Every self-respecting Dota player knows that all the characters are divided into three types - dodgers, siloviki and ints. It depends on which of their characteristics directly adds damage. But in the “vestibule”, in preparation for the match, conversations may begin about who takes whom - support, nukers, carry, tanks. To many, all these words will become incomprehensible and alien, but they mean very specific things.
Definition
Before explaining the principles of the game, let's decide who these support are. What kind of beast is this?
Translated from English support - support. Any player who has even a drop of mind immediately understands that the role of such characters in the game is to help allies. Moreover, this term is suitable not only for Dota, but also for most MMORPGs.
In the classic version, when the roles in the group are divided into three categories, support is a character who heals all those around him and “holds” a character who takes on all the attacking power of the enemy.
The choice
But we are not talking about ordinary online RPGs, but about the world-famous MOV - Dota. It does not have heal classes as a separate hierarchy, and in the preparation screen they say “Take support”. "What is it? What to do?" - sweeps in the user's head.
So which characters are best suppers? There are two categories into which this class can be divided.
- Nukers are classes that do the most damage with their spells. For example, Crystal Maiden or Lich. At the moment when the breach begins, they completely discharge the ammunition and become practically useless. To prevent this from happening, they begin to play another role - “support”. What this means, you will understand a little later.
- "Controllers". Characters with a large number of spells disorienting and interfering with the enemy. A striking example is Jakiro. This two-headed miracle with the help of its ice track is capable of incapacitating the entire enemy team for 2 seconds. And with double breath you can slow them down. This many times will save the life of you and your allies and will not allow an undefeated enemy to escape.
- Clean support. "What is it?" - you ask? In this case, we are talking about characters who generally can not at least somehow injure the enemy or treat themselves and their allies. For example, Dazzle, Necrophos, or Omniknight. These characters can slow, heal, stun and save from the imminent death of one or more allies.
If you are going to play for support, remember that the choice should be based on the choice of other characters. If the adversary takes the Pooja (the butcher), then Necrophos is a good fit. Thanks to his ultimate ability, the team will not have to completely kill this thick carcass, but only half. If the opponent has a “Geomancer” in the team, then your “Lich” will become your choice, which, again, with its ulta, is able to completely take this karapuz family upside down.
Procurement
So, you are a support. What to do? First of all, remember: you are not required to kill enemy players. Your task is to help your kerry (characters who do the main damage). Therefore, boldly take "wards" to highlight the terrain and the courier.
Building the Hand of Midas is a waste of time. It may seem that with it you can get gold from the forest so as not to pick up the pumping of the second liner, but it is much more profitable to buy something else.
Since your task is to help, various items with auras will come in handy. For example, Mecansm or Vladimir's Offering (for melee heroes). In the later stages of the game, Aganim Scepter (if necessary for your ultimate), Scythe of Vyse, Shiva's Guard will come in handy.
Since many supports have the ability to gank (periodic sudden attack on different lines), he will definitely need boots to accelerate movement. Ideally, Boots of traveler.
Another useful item will be Necronomicon. A book calling two mobs. When pumping, one opens nearby invisible enemies, and the second burns mana to opponents well.
Activities
What do the supports in Dota 2 do? Gank and lining. You should remember a few basic rules that any support should follow.
- Buy a courier and wards. You don’t always have to spend all the money on them, but at the initial levels (when playing with beginners) they should be at least on the runes.
- Feed your carry. If possible, do not finish off the enemy, but let the allies do it. If you see that the opponent will run away now, then the choice is obvious - either you or nobody.
- Gankait. If you see that your partner is holding steady on the line, better go and try to kill the enemy until he expects this.
- Protect your allies. You should always have mana so that you can stop, slow down an enemy, or heal an ally with gank.
- Do not sacrifice yourself. Your task is to help others, but remember that your main income is money falling over time. While you are dead, no one will give you money.
Top
And yet, no matter how much you convince newcomers, that the rating and quality of the game depend on the skills of the player himself, here and there, the question of who the best support will slip through.
If you look at the official rating of the characters, then the leader is always “Zeus”. It is understandable. His ultimate ability, obtained at level 6, allows you to finish off the enemy wherever he is on the map. And to escape from it will not work. So it turns out that in terms of the ratio of murders / deaths, “Zeus” takes a top position. But we have already decided that the main task of support is to help allies, and this character is not very suitable for this role.
In general, even among experienced players, the debate does not cease, which of the characters is the most effective support. "Dota" provides the player with a wide selection of heroes for every taste. Therefore, in each individual match, each support will be more effective than the other. And no one canceled the player’s “direct hands”.