Do you have problems with the Dota 2 offlane role? Fear not because this Dota 2 Role Mastery Offlane guide will show you what to do.
Despite being the most underrated position in the game, being a good Dota 2 offlaner can help you a lot. In fact, a lot of people agree that this is one of the best roles you can get to win your PUB games.
The bad news is that learning how to master the Dota 2 offlane is easier said than done. Players make many mistakes, so it’s time for our Dota 2 Role Mastery Offlane guide, where we will cover everything. Click here to check our previous guide about how to be a safe lane carry.
Dota 2 Offlane Guide – Role Introduction & Types of Offlaners
One of the first things that Dota 2 offlane players need to know about this role is its purpose. Over the years, the offlane is the position that changes the most. It used to be a place where you sent a hero whose role was not to die that many times. However, things have changed and the offlane now is almost as important as the safelane.
Generally speaking, the offlaner’s job is to try and prevent the enemy carry from farming while simultaneously gaining levels and farming for himself. This task can be a lot more difficult than it seems, especially when the offlaner is playing in a 1v2 or 1v3 scenario. This used to be the case many years ago, but nowadays, you can often find duo offlaners.
In terms of the type of offlaners in Dota 2, we can classify them into the following categories:
- Initiators
- Tempo Controllers
- Second Carries
The initiating offlaners have to start the team fight or jump in it as soon as it starts. Some names here include Tidehunger, Axe, Enigma, Centaur, Magnus, and more.
On the other hand, we have tempo controllers. These Offlane Dota 2 heroes are usually really strong early on and in the mid-game, and the team has to try to take advantage of the situations. These heroes are also great at shutting down a squishy enemy safelane carry, so you can find them a lot in PUB games. Some of them include Undying, Underlord, Nyx Assassin, and more.
Lastly, we have the so-called “second carries”. As their name suggests, these heroes are all about farming as much as possible while also taking team fights. A good example here is Timbersaw, Legion Commander, and more.
Dota 2 Offlane Heroes – How to Pick & Tips
If you decide to take the Dota 2 offlane role, the first and most crucial thing you must learn is what hero to get. When considering your next move, think of the following questions:
- Do you feel confident while playing with this hero?
- Is the hero worth getting in the current lineup?
- Are there enemies that can counter you?
- How are you going to win??
The most important thing when choosing an offlaner is to make sure the hero works well with the rest of your team. Since you will not be the team’s carry or midder, you will have to be careful what your allies go for and get something that works in the lineup. For example, you may need an aggressive offlaner to pressure the enemies and push. However, there are cases where you may need to get an initiator because your team lacks one.
Depending on when you pick the hero, you may have information about the enemy’s carry. If that’s the case, you have to take it into account when picking an offlaner because you need something that can lane well.
Dota 2 Role Mastery: Offlane – How to Itemize
After sharing some information about the Dota 2 offlane heroes, the next important thing to talk about is items. There are no such things as the best Dota 2 offlane items because every game is unique. Also, the offlane is the role where you can send tons of different heroes, and each one has its specifics.
Starting with the early game, it is all about having as much HP regen as possible Offlaners are always under pressure, and one of your main tasks is staying alive, so you need HP regen.
Your items in the mid-game depend on many factors, one of which is the hero you are using. Usually, all offlaners need one big item to start making plays around the map, such as Blink Dagger. However, you may need to get Mekansm, Vladimir’s Offering, or something else.
Taking Teamfights as an Offlaner
One very important aspect we need to address in this offlane Dota 2 guide is how to take team fights when you are in this role. Once the laning stage is over, the offlane is usually the most important hero on the map because the team depends on him. Therefore, you need to have crucial decision-making.
The first and most important thing is to know the limits of your hero and what it can do in the given game. If you picked a tempo controller who can push, you have to gather with your team once you get your first big item and try taking down all Tier 1 towers. On the other hand, if you are playing with a hero like Axe, once you get that Blink Dagger, you have to buy smoke and try to surprise some of the enemy’s cores and land a kill.
Every single game is different, but now that you know the Dota 2 offlane meaning, you know that your team will expect you to do something. This is what differentiates good from bad offlaners.
Offlaners in the Late Game
The late game is usually when offlaners become less relevant and carries a step in. However, if you check the Dota 2 offlane tier list, you will see that it all depends on the hero. As mentioned, some of the offlane heroes have really strong ultimates that make them a great option throughout the game. They may not do much outside of their “wombo combo” ability, but you need to use it the right way if you want to make a difference.
Final thoughts
Choosing some of the best Dota 2 offlane heroes in the given patch is something you should focus on when you start playing. Dota 2 is a very dynamic game and things change all the time, so you must follow the latest news. Every meta has its preferred offlaners and they are usually way more effective than others.
