MOBAs have become some of the most popular games out there, and as such, they have quite the following. Many people tune in to watch, play and even place the occasional bet at trusted bookmaker websites. If you are not sure where to look for help, we recommend reading this Betnow review as a start.
Regardless of how you interact with MOBAs, you have probably wondered what it would take to actually get your play to a place where you can make a difference for your team.
There are many ways to approach the subject, of course, but mastery at video games is not something that comes easy – unless you follow some time-tested practices which will promote your abilities at MOBAs to the next level.
Play for Fun
If you want to be good at anything, you simply must make sure you are having fun doing it. Fall in love with the process, and results will follow all by themselves. MOBAs are versatile games with much to learn, so before you even start worrying about how to be good at a game like that, you ought to just focus on studying the lore and understanding the mechanics.
Well, we say “study,” but it’s really just a matter of experience. All you need to do is get your hands on the game and start playing. It may be any MOBA you have handy. League of Legends and Dota 2 are great places to start, but before we go into the specifics, we recommend that you choose the title that appeals to you the most.
If you are into slightly more challenging gameplay, that is probably Dota 2, but if you like an easy learning curve, League of Legends is your pick. Either way, both games play and feel the same at the highest level.
Start Familiarizing Yourself with Concepts
Now that you have a game that you think you can stick with and find enjoyable, it’s time to take the next step – familiarize yourself with the basic concepts of the game. Players may be unfamiliar with many of the terms that fly around. What is a “mid” or a “carry” or a “support?” All of these terms may sound a little strange right now, but they make perfect sense.
There are many others, too, but you don’t have to worry about them. Just approach each new term with natural curiosity and don’t dismiss it. Look it up, as they say, or ask Google or even your teammates. Everyone will benefit from feeding you knowledge that would improve your game and would push the team’s effort forward.
Choose a Role and Stick with It
Now, if you really want to improve your game in any given MOBA, you really have to pick one role and stick with it again. This is fairly easy to choose, and all you need to do is ask yourself what you love doing. Is it healing your teammates, supporting them in the backlines, initiating or dealing the hard numbers in the form of damage?
The fact is each player has a natural aptitude for something, and that is precisely what you should work on yourself. Players are going to appreciate you more if you are good at one role rather than semi-good at all roles, even if the latter suggests that you are more versatile.
The key to getting good, though, is consistency and focus. You ought to pick the role you are naturally good at – or enjoy the most – and stick with it. Study it, learn new things about it, and try to do a little better day in and day out. That is the best way to get ahead in any game, not just MOBAs, and whether that is real-world sport or electronic sports, consistency will make you better at everything you get a crack on.
Remember, You Need to Put in Some Hours First
Enjoying advanced gameplay is fun, especially when you know that you can do a lot to influence a game, but remember – you will have to spend some time learning about the game and what to expect. Many people want to just jump into the game and make it work, but that is not always possible.
That is why you should develop a healthy mindset that allows you to take everything on your own time. Patience and discipline will prove important and helpful factors in your journey to the top or to become a better player one way or another.
Map Awareness, a Second Nature
One of the things you can develop without too much effort is map awareness. Being constantly on the prowl for what waits out there is an important skill. MOBAs have “mini-maps” where you may spot an enemy trying to sneak in FOG. Now, professional players are so keen on map awareness that it’s impossible to catch them by surprise if you walk out of the so-called Fog of War.
That is why many games have some special mechanics, usually invisibility, that allows you to ambush the enemies. Sneaky and tactical play is definitely part of the game but so is map awareness, which is easy to hone to perfection. Just make sure you start paying attention to the map ALL the time so that it’s second nature to you and nothing sneaks past you!
Set Realistic Goals
You don’t want to push yourself too hard anyway. You want to be consistently improving, so why to set the bar unrealistically high when you can make sure that you achieve something new every day. Play and focus on the experience rather than improving yourself by too much.
Of course, if you want to realistically expect to get better, you will have to put a lot of effort in, and you will have to do so consistently. We recommend that you put the bar low, though, so that you can reach your milestones every week.
Overcoming weekly challenges will give you the motivation to continue and pursue the game further and achieve a level of comprehension that is worthwhile and enjoyable. Players who are keen to explore a higher level of play need to learn how to set realistic goals and do so with confidence and focus.
Find Someone to Mentor You
It may seem silly, but finding a more skilled player who can quickly “pull you up” is a great way. After all, professional athletes don’t necessarily go figuring things out on their own. The same pretty much applies to video gaming. Mentors are a great addition and a way to step up your play and get it to the next level.
Players who are willing to teach you will save you the trip to discovery and allow you to focus on the purely mechanical aspects, such as “last hitting” or, as we have already discussed – map awareness.
It’s not easy, and let’s face it – it takes a lot of time to master any video game that is highly competitive, but with a mentor by your side, the journey may feel quite a bit more entertaining. Players who are keen to get things started will have the opportunity to do so when guided by a knowledgeable fellow player.
Consider Online Tutorials
In the early 2000s, online tutorials were really useful, and even today, there are a lot of guides and videos being made giving direct answers to some popular questions in the competitive gaming space, which is great. You can find out many great resources online that will help shape your game and really take it to the next level.
Improve Where You Aren’t Doing Great
Hold nothing sacred as your gameplay will definitely not be the best. MOBAs are about learning, though, and as long as you don’t get too hung up on your mistakes, you will be able to improve. What you need to do is focus on those areas in your gameplay that may be lacking a bit.
Devise meaningful exercise and THINK about improving yourself. Do you lack the “last hitting skills?” Don’t worry, and there is an easy way to sort this out – last hit more. Try to score better and better with each last hit you attempt. It’s going to take you a while, but it really is like map awareness – you do it until it becomes second nature.
Don’t Get Upset
MOBAs are emotional games, and it’s easy to get dragged down in a conflict. That will do nothing to improving your game. Even though many people are tempted to assign blame, we recommend keeping a level head and making sure that you take something out of each bad situation.
You want to improve yourself, but for this to happen, you will have to focus on the gameplay and to find ways to overcome obstacles, not get bogged down in conflicts, and (unjustly) assign blame on your teammates who are most certainly trying their best. Rather, spend your energy on something that allows you to grow – whether this is in League of Legends, Dota 2, or real life.
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The basic goal of a MOBA is not just to obtain as many kills as possible. It is to demolish your opponent’s towers on each lane before destroying their krunker base. Getting kills is just one-half of the equation.