Learning Dota 2: A Newbie’s Perspective
I was supposed to be in Malaysia this week, but due to some miscommunications and other issues, I had to cancel my trip. Instead, I spent hours learning about Dota 2 and its competitive scene. I even had a helpful conversation with Carno, who taught me a lot about the game.
I realized that Dota 2 is both complex and open-ended. You can do almost anything in the game, which is both exciting and overwhelming.
Discovering Dota 2
In my conversation with Carno, he explained that many heroes in Dota 2 can be used in various ways. Some heroes, like Huskar, Dazzle, and Oracle, are especially popular picks because they can handle early fights well.
Understanding Dota 2 Mechanics
Carno recommended a great article called “Welcome to Dota, You Suck,” which taught me about mechanics like Denial. Denial is when you last hit one of your own creeps to prevent the enemy from getting the kill. This denies them experience and gold.
If you’re new to Dota, I highly recommend reading this guide.
The World of Dota Esports
As someone coming from console esports and a primarily Counter-Strike background, the world of Dota 2 was a shock to me. The grand stages, huge prize pools, and unique features like live projections of the map were unlike anything I had seen before.
I actually discovered Pyrion Flax through his Civilization channel and only realized he was a Dota personality after watching The International replay. Carno explained that different regions have different strengths in Dota 2, with Europe and China being particularly dominant. But every region has a chance, and heroes are chosen strategically to fit the team’s talents.
My Perspective on Dota 2
While I may not be able to keep up with Dota 2 while also following CS:GO and CoD, I will definitely watch The International next year. The game seems fun, even if I don’t always understand what’s happening. Plus, I can support a familiar organization. And honestly, after watching and playing a bit, I think I prefer Dota over League of Legends.