dotatips
10-05-2006, 10:16 AM
Overview
1.1 Allocating of heroes to lanes
1.2 The 2-1-2 System
1.3 Summary
1.1 Allocating of heroes to lanes
In any competition it is important to know how to control your lanes right.. here is a general guide that is used by some clans and guides lines when you are using the 2-1-2 system
1.2 The 2-1-2 System
Well, let’s analyze the 2-1-2 system. 2-1-2 system is the traditional Dota line-up one presents. Ever since Dota was created in ancient times, teams have been playing 2-1-2. However, the difference in all the 2-1-2s adopted is which lane the 1 goes to. In the old days, heroes solo top (for Scourge) or bottom (for Sentinel).
This is because the tower offers much protection at early game. However, times have changed and the most popular trend now is that heroes solo the middle lane. This is partly due to the change in Dota style in Singapore. In the old times, heroes play the farming style. There were minimal backstabs involved and hence, the top (scourge) and bottom (sentinel) lanes were the safest
However, times have changed and Singaporeans play the Ganking Style. Heroes move swiftly from lanes to lanes to backstab each other as early as level 3. The swift and unpredictable movement makes it dangerous for the side lanes.
For example, heroes cannot farm fast a certain area at the side lanes. Heroes can backstab you from behind the forest once you get past the safety zone. This was not seen in the old days as minimal backstabs were involved and one can farm far past its own safety zone.
Why middle then? The middle lane has the shortest distance between towers at the early stage of the game. A hero can stay at mid can make use of his own slope (Fog of War and % of misses from enemy hero) and farm safely.
At the same time, its proximity to tower and forest (Sentinel Forest beside tower has a winding route in it) makes it safe and easy for a hero to escape when in danger. As long as both side lanes keep the solo hero updated at the missing heroes, middle lane can be the safest lane to farm.
So what heroes are seen in a 2-1-2 system? For the solo hero, different teams have different opinions in it. Some teams choose their 1 to be their late gamer/star player. This allows him to level and farm without disturbances from his teammates.
There are clear examples for this in the Dota Community today. During v6.27b, Zenith^Tofuboi’s sniper was famous. His solo-ing in mid is well capable of fending off 2 heroes at the same time and farming at an insane speed. For v6.35b, Mi2’s DotRk Viper solo middle lane and fended off DsD’s Pugna in the middle lane. Both these heroes proved to be too much for the opponent to handle
What other heroes to put as the 1 other than the star player/late gamer? During v6.27b, Sniper solo mid was a famous move and it was really difficult to kill a Sniper because of his range. Using the slope and fog, he can be dealing damage to you while you cant reach him at all.
Sometimes 2 heroes might not even get the job done. Then, heroes such as Shadow Fiend, Lich King, Bane Elemental were used in the middle lane to win Sniper. The point is that other heroes to be considered using in a solo lane need not only be the star player. It can be a hero to counter opponent’s star player.
What about the 2s in the 2-1-2? There can be different types of combinations in this.
1. Killing 2s
2. Denying 2s
3. Leveling 2s
4. 1 early 1 late
Killing 2s – 2 heroes with high damage or spell output before level 6. There are sick combinations in an AP draft.
Examples are
Lich + Venomancer (Nova + Shadow Strike)
Lich + Chen (Nova + Test of Faith)
Lich + Maiden (1 Bite + 2 Novas)
The above mentioned are just popular killing 2s. There are many more possibilities which I leave you to explore on your own.
Denying 2s – not many heroes fall under this category. However, some popular combinations were used before and it can keep your enemies severely under-leveled.
Examples are
Lich + Enigma (Ritual + Eidolion)
Kotl + Enigma (Chakra + Eidolion)
Leveling 2s – this means that heroes are just waiting to level up. Some heroes only make an impact when they are level 6. Example is Lion and Luna. Hence, they just stay in their lane and farm cautiously and suffer while they are being denied.
There are also other heroes which wait for their level 6 but they can farm at the same time. Examples are Enigma, Sand King and Lina. They can farm in their respective lanes and wait for their levels to reach 6. No matter which kind it is, once they reach level 6, the tide changes.
Examples of combinations
Enigma + Sand King
Lion + Lina
Lastly, it is the 1 late 1 early. Instead of putting your late gamer solo, one can put a late gamer at the side corridor partnership a strong early gamer. The strong early gamer will protect the late gamer survival and allow him space to farm. Popular choices will be Chen/Lich as the early gamer. For Chen, it is a special case. Its ability to neutral creep at level 1 allows room for the late gamer to farm n level up during the time when Chen is in the forest. Opponents will be conservative at the same time as it is not wise to be rash as Chen might just dash out of the forest with a Centaur and kill you instead. This not only allows the late gamer to be protected and gives the late gamer time and room to farm.
Example of combinations
Chen + Queen of Pain
Chen + Lord of Avernus
Chen + Rouge Knight
*NEVER – put 2 late gamers in the same lane. This causes inefficiency in farming and results in uneven distribution of gold.
1.3 Summary
So plan your strategy right with your team when you are planning to use this system. Even choosing the right heroes and the right skills for the game can be a strategy too. However, there can be extremes too.
Will cover more again on the 1-3-1 on my next guide... comments and sugguestion are most welcome! =)
1.1 Allocating of heroes to lanes
1.2 The 2-1-2 System
1.3 Summary
1.1 Allocating of heroes to lanes
In any competition it is important to know how to control your lanes right.. here is a general guide that is used by some clans and guides lines when you are using the 2-1-2 system
1.2 The 2-1-2 System
Well, let’s analyze the 2-1-2 system. 2-1-2 system is the traditional Dota line-up one presents. Ever since Dota was created in ancient times, teams have been playing 2-1-2. However, the difference in all the 2-1-2s adopted is which lane the 1 goes to. In the old days, heroes solo top (for Scourge) or bottom (for Sentinel).
This is because the tower offers much protection at early game. However, times have changed and the most popular trend now is that heroes solo the middle lane. This is partly due to the change in Dota style in Singapore. In the old times, heroes play the farming style. There were minimal backstabs involved and hence, the top (scourge) and bottom (sentinel) lanes were the safest
However, times have changed and Singaporeans play the Ganking Style. Heroes move swiftly from lanes to lanes to backstab each other as early as level 3. The swift and unpredictable movement makes it dangerous for the side lanes.
For example, heroes cannot farm fast a certain area at the side lanes. Heroes can backstab you from behind the forest once you get past the safety zone. This was not seen in the old days as minimal backstabs were involved and one can farm far past its own safety zone.
Why middle then? The middle lane has the shortest distance between towers at the early stage of the game. A hero can stay at mid can make use of his own slope (Fog of War and % of misses from enemy hero) and farm safely.
At the same time, its proximity to tower and forest (Sentinel Forest beside tower has a winding route in it) makes it safe and easy for a hero to escape when in danger. As long as both side lanes keep the solo hero updated at the missing heroes, middle lane can be the safest lane to farm.
So what heroes are seen in a 2-1-2 system? For the solo hero, different teams have different opinions in it. Some teams choose their 1 to be their late gamer/star player. This allows him to level and farm without disturbances from his teammates.
There are clear examples for this in the Dota Community today. During v6.27b, Zenith^Tofuboi’s sniper was famous. His solo-ing in mid is well capable of fending off 2 heroes at the same time and farming at an insane speed. For v6.35b, Mi2’s DotRk Viper solo middle lane and fended off DsD’s Pugna in the middle lane. Both these heroes proved to be too much for the opponent to handle
What other heroes to put as the 1 other than the star player/late gamer? During v6.27b, Sniper solo mid was a famous move and it was really difficult to kill a Sniper because of his range. Using the slope and fog, he can be dealing damage to you while you cant reach him at all.
Sometimes 2 heroes might not even get the job done. Then, heroes such as Shadow Fiend, Lich King, Bane Elemental were used in the middle lane to win Sniper. The point is that other heroes to be considered using in a solo lane need not only be the star player. It can be a hero to counter opponent’s star player.
What about the 2s in the 2-1-2? There can be different types of combinations in this.
1. Killing 2s
2. Denying 2s
3. Leveling 2s
4. 1 early 1 late
Killing 2s – 2 heroes with high damage or spell output before level 6. There are sick combinations in an AP draft.
Examples are
Lich + Venomancer (Nova + Shadow Strike)
Lich + Chen (Nova + Test of Faith)
Lich + Maiden (1 Bite + 2 Novas)
The above mentioned are just popular killing 2s. There are many more possibilities which I leave you to explore on your own.
Denying 2s – not many heroes fall under this category. However, some popular combinations were used before and it can keep your enemies severely under-leveled.
Examples are
Lich + Enigma (Ritual + Eidolion)
Kotl + Enigma (Chakra + Eidolion)
Leveling 2s – this means that heroes are just waiting to level up. Some heroes only make an impact when they are level 6. Example is Lion and Luna. Hence, they just stay in their lane and farm cautiously and suffer while they are being denied.
There are also other heroes which wait for their level 6 but they can farm at the same time. Examples are Enigma, Sand King and Lina. They can farm in their respective lanes and wait for their levels to reach 6. No matter which kind it is, once they reach level 6, the tide changes.
Examples of combinations
Enigma + Sand King
Lion + Lina
Lastly, it is the 1 late 1 early. Instead of putting your late gamer solo, one can put a late gamer at the side corridor partnership a strong early gamer. The strong early gamer will protect the late gamer survival and allow him space to farm. Popular choices will be Chen/Lich as the early gamer. For Chen, it is a special case. Its ability to neutral creep at level 1 allows room for the late gamer to farm n level up during the time when Chen is in the forest. Opponents will be conservative at the same time as it is not wise to be rash as Chen might just dash out of the forest with a Centaur and kill you instead. This not only allows the late gamer to be protected and gives the late gamer time and room to farm.
Example of combinations
Chen + Queen of Pain
Chen + Lord of Avernus
Chen + Rouge Knight
*NEVER – put 2 late gamers in the same lane. This causes inefficiency in farming and results in uneven distribution of gold.
1.3 Summary
So plan your strategy right with your team when you are planning to use this system. Even choosing the right heroes and the right skills for the game can be a strategy too. However, there can be extremes too.
Will cover more again on the 1-3-1 on my next guide... comments and sugguestion are most welcome! =)