DotA Basics for New to Average Skill

[CoolChris]

Thank you for this. Sadly this game is far to difficult for new players to pick up and stand a chance. Sure, it's in beta and has mostly attracted experienced players, but there is so much to this game that new players who are completely new stand absolutely no chance and it is frustrating to me.


Thanks again for this guide, I will work through it and hopefully progress forward.

I agree that the learning curve is high (as was in Dota) but it's not impossible. I'm a new player and I'm just doing my best to read information on skills and hero guides as well as items. The best thing is those little tips/advice given that go over looked.

For those of you who are seasoned players or have a very good grasp of your surroundings in game, I HIGHLY suggest you host some noob only games to teach or take a player or 2 under your wing as a "student" so to speak. I've seen a few people do that and that really benefits the community!

[[PiZ]ddewe]

Great guide for newbies, I myself are about to play my first game of HoN but I've played DotA very much for the past 2 years, so seeing the new bracers etc. was good, thanks

[[HH]Khola]

Having never played DotA this is essential reading for me...

It would be nice if people gave some ideas as to starting characters and how to play their roles as a beginner. I'm only 11 games in but my friends skill level makes it hard to learn and try each character.

Any specific characters and basic load-outs for them would be great.

[Sweetz]

nice guide

[Tzae]

Great guide!

[profuse]

Helpful guide d00d.

[ThatDaxGuy]

Okay so when someone says "Rush <item>", can someone please explain what that means?

[HunteR_]

should use red steam boot pic, since blue is intel and it gives +10 intelligence, so it's not a "safe buy"

[nervath]

I never played dota, and over the course of 11 games I’ve slowly worked up from feeding the other team a dozen kills each game, to generally finishing 3rd on my team in noob only games.

After you’ve played a couple private games by yourself, the best advice is to only play “shuffle teams” games. Filter for them, and don’t even look at the other games. In my experience 80% (no exaggeration) of the non-shuffle-teams games ended up being horrible noob bashes, especially if the game title advertised for noobs. A noob bash is when a group of experienced players teams up against a group of noobs so that they can pad their victory stats. Don’t fall for it! If you join a game and one team is full and the other team is empty, then it’s a noob bash. If someone wants someone else to switch teams but won’t switch themselves, it’s a noob bash. Even if nothing suspicious is going on, if it’s a noobs game then it is probably a noob bash. The best and only way to avoid noob bashes is to play “shuffle teams” games.

Let me say this again, if you’re a noob only play games with “shuffle teams” enabled. It will make the game a million times more enjoyable.

[Wylker]

OP, mind if we reproduce this guide for honwiki.net?

[livemusic]

I never played dota, and over the course of 11 games I’ve slowly worked up from feeding the other team a dozen kills each game, to generally finishing 3rd on my team in noob only games.

After you’ve played a couple private games by yourself, the best advice is to only play “shuffle teams” games. Filter for them, and don’t even look at the other games. In my experience 80% (no exaggeration) of the non-shuffle-teams games ended up being horrible noob bashes, especially if the game title advertised for noobs. A noob bash is when a group of experienced players teams up against a group of noobs so that they can pad their victory stats. Don’t fall for it! If you join a game and one team is full and the other team is empty, then it’s a noob bash. If someone wants someone else to switch teams but won’t switch themselves, it’s a noob bash. Even if nothing suspicious is going on, if it’s a noobs game then it is probably a noob bash. The best and only way to avoid noob bashes is to play “shuffle teams” games.

Let me say this again, if you’re a noob only play games with “shuffle teams” enabled. It will make the game a million times more enjoyable.

So what you're saying is I should look for noob games?






I kid, I kid.


By the way, nice thread. I already knew what DoTA was but never played it so I need all the tips I can get.

[[Plu]Caution1]

Great guide, I like your name.

[raylu]

Towers target ANYTHING which is attacking a friendly hero (or should).

I don't think so. Towers target things that are attacking it and then anything that's left.

You should also mention that pressing 'H' or clicking 'Hold Position' causes you to stop attacking, which is useful for getting last hits, denying, and not auto-attacking.

[Utred]

I don't think so. Towers target things that are attacking it and then anything that's left.

That's what he said. All enemy units or heroes should be attacking your hero.

[[BOT]Naib]

I agree that the learning curve is high (as was in Dota) but it's not impossible. I'm a new player and I'm just doing my best to read information on skills and hero guides as well as items. The best thing is those little tips/advice given that go over looked.

For those of you who are seasoned players or have a very good grasp of your surroundings in game, I HIGHLY suggest you host some noob only games to teach or take a player or 2 under your wing as a "student" so to speak. I've seen a few people do that and that really benefits the community!

That doesn't help when you get someone who joins a newbie server purely to rip us apart (yes I am a newbie to the whole game and all - didn't do Dota). I mean when 1 person is > lvl20 and the reast on both sides are either just on or just under 10... it really doesn't help you learning if as you step out you get a hook and also a devour so you are literly dead once you stray away

[HowdyDoody]

Howdy,

Every time I got back and read this post it helps me understand something that I've missed.

Thank you for posting this, Nice job.
Doody

[HowdyDoody]

I never played dota, and over the course of 11 games I’ve slowly worked up from feeding the other team a dozen kills each game, to generally finishing 3rd on my team in noob only games.

After you’ve played a couple private games by yourself, the best advice is to only play “shuffle teams” games. Filter for them, and don’t even look at the other games. In my experience 80% (no exaggeration) of the non-shuffle-teams games ended up being horrible noob bashes, especially if the game title advertised for noobs. A noob bash is when a group of experienced players teams up against a group of noobs so that they can pad their victory stats. Don’t fall for it! If you join a game and one team is full and the other team is empty, then it’s a noob bash. If someone wants someone else to switch teams but won’t switch themselves, it’s a noob bash. Even if nothing suspicious is going on, if it’s a noobs game then it is probably a noob bash. The best and only way to avoid noob bashes is to play “shuffle teams” games.

Let me say this again, if you’re a noob only play games with “shuffle teams” enabled. It will make the game a million times more enjoyable.

I'll try this, Thanks.

[Grolar_Bear]

Thanks for the guide. As a complete and total DOTA noob, this helps a lot.

I think it might be helpful to add a section for point distribution. When I level up, I have a hard time deciding how many points I should allocate for attributes and how many I should allocate for skills. I find it a little confusing, but then again, I'm totally new to the game and it might be a lot easier than I think.

[ratmantoo]

Okay so when someone says "Rush <item>", can someone please explain what that means?

To rush an item is to concentrate solely on getting that item as fast as possible. This is normally accomplished through "bushing" - killing the neutral creeps (the ones in the bushes). Beware! this is a lot harder than it sounds for an early game hero.

[injate]

Hey I made this hero classification spreadsheet based off your work and took a screen shot of it for others to print easy. Maybe something like this should go in the OP?