A Comprehensive Guide to Playing as a Carry in Dota 2

Mastering the carry role is an art that demands a solid understanding of game mechanics, farming strategies, and timing. In this article, the Blix team will explore all the key aspects of playing in the first position, helping you become a more confident and successful player.

We have aimed to address many of the most popular and relevant questions, making this material beneficial for both new and experienced players alike.

Dota 2: Art

What Types of Carry Heroes are There

Dota 2 hero: Anti – Mage

In Dota 2, carry heroes can be classified into several types:

• Hard – Carry: Strong in the late game but weak in the early stages. Examples include Anti-Mage, Medusa, Faceless Void, and Phantom Lancer. These heroes require significant farming to reach their peak strength.
• Light – Carry: Dominant in the early stages but becomes less relevant as the game progresses. Examples include Ursa, Templar Assassin, and Riki.
• Active – Carry: They should engage in fights during the early stages, as they struggle to compete when it comes to farming. Examples include Juggernaut and Slark.
• Passive – Carry: Focus on maximizing farming and typically avoid fighting until they have the necessary items. Examples include Spectre and Luna.

Selecting the Right Carry Hero

Dota 2 hero: Dazzle

The choice of hero relies on your team composition and enemy picks. A strong carry should:

1. Counter-pick enemy supports.
2. Do not be afraid of popular meta heroes.
3. Stay relevant in the current patch.

For example, if the enemy has Oracle and Dazzle, Alchemist is an ideal choice because of its survivability and ability to quickly acquire a Blink Dagger to eliminate key targets.

The Primary Issue With Having Low Ranks in Dota 2

There is a lack of coordination in the matches involving lower-ranked players. Players:

• Ignoring each other’s viewpoints.
• Placing blame on the team instead of reflecting on personal errors.
• Stealing resources from the carry player.

In these circumstances, it’s best to depend on yourself: pull creeps, place wards, and optimize your farming process as much as possible.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make During the Laning Stage

1. Skipping creeps.
2. Excessive framing under enemy attacks.
3. Ignoring the map and the movements of the enemy midlaner.

Why Is Not Feeding Enemies Is Crucial

Dota 2 hero: Riki

Each death hinders your farming progress and grants your enemies gold and experience. If the enemy gains an advantage, it becomes increasingly difficult to regain control of the game.

About The Value of Creeps

Lane creeps provide more gold and experience than neutral creeps, making them more valuable. Important:

• Kill creeps under the tower.
• Focus on last-hitting melee creeps near the standard bearer when safe.
• Always prioritize eliminating the ranged creep and the standard bearer, as they are the most valuable targets.

How to Choose the Right Route for Farming

Dota 2: Farming Area

Your route should not overlap with allies. Focus of farming lane creeps and push the lanes before going to the jungle.

How to Farm the Jungle More Efficiently

1. Use a Quelling Blade or items like Battle Fury.
2. Cut through trees to optimize routes.
3. Stack camps to increase profits.

Lane creeps provide more gold and experience.

The Most Effective Farming Pattern

1. Push the lane.
2. Farm Neutral and Ancient creeps.
3. Return back to the lane.

The Best Time To Go Farming In The Jungle

Dota 2 hero: Alchemist

You need to farm jungle if:

1. The lane is getting too hard to stay on.
2. You have purchased the essential items for farming.
3. You have the chance to farm a minimum of 4 to 5 camps every minute.

Farming Opportunities If Enemies Are Pushing Your Base

1. Farm on the opposite side of the map, aside from your enemies.
2. Use a split push to distract them.
3. Make the illusion of activity on one side while you farm on the other.

Macro And Micro Game

• Micro: effective utilization of abilities and items.
• Macro: strategic planning of movements, farming routes, and map control.

Responsibilities Of a Carry In The Game

1. Establish dominance on the lane.
2. Farm efficiently to acquire key items. 
3. Reach your peak performance.
4. Destroy structures and secure the victory.

What To Do If The Lane Is Difficult

1. Go into the jungle with items for farming creeps.
2. Ask for help from the support.
3. Pull neutral creeps to stabilize the lane.

The Best Time To Kill Roshan And Who Needs To Take Aegis

Dota 2: Roshan

Roshan is usually killed between 20 and 25 minutes. The Aegis is awarded to the hero who best makes use of their second life; this role is often taken by:

• The main carry.
• A hero capable of destroying enemy towers (e.g., Sniper).

What is a Power Spike

A power spike occurs when a hero achieves maximum effectiveness due to items, levels, or specific situations. For example, purchasing a Black King Bar on Faceless Void or a Desolator on Templar Assassin can trigger this.

Other Tips

1. Utilize a Quelling Blade or Battle Fury to enhance your farming potential.
2. Stack camps to maximize your profits.
3. Constantly use your abilities and items to speed up your farming.
4. Keep an eye on the mini-map to avoid ganks.

Team Communication

Effective play with carry heroes requires collaboration with supports and other roles. Here are some tips:

1. Request your supports to pull creeps and place wards. This will ease your lane and enhance your visibility. 
2. Coordinate with your mid–laner; if they are winning their lane, ask for their assistance or help organize ganks. 
3. Communicate enemy movements to avoid unnecessary deaths and increase your chances of survival.

Examples of Mistakes and Their Analysis

Dota 2 hero: Medusa

1. Bad Timing For Items: If you don’t purchase essential items in a timely manner, you’ll miss the peak of your hero’s power. For example, Medusa should have Manta Style by the 20-minute mark. 
2. Ignoring the map: Failing to monitor enemy movements can easily lead to ambushes.
3. Improper target selection in combat: Always focus on vulnerable enemy heroes during fights.

Conclusion

Playing as a carry is crucial to determining the outcome of many games. To excel in this role, it’s important to develop your skills, understand both the macro and micro aspects of the match, and be able to farm effectively. Making the right decisions at key moments is what distinguishes a good carry from the rest.

By utilizing the strategies outlined in this guide, you can become a more consistent and valuable player for your team. Remember that Dota 2 is a team game. Interacting with your teammates, analyzing your mistakes, and striving for improvement will help you reach new heights. Good luck on the battlefields of Dota 2! We also recommend visiting the Reddit thread for more Dota 2 content.