How to Improve Your Dota 2 Gameplay

Suppose you have never played Dota 2 before; you may still have heard that it is one of the most complex games around and one that has a very steep learning curve. Even if you do have some experience of the game, you may well accept that as the truth. For all its popularity, it can be difficult to figure out initially.

Help is at hand, though. As with any game, the key is probably just to keep playing and practicing. But there are other things that you can consider if you want to up your skills. Following our guide may not have you featured on the betting markets at sportsbooks like Everygame, but they can help with your understanding and experience of Dota 2.

There are no guarantees with gaming, of course. But take note of our wisdom here, and hopefully, Dota 2 will not be quite as hard to follow or to get into. Good luck!

Understand the Game

We know we just said that Dota 2 is notoriously difficult to understand at first. But take some time to try to follow what is going on – and, more importantly, the role that your character can play within the game. You might be fine when everything is going well, but the real tests come when things start going wrong.

Once you have a better idea of where a particular game is going, you will be able to adapt and predict what will happen next. Once you have a clearer understanding of that, you will be able to figure out more quickly what you need to do to improve the situation, depending on your chosen character.

Defend as Well as Attack

The clue here is in the title of the game. It is called Defense of the Ancients (2) for a reason. We know it is very easy to get all carried away and look to strike out and rack up those kills. But protecting your team and structures is just as important, if not even more so, in the grand scheme of things.

As with many of the things to consider we are going through here, you will need to make sure that you know what your hero can do for the team. Once you have that game plan, you are in a better position to be able to be successful. Defense should be a major priority within that game plan if you are to improve.

Know Your Role

As you are probably aware, Dota 2 is a team game with each team consisting of five players. But, unlike some other titles, each player has their own particular characteristics and role as part of that team. To get better at this game, you need to understand how your role fits into the team’s objectives.

You will pick up more game intelligence the more you play. But you should be able to quickly recognize that a support role is there to allow your teammates to farm. A carry needs to be able to do that farming effectively, while a playmaker offlaner needs to be able to take the game to the opponents.

Play as Part of a Team

It should be very clear by now that you will get nowhere in Dota 2 if you cannot play as part of a team. There is no place for individual, selfish gameplay here. You may have one role in the game, but you need to be able to understand how they all come together in the most effective way.

Again, that means gaining a better understanding of the game. But it also means that you need to communicate effectively. Communication doesn’t mean ordering around your teammates. It is more about letting them know, clearly, what you are doing, what you need, and how it is all working towards the greater good.

Take Time to Choose a Hero

You might think you have a pretty good idea of what kind of person you are. But it definitely pays to take your time choosing which hero you are going to be. Play around with swapping roles, especially when you first start with Dota 2, to understand better what you can bring to the table.

The hero you end up choosing should be one that complements your personality and characteristics. You should not be getting annoyed at the limitations of your hero, but rather knowing how well that hero can perform as part of any given team. If you like the hero you are playing with, you are in a better place to make it successful.

Watch the Professionals

We have already mentioned the immensely popular esports scene involved with Dota 2. You may not be anywhere near that level – or even want to play competitively in such an organized way – but you will learn a lot from watching the pros. Start watching the major events and see how the real gamers go about their roles.

Another way of learning from others is to play against gamers who are better than you. You may find it disheartening at first, but testing yourself is the only way to really improve. If you are playing at a lower level all the time, you will never be able to get better – and definitely not reach the standard of the major esports events.

Be Patient

This might be the most important thing to remember when it comes to getting better at Dota 2. This game can be very difficult, and even if you follow our tips here, you might feel like you are never going to step up and increase your game play skills. But just be patient, and you will improve – honest!

Even during individual games, it is important not to get too down about how everything is going. Dota 2 is specifically designed to be a rollercoaster of power spikes for the different heroes. Take your time and keep going – we promise it will make all the difference.