Dota 2 warding techniques

3 Simple Dota 2 Warding Techniques That Will Make You a Better Player

In Dota 2, vision is key. The team that has better vision of the map will have a significant advantage in team fights, ganks, and pushing objectives. One of the best ways to improve your vision is to learn how to ward effectively.

Warding is the process of placing Observer Wards and Sentry Wards around the map. Observer Wards provide vision of an area for a limited time, while Sentry Wards reveal invisible units and disable enemy Observer Wards.

Vision Dominance:

Vision is paramount in Dota 2, allowing teams to track enemy movements, anticipate ganks, and set up favorable engagements. Warding plays a crucial role in establishing vision dominance, as it provides valuable information about the enemy team’s whereabouts. By placing wards in strategic locations, teams can gain a significant advantage in terms of map control and awareness.

Warding for Safety:

Warding is essential for ensuring the safety of your team. By placing wards in areas where enemies are likely to gank or ambush, you can provide early warning to your teammates, giving them time to react and avoid being caught off guard. This is especially important in the early game, when heroes are more vulnerable to ganks and deaths can have a detrimental impact on the game’s outcome.

Warding for Information:

Wards are not just for safety. They are also invaluable sources of information. By placing wards in key areas, such as enemy jungle camps, enemy lanes, or high-traffic choke points, you can gain valuable insights into the enemy team’s movements and strategies. This information can help your team make informed decisions, such as when to push or retreat, or which objectives to prioritize.

Warding for Map Control:

Vision dominance allows teams to exert map control, which is essential for controlling the flow of the game. By placing wards in key areas, teams can create a network of vision that makes it difficult for enemies to move around the map undetected. This allows teams to control the pace of the game, set up ambushes, and punish enemies for overextending.

Warding for Objectives:

Objectives are the focal points of the Dota 2 map, such as Roshan, towers, and barracks. Warding around these objectives is crucial for securing them or defending them against enemy pushes. By placing wards in strategic locations, teams can gain control over the surrounding area, anticipate enemy attempts to take objectives, and coordinate defenses to protect them.

Warding for Roshan:

Roshan is a powerful neutral creep that drops valuable items when killed. Warding around Roshan’s pit is essential for securing the kill or contesting it against the enemy team. By placing wards in key locations, such as the side or behind the pit, teams can gain vision of Roshan and his surrounding area, allowing them to plan ahead and control access to the pit.

Warding for High Ground:

High ground provides significant advantages, both in terms of offense and defense. Warding high ground areas allows teams to control key vantage points, spot enemies approaching from below, and set up ambushes. High ground wards are also crucial for defending against enemy pushes, as they provide vision of incoming waves and give teams time to react and prepare their defenses.

Warding for Deep Wards:

Deep wards are wards that are placed in highly advantageous positions, such as enemy jungles or behind enemy lines. These wards provide valuable information about enemy movements, ganking patterns, and scouting opportunities. Deep wards are often placed by solo players or supports who venture into dangerous areas to gain critical information for their team.

Advanced Warding Techniques

### 1. Smoke Ganking Wards

Smoke ganking wards are placed strategically to provide vision during smoke ganks. These wards are usually placed in high-traffic areas, such as popular ganking paths or near objectives like Roshan. By placing a smoke ganking ward, you can provide your team with vital information about enemy movements and allow them to initiate a surprise attack.

### 2. De-warding Wards

De-warding wards are placed specifically to counter enemy wards. By placing a de-warding ward near an enemy ward, you can disable the enemy ward and remove its vision. This can be particularly useful in situations where you need to prevent the enemy team from gaining vision of a key area or objective.

### 3. Observer Wards in Unusual Locations

Placing observer wards in unexpected locations can provide your team with valuable vision that the enemy team may not expect. By placing wards in unconventional areas, such as high ground, behind enemy towers, or even in the enemy jungle, you can gain an advantage and catch the enemy team off guard.

### 4. Sentry Wards in Creeps

A clever warding technique is to place sentry wards inside neutral creeps. This can be effective against heroes with invisibility abilities, such as Riki or Slark, as the sentry ward will reveal their presence even while they are invisible. Additionally, placing sentry wards inside creeps can also counter enemy observer wards that are placed nearby.

### 5. Warding for Team Fights

Warding for team fights is crucial in securing a victory. By placing multiple wards around the expected area of engagement, you can provide your team with vision of enemy movements and allow them to make informed decisions. This can help your team initiate engagements, avoid ambushes, and secure objectives during critical fights.

FAQs

Q: What is the best time to place wards?

A: The optimal time to place wards depends on the game situation. Generally, it is beneficial to place wards during the early game to secure your lanes and jungle, and then adjust ward placement as the game progresses.

Q: How many wards should I place?

A: The number of wards you place depends on the game’s pace, map size, and team strategies. Start with a few essential wards and adjust your warding strategy based on the game’s flow.

Q: Where should I place wards?

A: Place wards in key areas such as lane entrances, jungle camps, near objectives (e.g., Roshan, Outposts), and high-traffic chokepoints. Consider warding your enemy’s jungle to gain vision of their rotations.

Q: What should I look for when placing a ward?

A: When placing a ward, look for spots that provide maximum vision, avoid detection by enemy heroes (e.g., place wards in trees or behind obstacles), and consider the ward’s duration.

Q: How often should I de-ward?

A: De-warding is crucial to maintain vision control on the map. Regularly de-ward enemy wards to prevent them from gaining an advantage. The frequency of de-warding depends on the game’s pace and enemy warding strategies.

Q: What heroes are good at warding?

A: Heroes with skills that provide vision, such as Nature’s Prophet’s Treants, Observer’s ward’s Observer Ward, and Stealth Assassin’s Shadow Blade, can scout for enemy positions and place multiple wards in critical locations.

Q: What are some common warding mistakes to avoid?

A: Avoid placing wards too close to enemy structures, placing wards in predictable locations, placing wards without considering their duration, and not de-warding enemy wards regularly.

Q: How can I improve my warding skills?

A: Practice warding in different game modes and scenarios. Study professional replays to observe effective warding techniques and analyze your own warding to identify areas for improvement.

Q: What is the difference between an Observer Ward and a Sentry Ward?

A: Observer Wards provide vision and reveal enemy units, while Sentry Wards can detect and disable invisible units and enemy wards.

Q: How can I protect my wards from being de-warded?

A: Use Observer Wards in conjunction with Sentry Wards to detect enemy de-ward attempts. Place wards in less accessible locations, such as behind trees or under cliffs. Consider using Observer Wards with camouflage abilities, like Riki’s Smoke Screen or Slark’s Shadow Dance.

Q: What is the optimal duration for an Observer Ward?

A: The optimal duration for an Observer Ward depends on the game’s pace and warding strategy. A 6-minute duration provides ample time for vision while balancing the need for frequent ward placement.

Q: Can I place wards in the enemy’s fountain?

A: Placing wards in the enemy’s fountain is not possible, as there is an invisible barrier preventing any structures or units from being placed inside.

Q: Is it unethical to de-ward enemy wards?

A: De-warding enemy wards is a legitimate strategy in Dota 2 and is considered ethical. It is a means of gaining vision control and countering the enemy team’s warding efforts.

Q: What is the most effective warding strategy?

A: The most effective warding strategy depends on the game situation, map layout, and enemy team compositions. Adapt your warding strategy throughout the game to gain vision advantage and contribute to your team’s success.

Q: How can I use wards to gain an edge in team fights?

A: By placing multiple wards around the area of engagement, you provide your team with valuable vision of enemy heroes and their movements. This advantage allows for better positioning, coordinating attacks, and avoiding enemy initiation attempts.

Warding 101: Conclusion

Mastering the art of warding in Dota 2 takes time and practice. Start by experimenting with the basic warding techniques outlined in this article. As you gain experience, you’ll learn to adapt your warding strategies to the specific map and team compositions. By understanding the principles of warding, you can gain a significant advantage over your opponents and unlock your full potential on the battlefield. Remember, knowledge is power, and in Dota 2, the ability to control vision is key to victory. So, keep practicing, and may your wards forever light the path to success!