Dota 2 - Easy way to Increase your MMR

Pick what you feel good with. Comfort picks are way better than counter picks. People usually try to counter the opponent picks, which is a huge mistake in this bracket. Why? Almost always people play the countering hero wrong. They are on the wrong side of the map, doing wrong things, disabling their allies by taking their job, etc. It's like playing 4v6. I really can't emphasize it more: COMFORT PICKS are the ones you should go for.

Almost in every game players on the side lanes don't buy enough regen to stay safe. I see people buying quelling blade as a starting item, while having only 3 tangoes. Buy more regen to keep doing what you supposed to on your lane, and utilize the side shop (yes, you can buy your quelling blade over there). Also, harass the heroes who have no regen. Capitalize on their mistake, you will have a good laning stage if you bully them out of the lane.

Mute your allies. I know it sounds strange, but from my experience they trash talk and blame each other more often than communicate strategy and valuable information. Most information you need comes from pings anyways. Don't let them get under your skin or else you lose your composure and start making mistakes. To be honest, most of the games when I played really well and got commends happened after I muted my allies at the start of the game. Sad truth.

It's good when your comfortable hero can be played in many ways. You can fill the gaps in your team, or do the job of your teammate who does't want to do it. Think how well your hero can do these things:

• push lanes, relive pressure
• be a threat on the map
• take objectives (1-3k MMR usually don't even notice and won't respond when you secure objectives while they fight. That being said, heavy pushers are usually quite good in this bracket)

Durable heroes do relatively better in the lower bracket.

Save TP. Use it only when necessary.

Try to finish the game early. The longer the game lasts the more punishable the mistakes are. It can cost you a game. How many times have you been winning the game the whole time, just to have your carry die in a weird place and have no buy back? Enemies just go mid and finish, that's it.

Enter the game with a specific mentality. Don't expect anything from your teammates: it's better when they surprise than disappoint you. Plan ahead: what's the win condition? How do I win my lane? How do I lose my lane? How can I die? How can I prevent my death? What do I need to stay safe? What am I suppose to do in my team? Where do I play? What and who do I focus on? What is my hero timing? What are enemy hero timings? Who is the threat to me? Shall I show myself on the lane in the mid game? These are a few examples of questions that you should always ask yourself when playing dota.

Manipulate the creep equilibrium to your advantage. Pull the creeps on the lane to create the best lane situation for yourself. Not many people do that and the opponents in this bracket don't really respond to you playing with the creeps around. So go ahead and set up a good lane for yourself by doing it.

Items to avoid:

• Midas – people in this bracket are very inefficient with using midas. Midas doesn't make your hero a threat, delays its timing, and pushes the game to be longer, which can cost you the game. Only certain heroes should buy midas in this bracket, Arc Warden for example.
• Rushing aghanim – it doesn't offer more than improving your hero in some way and adding some stats. For most heroes it's more luxury than necessary. It usually does not provide the win condition.

Items worth buying:

• Spirit vessel – good against many durable heroes with regen/healing ability (e.g. Alchemist, DP, MK, BS)
• Force staff – mostly against melee heroes (e.g. ursa, slark, LS). Good item to keep you alive.
• Drums – to help you do your job without actually changing your play style (cheaper than S&A).

Guide by Aki