5 signs that you're still a Dota 2 noob (and how to cure it)

Now let me tell you something about Dota 2: everyone will be called a noob at least once in public games. But there is a difference between being a noob because you are new to the game and being a noob because you have a bad grasp of the basic game mechanics.

As you might already know, the term ‘noob’ is internet slang for the word ‘novice’, but may also be used to refer to people who don’t know the basics of the game regardless of how long they’ve been playing. And guess what? You can be the latter and not even know it.

If you’ve already got 300 games or more under your belt and are still guilty of committing some, or heaven forbid, all of the following signs, you might just be that noob everyone is raging about. But, don’t worry, we also have a few tips to help you through that. We don’t guarantee that you will become Mushi or Dendi by simply following our advice, but at least you won’t feel like cannon fodder all the time.

1. You have super limited hero knowledge

We all have favorite heroes. That’s true. There are some heroes that we’re good at, and of course, some heroes we’re bad at. However, if you’ve played more than 300 games and still have no idea what half of those heroes can do, then something is wrong.

Why novices do it: There are more than a hundred heroes in Dota 2. Novices aren’t expected to immediately know and understand the entire hero pool from the get-go.

Why you shouldn’t be doing it anymore: Even if you’ve only used a few of the heroes, chances are you’ve seen the rest at some point in battle. If you pay attention during your matches, you will begin to understand which hero can do what to you. And if you haven’t been paying attention then I have one question for you. Why on earth are you not paying attention?

What you should do: Play more heroes. Press the ‘random hero’ button from time-to-time. If you’re too intimidated to do so in pubs, try it against bots. You don’t have to master the hero, but at least get an idea of what each hero is capable of. When playing, be aware of what each hero can do and use that knowledge when you’re facing that hero again. You’re not expected to know the Lich’s ultimate is called ‘Chain Frost’, but at least have the awareness to run away from where that white ball is bouncing.

2. You never leave your lane. Ever.

The laning phase is where you get gold and experience by last hitting or getting kills in your lane. This happens from the start of the game and just before you head to mid game or earlier depending on the situation. The key here is that the laning phase is not forever. Movement across the map is very important, and not so you don’t look like a sitting duck; it’s also for you to get important kills, push lanes and gain map control. This is particularly true for ganking heroes such as Clinkz, Bounty Hunter and Puck as well as split pushing heroes like Nature’s Prophet, Tinker and Naga Siren.

Why novices do it: Novices don’t move around the map because they don’t know what’s out there. Novices can’t tell what other heroes can do so they don’t know which enemy hero to move on to, or which teammate to assist.

Why you shouldn’t be doing it anymore: The map is bigger than just your lane. Besides, if you stay in your lane too much, the opposing team will just keep on killing you and basic human instincts tell you that if something bad keeps on happening to you in one place, you should try going someplace else.

What you should do: Use ganking heroes and do what you’re supposed to do — gank. Set a goal or indication for yourself so you know when to start ganking or hunting. For example, when Bounty Hunter hits level six, you can start roaming around and killing off the squishier heroes. You can also use heroes that are good for split pushing and start moving when you take your first tower or when the enemy decides to push before you. Learning when to leave your lane also requires you to be aware of your surroundings, which brings me to my next point.