Dota 2 · Practical lessons
Learn the decision behind the spell.
Choose a hero and practise a specific ability or positioning decision. Mechanics are checked against Valve hero data; diagrams are original schematics, not measured map routes.
Source-based guideAxe initiation: make the taunt useful for your team
The taunt affects nearby enemies and forces them to attack Axe while he receives extra armour.
Source-based guideCrystal Maiden: position before channeling Freezing Field
Freezing Field is a channeled area spell.
Source-based guideJuggernaut Healing Ward: move the healing with your team
Healing Ward is a separate movable unit that heals nearby allied units based on maximum health.
Source-based guideLion Hex and Earth Spike: avoid wasting overlapping control
Earth Spike travels along a line and stuns units it hits.
Source-based guideShadow Shaman Shackles: protect the channel before committing
Shackles channels while binding the enemy.
Source-based guideWitch Doctor Maledict: coordinate damage after the curse
Maledict marks targets in an area and includes periodic bursts tied to health lost since the curse began.
Source-based guideVengeful Spirit Nether Swap: inspect both landing positions
Nether Swap exchanges Vengeful Spirit’s location with an allied or enemy hero and interrupts the target’s channel.
Source-based guidePudge Meat Hook: check the first unit in the line
Meat Hook catches the first unit it encounters and brings that unit toward Pudge.
Source-based guideZeus Lightning Bolt: use vision as well as damage
Lightning Bolt provides brief vision and True Sight around its target area and can be aimed at the ground.
Source-based guideLina Light Strike Array: aim where the target will be
Light Strike Array is an area stun, whereas Dragon Slave sends damage along a path.
Source-based guideDrow Ranger spacing: preserve room to use your ranged tools
Marksmanship becomes disabled when an enemy hero is sufficiently close.
Source-based guideSven Great Cleave: line up the attack, not just the target
Great Cleave carries an attack into nearby units in front of Sven.
Source-based guideWraith King Reincarnation: plan the second life before the first ends
Reincarnation can return Wraith King after death.
Source-based guideLich Chain Frost: look for a useful bounce network
Chain Frost passes between nearby enemy units and increases damage on successive bounces.
Source-based guideWarlock Fatal Bonds: connect the targets your team can damage
Fatal Bonds links visible enemies so damage to one can affect others.
Source-based guidePhantom Assassin Phantom Strike: choose an entry with an exit
Phantom Strike can target friendly or enemy units and grants attack speed when used on an enemy.
Source-based guideEarthshaker Fissure: block the enemy without trapping your team
Fissure creates an impassable stone line while damaging and stunning enemies along it.
Source-based guideSand King Burrowstrike: understand the alternate cast direction
Burrowstrike moves Sand King through the ground and stuns enemies he hits.
Source-based guideKunkka X Marks the Spot and Torrent: practise the return timing
X Marks the Spot records a hero’s location and later returns that hero there; Kunkka can trigger the return during its duration.
Source-based guideBane Nightmare: know what happens when someone attacks the sleeper
Nightmare can affect a friendly or enemy hero.