Drafting Practice Mayhem: A quick evaluation of many drafts

Okay, so I saved up some drafts from awhile ago, and there are enough of them that I can't remember which side was me, so I can hopefully give a less-biased evaluation of the drafts.I'm keeping it short, because there are FOURTEEN drafts.  Feel free to disagree.#1: http://dota2draft.the-cluster.org/show?op=d&fp=d&pick=ZY4a4Q0M1p2ZH1Zo2S2ZJ0O2&ban=KZkZfZaZIYZCZmZdkLanes fairly even.  Aggro tri from Dire would force defensive tri from Radiant.  First blood could go either way.  Dire lacks counter to NP split push,...

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Drafting: Heroes that act as generic counter-picks

There are a few heroes that counter a lot of different heroes.  When you're stuck against a lineup that might demolish you in some specific way, consider some of these:Solo Split Pushers:These heroes allow you to give ground instead of team-fighting, knowing that your split-pusher is going to force them to break off or lose ground of their own.  Note:  as of patch 6.82b, split-pushing is a lot more dangerous, as the enemy team can get a lot more gold/XP from a single pick-off.TinkerNature's ProphetLycanWeaver (somewhat less so) Phantom...

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List of Hero Synergies for Drafting

As I've been practicing my drafting, I've gradually learned some combos to look out for, and heroes to ban based on my opponent's picks.  I'll add to this as time goes on.Drow + Visage = very powerful familiars.  Add Venge or SFiend for additional pain. Drow + Windrunner = very high-damage Focus Fire (add Desolator on WR for tower melting)Drow Precision Aura (or Lycan Howl) + Clinkz / Windrunner = very effective Strafe / Focus FireSpectre + Troll = very fast-hitting Haunt illusions (with max Desolate).  Hell on supports.  Requires...

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Team Ideas: tanks and healers

Tanky Heroes and Healers:#1:Solo lane: Beastmaster Mid:  NecrolyteTrilane:  Alchemist + Abaddon + Visage#2:Offlane:  Undying / CentaurMid:  Dragon KnightSafe:  LC/Alchemist + Abaddon/Chen + BaneWeaknesses:  Anti-push#3:Solo:  DoomMid:  Legion CommanderAggro Tri:  Axe + Tusk + Vis...

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Team Ideas around Medusa

Medusa's Ult, Stone Gaze, is basically area lockdown with a physical dmg boost and a magical resist increase.My feeling is that this tactic is something to take advantage of while few players are all that familiar with how Medusa's ult works.From the List of Physical Damage Hero Abilities, we get the following teams:#1:Safelane Carry = MedusaSafelane Support = Vengeful SpiritRoaming Support = SlardarOfflane Solo = Beastmaster Mid = Death ProphetPossible Bans:  Omniknight, Dark Seer, Tinker, NP, Lycan#2:Safelane Carry = MedusaSafelane Support...

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Drafting Practice: Day Twelve - Not the Same Old Combinations

All these drafts were against the same opponent - one with a sense of humour.  He also made me aware of the "cheesy" Spectre + Troll combo, which I wasn't aware of (Haunt, use Battle Rage, kill enemy supports or buildings). Apparently "roaming two supports" is a thing now - lots of drafters seem to be doing it.  It usually involves drafting fairly lane-independent cores or semi-cores (Razor, Weaver, Invoker, Brewmaster, Timbersaw, Viper, Batrider), which allows you to roam supports instead of babysitting.  If you choose cores that...

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DoT Ultimates (with Treant Overgrowth)

Treant's Overgrowth is a strange AOE disable in that it does no damage by itself.  It needs something to go with it.This is similar to Enigma's Black Hole, except Overgrowth can't be interrupted.Heroes with AOE Damage Over Time or Delayed Damage:Sand King - EpicenterLeshrac - Pulse Nova, EdictGyro - Call DownKunkka - Ghost ShipEarth Spirit - MagnetizeVenomancer - Poison NovaJakiro - MacropyreLich - Chain FrostUndying - Tombstone (it's not an ult, but it's close)Disruptor - Static StormWitch Doctor - Cask + Death Ward (can still be interrupted)Warlock...

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Team Ideas: DoT Ultimates

Based on the list of DoT ultimates, here are some team ideas:Heroes that group and/or AOE hold/slow:Wraith King, Magnus, Enigma, Treant, Dark SeerTeam Ideas:#1:Mid:  MagnusTri-Lane (aggro):  Sand King + Disruptor + UndyingSafe Lane:  Gyrocopter#2:Mid:  InvokerSolo (offlane): Elder TitanSafe Lane:  Doom + LichJungle:  Enigma#3:Mid:  KunkkaSolo (offlane):  Dark SeerSafe Lane: Anti-Mage + Treant + Jakiro#4:  Mid:  LeshracOfflane:  TreantSafe Lane:  Sand King + GyroJungle:  Doom#5:Mid: ...

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Team Ideas: Everyone has a (reliable) stun

Team Ideas with heavy stun:#1:Mid:  Ember SpiritTrilane (aggro):  Slardar + Venge + VisageSolo: Centaur#2:Mid:  Dragon KnightTri-lane (aggro):  Tiny, Ogre Magi, Crystal MaidenSolo:  Nyx#3:Mid:  Storm SpiritTrilane:  Luna + Venge + Shadow ShamanSolo:  Elder Titan#4:Mid:  GyroTrilane: Alchemist + Rubick + JakiroSolo: Mag...

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List of Heroes with Stuns (by position / role)

I know I probably missed some here, but here's a starting list of reliable stuns, by hero position. Carries with reliable stuns: Wraith King, Sven, Dragonknight, Alchemist, Chaos Knight, Ember Spirit, Morphling, Slardar, Tiny, LunaSemi-Carries or Mids with Reliable Stuns/Disables:Dragon Knight, Ember Spirit, Storm Spirit, Invoker (Wex)Offlaners with disabling Ultimates:Beastmaster,  Tidehunter,  Magnus, Treant, Phoenix (secondary, ult)Offlaners with Reliable Non-Ult Stuns:Centaur (stomp), Nyx, Elder Titan (unreliable)?Supports with...

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Team Idea: Come back here!

Team Idea:  Lots of spells that reposition enemy heroesHeroes:  Kunkka, Venge, Magnus, Batrider, DisruptorAlternates:  Dark Seer,  Earthspirit, KotL, Chen, RubickLaning:Mid:  MagnusSolo (Off)lane:  BatriderTri-lane:  Kunkka + Disruptor + Venge (roam/pull)Picks, in order:  Batrider, Venge, Disruptor, Kunkka, MagnusPossible Bans:  Tidehunter, Faceless Void, Silencer, Dazzle, Rubick, Naga, Shadow Demon, DoomStrengths of this team:Multiple initiation & teamfight combos:Blink into Reverse Polarity + Static...

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Heroes with Best Level 1 Nukes

Highest Damage L1 nukes:Shadowfiend (ShadowRazes, three ranges. 75 / blast, max 3 blasts on starting mana pool = 225)Visage (Soul Assumption:  (20+ [65*3] = 215 on a 4s CD)KotL (Illuminate: 200 dmg fully charged)Tinker (HS Missile: 2 rockets @ 100 dmg each = 200)Mirana Arrow (Sacred Arrow = 50 up to 140 extra dmg = 190)Centaur (175 dmg Double Edge)Razor (Plasma Field 15-80 damage* each direction = 30-160 dmg at L1)Alchemist (Unstable Concoction 150 dmg physical)Beastmaster (Wild Axes: 70 per axe = 140)Storm Spirit (Static remnant = 140)Shadow...

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Team Ideas: Level 1 Rosh

See also:List of Level 1 Heroes by FunctionList of Level 1 Heroes by Lane/RoleThese team ideas are annotated with what ability the hero should skill to benefit a Level 1 Roshan kill, and/or the lane role the hero should play thereafter.  All heroes should reach Level 2 and get 200 gold after the Roshan kill, and would normally skill their "first level laning ability" thereafter (for example, Necromastery for Shadow Fiend).Updated for 6.82:  Nature's Prophet is less effective now that Roshan's Stomp has been modified.#1:Aggro Tri: ...

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Team Idea: Minion Heroes

Again, this type of lineup is for LOLZ, and it's very push-heavy, so you need to win the game early, in general.  You MUST ban Earthshaker, or ensure that he's not going to be picked, or you WILL lose.MUST BAN:Earthshaker... Echo Slam will destroy you. GOOD BANS:ClinkzDoom... both of these heroes will appreciate your team's walking platters of buffs. Team Idea - Physical Dmg + Creeps:Visage (warding), Chen (Mek), Dazzle (Necrobook), Shadowfiend, NP (Deso)More Minion-Team Composition and Laning Ideas:Broodmother / NP / Lone Druid / Beastmaster...

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Team Idea: All Initiators

Please keep in mind that most of these team ideas are for Lolz - I don't recommend them in serious, competitive, play.Team ideas:  all initiators#1Sfiend mid (shadowblade)Tiny + Sandking + Warlock safelaneTide/Centaur/Clockwerk offlane#2:Storm Spirit / Puck midCentaur solo offlaneAxe + Shadow Shaman + Disruptor agro triInitiator Carries:Silencer?   Doom?  Spectre?  Faceless Void?  Ember Spirit?  Naga?  Slardar, Tiny, Ursa, HuskarInitiator Mids: QoP, Puck, Magnus, Invoker,  Storm Spirit, Silencer? Ember...

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Best Roaming Supports

Zrog says:  I don't agree with everything that's pointed out in this article/post, but it's generally correct, and for the right reasons.  Note that the original author assumes that you will be roaming the support at Level 1. I've taken tips and opinions from elsewhere on the web and added them at the bottom.By Chuavechito on PlayDota.comYou don't really need [Observer Wards] to roam but you WILL need to counter-ward with either a set of Sentry or 1-2 Smokes. Go for Sentry only if you are confident enough in your warding skills.My ranking...

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Drafting Practice - Day Ten

Draft #1:As SpectatorNo, I wasn't actually drafting this one, but spectating.  Here's my quick analysis on this draft:Radiant:  I can't really understand the Darkseer pick after Doom.  Both are tanky heroes that need to be in the front lines, and both tend to build similar items.  Yes, Doom with Surge + Ion Shell is effective, but you're still overlapping roles. The Tiny+Wisp combo is potent, and could easily pick off the Sniper if he decided to solo farm... but they didn't know there was a Sniper pick at this point, so who...

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Drafting Practice: Day Nine

Draft #1:I'm DireQuick Analysis:Mid - Even.  Dmg steal vs. Orb harass, neither has an escape vs. ganks.Bottom - Somewhat even.  Weaver can harass more easily, but is a lot more fragile.  Both have escapes vs. ganks.Top - Jugg gets destroyed by solo drow, unless Drow is stupid.  His roaming supports, however, could force my supports to avoid roaming to ensure Drow survives.Draft #2:I'm Dire.Draft advantage: probably none.  If Weaver in Chrono, he's dead.  His team has split push, but I have Nyx and Clinkz to gank the...

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Day Seven Drafting Practice: Uncertain Outcomes

Draft #1:  Me as RadiantHonestly I don't know how his aggro tri-lane would do.  My opponent and I argued about it a lot, and he felt that Lycan would get highly shut down, and even killed with Chilling Touch.  Or, that WR would simply harass him until he could no longer farm.I'm pretty sure I destroy his other 2 lanes though - PA isn't going to get anything done vs. Batrider, except a few last hits with Dagger, and Tide isn't going to have a good time vs. Silencer mid.Mind you, he COULD abandon the tri-lane and leave WR there to...

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Drafting Practice - Day Six, Straying Away from "Top Meta" Heroes

Draft #1:  Me as RadiantI was trying here to avoid first-picking the typical Lycan, Razor, Shadow Shaman, Doom, Faceless Void, Viper, Batrider, Invoker, or Tidehunter.  These are VERY common heroes in the current meta, mostly because of their (laning) flexibility.  Shadow Shaman has multiple disables and a great tower-pushing ultimate, which are very effective in a support.I was expecting an aggro tri-lane, thus my decision to lane this way.  Weaver is an unusual mid, but I chose to take him mid after I saw the very-short-ranged...

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Drafting Practice: Day Five - Still too greedy

Draft #1:  Me as DireI think I have the stronger laning stage here, simply because I have a jungler, and my offlane is fairly solid, while Invoker is going to destroy Beastmaster mid, though BM should get SOME farm with Axes and a Bottle.  Invoker, being ranged, has a straight advantage there, and Quas-Wex gives better staying power, while Exhort will drive Beastmaster out of the lane with high damage and Forge Spirits.Dark Seer can be zoned out of lane, but even if his XP is denied, he should get a little bit of farm early on, at least...

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Drafting Practice: Day Four, Analysis

Just FYI - this drafting is during patch 6.81b.Draft #1:  Me as RadiantWe both have some serious push, but I have way harder carries.  Unfortunately, I got too greedy with them, and Faceless Void is unlikely to be able to do anything solo offlane.  I thought it was a good idea at the time, until the Pugna pick, because I didn't account for Silences + Nukes being just as effective as stuns (I saw few stuns, and thought I'd take a chance with an offlane Void).I would probably rotate Witch Doctor offlane to support Void, and since both...

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Drafting Practice: Day Three, Part Three - Noobing and Not Noobing

... ok, so it was a slow day.  If you're still reading, I hope you're learning something, at least.These drafts were against a different opponent, and I feel I got the better of him, mostly.Draft #7:  Me as RadiantI feel like my lanes are solid enough to roam 2 supports - Dark Seer will do fine against 2 melee heroes, and even if he gets zoned out of XP range, he'll get some farm and will even cause some issues with Ion Shell to the enemy melee carry (Ember Spirit, I'm assuming).Razor can handle Bristleback, simply by stealing his damage,...

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Drafting Practice: Day Three, Part Two: Improvement

Draft #4:  Me as RadiantThe idea of this lineup was to have some tough carries who also come online midgame, and then back them up with a healer (Abaddon in this case).  Elder Titan (ET) would provide valuable armor and resist removal against enemies, and add a nice followup to Chronosphere.  My last-pick Brewmaster SEEMED like a good idea, as he's difficult for Bane to lock down, and has quite a bit of CC of his own during his ultimate, and even in normal form he'll dodge a lot of TA's right-click.Ok, so I thought I was...

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Drafting Practice: Day Three, Part One: Defeats

Well, I think I got heavily stomped in today's drafting.  Don't know who the guy was, but he was able to pre-ban my preferred picks, and generally pick the few heroes that I overlooked that would cause me the most pain.Draft #1:  Me as Radiant - "Wombo combo blues".Okay, so I ran out of time here / my phone lagged, so my Magnus pick (which was redundant) could have been OD.  It still wasn't a horrible choice, but a bit over the top for the already-strong wombo combo.I didn't lose this one so badly, as many of my heroes had some anti-push...

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Drafting Practice: Day Two

Love this tool:  http://dota2draft.the-cluster.org/... too bad not more people use it.  Would be a great addition to the Dota 2 client!Draft #1 Analysis:  Me as RadiantHis lanes are strong, although I don't think the aggro trilane would have worked - Dazzle is too much of a defensive support, and WK only has about 1-2 Hellfire blasts before he's out of mana.  A well-placed Cask or Hex (or both) would pretty much ruin his kill attempt.  Finally, Void could simply Time Walk away, and some spells / attacks on him would...

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