DotA2 FAQs, Tips, Tricks

[fever 9,884]

Obvi had the idea for a list of answers to FAQs or problems people have come across where they found the answer.  I'll update the OP with them.  

 

Refilling Health and Mana quickly at the fountain

As soon as you enter the fountain area to replenish your health and mana, move all items which increase your health or mana (including strength and intelligence stat increase items) in your inventory to your stash.  This puts your mana and health down to its much lower base levels.  Then when you're fully replenished just add the items back into your inventory from your stash and see your mana/health capacity and levels jump up saving you valuable time.  When you add items which increase your health or mana and your health and mana are already full, the increase in health and mana is always automatically filled up to its new higher capacity.  

 

Arcane Boot/Soul Ring extra mana trick

This works using the same principle as the "Refilling Health and Mana quickly at the fountain" trick mentioned above and tread switching.  Just drop your intelligence stat increase items or items which increase your mana capacity before using the boots or ring and then pick them up afterwards to increase the effectiveness of your boots/ring.  It can make the difference between being able to use one ability or a combo so it's worth doing.  Note, don't try this if there are enemy close by or invis heros on the enemy team.  They could snipe your items.  

 

Empty bottle/ally teleporting from fountain trick

If an ally has teleported to you from the fountain they are still affected by the regeneration bonus for several seconds.  If you quickly give them an empty bottle it will be refilled instantly.  This video shows this and other useful bottle techniques.

 

Drop tranquils whilst jungling

If you bought tranquils, providing there are no invis heros or people missing on the map you can drop your tranquils whilst clear a camp so that when you pick them back up again they instantly start to heal you.

 

Guide to "Becoming a better team mate"

http://imgur.com/a/1HZuz

Interesting, thanks Death

Edited July 3, 2015 by Fever

[koKo_ 350]

Nice didn't kno the empty bottle with ally trick. Kinda useless now since I don't play dota anymore

[Angry Badger 21]

bottle etiquette 101:  

 

Edited April 15, 2015 by Angry Badger

[koKo_ 350]

You should add the dropping Tranquil while jungling trick 

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

You should add the dropping Tranquil while jungling trick 

..that's actually what i told him to write down first... seems like he forgot it because he never uses tranquils... x)

[fever 9,884]

..that's actually what i told him to write down first... seems like he forgot it because he never uses tranquils... x)

I do, but when I play with you I always get arcanes as I know you're going to need mana and you're more likely to change your build for friends than randoms. I do wonder if Shiva's should not be one of your initial axe items after blink...what's your axe build usually I forget...

I think the first item you or I should get is bottle, for your mana problem

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

It's a bit situational. I really go into the initator role, so it's usually 

Tranquils -> Ring of Health -> Blademail -> Blink -> Vanguard -> then situational: Aghs / Heart / AC

 

That's my standard build. Sometimes, when i have a lot of enemy contact before, i go Vanguard before blink (especially when i'm getting ganked a lot) just to increase survivability. I've thought to ignore Vaguard completely and go straight to the blademail after tranquils, as this would enable me to spam my abilities earlier on.

The downside of a bottle: if you don't get the rune, it's wasted space, and i prefer mid or supports to get the runes (bounty for supports).

 

I tried Shiva's before, but the initial 2700 for the Mystic Staff are hard to keep in your pockets when you're the initiator. I struggle with the Blink Dagger sometimes, already. x)

[Nostaroi 26]

Why do you think that blademail as your first item is better then getting a blink dagger first? As far as i'm concerned, i will always rush a blink dagger when i play an initiator...

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

2 reasons:

1) call: if they have to hit you already, let them damage themselves while they do so. So their damage plus my counterhelix.

2) extra mana regen

 

This build is not set in stone. If i have more space (aka they are playing very passive and i get loads of farm), i try to get blink first. 

Getting a blink early is a rather agressive move, and needs an agressive playstyle to have it's full potential. It also needs a mobile mid so you're not stuck with a call on 2 people and noone comes close enough fast enough to use it. 

[fever 9,884]

...

Battle Fury might be good...health, damage, mana regeneration and a nice passive

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

Battle Fury might be good...health, damage, mana regeneration and a nice passive

I thought about that, too. Not sure it works with the counterhelix, though.

[Nostaroi 26]

Allright then... i just found it strange because all the pro games i've seen blink is rushed on heroes like centaur and axe...

 

And as far as i'm concerned, i would not build a battle fury on anything else then your jugger, PA or AM, because its more of a farming tool then a damage or late game item...

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

Allright then... i just found it strange because all the pro games i've seen blink is rushed on heroes like centaur and axe...

 

And as far as i'm concerned, i would not build a battle fury on anything else then your jugger, PA or AM, because its more of a farming tool then a damage or late game item...

On PA, it's a fucking teamwiper... seen that way too often...

[fever 9,884]

I'm not talking about getting it for the late game....and axe also needs to farm...could be an option after his blink and blademail maybe

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

New with the 6.84 patch: WK aghs ability, wraith.

 

Found this on Reddit:

 

"I remember dying as WK with not enough mana for my ult. I turned into a wraith and got to use soul ring before the 5 seconds so I ended up reviving. Is this intended?"

 

No idea if this works, but it's maybe worth a try.

[fever 9,884]

New with the 6.84 patch: WK aghs ability, wraith.

 

Found this on Reddit:

 

"I remember dying as WK with not enough mana for my ult. I turned into a wraith and got to use soul ring before the 5 seconds so I ended up reviving. Is this intended?"

 

No idea if this works, but it's maybe worth a try.

That's interesting...I can see arguments for and against. I think if you're a wraith though you shouldn't be able to use your abilities.

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

That's interesting...I can see arguments for and against. I think if you're a wraith though you shouldn't be able to use your abilities.

So far, the whole system is build so you can use your abilities for full 5 seconds. Pretty OP in my book, in any team fight. I've had a game lately where we've been seeing this a lot. We teamwiped them... then wraiths fought on and when WK came back from the dead (ult), he was the only one standing and took out towers and shizzle.

They wrecked us to bad with this.

[fever 9,884]

I'd been toying with the idea of incorporating HotD into a support build to help with stacking...then I found this...its genius

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=447109826

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

I'd been toying with the idea of incorporating HotD into a support build to help with stacking...then I found this...its genius

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=447109826

This. Effin hell. I am more impressed than i want to admit.

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

Apparently, this is a valuable guide, too...

 

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=295792511

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

THIS. Is actually a good strat for tower/tree defense.

[fever 9,884]

THIS. Is actually a good strat for tower/tree defense.

I always think going behind the tower and hiding in the trees is a recipe for disaster...you're trapping yourself. You're far better of going back down the lane.

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

I always think going behind the tower and hiding in the trees is a recipe for disaster...you're trapping yourself. You're far better of going back down the lane.

Maybe, but as long as they don't see you / can get to you... it's more feasible in the radiance bot lane than dire top lane.

It shouldn't stop someone with a blink ability of some sorts, but it can still keep some nasty buggers away from you, especially when they're "only" melee without a ranged ability. 

[fever 9,884]

I do wonder if you can use the trees to divert creeps into camps...never used them yet

[+Dr. Obvious 14,606]

I do wonder if you can use the trees to divert creeps into camps...never used them yet

=O 2 minutes... i'll fucking try this. But you'll need  a lot of branches for this. Guess 6? So basically, go out with 6 branches, block the field. xD

Dayum. Starting Dota to test that...