As much as Dota 2 is a game about skill, speed and hand-eye coordination, it’s also about gaining an advantage in gold, experience, map control, or all of the above. However, there is one key factor which cannot be measured: your morale, both as individuals and as a team. Positivity breeds positivity, and happy players play better.
It’s for this reason that I advocate empathy as a useful skill to learn if you’re looking to get better at Dota and increase your MMR. Empathy and team communication are crucial for keeping your allies in good spirits and not letting bad teamfights shake you or drive you to toxic behaviour.
Of course, being nice doesn’t magically mend all wrongs and bond your team together in friendship, like a wizardly A-Team. Some people are just difficult, for all sorts of reasons. But I still maintain that morale is a huge part of any competitive game. So, what can you do when things turn sour and everybody’s pointing fingers?
When it comes to player toxicity, there are no concrete answers, but there are things that help. The easiest thing to do is to say something friendly at the start of the game. The first message seen in the chat can set the tone for the whole match, so make sure it’s something nice.
Another simple trick is to praise good plays (or even decent ones). This provides a huge morale boost to the player and spreads a nice, warm feeling to the team at large. Always point out the positive things when they occur, whether it’s a well-placed ward, an enemy teamwipe, or even first blood. As a friend of mine said, “I have ‘Well Played’ on my chat wheel and I use it liberally.”
Giving direction to your team is important for unity and teamwork. That said, try not to criticise mistakes, even politely. It can upset the player and set a negative tone for the team, making everybody feel scrutinised. Instead, look for practical suggestions to improve the situation and accommodate your allies.
For example, if you have an Anti-Mage who’s dying all the time and getting no farm, don’t say what you think they’re doing wrong. Instead, set up a gank, stack the jungle, or just ask them what they need. Try to solve problems, rather than just pointing them out. If somebody on your team is saying that you already lost, mention ways you might turn it all around (such as waiting for a core to finish an item, getting a good pick-off, or getting Aegis).
To know what to suggest, you need to watch for opportunities. This can be really hard for everybody, but particularly for newer players who don’t have much game knowledge. Keep a mental note of item timings, death timers, and ultimate cooldowns to figure out some basic strategies. One simple example: if your team wins a fight and takes out three enemy heroes, encourage them to push the lane and take a tower.
Another example: if you see an enemy waste a high-cooldown ultimate (such as a Tidehunter whiffing his Ravage), your team can play more aggressively since the enemy has fewer ways to stop you. Similarly, you should press your advantage when your team has an important ultimate ready or your core just bought a key item, opening up new opportunities for success. Use one success to build to another and to keep your team playing as a team.
It is equally as important to spot potential disasters as well. Once your team successfully exploits an opportunity, reassess your safety. Have dead enemy heroes started respawning? Is that dangerous ultimate back online? If so, urge your team to back up to safety, ensuring you keep your advantage. Don’t panic if opportunities and dangers don’t seem obvious; it takes a lot of experience to recognise them.
However, even if you follow all these tips, good results are not guaranteed. Sometimes, people will be cruel and counterproductive, and no effort on your own part will help. But hopefully the things I’ve suggested will lead to a happier Dota experience for both you and your team.
Ultimately, just try to have faith in your team. Trust that everyone’s putting in their best effort because they probably are. Yes, sometimes people have tantrums and throw games, but most people are playing to win. However, Dota is so complex, everyone is bound to make a few mistakes per game. Keep up a good attitude and you’ll help others do the same.
It’s up to you to keep those normal errors from ruining the entire thing. “Game is hard” is a preset message for a reason.
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