Surviving 3k: Spamming Heroes

If your goal is to increase your MMR and aren't spamming between 3-5 heroes, then consider giving it a shot. Here are some reasons why you should consider this approach to gaining MMR:

• Gaining MMR is about consistency and skill so by spamming few heroes, you can increase both of these. 
• Most people can only stay sharp on a finite number of heroes, play styles, and habits and spamming eliminates this variability. 
• Patches create an environment where certain roles, play styles, and heroes are favored to have a higher impact in the game and spamming tries to take advantage of that. 

You don't have to pick "meta" heroes to be successful. That isn't quite the right mindset. Instead, use this approach to breakout of a plateau or build up some confidence in your game. Give it a shot and let me know how it goes. I'll share my results next week and I hope you will do the same.

Surviving 3K MMR: Objective Pressure

Objective pressure is that feeling when the opponent just double raxed you. Your team lost a team fight and your opponents decide the time has come to take out your precious barracks. Having had this experience more times than I care to count, I haven't let that feeling of pressure from being down overcome and consume me. Instead, I always ask myself how can I get back in the game? While this scenario takes place late in the game, a healthy pressure should always exist in the back of your head, keeping you alert and focused on the game. With all this in mind, let's dive a little further into objective pressure.

The main objectives are:

1.   Runes – the most important objective during the laning stage but fall off as the game progresses (unless you’re S4).

2.   Roshan – the mascot of DOTA 2 and his aegis represent one of the most important advantages any team can secure.

3.   Tier 1 and 2 towers – objectives teams try to secure after the laning stage

4.   Tier 3 towers and Barracks – the end game objectives, taking these greatly increases your team’s chance for success

5.   Tier 4 towers and the Throne – the penultimate objectives; taking these means you have won the game.

These 5 categories are the most important to understand for learning objective pressure because Dota is a game of objectives. Consider for a moment the following scenarios and decide for yourself if your team or your opponent improved their position, gained an advantage or it's relatively neutral.

• You trade safelane tier 1 towers with your opponent
• You trade damage on a tier 4 tower for stopping the opponent from killing Roshan
• You trade a tier 4 tower for stopping the opponent from killing Roshan
• You trade your safelane tier 2 tower for Roshan
• You trade a tier 1 in the offlane for a tier 1 in mid
• You stop your opponent from taking your tier 3 tower
• You trade your ranged rax for a buy back on one of your team's core and an opponent team wipe
• You trade your ranged rax for a buy back on two of your team's core and an opponent team wipe
• Trading damage on your tier 1 for a bounty rune as a mid player
• Trading damage on your tier 1 for a haste rune as a mid player

And the list goes on. Weighing these tradeoffs usually takes place in a split second. It's generally when we feel the most pressure that we make these decisions the fastest. This in turn is where we are most prone to err if we haven't thought through what we are going to do in those situations before hand. The best way to illustrate this is when high level players commentate about what when wrong for the losing team. Most of the time they use phrase's like: "if Beast Master doesn't buy back there, it's over" or "because the Sven got rooted at this point in the fight, they missed their window to win the fight." To a pro, these thoughts are second nature. This is because they have internalized conscious decisions made before this on what to do in certain situations. For the 3k player, we need to take these conscious decisions and make them unconscious through thinking how different scenarios in the game will play out and practicing.

Let's get back to our situations listed above. I'm sure a lot of you prefaced your answers with "it really depend" or something like that. This important phrase gives us insight into what we need to do when we feel under pressure. There is no pressure more palpable than trying to securing Roshan in the late game. Both teams jockey for superior ward position, trying to find pick-offs, and map control before confront the beast. This imposes a feeling of pressure that encourages you to act. Thus, you must properly identify which factors your actions will depend on. These factors range from your perceived lead to what point in the game it is to how many smokes you have left. This is where the importance of iteration and education (like this blog and others) come in. Playing games provide reference experience and education allows you to compare your reference experience to that of the educator. 

In the end, that feeling of pressure when related to objectives boils down to a feeling about making the best decisions by correctly identifying what factors your decision should be based on. We could go into the weeds of asymmetric information and the fog of war, but that doesn't help you in your next queue. Remembering that the feeling of pressure should be motivating you to make the best decision you know how to will.

Is it time for internal servers?

Would it be outside the realm of possibility to have a each of lan event be able to have it's own internal server? For those of us old enough to remember a time when a bunch of guys would get together with their computers (or consoles) in a single house and connect them all via a switch, this idea isn't new. Watching Dota Pit and seeing the issues around the ISP for the event, it stands to reason that events could benefit from this idea - have all the computers on an internal network. I know there would be many questions as to how to implement this but it would allow tournaments to go smoother. Until esports reach the level of execution of more traditional professional sports, it still has some hurdles to overcome.

Dota Pit - The Aftermath

What an exciting and great event Dota Pit was. Aside from some of the internet service provider (ISP) issues with packet loss, the even was smooth, the hosting was great and the commentators kept the games interesting and informative. Here are a few of my highlights from the event:

• MVP.Phoenix put up a dominant performance against the best team in the world, Evil Geniuses (EG). Their play style kept EG off balance and showed the power of fighting all the time. MVP looked more polished than they did at the major and really showed their understanding of how far they can push their heroes in fights.
• Navi came out swinging, taking down the Shang Hai major champions, team Secret, 2-1 in some exciting games. Even on day 2 against EG, all of Navi came out to play, despite falling flat game 1 against EG. They ended up losing 2-1 to EG but they exceeded all expectations. Their two new players, General and Ditya Ra, played really well (just peep game the double lasso which sealed game 3). Maybe the Navi magic is back…
• One of the questions I had was for VP - how were they going to do? Unfortunately, that hinged on the former Navi Carry, XBOCT under performing in their loss to Complexity; it looked like nerves got to him in game 1. I’m sure VP will be happy to have Silent back (sorry, XBOX.)
• Complexity's stock continues to rise. Their ability to continually advance further and further into tournaments will help them get better and better, assuming they continue to learn from their mistakes and increase their hero pool. Their biggest problem, as pointed out by Swindlezz, is that they are less flexible in their draft than stronger teams. 
• OG is having a rough patch and there’s not a clear way around it. Moon, Notail, and the rest of the squad have the skills but can’t seem to find a draft or play style they are comfortable with in the current patch.
• The meta still revolves around Lone Druid, Lion, Earth Spirit, Nature's Prophet, Invoker, and Outworld Devourer.
• These heroes are complemented by others: Dark Seer, Void, Chen, Death Prophet, Beast Master Enchantress, and Spectre.
• Sven has fallen out of favor as the go-to carry but it is still the most stable carry as evidence by the announcers mentioning it often for pick 4 or 5 for teams that need a carry. Teams have instead turned to Spectre and Juggernaut as the two carries of choice. 

This will be one of the most boring times in Dota (second to post TI). The next Valve major will be the next major tournament to take place. As teams shuffle around and get their roster settled, they will prepare for the most important part of the season, The International. Thanks for reading and let me know what you thought some of the highlights from the event were.

Dota Pit: The Road to Manila Begins

Dota Pit looms in the aftermath of the Shang Hai major. From here on out, teams are trying to secure a coveted invite to the Manila major and, ultimately, TI. For a few teams, even a single win at Dota Pit would boost their profile and put them in contention for skipping the grueling and competitive qualifiers. Secret, EG, and OG will likely get a direct invite regardless of how they perform at Dota Pit because of their previous major and TI victories. Instead, let's look at the teams who really stand to benefit from doing well at this tournament.

Virtus.Pro is in a wierd position. They are the best team in the CIS region as evidence by their received direct invites to TI and both previous majors. At these tournaments, however, they have failed to find a top 4 finish. They played very well at the Summit, almost taking it down but losing 3-2 to EG in the finals. With that said, VP struggles against the top tier western teams having lost to OG, Liquid, and Secret in their previous tournaments. I think that Silent will pay dividends to the team in the 1 position because his play is less risky thank Illidan. Hopefully with his help, VP gets over the hump of not cracking top 4 at a large Valve event come June. Right now, however, XBOCT will be carrying for the team this weekend. It could be a disaster or a nice change of pace. Regardless, a first place finish Dota Pit would be surprising but not outside the realm of possibility (even The Score's Bernard Malijan has them winning). I place them on the same level as MVP and Complexity, ahead of Navi and Empire but behind Secret, OG, and EG. Remember that invites get spread among regions and the best teams overall so getting knocked out in the first round wouldn't on its own jeopardize their chances of an invite. It would take Empire surging into a series of wins to threaten their chances.  

One of two NA teams in the tournament, Complexity has the most evenly matced opponent in the first round. It's tough to say at this point whether Complexity have earned a direct invite to Manila or TI. Their performances at TI with the old team and Shang Hai with their new roster were above expectations but still showed the team, led confidently by their captain, has some growing to do if they want to rival their NA big brothers, EG. They have also filled the void left by China's waning performance. A win at Dota Pit would be a huge step in securing a golden ticket to Manila and beyond. In front of them is the toughest road to the finals; VP are just as good but more experienced, OG are major champions, and MVP are coming off a strong performance at Shang Hai with a patch that favors their play style. In the finals, assuming no huge upsets, team Secret and EG are the best two teams in the world and their performance has been the most consistent since TI. This would make a win all the more resounding.

The lone South East Asian team of the tournament, MVP, put up a very surprising and good showing at Shanghai. Their group stage performance and main event run really took teams by surprise. Even with their 0-2 loss to EG, this team has put up consistent results and a win at Dota Pit puts team on track for an invite to the next major, something it didn't secure for either Frankfurt or Shang Hai. The current patch favors their style of play; the aggressive and high tempo games MVP favor put teams on edge and disrupt the normal timings of things. If they can continue to find success with this "all-in" mentality, they can act as a foil to the traditional farm-and-fight style of play man teams like and punch their ticket to Manila and even TI. To make it there, they have to punch through OG, battle the winner of VP/Complexity and then do better than their 0-2 loss to EG in lower bracket of Shang Hai against whoever comes out of the lower four teams. 

Poor Navi haven't had much success recently. According to Liquidpedia, they haven't placed in a tournament since The International 2015. They are looking for that magic they had at TI 1, having picked up Ditya Ra and General, it seems they are trying to turn a new page in the Navi legacy. It's possible they pull an Alliance in the next couple years, but the focus right now is Dota Pit and TI after that. Even with the roster changes, three players have been with the team for a while; Dendi and Artstyle are legends and SoNNeikO showed streaks brilliance during the international (with the Winter Wyvern, especially). Making it out of the first round with a win against Secret would send a wake up call to the all the sleeping Navi fans and perhaps they could ride that wave of excitement to an unlikely tournament victory (no lower bracket here unfortunately.) For Navi, the path to a Manila invite starts with a first round win at Dota Pit and then stringing together better and better tournament performances. 

The last team that could use a tournament win is Empire. If VP is the best CIS team, then Empire is number 2. For some reason, unlike MVP, Empire hasn't been able to capitalize on the current patch and meta. Empire used to be a team which effectively used aggressive line-ups with the ability to push down towers and take teams down. Recently, however, they haven't found the same success and have found minor second place finishes. Just like Navi, a first round win against EG would put them on the fast track for a Manila invite. While I don't think it's impossible for this to happen (Vega improbably beat EG at ESL One), it will require a clever and well thought out approach. I think a more reasonable goal is taking a game off EG with a strong showing and putting up a good fight in a best of three. In this way, Empire can begin a snowball toward Manila and TI. 

All teams new and old have their eyes on the Prize of a TI invite. Dota Pit is the first chance in the wake of the Shang Hai major for some teams to start their Manila and TI run. VP, MVP, and Complexity have their eyes on a tournament win, thus proving they really are teams to be reckoned with. Navi and Empire are looking for first round wins against stronger opponents in order to gain traction toward TI. As many professional players will tell you, every tournament is practice for TI, where the Aegis awaits them, and Dota Pit is no different. 

Surviving 3K MMR: Applying Pressure

Hello everyone and welcome to the first in a 5 part series on pressure. In DOTA 2, there are three main types of pressure and you feel them in each and every game you play. Let me stress this point: pressure is that feeling you get when your heart is pounding because you have lost map control and the enemy team is under the cover of smoke, advancing on you. Understanding the three types of pressure is fundamental in learning how to channel the feeling of duress you get when under pressure into properly allocating the resources you provide to your team. The three types of pressure are: objective, lane, and time. In physics, pressure is defined force over an area like pounds (force) per square inch (area). In DOTA 2, pressure is also force over an area however this force is the the drive for resources and the area is the map. By understanding and properly reacting to pressure, you can make better decisions and increase your win percentage.

Objective pressure is the largest and most important type of pressure in the game for a couple of reasons: the other two types of pressure directly contribute to it, objectives can be taken from minute 0, and your team gains resources either directly through taking objectives or indirectly through information through things that grant vision (like wards). In fact, the Throne is the penultimate objective and taking it means victory. Below the Throne sit other objectives to focus on and talk about: runes, Roshan, and building. Roshan and buildings provide an immediate gold boost as well as the Aegis of the Immortal for the former and map control for the latter. Runes aren't always as tangible; sometimes they swing the game and sometimes they are just bounty runes... Regardless of which runes they are, they are important objectives in the early part of games.

Lane pressure is the second type of pressure discussed in this series. Lane pressure is, in some ways, a subset of Objective pressure, however it gets its own spotlight because it's more localized, time sensitive, and has a large impact on how the game unfolds. To help distinguish lane pressure from objective pressure, think of objective pressure as the result of accumulating resources - i.e. get gold, then get item, take objective - and think of lane pressure as the act of accumulating resources. By accumulating resources in lane (and in the jungle by extension), you pressure your opponent. Think of lane pressure like an Anti Mage clearing waves of creeps and then clearing the jungle then back to clearing waves of creeps - an enemy team feels pressured to stop him.

Finally, there is time pressure which derives its existence from the idea that line ups or individual heroes want to hit certain timings. Missing those timing makes the game a lot harder for the team which missed it. The converse reverse is also true; make your timings and the game gets easier (hopefully resulting in a win!) Radiance represents this idea brilliantly. A Spectre feels pressured to get her Radiance as soon as possible and the enemy team feels pressured to delay it as long as possible. If her Radiance is acquired on time or early (about 20 minutes), her team is in a good position to win. The longer she's delayed, however, the more pressure her team is under because so many resources have been lost or tied up in getting it.

Understanding what you feel when you're playing is important and we have all had that feeling of pressure at one point or another. When you can identify and translate what you feel into coherent terms, you become a force to be reckoned. Most people get stuck in the feeling phase (thus the constant flame) but reading this blog and channeling how feel into the proper response and decision is the key to grabbing a victory in 3K MMR.

The Snowball Effect

Much like a snowball rolling down hill gets bigger and continues to accumulate snow, so to do heroes who accumulate resources tend to continue to accumulate resources. Certain heroes are more prone to snowball than others, but all heroes can snowball to some degree. Some heroes are reliant snowballing to get ahead in resources and then try to maintain that lead until they win the game.