Warding is a crucial part of every Dota 2 game. Vision provided by wards can make the difference between victory and defeat. It lets your team see enemy movements, control the map, and avoid surprise ganks. Without proper warding, your team is effectively playing blind, making it easier for the enemy to launch successful ambushes and control key areas. Good warding can also turn the tide of battle by providing critical information. For example, spotting an enemy hero farming in the jungle can create a successful gank or push. Understanding where to place wards can significantly enhance your team's ability to make informed decisions, thus controlling the game's flow. This article will help you choose the best warding spots to improve your gameplay. By strategically placing wards in these critical locations, you can ensure better map control, safety, and opportunities for your team. Whether you are a support player tasked with warding or any role contributing to team vision, knowing these spots will enhance your overall strategy.
Runes (River)
Controlling runes is critical to providing your team with resources and opportunities. Runes offer powerful buffs and replenishments that can turn the tide of skirmishes and team fights. Placing wards at rune spots allows your team to see enemies trying to grab runes and react in time by contesting the rune or setting up a gank. Runes spawn every two minutes, making it essential to have vision on them. Having wards at these spots gives your team a chance to secure runes and provides valuable information on enemy movements. For instance, if you see an enemy heading towards a rune, you can anticipate their next move and prepare accordingly. In addition to securing runes for your team, warding these areas helps prevent the enemy from gaining easy access to these resources. This vision can disrupt the enemy's plans and give your team a strategic advantage. Ensuring control over the rune spots is a simple yet effective way to maintain an upper hand in the game.
Jungles (Deep Warding)
Deep warding in the enemy jungle is a highly effective strategy to prevent ganks and track enemy movements. By placing wards deep within the enemy territory, your team gains crucial information about the whereabouts and actions of enemy heroes. This helps in planning counter-moves and avoiding potential ambushes. Deep wards can reveal enemy heroes farming camps or preparing for a gank, allowing your team to respond proactively. For example, if you notice an enemy support and core hero farming together, it might indicate an upcoming push or gank attempt. This information lets your team position themselves better and potentially counter the enemy's plans.
Additionally, deep warding disrupts the enemy's farming patterns. By knowing where the enemy is farming, your team can invade and contest those areas, reducing the enemy's resources and farm efficiency. This strategic advantage can snowball into a significant lead for your team, making deep warding an indispensable tactic in high-level play.
Triangle Camps
Controlling the triangle camp area is vital for safe farming. The triangle is a set of three neutral camps near the Radiant and Dire bases, providing a secure spot for core heroes to farm. Wards in this area help prevent surprise attacks and ensure your team's cores can farm securely without constantly looking over their shoulders. The triangle is often a go-to spot for carriers and mid-laners to farm during the mid to late game. By placing wards around this area, you provide them with the safety net they need to maximize their farm efficiency. These wards can spot enemy rotations and potential smoke ganks, giving your cores the information required to retreat to safety or prepare for a fight.
Furthermore, controlling the triangle with wards allows your team to use these camps more effectively while denying the enemy access to this valuable resource. This control can lead to a significant gold and experience advantage, as your cores can farm without interruption. Thus, maintaining vision in the triangle is a vital component of a solid mid to late-game strategy.
Enemy Jungle (Entrances and Exits)
Monitoring enemy jungle entrances and exits is crucial for map control and safety and placing wards at critical points where enemies enter and leave their jungle. Your team gains valuable information on enemy movements. This vision allows you to anticipate and counter the enemy's plans, whether they are preparing for a gank, farming, or setting up for an objective. When you have a vision of the entrances and exits of the enemy jungle, it becomes easier to track the enemy team's movements. For example, suppose you see multiple enemies moving out of the jungle towards a lane. In that case, it indicates a possible gank or push, allowing your team to prepare defences or set up a counter-attack. This strategic advantage can lead to more successful engagements and better map control.
Additionally, warding these areas can help your team invade the enemy jungle more safely. Knowing when the jungle is unoccupied allows your team to steal farms or set up ambushes. This disruption can severely impact the enemy's economy, putting them on the back foot and giving your team a significant advantage in gold and experience.
Vision Spots (High Ground)
High-ground vision spots provide significant strategic advantages. Wards placed on high-ground areas offer extensive visibility over crucial parts of the map. These spots are often more challenging for enemies to deward due to the elevated position, making your wards last longer and providing more consistent information. High-ground wards are particularly effective around crucial objectives such as Roshan, towers, and critical chokepoints. They allow your team to see enemy movements and positioning before engaging in fights. This advanced warning can be the difference between winning and losing team fights, allowing your team to set up more favourable engagements.
Furthermore, high-ground vision spots are excellent for defending and pushing objectives. When pushing a tower, placing wards on nearby high ground ensures your team won't be caught off-guard by enemy rotations. Similarly, defending a tower with high-ground vision helps your team spot enemy approaches and prepare accordingly. Overall, high-ground wards are invaluable for maintaining control and planning strategic moves.
Roshan
Constantly controlling the Roshan area is essential for gaining an upper hand in Dota 2. Roshan significantly boosts the team by securing his Aegis and, later, Cheese and Refresher Shard. Placing wards around Roshan ensures your team can contest or secure Roshan attempts, which can be game-changing during mid to late games. Roshan is a high-priority objective, and both teams compete heavily. Wards placed near Roshan's pit can reveal enemy attempts to take him down, allowing your team to react in time to contest or disrupt their efforts. This vision is crucial, as winning a fight around Roshan often leads to a significant power spike and momentum shift in your favour.
Moreover, controlling the vision around Roshan means controlling the high-ground areas near him. This gives your team better positioning during engagements and increases the chances of winning crucial team fights. Maintaining vision in this area is a key component of a successful strategy, particularly as the game progresses and Roshan's buffs become more valuable.
Approaches to Towers (Lanes)
Warding the approaches to towers is vital for ensuring safety and preventing ganks. These wards give your team visibility of enemy movements along the lanes, allowing players to farm and push more confidently. Knowing where the enemy is, your team can avoid dangerous situations and make more informed decisions. Towers are often the focal points of skirmishes and ganks, making it essential to have a vision of the approaches. Wards near these areas help your team see incoming enemy heroes, providing ample warning to retreat or prepare for a defence. This early warning system can significantly reduce the number of victorious enemy ganks and tower dives.
Additionally, these wards help in setting up ambushes and counter-ganks. When you envision the enemy approaching, your team can position themselves for a surprise attack, turning the tables on the bankers. Controlling the approaches to towers ensures your team's safety and opens up opportunities for aggressive plays and map control.
Secret Camps
Controlling secret camp areas is essential for safe farming. Secret camps like the Ancients provide significant farms for your core heroes. Wards here ensure that your team's farming routes are secure and free from enemy threats, allowing your cores to farm efficiently and build their items without constant fear of being ambushed. Enemy teams often target secret camps to disrupt your farming patterns. By placing wards around these camps, you can spot enemy rotations, and potential ganks before they happen. This early warning system allows your cores to retreat in time, preserving their farm and lives, which is crucial for maintaining their momentum.
Moreover, wards in secret camp areas can also be used offensively. If you notice the enemy cores farming in these camps, your team can coordinate to invade and contest the farm. This aggressive play can hinder the enemy's item progression and create opportunities for your team to gain a significant advantage. Ensuring vision in these areas is vital for both defensive and offensive strategies.
Secret Shop. Source: https://www.behance.net/
Shop Paths
Ensuring safety while purchasing items is crucial. Warding shop paths provides visibility and reduces the risk of being ambushed while shopping. These wards are critical during the mid to late game when the enemy team actively looks for pick-offs and opportunities to disrupt your item progression. Shop paths are common routes taken by heroes moving to and from the base or secret shop. By placing wards along these paths, you can gain visibility of enemy movements and avoid dangerous encounters. This vision ensures that your team's supports and cores can safely purchase their items without fear of being out of position.
Furthermore, controlling shop paths with wards allows your team to set up ambushes. If you see an enemy heading towards a shop, your team can position themselves to intercept and secure an easy kill. This control ensures your team's safety and creates opportunities to catch enemies off-guard and gain an advantage in crucial moments.
Uncommon Spots
Warding uncommon spots can be highly beneficial. These spots are checked less frequently by enemies but still provide valuable information. Placing wards in these less apparent locations can give your team the element of surprise and maintain vision without the enemy quickly rewarding them. Uncommon ward spots are often located in areas not typically traversed or expected by the enemy team. By placing wards in these locations, you can gather information on enemy movements and strategies without them realizing it. This hidden vision can be crucial for setting up unexpected plays and countering enemy plans.
Additionally, using uncommon ward spots can help maintain long-term vision. Since these wards are less likely to be found and destroyed, they provide consistent information over an extended period. This sustained vision allows your team to make informed decisions and maintain control of the map, giving you a strategic edge throughout the game.