A look at post-6.48b strategies and lineups

A look at post-6.48b strategies and lineups

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:50 am

Since a lot of things have changed from 6.48b up to 6.51, it may be useful to review some of the current strategies in use and possible strategies in 6.51. The following assumes that modes like -ap and -xl will still be in force after 6.48b.

6.48b - Blink and Stun
This strategy is the most ubiquitous in 6.48b, and the main idea of it involves Kelen's Dagger of Escape. Based on this heroes like Shadow Fiend, Slayer, Lord of Olympia, Priestess of the Moon, Queen of Pain and sometimes Earthshaker are used to achieve the greatest effect of the strategy.

Sometimes other heroes like Necrolyte, Nerubian Assassin, Warlock, Twin Head Dragon, Beastmaster and sometimes Silencer, Netherdrake, Soul Keeper or Spectre are used which reflect, additionally, the supportive help given by some heroes to make them stronger. "Push" strategies are used but less commonly, and do not feature the 6.37 lineups.

That's 6.48b. With the understanding we have about Icefrog's real motivation behind the post-6.48b changes, we may derive possible lineups which will be used on maps based on the current changes (perhaps with minor deviations).

v6.51 lineups
6.51 is a much more liberal version allowing for different, varied strategies. Whether the Blink-Stun, Push, Mega-Combo, Global Attack (!) or Damage/Time, you name it, these have become possible choices in 6.51. It may be useful to analyse what heroes are favored under certain main strategies.

Blink-Stun
I expect this 6.48b-unique strategy to be brought forward into 6.51, but some heroes will be changed or some items will be varied. Under 6.51 Blink-Stun, ye-olde like Queen of Pain and Sand King can expect to be retained, while some buffed heroes like Demon Witch, Lich and Crystal Maiden could be brought in with the new offense-oriented Blink Dagger. If that is the case expect very, very dangerous combinations under the Blink-Stun.

The Faceless Void or Morphling could become the new "carry" hero under this strategy, but Zeus the Lord of Olympia could be phased out, because the need for a global strike in case of an escape is not so apparent anymore. Mirana Nightshade the Priestess of the Moon could also take a back seat, she is too much of a "jack of all trades" to be a master of none under this new Blink-Stun. The Vengeful Spirit, now unshackled by the restrictions placed on Blink Dagger, will also see greater use under this strategy.

Other heroes that could expect to be used under 6.51 Blink-Stun are Rogue Knight, Stone Giant, Faerie Dragon, Nerubian Weaver and Venomancer.

Push
While this was less commonly used in 6.48b, it could feature as part of a hybrid strategy that combines the Blink-Stun or to protect the "carry" hero. It is unlikely this will be used as a full strategy, because its weakness is apparent. League players will always cover both sides of an exit.

Under this strategy heroes that were already somewhat prominent in 6.48b will be more important in 6.51. Necrolyte, Shadow Priest, Prophet, Invoker (yes!), Tormented Soul, Magnataur, Witch Doctor, Dragon Knight, Enchantress (who can convert the new creeps), Tinker and Death Prophet are among the heroes that will feature under this strategy. Not all will make it; as I said, too much "push" is bad; a hybrid will probably make it more practical.

The Invoker, having 3 spells that can eliminate creep waves easily, will be part of this strategy and he could also become strong on his own. But let's pray the Invoker player won't suffer from arthritis as a result of twisted fingers on the keyboard!

Also the Tinker will be a very good hero under this strategy. Not to mention his other powerful abilities and increased choices of items (that he can afford easily under "Push"), we can also see this goblin more often. A trivia I always like to mention is that Tinker does not turn into a tank anymore when using the Black King Bar. This has effectively removed the problems associated with Avatar Tinker and makes it one of the most powerful items for him.

(theoretically) A hybrid lineup of Necrolyte, Queen of Pain, Sand King, Prophet and Demon Witch is an example of this strategy.

Mega-Combo
This will probably be the most interesting of all the theorized strategies, for it is the most risky yet it is also the most effective if executed flawlessly. Some players may try to take advantage of the Blink Dagger's restrictions to make combos that enemies cannot escape from, and take advantage of the victorious combo to initiate "pushes" or destroy the enemy base.

Heroes that will feature under this strategy are Sand King, Crystal Maiden, Treant Protector, Enigma, Twin Head Dragon, Earthshaker, Venomancer, Lord of Olympia, Silencer, Faerie Dragon, Pit Lord, etc.

My opinion is this strategy is the very act of putting all your eggs in one basket. The basket falls, and expect most, if not all the eggs to break. This strategy is especially vulnerable to the Blink-Stun.

Minor combos
This is more easily managed and more effective than mega-combos, although not as dramatically game-turning as the latter. The idea is to have (optimally) 2 heroes who complement each other well and have them always team up during ambushes. If selected correctly and executed well, it is going to be one of the defining points for the 6.51 map.

Example of hero pairs are Butcher-Omniknight, Vengeful Spirit-Rogue Knight, Crystal Maiden-Slayer, Beastmaster-Twin Head Dragon, Shadow-Shaman (or Bane Elemental) - Oblivion, Lich-Queen of Pain, etc.

This kind of combos complement Blink-Stun strategies easily, while not being so vulnerable to the same unlike mega-combos.

Some miscellanous points
-With new neutral creeps in 6.51 one might be tempted to think heroes like the Holy Knight or Enchantress may be picked more often. That may be true for the Enchantress but not the Holy Knight, because the Holy Knight depends too much on neutral creeps and other heroes to be effective. Like I said, liabilities are not welcome, and I do not think that changes in 6.51 either.

-While I did not mention them by name, consider also that some buffed agility heroes will also be prominent in future games, like Bone Fletcher, Lone Druid, Ursa Warrior and Moon Rider. Luna Moonfang is expected to be a strong early-middle-late hero akin to the Scourge hero Shadow Fiend in post-6.48b.

-Lastly this is not a perfectly comprehensive article. I may add in some points in the future which I feel worth mentioning.

These are some of the outlooks by an observer on the future of 6.51 league games.
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Last edited by caspian on Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:33 am; edited 2 times in total

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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:54 am

nice, just nice
perhaps you can find some replays for the usage of these tactics
i'll be
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:43 am

awesome review on the recent happenings in the dota gaming experience..... if possible... get all these posts archived and he grouped together got people to see.... awesome... just awesome...
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:30 pm

I agree... we really should collect them... turn it into DS's insanely awesome library of reviews.
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:27 pm

why not call that section "the chronicles of dota"??.... ^^
does everybody agrees??......
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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:08 am

I'm sorry but blink dagger on Weaver is just retarded. He doesn't need it, schukuchi is good enough. Same with puck, his Orb / Jaunt is a blink in itself.

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Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:34 pm



Excuse me but nowhere in my post did I imply that I would recommend Blink Dagger on Nerubian Weaver or Faerie Dragon. All this is merely your own assumption.
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:24 am

i simply love these threads ^^
magnificent

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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:32 am

"Other heroes that could expect to be used under 6.51 Blink-Stun are Rogue Knight, Stone Giant, Faerie Dragon, Nerubian Weaver and Venomancer."

here is what he meant I think..I dunno how weaver could be used in a blink-stun either but maybe I understood the whole thing wrong o.0
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:57 am



"Other heroes that could expect to be used under 6.51 Blink-Stun are Rogue Knight, Stone Giant, Faerie Dragon, Nerubian Weaver and Venomancer."


My own assumption? You said it yourself.

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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 1:44 pm



Yeah I did say that but I didn't say to get Blink Dagger on the Nerubian Weaver or Faerie Dragon. Blink Dagger on Weaver is something you said yourself. So don't put words in my mouth when I didn't say them.
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 1:54 pm

IMO,

Minor combos, or duos as some might call, are still very efficient, and easy to use not to mention, well, at least easier than major combos.

Somehow, minor combos help the team by eliminating lone enemy heroes, easily put, a hero less on the opponents side gives you advantage on clashes and on pushing.
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 2:01 pm

nice plan...^^,
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