DotA Inside And Basics | Dota Beginner Guide

This is Basic Guide of DOTA. Here are some things which a DOTA Starter must know.

This Guide Contains Information About

Beginner:
Common Terms
Game Modes and Commands

Inside DOTA:
Equations
Hero experience chart
Consecutive kills

BEGINNER

Common Terms:

Areas On The Map

Mid  Middle lane. The line traveled by the creeps through the center of the map.

Top  Top lane. The line traveled by the creeps through the west and top portions of the map

Bot  Bot lane. The line traveled by the creeps through the bottom and east portions of the map.

Woods  The areas in between lanes where neutral creeps are found.

Jungle  Same as woods.


Item Abbreviations

AC  Assault Cuirass

Aghs or Agha  Aghanim's Scepter

BKB  Black King Bar

Blink  Kelen's Dagger

BoT  Boots of Travel

Crow/Bird   Flying Courier

Deso  Stygian Desolator

DR  Divine Rapier

Hex  Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse

HotD  Helm of the Dominator

HoT/Heart  Heart of Tarrasque

Mek   Mekansm

MoM  Mask of Madness

Phase   Phase Boots

PT   Power Treads

RoB  Ring of Basillus

RoR  Ring of Regeneration

RoH  Ring of Health

Sheepstick or Sheep   Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse

SnY  Sange and Yasha

Vlads  Vladimir's Offering


Basic Need To Know Terms
Farm:   Farming up gold. Refers to the act of systematically killing creeps in order to earn gold. Even when you are virtually killing creeps all game long, you say that someone is "farming" when they are completely dedicated and concentrated on that.

Focus:  Means to concentrate all attacks on a specific target (I.E "Focus Lina" means that Lina should be the primary objective and that all the team should have attacking her as a priority in team fights)

Harass:  Relative to the act of putting pressure in your enemy by attacking him during the laning period. Basically, harassing is attacking the enemy in front of you in the lane, so as to make him an easy target for a gank or to prevent him from farming freely. Therefore, "harass Ezalor" means that you should try to damage Ezalor with your skills/attacks.

Juke:  Juking, means to make deceptive maneuvers with your hero while moving, so as to delude your opponent and make it harder for him to predict where you will be heading. This is used mainly to escape while you are being chased, or to make your enemy miss/misuse a spell (for example Avalanche, which has to be targeted to the ground).

Pull:  Creep Pulling. Getting creeps from a neutral camp to follow you into the path of your lane creeps.

Spam:  Spamming your spells, refers to the act of repeatedly using a certain spell, a lot. "spam carrion swarm" means casting Carrion Swarm a lot, most generally as soon as the cool down is up.

Rosh:  Roshan. Refers to Roshan, the big neutral creep next to the river just below the middle lane. Usually indicates the player's belief that either the enemy team is killing Roshan right now or that the player's team should kill Roshan now.

Gank:  Bringing several heroes to gang up on a target to kill them. "Gank lina," is a request for you to come help kill her.

b:  Back. If your allies start calling "b," get out immediately, it usually means that you're getting ganked. This is a more urgent warning than a miss or mia call.

TP:  Teleport. A request for you to use a Scroll of Town Portal or Boots of Travel to come assist in a fight. "tp mid now"

Def:  Defend. Self-explanitory, "tp to def mid"PushTraveling down a lane as a team in order to work together to fight and kill enemy buildings.

DD: The Double Damage rune.

Hero Missing/ Returning Calls
miss:  Missing. A warning that enemy heroes have gone out of view and might be ganking, so be careful. Usually said with a hero name, such as, "Lina miss."

mia:  Missing in action. Same thing as miss, such as, "Lina mia."

re:  Returned. The opposite of a miss/mia call, "Lina re" means that she's back in the lane she came from and you don't have to worry about her.



Hero Descriptions
nuke:  A generic term for any spell that does damage. "Nuke him" just means throw your damage spell, pretty much no matter what hero you have.

ult:  Ultimate. Any hero's level 6 ability is refered to as their ultimate

oom:  Out of mana. Don't expect any more spells from this player during the fight.

mana:  Just saying "mana" usually means the same thing as oom

cd:  Cooldown.Should usually be interpreted as, "Hold on, the spell I need isn't up yet." Also, you might see something like, "ult cd 30" which means, "My ultimate is still cooling for about 30 more seconds."

stacked:  Stacked of items, means that a hero has gotten many and powerful items, therefore making him really hard to take down. "Nevermore is stacked" means that Nevermore has many and good items.

farmed:  Same as stacked.

Game Modes & Commands

There are many commands that you can enter during the game, some impact the game itself, while others display useful information. Here we provide a list of most of the commands in the game. There are some other commands that you can also use, but they are almost entirely for fun and have no impact on the game, so we will start by covering only those that impact gameplay.

All commands must be preceeded by "-" to work, for instance, "-ma". All game modes must be entered on a single line preceeded by "-", for instance, "-apemomsc".

Common Game Modes
ap	All Pick. Each player is allowed to pick a hero from any tavern.
ar	All Random. Each player is given a random hero from any tavern.
rd	Random Draft. 20 random heroes from any tavern are selected and players take turns picking from them.
sd	Single Draft. Each player chooses from one of 3 individual random heroes.
cd	Captains Draft. 24 random heroes are selected. Then Blue and Pink take turns banning heroes, then picking heroes. Then the players on each team pick from their team's heroes.
cm	Captains Mode. Blue and Pink take turns banning heroes, then take turns picking heroes. These heroes are then chosen by members of their team.
em	Easy Mode. Towers are weaker, and players get extra gold and experience.
dm	Death Match. When you die you are given a new hero. The game can end normally, or when one team reaches a certain amount of deaths. lives # can be used to set life limit, and -nd to remove respawn timer along with this mode.
Other Game Modes
rs	Random Side. Places each team on a random side.
du	Duplicate. More than one of each hero can be played.
sp	Shuffle Players. Randomly switches around players from each team.
xl	Extended League. Both Sides will take turns picking heroes. Each team captain can pick 4 heroes to remove from the pool.
om	Only Mid. Only the middle lane is used.
sc	Super Creeps. Powerful creeps will spawn every 10 minutes.
lm	League Mode. Both Sides will take turns picking heroes.
mm	Mirror Mode. After one minute, each team will have the same heroes.
tr	Team Random. You will be given a random hero from your taverns.
mr	Mode Random. Selects a random game mode.
vr	Vote Random. You will be given a random hero from the voted groupset.
rv	Reverse. You pick a hero for your opponent.
oi	Observer Info. Disables extra information display for observers.
sh	Same Hero. All players will be given the hero that Blue has.
aa	All Agility. Only Agility heroes are used.
ai	All Intelligence. Only Intelligence heroes are used.
as	All Strength. Only Strength heroes are used.
id	Item Drop. When you die, a random inventory slot will drop an item.
np	No Powerups. No runes spawn.
nt	No Top. The top lane is not used.
nm	No Mid. The middle lane is not used.
nb	No Bot. The bottom lane is not used.
ns	No Swap. Swapping heroes is not allowed.
nr	No Repick. Repicking heroes is not allowed.
pm	Pooling Mode. All items can be used by other players.
mi	Mini Heroes. All heroes are half normal size.
fr	Fast Respawn. Reduces death times by 50%.
mo	Melee Only. Only melee heroes are used.
ro	Ranged Only. Only ranged heroes are used.
er	Experimental Runes. Uses an experimental rune spawning system.
so	Switch On. Allows use of the -switch command. Leavers items can be unlocked by -unlock command when this mode is activated.
zm	Zoom mode. Observers will view the game from a zoomed out state.
cp	Capture Point. Specific areas appear at 10 minute mark. Capturing them grants various bonus auras.
wtf	Fun mode. Spells have no cooldown or manacost.
Commands
tips	Gives you various helpful pointers about your hero throughout the game.
random	Random. Gives you a random hero in modes like All Pick. You get 250 extra gold.
random int	Random. Gives you a random Intelligence hero in modes like All Pick. You get 150 extra gold.
random str	Random. Gives you a random Strength hero in modes like All Pick. You get 150 extra gold.
random agi	Random. Gives you a random Agility hero in modes like All Pick. You get 150 extra gold.
ma	Displays the heroes your opponents control and their levels. Alias: -matchup.
ms	Displays your hero's current movement speed. Alias: -movespeed.
apm	Displays apm ( actions per minute ) of all players.
cs	Displays your creep kills, denies, and neutral kills.
switch #	Allows you to switch teams with another player. Other players vote with -ok or -no after this command is entered.
cson	Activates the cs display to display your creep kills and denies.
es	Enables selection helper. This is enabled by default. Alias: -enableselection
es	Disables selection helper. Alias: -disableselection
csoff	Deactivates the cs display.
c	Center. Locks the camera on your hero.
co	Centeroff. Turns center mode off.
disablehelp	Prevents certain spells, such as Test of Faith cast by an allied Holy Knight, from affecting you. Also prevents allies from picking up your items in the fountain area.
enablehelp	Re-enables effects from certain allied spells and allows allies to pick up your items in the fountain area.
unstuck	Pauses your hero for 60 seconds, after which you are teleported to your base.
recreate	Sometimes rare glitches occur with certain heroes, recreate can fix those glitches. Recreate takes about 2 minutes to complete, and only works on Lycanthrope, Lifestealer, Dragon Knight, Soul Keeper, and Tormented Soul.
swap #	Offers to swap your hero with another player's. -swaphero # can also be used.
showmsg	Shows messages.
hidemsg	Hides messages.
showdeny	Shows a '!' above a creep when it is denied.
hidedeny	Hides the '!'.
quote #	Plays a hero quote. Writing it without a number will play a random hero quote.
weather rain	Switches weather to rain.
weather snow	Switches weather to snow.
weather moonlight	Switches weather to moonlight.
weather wind	Switches weather to wind.
weather random	Switches to random weather.
weather off	Turns weather off.
di	Enables -cson and -showdeny. Alias: -denyinfo. -di is initially enabled.
don	Shows the death timer. Alias: -deathon
doff	Hides the death timer. -deathoff
roll #	Shows a random number between 1 and the number entered, max of 2000. Default of 100.
rollon	Enables roll command. This is initially enabled.
rolloff	Disables roll command.
hhn	Hides the hero name portion of player's names. Alias: -hideheronames.
test	Enables single player commands.
mute	Toggles sounds on and off.
clear	Clears the messages.
ii	Item info. Shows items of allied heroes on multiboard.
gameinfo	Displays information about the current game modes.
kickafk #	Used to kick a player who has been AFK for a long period of time.
mines	Shows you how many Land Mines you have placed with Goblin Techies.
mc	Shows how many times you have Multicast with Ogre Magi.
fs	Shows how much bonus Strength you have gained from Flesh Heap with Pudge. Alias: -fleshstr
int	Shows how much bonus Intelligence you have gained from Last Word with Silencer.
ha	Shows your average accuracy with Meat Hook or Hookshot.
aa	Shows your average accuracy with Elune's Arrow.
invokelist	Displays all of Invoker's spells, and what reagents are needed to use them.
water red	Makes the water red.
water green	Makes the water green.
water blue	Makes the water blue.
water default	Makes the water the default color.
water r g b	Sets the water color to the color specified by r, g, and b. Example: "-water 255 0 0" is the same as "-water red".
water random	Sets the water to a random color.
gg	Displays bonus gold gained from Alchemist's Goblin Greed ability.
rh	Displays a random hero name. Alias: -rollhero.
Single Player Commands
lvlup #	Increases level of your hero by entered value.
refresh	Resets ability cooldowns, sets health and mana of your hero to 100%.
spawncreeps	Spawns creeps from all lanes.
powerup	Spawns runes.
neutrals	Forces neutral spawn.
kill	Kills your last picked hero. This kill will be considered as a suicide.
gold #	Increases your gold by entered value.
time #	Sets time of day. Values should be between 0 and 24.
killsent	Kills sentinel creeps.
killscourge	Kills scourge creeps.
killall	Kills all creeps.
noherolimitt	Allows you to pick multiple heroes.
trees	Forces a tree spawn.
killwards	Removes wards from the map.
spawnon	Enables creep spawn. This is enabled initially.
spawnoff	Disables creep spawn.

INSIDE DOTA

Equations

A lot of these equations pertain to Warcraft III in general. Where applicable they were simplified from the general Warcraft III form to DotA specific equations. Numbers are meant to be exact as how Warcraft III interprets them; when you see .14 it is not and approximation of 1/7. 

Base stats

Variable	Title	Meaning
Str	Strength Total	Base Strength w/level + any items bonuses
Agi	Agility Total	Base Agility w/level + any item bonuses
Int	Intelligence Total	Base Intelligence w/level + any item bonuses
Pri	Primary Total	The number total for the primary stat for the hero =(Str, Agi, Int) depending on hero
ArmorB	Armor base	What a hero has w/o any stats or items**
ACoolB	Attack Cool down	The number of seconds a hero has to wait to attack again after attacking w/o any stats or items
Range	Attack Range	The distance a hero can attack
MSpd	Movement speed	How fast a hero moves in DotA. Max w/modifiers is 522.
DMnB	Damage Base Min	The minimum damage without stats nor items
DMxB	Damage Base Max	The maximum damage without stats nor items

Calculated stats*

Variable	Title	Equation	Meaning
HP	Hit points max	150 + (19 * Str)	The maximum a hit points a hero can regenerate to
HPReg	Hit points Regeneration	0.25 + (.03 * Str)	How many hit points a hero regains per second
Mana	Mana Max	13 * Int	The resource used to cast spells & use abilites.
MReg	Mana Regeneration	0.01 + (.04 * Int)	How much mana a hero regains per second
Armor	Armor	ArmorB + (Agi * .14)	Armor w/stats & items
DmgMn	Damage Min	DMnB + Pri	The minimim damage with stats taken into account
DmgMx	Damage Max	DMxB + Pri	The maximum damage with stats taken into account
IAS	Increase in Attack Speed	Agi	The number of seconds a hero has to wait to attack again after attacking. Note when warcraft says "Increase attack speed x%" it means increate this varible by x.
ACool	Attack Cool down	ACoolB + IAS	The number of seconds a hero has to wait to attack again after attacking.
AttSpd	Attack Speed	1 / ACool	How many times a second a hero can attack. Note by the schema laid out here when Warcraft III says "Increase attack speed x%" it means change IAS by x which effects ACool which effects this variable.
DRed	Damage reduction	1-{1/[1+(Armor*ADRM)]}	An amount of damage less taken from non-magical attacks
DPS	Damage Per Second	AttSpd*[(DmgMn+DmgMx)/2]	The amount of damage a hero will do a second before armor and other effects are taken into account

Hero Experience Chart

Experience needed to level

Experience table

Lvl	Total Exp	Exp To Next Lvl
1	0	200
2	200	300
3	500	400
4	900	500
5	1400	600
6	2000	700
7	2700	800
8	3500	900
9	4400	1000
10	5400	1100
11	6500	1200
12	7700	1300
13	9000	1400
14	10400	1500
15	11900	1600
16	13500	1700
17	15200	1800
18	17000	1900
19	18900	2000
20	20900	2100
21	23000	2200
22	25200	2300
23	27500	2400
24	29900	2500
25	32400	2600

Consecutive kills

When one player kills a number of players without dying they get a 'bounty' on their head. The more players killed before dying the higher that bounty gets. Players are alerted in the game via sound. When someone finally kills that player they receive the bounty gold in addition to the regular 100 gold for killing a hero.

Kills	Sound	Bounty
3	Killing Spree	50
4	Dominating	100
5	Mega-Kill	150
6	Unstoppable	200
7	Wicked Sick	250
8	M-m-m-m....Monster Kill	300
9	Godlike	350
10+	Beyond Godlike/Holy Shit (somebody stop/kill him!)	400