From Average to Pro: A Guide on Mad Skillz

By Epiphenomenon

If you’re an average player, then you can easily trounce newbies but often still lose to pros. This guide is meant to show how an average player can take it to the next level. There are several principles that you need to keep in mind if you want to step it up. This only covers things that I see average players do. If you want newbie advice, I would suggest looking at guides for beginners.

      Situational awareness is mandatory.

You need to keep a constant check on what’s going on the map at all times. This is the #1 thing to keep in mind. Never get tunnel vision. If you are only concentrating on your own lane, you are playing the game wrong. In fact, you are being lazy. Always keep tabs on your teammates and the last known location of your opponents. Eventually, your teammates will make a mistake and will need your help to save them from being ganked. Always check the mini map to see where the players are. If you see an urgent threat, hit the “ping” key (P) constantly. Your teammates will be more likely to notice a ping if you mash the button repeatedly. Never stay zoomed in on the same place. Constantly zoom in and out so you get the “big picture” of what is happening. Frequently reorient your camera for best line of sight.

2.   Always communicate

Call a target in every fight. You need to be telling each other your plans. Being able to type and play Demigod takes effort. Learn how to abbreviate words. While vent is certainly better, typing usually suffices as long as everyone is communicating.

3.   Always be ready to gank

This means that you need to have a teleport scroll at all times. I usually carry two. If your team has a Rook, then you should try to coordinate ganks based off of teleporting to his towers. If he is a pure hammer rook, try to convince him to spend one point in towers. The ganking potential is very worth it. Always be on the lookout for opponents that run behind your towers or capped flags. Tele-gank if you think you can kill them. Your frame of mind should constantly be “where is there an opportunity for me to gank?”

4.   Never run behind towers or capped flags

This is probably the most frequent average mistake. Running behind a tower is usually death if your opponents know what they are doing.

5.   Press your advantage when you get a kill

This is another frequent mistake I see. Killing an opponent puts the other team at a disadvantage for 15+ seconds. You need to be killing their rear towers, capping their gold flag, or rushing a portal. Running back to shop is a terrible use of your 3v2 advantage unless you and your teammates are badly hurt. Start tearing *$&% up. You have a limited window here, so use it!

6.   Sink all of your gold into the citadel early game

Even at the average player level, I see people hoarding their gold. This is n00bish. Your opponents can’t gank that well early game, so sink all of your gold into the citadel and stay close to your towers. I still haven’t seen very many average players buy XP 1 and XP 2. These upgrades will give you the win if the other team does not buy them (player skill being equal). Buy XP 1 and XP 2. Wait, did I mention that you should buy XP 1 and XP 2? Be sure not to buy these upgrades if you want to lose. Buy XP upgrades.

7.   Don’t buy priests early game.

While the XP has been toned down, buying priests will still give your opponents a 26% boost in XP. It’s like buying XP 2 for the other team. If your opponents buy priests, make sure you have XP 2. This will give you a 46% XP advantage.

8.   Stick to playing 1-2 demigods

Each demigod plays differently, so play 1-2 Demigods repeatedly so you can get a feel for them.

9.   Around level 6-8, start a hard push on one side

If your opponents are scattered over the map, tell your teammates to teleport over to your side when you reach the midgame. Start tearing *$&% up. As soon as you have killed a tower or captured a rear flag, go back to whatever you were doing, because the enemy is probably coming to gank you. Quickly strike, then back off to the middle. If this happens to you, make sure you teleport over ASAP to defend. This is one of the reasons why you need good situational awareness at all times.

10. Always recap middle flags

I see too many players stick to their lane on Cataract when the other team has the XP flag. Both sides should be constantly haggling over neutral flags. If your teammates are in a position to grab them, tell them to do so.

11. Play a ton of games

This will all become second nature to you if you keep all of this in mind and keep playing. Good luck, and I hope to have a good match against you soon. J I hope this guide well help a few more people become pros.