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    Beginner's Tips: Surviving and Escaping in Dota 2
Beginner's Tips: Surviving and Escaping in Dota 2
Dota2. Source: PCGamesN

Beginner's Tips: Surviving and Escaping in Dota 2

Survival and escape are crucial aspects of Dota 2 gameplay. Knowing how to avoid death and flee from dangerous situations can be the difference between winning and losing. This guide will provide specific tips on surviving and escaping in Dota 2, illustrated with examples from three heroes: Anti-Mage, Queen of Pain, and Puck.

Positioning: The Key to Survival

Positioning is one of the most fundamental aspects of survival in Dota 2. Being in the right place at the right time can help you avoid ganks and stay alive during team fights.

Anti-Mage

Anti-Mage is a hero that relies heavily on positioning to avoid getting caught. His high mobility allows him to farm safely and escape when necessary.

  • Blink (Q): Use Blink to stay mobile. Always position yourself near escape routes, such as cliffs or trees.
  • Map Awareness: Constantly check the minimap for missing enemies. If multiple enemies are missing, they are likely setting up a gank.
  • Safe Farming: Farm in safer areas of the map when enemies are missing, and only push lanes when you have vision of the enemy team.

Queen of Pain

Queen of Pain excels at staying on the periphery of fights and striking from a distance.

  • Blink (Q): Similar to Anti-Mage, Queen of Pain's Blink allows her to reposition quickly. Use it to dodge incoming spells or escape dangerous situations.
  • Shadow Strike (W): Use Shadow Strike to harass enemies from a safe distance, reducing their ability to retaliate.
  • Ultimate (Sonic Wave): Position yourself at the edge of team fights to use Sonic Wave 
  • effectively, hitting multiple enemies without putting yourself at risk.

Puck

Puck. Source: reddit.com 
Puck. Source: reddit.com 

Puck is one of the most elusive heroes in Dota 2, with multiple abilities designed for survival.

  • Illusory Orb (Q): Use Illusory Orb to scout dangerous areas and escape. Cast it towards safe zones and use Ethereal Jaunt (D) to teleport to the orb's location.
  • Phase Shift (E): Use Phase Shift to dodge spells and attacks. This ability makes Puck invulnerable for a short duration, allowing you to avoid lethal damage.
  • Dream Coil (R): In team fights, use Dream Coil to control enemy movements and prevent them from chasing you and your teammates.

Vision: Knowledge is Power

Good vision on the map can save your life by providing crucial information about enemy movements. Wards and other vision tools are essential for survival.

Anti-Mage

  • Observer Wards: Place Observer Wards in strategic locations to spot incoming ganks. This allows you to blink away before the enemies reach you.
  • Illusions: Use Manta Style illusions to scout the map. They can provide vision in critical areas and deter enemies from ganking you.
  • Jungle Farming: When farming in the jungle, always keep a ward near the entrance to spot incoming enemies.

Queen of Pain

  • Observer Wards: Place wards in high-traffic areas like the river and enemy jungle. This helps you avoid dangerous areas.
  • Sonic Wave for Vision: In desperate situations, you can use Sonic Wave to gain temporary vision, revealing enemy heroes hiding in trees or fog.
  • Rune Control: Secure vision around runes to safely control them. Picking up runes can provide significant advantages in both health and mana.

Puck

  • Observer and Sentry Wards: Use Observer and Sentry Wards to maintain control of the map. Puck's mobility makes it easy to place wards in aggressive positions.
  • Illusory Orb: Use Illusory Orb to scout ahead before moving into potentially dangerous areas.
  • Defensive Warding: Place defensive wards around key objectives like Roshan and your high ground to spot enemy movements and avoid ambushes.

Escape Mechanisms: Master Your Abilities

Understanding and mastering your hero's escape mechanisms is crucial for survival, as each hero possesses unique abilities that can be utilized to flee from ‹åhazardous situations.

Anti-Mage

  • Blink (Q): Always keep Blink off cooldown when farming aggressively. Use it to escape when you see enemies approaching.
  • Counterspell (W): Activate Counterspell to reflect incoming spells. This can deter enemies from using their abilities on you.
  • Manta Style: Use Manta Style to dispel adverse effects and create illusions. The illusions can confuse enemies and provide you with a window to escape.

Queen of Pain

  • Blink (Q): Use Blink to traverse terrain quickly. Blink to high ground or behind trees to break the enemy's vision and escape.
  • Eul's Scepter of Divinity: Build Eul's Scepter to lift yourself into the air, dodging projectiles and buying time for Blink to come off cooldown.
  • BKB (Black King Bar): Activate BKB to become immune to most spells, allowing you to escape dangerous situations unscathed.

Puck

  • Illusory Orb (Q) and Ethereal Jaunt (D): Cast Illusory Orb and use Ethereal Jaunt to reposition quickly. This combination allows you to cover large distances almost instantly.
  • Phase Shift (E): Use Phase Shift to avoid damage and wait for your cooldowns to reset. This ability is perfect for dodging crucial spells.
  • Waning Rift (W): Use Waning Rift to silence enemies, preventing them from using abilities to catch or kill you while you escape.

Items: Enhancing Your Survival

Items play a significant role in enhancing your hero's survivability. Building the right items can make escaping and surviving much easier.

Anti-Mage

Anti-Mage. Source: reddit.com 
Anti-Mage. Source: reddit.com 
  • Manta Style: In addition to its illusions, Manta Style provides a movement speed boost, which helps in escaping.
  • Black King Bar (BKB): BKB grants spell immunity, making escaping easier without being stunned or slowed.
  • Butterfly: The evasion from Butterfly makes it harder for enemies to hit you, increasing your chances of survival.

Queen of Pain

  • Eul's Scepter of Divinity: Eul's provides movement speed and a reliable way to dodge spells and projectiles.
  • Linken's Sphere: Linken's Sphere blocks single-target spells, making it harder for enemies to initiate on you.
  • Shiva's Guard: The active ability from Shiva's Guard slows enemies, making it easier for you to escape.

Puck

  • Blink Dagger: Blink Dagger enhances Puck's mobility, allowing for quick escapes and repositioning.
  • Aghanim's Scepter: Aghanim's Scepter upgrades Dream Coil, adding a leash mechanic that prevents enemies from chasing you.
  • Aeon Disk: Aeon Disk provides a shield that activates when your health drops below a certain threshold, giving you a second chance to escape.

Map Awareness: Stay One Step Ahead

Constantly monitoring the map and being aware of enemy positions can significantly increase your chances of survival.

Anti-Mage

  • Minimap Awareness: Frequently glance at the minimap to track enemy movements. This will help you avoid areas where enemies are likely to be.
  • Safe Lane Switch: If the lane you are farming in becomes too dangerous, switch to another lane or jungle area.
  • Allied Information: Communicate with your team and use their information about enemy locations to stay safe.

Queen of Pain

Queen of Pain. Source: reddit.com 
Queen of Pain. Source: reddit.com 
  • Teleport Scrolls: Always carry a Town Portal Scroll. Use it to teleport to safety when enemies are approaching quickly.
  • Ping Alerts: Pings alert your teammates of missing enemies, or potential ganks. This helps everyone stay safe.
  • Aggressive Farming: Only farm aggressively when you have vision of most of the enemy team. Otherwise, stay closer to your team or farm in safer areas.

Puck

  • Danger Pings: Use the danger ping (alt+click) on the minimap to warn teammates of potential threats.
  • Illusory Orb Scouting: Send Illusory Orb into fogged areas before moving there to check for enemies.
  • Safe Teleports: When teleporting, ensure the area is safe by checking for nearby enemies and wards.

Team Coordination: Work Together

Coordinating with your team is essential for survival. Working together can help you avoid dangerous situations and escape when necessary.

Anti-Mage

  • Call for Backup: If you are being chased, communicate with your team and ask for backup. Your teammates can provide stuns or slows to help you escape.
  • Bait and Switch: Sometimes, you can bait enemies into chasing you while your team sets up an ambush. Use Blink to flee at the last moment, turning the fight in your favor.
  • Push Together: Push lanes with your team rather than alone. This reduces the chances of being ganked and increases your overall safety.

Queen of Pain

  • Support Coordination: Coordinate with support heroes who have defensive abilities like stuns or heals. They can help you escape from dangerous situations.
  • Team Fight Positioning: Stay at the edge of team fights and coordinate with your initiators. Blink in to deal damage and then Blink out to safety.
  • Defensive Abilities: Rely on your team's defensive abilities like Force Staff or Glimmer Cape to aid in your escape.

Puck

  • Dream Coil Coordination: Use Dream Coil to set up kills or escape. Communicate with your team to follow up on the enemies caught in your Dream Coil.
  • Support Help: Ask your supports to place wards in areas where you plan to farm or move. This gives you better vision and helps avoid ganks.

Escape Together: If a fight goes poorly, use your abilities to help your team escape as well. Your mobility and control abilities can save you and your teammates.

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