Hello fellow HoN players, over the years I have picked up a few tactics that I'd like to share with you.
I know how hard it is to be a new player in such an intense game like Heroes of Newerth!
In short, this guide will illuminate specific tips and tricks that may not be too obvious to people just starting out, it is my way of saying thank you to the wonderful people at S2 and the community for all the hard work and effort that surely must have gone into building such a wonderful experience.
So If you are a new player and just starting out I suggest you read on.
Although this is a tactical guide I will note one particular thing about strategy. While it requires you to defeat the other side's tree/throne it is actually preferable to hunt the opposing forces heroes down this is because they also have a team that will get in your face should you decide to venture anywhere near it. So once the balance of power shifts in your favor by all means push away. Failure to keep the enemy heroes in check will result in your downfall.
Specific Tactics
Choosing a hero
Always choose the hero you are most comfortable with. Ignore the other players. They are selfish colleagues who demand you sacrifice your own hero for 'the greater good'. It is far more prudent to pick a charcter that will result in your increased enjoyment and happiness. As i'm sure you know a happy player is a strong player.
Team Leader
Be a man! From the start of the game it is imperative that you assert yourself. Show your allies who's boss. If they start giving you ****, flame them with impunity, this will indicate that you are the alpha male and should not be argued with.
So as the dominant player your word will be your will and this has two effects:
1) Increased efficiency. Just as A ship without ballast is unstable and will not go straight, a group without a leader will be lethargic and ineffective. As leader you will be able to issue control with quick concise commands.
2) Increased Morale. Being occupied with clear orders and under the command of an iron will your team will know what to do, and not have any reason to argue among themselves.
3) First Choice. As leader you will be entitled to choose what you want such as which lane you go in and receiving the Kongor token.
Problematic Subordinates
Should a player start contesting your position you will need to take some time to deal with it. Here are some methods of dismantling the tension.
1) Initiate a kick vote: A temperamental player is a weak link in the chain and it is better to get rid of them than to suffer the consequences. It is admirable for S2 to include such a function for this purpose.
2) Brow Beat them into submission : If you are a good multitasker keep telling them how worthless they are. Use any information to your advantage, perhaps take note of their nationality; this runs deep with a lot of people; insult them for it. The point is to make them feel worthless and subdued whatever the method.
3) If all else fails and the fools refuse to comply, make your team feel sorry for whatever transgression they are guilty of. Place wards in the fountain, by armies of couriers etc. anything that will make them know that they have usurped the proper order of things.
4) Supposing your team is filled with complete cretins it is probably good idea to leave, but why should you incur a disconnection point for
their malfeasance? If you are cunning you can manipulate everyone into kicking you from the match and thus avoiding all leaving penalties.
I suggest incessantly pinging everywhere you can manage, this will infuriate your cohorts to such a degree that they will have no choice but to remove you. (this is effective as they cannot block the pings like they can chat.) Psychological warfare
An obvious but often overlooked point, sowing discord into the enemy ranks can be very effective. Firstly Identify a weak player, if he is with an ally that talks to much ferment a fire, kill your opponent and say something like 'hey blue, why didn't yellow help you out?!' this may prompt him to reply with something like 'i know hes a ****ing noob' this is good because they are very likely to start arguing.
After every kill it can be advantageous to mock your opponent, the desired effect being to infuriate him to a stage where he cannot play at 100 percent of his skill level. Bonus points if he demands a 1 vs 1 match against you.
If you are feeling particularly impudent I suggest outright cursing and insultation, remember water seeks its own level and there is a good chance that out of whoever you are playing against there will be at least one who is borderline retarded, again the objective is to anger them.
Be Creative
Creativity is a key skill in HoN as an unexpected tactic will often prove successful both in survival and assassination. You are out for number one and your playstyle should reflect that.
Here are a plethora of hero skills you can exploit for convenience,
Nymphora: Her ultimate can be used to carry extra muscle to a target location, if you have idle companions around do not hesitate to use this, imagine the face on your enemy as four heroes turn up behind him and shank him for all he is worth!! Don't forget staff of the master let's you summon people from distant locations, make use of in a similar way.
Andromeda: You can swap positions with allies. This is especially useful when getting ganked by a large group of enemy heroes. Just click a friendly unit within range and you will be teleported to safety.
Succubus: If you find yourself running from a dangerous situation with a hero like martyr it is advisable to cast mesmerize on him, this way he acts like a cake at a picnic - he attracts all the wasps leaving you to run to freedom in peace. Don't worry about the consequences, S2 would not have given such a hero a name if they had not intended for him to be used in this way.
Orphelia: Her second skill is probably one of the best in the game. Do not miss the opportunity to cast this on your allies when they are in need of assistance, in fact it is wise to use it every time someone drops under 75 percent health that way no one dies. Your friends will thank you in the end.
Fun
Above all it is best to remember that playing HoN is all about having fun. If you are tired of the usual grind up to level 25 here are some different approaches you can use to entertain yourself.
See how many times you can kill an enemy hero, if you focus on one you can keep him locked down at a certain level, ignore everything else, just target him. Try and get a response. He may congratulate you for your consistency.
If playing as Warbeast IGNORE players. They will only slow you down. What you should do is aim for the barracks, even if everyone and his mother are pounding on you. Once you get your Puzzlebox you are a force to be reckoned with, soon those Megacreeps will overwhelm your enemies and victory will be yours.
Try roleplaying once in a while, for example; supposing you choose Empath, be really understanding of your allies. If someone complains say something like ' I'm sorry blue, I understand how you feel, I will gladly help you push bottom against the enemy so you don't die again.'
tell them how much they mean to you and what great people they are.
Alternatively you could play as Dampeer. Stalk your enemies at night but in the day refuse to leave your base because after all you are a vampire and everyone knows that vampires don't tan very well.
Anyway even though I'm not the best player out there I'm sure that some of you new guys will find these hints and tips contained within my guide useful and will be able to implement them in a constructive manner.
Hope it helps you to have many wins.
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