping you out of the action while feeding the opposing team money and experience.View the list ยป
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DOTA 2 is perhaps one of the more intimidating games out there. With dozens of different heroes, countless items, and a thriving community that isn't always tolerant of mistakes it isn't difficult to see why starting out isn't always as fun as it should be.

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Thankfully there are a few simple things you can do to ensure that your experience isn't completely horrible. Follow these seven tips and you should be on your way to becoming a halfway decent player in no time at all.

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  • It's important to know your character's strengths and weaknesses before you begin playing. Some heroes have low durability yet high damage output while the reverse is true for others. Certain characters are excellent at surprising the enemy from stealth while others are designed to disable enemy abilities. Checking under the "Learn" tab before you play a hero will give you an idea of what your strategy should be. Playing a hero like it's something it's not will usually end in defeat, keeping you out of the action while feeding the opposing team money and experience.
  • New players frequently make the mistake of focusing their attention solely other heroes, neglecting the mindless mobs that assist them; this is a mistake. Creeps provide money and experience that helps you level and buy more powerful items, making you a greater threat. Focusing too much on enemy players, especially at the beginning of the match, will only feed the other team kills. 
  • There are two ways to get the best loot in DOTA 2, either you save your money up and buy it, or you craft it. Crafting is generally the preferred method between the two. Press "Shift" and left-click on the item you want to see if it has prerequisite items. Purchasing these items and placing them in your inventory will craft the item. It's better to buy smaller items and gain bonuses consistently throughout the match.
  • Spend some time in the "Learn" tab checking out other heroes, this will allow you recognize how best to compliment your allies. For instance, if your hero is an excellent damage dealer make sure you stick next to the ally that can stun your enemies and keep them still.When you choosing a lane(top, mid, bot) it's important to remember this concept. Many new players rush into battle alone with little thought to what their allies are doing, a mistake that can easily cost the match.When your teammates speak in chat, make sure you're paying attention. Organizing pushes towards the enemy base via chat or voice communication is much better than just hoping everyone will be in the right place at the right time.
  • Your towers are vital to the defense of your base, thus it's important to keep them alive and well. Fortifying your structures essentially makes them invulnerable to attack for a brief period, which is useful when the enemy is making a push and you need time to mount a counterattack.On the bottom right corner of your interface you'll see a button shaped like a shield. Press it when your structures are in danger, and only when they're in danger. Fortifying your structures when there's no threat will irritate your teammates and make your base more vulnerable to attack.
  • Sometimes your allies can get disconnected from DOTA 2, giving them a short time to return to the game. In the meantime, you'll have the ability to control your absent friend completely, which might seem like a good idea at first.Unless you can click your mouse and press your keys faster than a professional StarCraft II player this is a horrible idea. What usually happens is that you try to manage two heroes at once, leading to the inevitable death of one or both. These deaths feed the enemy money and experience.What's even worse is that you run the risk of being mistaken for a "feeder", or someone who intentionally throws a match by getting their hero (or an ally's) killed. Players can be reported for this and punished, so don't look like you're doing it.
  • Couriers are purchasable NPC's that will transport items you've bought from the shop to you on the field. Without them you'll have to walk back to the shop in your base and pick things up, removing yourself from combat.If your team doesn't have a courier, buy one, and if you can, upgrade it. The courier can be used by every player on your team and will ensure that your characters are getting new items quickly and efficiently.Clicking on the courier will show you all of it's controls. You can move it manually, or you can click the small courier icon on the bottom right of the screen to have the courier bring you your items automatically.On top of the efficiency bonus, buying the courier makes you seem like a team player.
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, Tucson Video Game Examiner

Andrew has been playing video games since he was old enough ...

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