Dear fellow trash-tier players,
I write to you from the 2k trenches. As you all know, I'm not a particularly talented Dota 2 player. But since you, beloved listener, care to spend some of your valuable free time listening to us simpletons talk about Dota, maybe you're not such a gifted player either. Which is exactly why I'm writing. The WLD community might be able to benefit from the many, many mistakes my teammates and I make over the course of my pubs. The idea is this: I play some Dota each week, snap some screenshots, and report back to you for one or two instances that things could have gone better. I'll do my best Purge impression, but minus the math, unemotional affect, and far less credibility. Thanks for reading the intro paragraph! As a reward, here's a picture of the lovely Purge lifting weights:
Purge gets swol
So, what did I learn this week? Check out the situation below. Sniper opted to skill his passives at level two, which I think is a mistake. His Q, Shrapnel, is far too efficient to pass up. It provides an nice AOE slow with decent zoning/last hitting potential. In this match-up, Sniper already enjoys a significant range and projectile advantage over Bane (even without his passive Take Aim). Bane, on the other hand, went for an early level in Enfeeble, which reduces an opponent's right click damage (lasts for 20 seconds and is on an 8 second cool-down!). Currently, it's cutting Sniper's damage output by about half. In my experience, typical Bane players opt for maxing Brain Sap and Nightmare, putting Enfeeble on the back burner. By choosing to level Enfeeble and Brain Sap, Bane gives himself the chance to trade effectively with Sniper. Sniper ultimately prevailed in lane, despite going for an 0-2-2 build by level 4, but sometimes the process is more important than the outcome. I'm looking forward to at least trying Bane with an early level in Enfeeble. I think it could really be effective in trading/zoning enemy off-laners. It might even have some utility in the pervasive duel-lane setup, simply because of the amount it decreases damage output in the early levels. And folks, if you're taking Sniper mid, please prioritize Shrapnel!
Sniper, gettin' Enfeebled
Thanks everyone for reading! If there's something blatant that I missed or you'd like to see addressed, the comments section is open for business! Till next time.
With love,
The Plaid Pirate