It's very important to not pick all heroes from a single strategy all the time - actually the more you can incorporate into a single team, the stronger it is. These lists should be a handy resource which will make crafting a complicated team a bit easier. Of course, heroes recently buffed in a given patch might outshine any logic through sheer power alone. The hallmark of a great captain such as Puppey is the ability to weave some oddball synergy into an otherwise standard team.
Please note that this guide does not cover laning or gold distribution. The reason you do not want a team of hard carries is mainly because they all require farm and all suck in lane together. I prefer the Chinese style of assigning farm priority from 1-5 to each hero, make sure you can do that comfortably in your team. Always keep winning lanes in mind, because your carefully laid plan could fall apart from the beginning otherwise.
Strategy: Fight Heroes
Naturally the largest amount of heroes work for this strategy. Contrary to popular belief, the most important thing is not AoE, 180 second cooldown wombo ults. You must have enough heroes on your team that can deal a decent amount of damage. Otherwise your whole strategy will go off, with no enemies dead. However, a hero that deals AoE, stunning damage, is still better in a fight than one that does single-target, vanilla damage, so keep it in mind if it did make the list.
Reliable Damage: Centaur, Earthshaker, Brewmaster, Sven, Tiny, Huskar, Shredder, Slardar, Sand King, Juggernaut, Phantom Lancer, Troll Warlord, Ursa, Vengeful Spirit, Bounty Hunter, Ember Spirit, Clinkz, Nyx Assassin, Terrorblade, Viper, Meepo, Crystal Maiden, Zeus, Lina, Tinker, Shadow Shaman, Skywrath Mage, Necrolyte, Queen of Pain
Unreliable/Situational Damage: Kunkka, Phoenix, Axe, Doom, Pudge, Sniper, Luna, Mirana, Gyrocopter, Drow Ranger, Templar Assassin, Bloodseeker, Shadow Fiend, Venomancer, Arc Warden, Enchantress, Puck, Keeper of the Light, Silencer, Windrunner, Disruptor, Ogre Magi, Jakiro, Rubick, Oracle, Lich, Pugna, Obsidian Destroyer, Batrider, Invoker, Leshrac, Witch Doctor, Winter Wyvern, Visage
Strategy: Fight Buildings
Your heroes should be able to deal heavy damage to towers, heal/bolster your own creep waves, and/or be able to push multiple areas quickly.
Global Pushers: Pit Lord, Io, Antimage, Morphling, Naga Siren, Tinker, Nature's Prophet
Summoners: Lycanthrope, Lone Druid, Broodmother, Enigma, Warlock, Nature's Prophet, Venomancer, Enchantress, Chen, Shadow Shaman
Tower Melters: Tiny, Drow Ranger, Clinkz, Terrorblade, Leshrac, Pugna, Windrunner, Techies, Death Prophet
Group Buffers: Skeleton King, Lycanthrope, Beastmaster, Juggernaut, Luna, Vengeful Spirit, Drow Ranger, Necrolyte, Dazzle
Strategy: Defend and Farm
You need to have at least 1 hard carry that can kill an entire team when he is done farming. The rest of your heroes must be able to defend against pushes, generally from a long range so they don't die themselves. It is situationally a good idea to pick heroes which help the carry to come online faster through powerful buffs or auras.
Defenders: Beastmaster, Earthshaker, Treant Protector, Undying, Elder Titan, Phoenix, Abaddon, Pit Lord, Pudge, Tidehunter, Magnus, Sand King, Kunkka, Sniper, Mirana, Dark Seer, Jakiro, Ancient Apparition, Venomancer, Arc Warden, Keeper of the Light, Lina, Storm Spirit, Techies, Shadow Shaman, Rubick, Death Prophet, Lich, Invoker
Team Wiping Ricers: Dragon Knight, Medusa, Spectre, Gyrocopter, Ember Spirit
Carry Boosters: Slardar, Magnus, Sven, Legion Commander, Io, Bloodseeker, Troll Warlord, Ogre Magi, Invoker
Naturally the largest amount of heroes work for this strategy. Contrary to popular belief, the most important thing is not AoE, 180 second cooldown wombo ults. You must have enough heroes on your team that can deal a decent amount of damage. Otherwise your whole strategy will go off, with no enemies dead. However, a hero that deals AoE, stunning damage, is still better in a fight than one that does single-target, vanilla damage, so keep it in mind if it did make the list.
Reliable Damage: Centaur, Earthshaker, Brewmaster, Sven, Tiny, Huskar, Shredder, Slardar, Sand King, Juggernaut, Phantom Lancer, Troll Warlord, Ursa, Vengeful Spirit, Bounty Hunter, Ember Spirit, Clinkz, Nyx Assassin, Terrorblade, Viper, Meepo, Crystal Maiden, Zeus, Lina, Tinker, Shadow Shaman, Skywrath Mage, Necrolyte, Queen of Pain
Unreliable/Situational Damage: Kunkka, Phoenix, Axe, Doom, Pudge, Sniper, Luna, Mirana, Gyrocopter, Drow Ranger, Templar Assassin, Bloodseeker, Shadow Fiend, Venomancer, Arc Warden, Enchantress, Puck, Keeper of the Light, Silencer, Windrunner, Disruptor, Ogre Magi, Jakiro, Rubick, Oracle, Lich, Pugna, Obsidian Destroyer, Batrider, Invoker, Leshrac, Witch Doctor, Winter Wyvern, Visage
Strategy: Fight Buildings
Your heroes should be able to deal heavy damage to towers, heal/bolster your own creep waves, and/or be able to push multiple areas quickly.
Global Pushers: Pit Lord, Io, Antimage, Morphling, Naga Siren, Tinker, Nature's Prophet
Summoners: Lycanthrope, Lone Druid, Broodmother, Enigma, Warlock, Nature's Prophet, Venomancer, Enchantress, Chen, Shadow Shaman
Tower Melters: Tiny, Drow Ranger, Clinkz, Terrorblade, Leshrac, Pugna, Windrunner, Techies, Death Prophet
Group Buffers: Skeleton King, Lycanthrope, Beastmaster, Juggernaut, Luna, Vengeful Spirit, Drow Ranger, Necrolyte, Dazzle
Strategy: Defend and Farm
You need to have at least 1 hard carry that can kill an entire team when he is done farming. The rest of your heroes must be able to defend against pushes, generally from a long range so they don't die themselves. It is situationally a good idea to pick heroes which help the carry to come online faster through powerful buffs or auras.
Defenders: Beastmaster, Earthshaker, Treant Protector, Undying, Elder Titan, Phoenix, Abaddon, Pit Lord, Pudge, Tidehunter, Magnus, Sand King, Kunkka, Sniper, Mirana, Dark Seer, Jakiro, Ancient Apparition, Venomancer, Arc Warden, Keeper of the Light, Lina, Storm Spirit, Techies, Shadow Shaman, Rubick, Death Prophet, Lich, Invoker
Team Wiping Ricers: Dragon Knight, Medusa, Spectre, Gyrocopter, Ember Spirit
Carry Boosters: Slardar, Magnus, Sven, Legion Commander, Io, Bloodseeker, Troll Warlord, Ogre Magi, Invoker
Squishiness
Something to keep in mind when the enemy is picking their team is how squishy they are. I might define "squishy" as having <2.0 Strength growth, and <25 starting Strength, but there are other factors involved such as Agility/base armor, items, and hero abilities.
If the enemy has a lot of squishy heroes, you want to pick one of the below to punish them. The enemy is letting you make a greedy pick, so take advantage of it. Likewise, you don't want to fill up your own team with too many squishies, unless you know all of the below heroes won't be a problem for your specific composition.
This list doubles as a "threat" list. Snowballers are the type of hero you want to prioritize countering. If they get started, you lose, so learn their weaknesses very well.
Snowballers: Alchemist, Chaos Knight, Nightstalker, Bristleback, Tiny, Legion Commander, Tuskarr, Spiritbreaker, Riki, Weaver, Faceless Void, Phantom Assassin, Morphling, Templar Assassin, Ursa, Bounty Hunter, Ember Spirit, Nyx Assassin, Spectre, Slark, Storm Spirit
Special mention if they have not enough squishies: Lifestealer
Hyper early game heroes:
Be careful picking any of these because they drop off fast. However, if your goal is to win QUICKLY (30 minutes or sooner), you will want 1 or more of these.
Gotta Go Fast: Undying, Brewmaster, Clockwerk, Shredder, Earth Spirit, Axe, Templar Assassin, Meepo, Slark, Crystal Maiden
If they have stupid mobility or are walking ults:
Long Silences: Doom, Bloodseeker, Drow Ranger, Riki, Silencer, Skywrath Mage
If they have scary autoattackers:
Evasion/Miss Chance: Brewmaster, Troll Warlord, Phantom Assassin, Riki, Keeper of the Light
Damage Reduction/Attack Speed Reduction: Pit Lord, Tidehunter, Razor, Bane, Enchantress, Visage
Disarm: Silencer, Invoker
Armor Buffers: Omniknight, Sven, Dragon Knight, Tiny, Lich
If BKB, Omni, Juggernaut, or Lifestealer will ruin your day:
Magic Immunity Piercing Stunners: Beastmaster, Pudge, Axe, Slardar, Faceless Void, Troll Warlord, Batrider, Bane, Enigma
If you need a purge:
Seeing an Omniknight on the enemy team is the biggest reason to pick one of these, but also Broodmother, Warlock, Hexers, and stunners, depending on the type of purge.
Diffusal Blade Carriers: Phantom Lancer, Naga Siren, Riki, Spectre
Eul Carriers: Shadow Fiend, Lina, Death Prophet, Ancient Apparition, Leshrac
Enemy Purgers: Shadow Demon, Oracle, Invoker
Ally Purgers: Abaddon, Legion Commander, Oracle
If they have heroes with low Intelligence:
Mana Thieves: Invoker, Silencer, Outworld Devourer, Lion, Keeper of the Light
If they have illusion carries:
Enemy Illusion Makers: Terrorblade, Dark Seer, Shadow Demon
Illusion Killers: Earthshaker, Medusa, Lion
Something to keep in mind when the enemy is picking their team is how squishy they are. I might define "squishy" as having <2.0 Strength growth, and <25 starting Strength, but there are other factors involved such as Agility/base armor, items, and hero abilities.
If the enemy has a lot of squishy heroes, you want to pick one of the below to punish them. The enemy is letting you make a greedy pick, so take advantage of it. Likewise, you don't want to fill up your own team with too many squishies, unless you know all of the below heroes won't be a problem for your specific composition.
This list doubles as a "threat" list. Snowballers are the type of hero you want to prioritize countering. If they get started, you lose, so learn their weaknesses very well.
Snowballers: Alchemist, Chaos Knight, Nightstalker, Bristleback, Tiny, Legion Commander, Tuskarr, Spiritbreaker, Riki, Weaver, Faceless Void, Phantom Assassin, Morphling, Templar Assassin, Ursa, Bounty Hunter, Ember Spirit, Nyx Assassin, Spectre, Slark, Storm Spirit
Special mention if they have not enough squishies: Lifestealer
Hyper early game heroes:
Be careful picking any of these because they drop off fast. However, if your goal is to win QUICKLY (30 minutes or sooner), you will want 1 or more of these.
Gotta Go Fast: Undying, Brewmaster, Clockwerk, Shredder, Earth Spirit, Axe, Templar Assassin, Meepo, Slark, Crystal Maiden
If they have stupid mobility or are walking ults:
Long Silences: Doom, Bloodseeker, Drow Ranger, Riki, Silencer, Skywrath Mage
If they have scary autoattackers:
Evasion/Miss Chance: Brewmaster, Troll Warlord, Phantom Assassin, Riki, Keeper of the Light
Damage Reduction/Attack Speed Reduction: Pit Lord, Tidehunter, Razor, Bane, Enchantress, Visage
Disarm: Silencer, Invoker
Armor Buffers: Omniknight, Sven, Dragon Knight, Tiny, Lich
If BKB, Omni, Juggernaut, or Lifestealer will ruin your day:
Magic Immunity Piercing Stunners: Beastmaster, Pudge, Axe, Slardar, Faceless Void, Troll Warlord, Batrider, Bane, Enigma
If you need a purge:
Seeing an Omniknight on the enemy team is the biggest reason to pick one of these, but also Broodmother, Warlock, Hexers, and stunners, depending on the type of purge.
Diffusal Blade Carriers: Phantom Lancer, Naga Siren, Riki, Spectre
Eul Carriers: Shadow Fiend, Lina, Death Prophet, Ancient Apparition, Leshrac
Enemy Purgers: Shadow Demon, Oracle, Invoker
Ally Purgers: Abaddon, Legion Commander, Oracle
If they have heroes with low Intelligence:
Mana Thieves: Invoker, Silencer, Outworld Devourer, Lion, Keeper of the Light
If they have illusion carries:
Enemy Illusion Makers: Terrorblade, Dark Seer, Shadow Demon
Illusion Killers: Earthshaker, Medusa, Lion
Example 1:
You want to Fight Heroes. You start off with a VS and Slardar for their -armor combo, both having a stun, and generally leaving your options open in case you needed to switch to a Fight Towers strat, it is still possible. Picks 3 and 4 go by, you get 2 more under Fight Heroes since nothing frightening happened yet.
Finally they reveal an Antimage on their final pick. You know you want to end the game early against an Antimage, so you pick Shadow Shaman for his pushing capabilities, ability to stun the Antimage, and his wards work with Slardar's ultimate too. If their carry was a Medusa, you might have gotten a Nyx Assassin instead - his ult also comboes with -armor, but he has the additional counter against Mana Shield.
Possibilities here are endless, but the point is you start off with a strong and versatile strategy, and then counter, always keeping synergy in mind.
Example 2:
Your plan is to stack long ranged surprise kills with Mirana and Kunkka. You can definitely go with the Defend and Farm strategy with that start - so now to pick a defender with lower cooldowns, and a nice hard carry which goes with the team. Jakiro and Gyrocopter also have long range, so let's pick those. Finally, we have completely everything for our team already, and the enemy got a Rikimaru, so we choose Bounty Hunter to counter his invisibility, and give Gyro a money boost which means he can be in more fights without sacrificing potential gold. We were going to put Kunkka mid and Mirana in a trilane, but they are such versatile first picks that we could completely swap that around, placing the Bounty Hunter mid instead.
There will sometimes be many more factors/dangerous enemy heroes to consider in picking, but many times it is really as easy as that.
Example 3:
You want to go for a healing/pushing strategy, so you grab Omniknight and Dazzle, leaving your tower pushers open. The enemy instantly grabs Jakiro and Tidehunter, making your pushing strategy not so optimal any more. You finish the team off as a mix of defending and pushing, choosing Dragon Knight as the ricer/pushing carry, and Rubick to counter pushes as well as try to steal the tide ult. You don't have any bans to spare so you finish with Ancient Apparition to defend against pushes, as well as prevent him from being picked to counter your healing.
You want to Fight Heroes. You start off with a VS and Slardar for their -armor combo, both having a stun, and generally leaving your options open in case you needed to switch to a Fight Towers strat, it is still possible. Picks 3 and 4 go by, you get 2 more under Fight Heroes since nothing frightening happened yet.
Finally they reveal an Antimage on their final pick. You know you want to end the game early against an Antimage, so you pick Shadow Shaman for his pushing capabilities, ability to stun the Antimage, and his wards work with Slardar's ultimate too. If their carry was a Medusa, you might have gotten a Nyx Assassin instead - his ult also comboes with -armor, but he has the additional counter against Mana Shield.
Possibilities here are endless, but the point is you start off with a strong and versatile strategy, and then counter, always keeping synergy in mind.
Example 2:
Your plan is to stack long ranged surprise kills with Mirana and Kunkka. You can definitely go with the Defend and Farm strategy with that start - so now to pick a defender with lower cooldowns, and a nice hard carry which goes with the team. Jakiro and Gyrocopter also have long range, so let's pick those. Finally, we have completely everything for our team already, and the enemy got a Rikimaru, so we choose Bounty Hunter to counter his invisibility, and give Gyro a money boost which means he can be in more fights without sacrificing potential gold. We were going to put Kunkka mid and Mirana in a trilane, but they are such versatile first picks that we could completely swap that around, placing the Bounty Hunter mid instead.
There will sometimes be many more factors/dangerous enemy heroes to consider in picking, but many times it is really as easy as that.
Example 3:
You want to go for a healing/pushing strategy, so you grab Omniknight and Dazzle, leaving your tower pushers open. The enemy instantly grabs Jakiro and Tidehunter, making your pushing strategy not so optimal any more. You finish the team off as a mix of defending and pushing, choosing Dragon Knight as the ricer/pushing carry, and Rubick to counter pushes as well as try to steal the tide ult. You don't have any bans to spare so you finish with Ancient Apparition to defend against pushes, as well as prevent him from being picked to counter your healing.
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