In case you’ve performed Dota at a excessive sufficient stage, you’ve most likely seen apparent account consumers. Questionable match historical past, excessive win price, suspicious hero choice on the account and absolute cluelessness in the course of the match. These days, it’s a lot rarer than it was, however every such encounter left me with a single, lingering thought: “what precisely are you making an attempt to realize right here?”.
Profitable a recreation as somebody far under the foyer’s common is basically out of the query. There isn’t lots of enjoyable in dying repeatedly both. The one pseudo-positive I can personally consider is that greater stage lobbies expedite the training course of. Although, to be trustworthy, there isn’t a complete lot of studying happening for the account purchaser, for my part. Often, the distinction within the understanding of Dota is sufficiently big to make studying any type of classes just about inconceivable.
That is the basic challenge with studying Dota generally: as it’s an extremely advanced and deep recreation, there are such a lot of shifting elements to maintain monitor and concentrate on, that the majority people will likely be overwhelmed if they fight to soak up all of it on the similar time.
That is the rationale stats web sites like Dotabuff exist. They mixture info from tons of assorted matches to offer a fast overview of what we find yourself calling “the meta”. Nevertheless, utilizing this info effectively and really enhancing by it’s a studying course of by itself.
Related stats
One of many huge, current occasions within the Dota-world was that stats web sites misplaced entry to the very best stage information. The knowledge from the highest 0.5% participant lobbies is not accessible to us and regardless of the way you spin it, it’s an info loss.
Whether or not this info was in any manner related to the overwhelming majority of the playerbase is a distinct query altogether. In my view, copying the highest stage builds and hero picks was not essentially useful when it got here to studying Dota and generally even detrimental to the method.
When a median participant takes a shortcut by copying a ability or merchandise construct from the skilled scene, there’s a excessive probability they inadvertently exhibit the identical behaviour, because the aforementioned account purchaser. They don’t absolutely perceive why it really works, and why it may be crucial for the gamers within the excessive stage lobbies to make decisions they make, they merely copy the builds, anticipating optimistic outcomes.
Generally it really works, reinforcing their perception within the energy of this method. And when it doesn’t, there are at all times teammates accountable: in spite of everything, you’re enjoying a top-level construct that wins 55% of the sport in 10k lobbies, absolutely you may’t be the issue in a 3k common recreation, proper?
Environment friendly inefficiencies
Right here lies the issue: 1k common, 3k common, 5k common and 10k common gamers are enjoying essentially completely different video games. As a broad stroke instance: a 
In 10k+ this could all mix into a gorgeous bundle the place a Magnus can bounce into one group of enemies, Horn Toss and Skewer them into one other group of enemies for an enormous RP, beginning off with 
Striving to try this in 1k common foyer can be admirable, however there’s a excessive probability executing this complete sequence is already going to be overwhelming to a brand new participant. Furthermore, there are going to be lots of redundancies when it comes to construct as effectively: this Magnus in 1k doesn’t want Shadow Blade, since it’s unlikely the enemy goes to pre-hex them and even have imaginative and prescient. They received’t have to press BKB earlier than leaping in, as enemies are unlikely to react in the course of the Reverse Polarity forged level. They most likely received’t want a second spherical of spells, for the reason that enemies are going to be clumped up regardless. And there are a lot of, many extra such small intricacies I’m personally not conscious of, since I’m not a 10k Magnus participant myself.
The principle level nonetheless stands, although: merely copying a excessive stage construct in your common recreation will lead to pointless, pricey inefficiencies. And they’re going to value you video games because of this. what works greatest at your specific stage, understanding why it really works and what the potential counterplays are, is what’s going to make you a greater, extra educated participant. Once you begin gaining MMR, utilizing this information to adapt to more and more tougher circumstances will likely be a lot simpler as effectively.
Adaptability is essential
Copying builds is, by definition, a really inflexible method. There are positively key objects on sure heroes which can be just too good of a match, however even they don’t seem to be obligatory, if the a bizarre recreation you end up in is asking for one thing completely different.
People are additionally extremely numerous and in a multi-faceted recreation of Dota, this implies there are a lot of completely different, profitable methods of self-expression. Forcing your self to repeat particular playstyles goes to stifle your personal progress, whereas probably decreasing your enjoyment of the sport.
On the highest stage of play the decision-space is actually extra restricted, as some small construct inefficiencies and excessive ranges of greed are very punishable, however even then, there may be room for creativity. Most of us will keep in mind Topson constructing 
Most of us don’t have time to sit down and experiment for the entire day, however all of us need to win and have our MMR go up. Statistics may help us determine tendencies and provides a fast overview of what usually works within the present meta, however it will probably’t win you video games. Enhancing as a participant is the one method to get the next ranking. And enhancing as a participant means analysing your personal errors, being real looking concerning the stage you’re enjoying at and figuring out what will be performed to win extra video games in your specific circumstances; not by copying what works for gamers who’re enjoying a really completely different recreation.
Copying “what works” is not the identical as understanding “why it really works”. That does not imply it’s best to go fully off-meta: every patch will certainly have its share of stronger than common heroes and objects, however even when selecting a “sturdy meta hero” ensure you are actively analysing why they’re sturdy in your bracket and what limitations they could have if you end up in the next one. You shouldn’t use statistics to seek out definitive solutions. It is best to use statistics to ask the right questions.
