The Most Difficult Heroes In Dota 2 – How to Play

Dota 2 is notoriously known as one of the most challenging games to learn, as it has immense depth and a lineup of heroes presenting unique abilities and playstyles. With a roster of over 120 heroes, some heroes are significantly harder to learn than others. These heroes demand mechanical skill, immense game knowledge, and quick fingers to be played effectively. Let’s take a look at the five most difficult heroes in Dota 2. 

Arc Warden

Arc Warden is one of the most unique heroes in Dota 2 and arguably the most mechanically demanding. His ultimate ability creates a Tempest Double, an identical clone of himself. Though we see many illusion-based heroes, the twist is that Arc Warden’s double can cast items, too. This ability might sound overpowered, but it also makes him one of the most micro-intensive heroes in the game. 

What Makes Arc Warden Difficult

Simply put, Arc Warden is a “high-risk, high-reward” hero. Though his ability to double his impact makes him a late-game monster, it serves as a double-edged sword since it amplifies the complexity of his gameplay. 

Many inexperienced players get overwhelmed when microing two Arc Wardens and mistakenly put the original one out of position, which is a major challenge since he isn’t the most durable hero out there. We definitely wouldn’t recommend him as a hero for beginners to Dota 2. 

On top of managing two separate clones, Arc Warden players need to make decisions on resource allocation and positioning, which requires exceptional map awareness and years of experience. 

Key Challenges For Mastering Arc Warden

1. Micro-Intensive: The most challenging aspect of Arc Warden is controlling two units at a time, which doesn’t only issue auto-attacks but can cast items and spells. 
2. Requirement for positioning and awareness: Arc Warden isn’t the tankiest hero in the game and must cast spells and hit enemies from far range for maximum effectiveness.
3. Effective split-pushing: One of the most prominent features of Arc Warden is his ability to send his clone to split-push. Split-pushing allows him to farm and control the map.
4. Teamfight execution: Not only should Arc Warden focus on casting his spells to damage enemies, but he can also protect teammates with Magnetic Field. 

Tips and Tricks

• Use Tempest Double wisely: Arc Warden’s ultimate is his most potent tool. However, before entering the late game, there is significant downtime between its duration and cooldown. Avoid wasting it recklessly.
• Spark Wraiths give vision: Remember that Spark Wraith provides vision around it. When farming the jungle, feel free to place a Spark Wraith on entry points such as staircases to spot incoming ganks. 
• Master the art of split-pushing: Nothing is more frustrating than playing against an Arc Warden who always shoves waves. Split-pushing forces enemy rotations and puts them in uncomfortable positions.
• Stack Magnetic Fields: When outside, enemies have a 100% miss chance of attacking units inside a Magnetic Field. A common trick is to have two Magnetic Fields in a Venn diagram shape.

Chen

If you want to be good with Chen, you need to know how to play support in Dota inside and out. Chen is a support hero who has the ability to control neutral creeps. Not one, but multiple. Not only do you have to manage an army of jungle creeps, but Chen is a tempo-based hero focused on early aggression.

On top of microing all your creeps, you also have to find openings in the early game to dictate the pace of the match. A well-played Chen can snowball games, but a poorly executed one can feel utterly useless. 

What Makes Chen Difficult

Chen is widely considered the most difficult support hero in Dota 2. Unlike most supports relying on stuns or utility, Chen focuses on controlling multiple neutral creeps simultaneously.

To start, you must know the abilities of every neutral creep in the game, whether they have active abilities or provide aura buffs to the team. Then, you’ll have to micro each to get maximum effectiveness. 

Chen relies heavily on early-game dominance, so you’ll have to move quickly. However, failing to find impact early on can lead to Chen feeling like a liability as the game progresses. 

Key Challenges For Mastering Chen

1. Micro-management of multiple units: Controlling multiple units when playing Chen is unavoidable. You’ll have to micro several creeps and maximize their respective abilities.
2. Early game pressure: Chen plays on a timer. He needs to secure early kills or objectives for the team to be effective. He falls off a cliff in the late game. 
3. Creep selection: Knowing which neutral creeps to control for maximum impact is another important factor when playing Chen. 
4. Healing and saving allies: Chen’s ultimate ability, Hand of God, allows him to heal all allies globally. Chen players must keep track of their teammates’ current health and whether they are vulnerable to bursts.

Tips and Tricks

• Push early with your army: A well-played Chen is unstoppable in the early game. Use this opportunity to take as many objectives as possible and pull your team ahead.
• Control groups: Consider setting up control groups to micro-manage creeps efficiently. This can be done through the Dota 2 settings. 
• Best neutral creeps to control: Alpha Wolf, Centaur Conqueror, Satyr Banisher, Ogre Frostmage, Hellbear Smasher, Dark Troll Summoner

Meepo

Meepo is infamous for being one of the most difficult heroes in Dota 2. His ultimate ability allows him to create clones of himself, each capable of casting spells and issuing auto-attacks. This means you will have to control up to four Meepos; if one dies, they all do. You’ll have to maximize juggling all clones while, at the same time, being careful not to have one caught out. Meepo is very focused on snowballing, and one mistake can set you back massively.

What Makes Meepo Difficult

Meepo’s complexity heavily lies in his high micro demands and, most importantly, his “all-or-nothing” playstyle. Meepo’s gameplay is based on getting an early lead and dominating the game while he is the strongest.

There is almost little to no room for error, as failing to micro one clone properly can lead to his demise. Additionally, his snowball-dependent playstyle does not allow him to die unnecessarily, or it will be difficult to recover. 

Execution in team fights poses another difficulty when playing Meepo. He needs flawless target prioritization while keeping all four clones in check. 

Key Challenges For Mastering Meepo

1. Intense micro-management: Controlling four Meepos is nothing to scoff at, as you’ll have to cast abilities too. This micro-management requires exceptional multitasking. Remember – if one Meepo gets caught, you’re done for. 
2. Snowball-heavy: Meepo is heavily focused on hitting power spikes early and using it to dominate the early game. If he falls behind due to a death or two, catching up is extremely difficult. 
3. Farming efficiency: Meepo thrives on gold and experience. This means you must maximize farming patterns and separate Meepos to farm efficiently.
4. Vulnerability to AoE damage: Having four Meepos whack a single target has its drawbacks. The hero is extremely weak against large AoE spells like Echo Slam. 

Tips and Tricks

• Set up your micro hotkeys: Unless you’re a mechanical God, you’ll have to make use of hotkeys, especially control groups and the “Select Next Unit” bind which is set to “TAB” by default. 
• Maximize farming efficiency: Meepo is one of the fastest farmers in the game. With a built-in healing mechanic, he can easily sustain the jungle even in the early stages. Make sure to send different Meepos to multiple jungle camps. 
• Understand power spikes: Meepo is a timing-based hero. Understand his level and item power spikes. Getting max-level ultimate and a Blink Dagger is usually when he thrives. 
• Avoid picking him too early: Be cautious when picking Meepo, as he is easily countered by heroes with high AoE damage. Think of Meepo as a cheese hero that should be picked last.

Invoker

Unlike most heroes, Invoker doesn’t have a traditional set of abilities. Instead, he wields three elemental orbs that are combined in different ways to invoke ten unique spells. That’s right, he has ten different spells, forcing players to memorize spell combinations and execute them on the fly. Most of his spells aren’t point-targeted either, making him a tad bit harder than he already is.

What Makes Invoker Difficult

Not only is Invoker mechanically demanding, but he is also strategically complex. On top of clicking buttons like you’re playing the piano, you must also think about what you’re pressing. 

You must manually invoke and cycle through spells mid-fight and have a good idea of their combinations and current cooldowns to avoid miscasting. This requires extensive practice, strong decision-making, and fast reaction time. 

There are also many ways to build Invoker, whether you’d like to go all-in on magic damage or cater to more of a right-clicking build. He has one of the steepest learning curves in the game. 

Key Challenges For Mastering Invoker

1. Memorizing spell combinations: The first step to playing Invoker is memorizing all ten spells and what orbs are needed to cast them.
2. Managing cooldowns: After cycling an invoked spell, Invoker won’t be able to see the current cooldown. So, you must have a good idea of which spells are coming off cooldown. 
3. Mechanical execution: You’ll have your plate full thinking about ten spells, but Invoker requires items to function as well. Most item pickups on Invoker are active items, too. 
4. Spell accuracy and timing: Most of Invoker’s spells are targeted on the ground. Invoker players need to have a good feel for Tornado timings and land spells such as Sun Strike and Chaos Meteor accurately. 

Tips and Tricks

• Learn spell combinations by heart: To master Invoker, you need to be able to execute key combos by heart. Your fingers should press the correct keys without thinking. This requires a wealth of experience.
• Look for Sun Strike opportunities: Sun Strike is highly potent in the early game due to its heavy burst and pure damage type. Pay attention to the map to maximize Sun Strike opportunities and get easy kills. 
• Mana management: Though Invoker has a vast mana pool, it’s not too reliable when you’re casting ten spells off-cooldown. Make sure you aren’t casting spells unnecessarily just to look cool. 
• Quas-Wex vs. Quas-Exort: The two main routes for Invoker are building Quas and Wex or Quas and Exort. The former is reliant on mobility and utility, while the latter supports late-game scaling and damage. 

Morphling

Morphling is a carry hero that demands lightning-fast reflexes and steep game knowledge and this is why he’s one of the most difficult heroes in Dota 2. His signature ability is Attribute Shift, which allows him to trade strength for agility. He’s either extraordinarily tanky or a glass cannon. Morphling, in good hands, feels almost unkillable, but he can also be a recipe for disaster for inexperienced players. 

What Makes Morphling Difficult

Morphling is another “high-risk, high-reward” hero. Unlike most carry heroes who have straightforward abilities and rely on items, Morphling players must constantly adjust their health pool and damage output, in the middle of fights and even when farming. 

Players must shift to as much agility as possible to become efficient and deal damage, but this serves as a double-edged sword as he becomes vulnerable to burst damage. 

Another layer of complexity comes from his ultimate, Morph. This ability allows him to temporarily transform into an enemy hero, where he has access to the target hero’s spells. This adds additional depth as you’ll have to understand how to use an enemy hero’s abilities effectively. 

Key Challenges For Mastering Morphling

1. Managing Attribute Shift: Morphling players must always have their fingers on their Attribute Shift keys to maximize damage and survivability. 
2. Fast reflexes: Shifting to agility for higher damage output is recommended, but you must react to incoming stuns or damage by immediately shifting to strength. 
3. Understanding who to Morph into: Morphling’s ultimate is an excellent tool for him to obtain a fresh set of spells. However, Morphling does not have access to any ultimate abilities. Know when and who to Morph into for maximum impact. 
4. Itemization and scaling: Morphling’s itemization is trickier compared to standard carries. He needs the right balance of damage, sustain, and survivability, and the situation and needs differ from lineup to lineup.

Tips and Tricks 

• Master Attribute Shift toggling: Learning to toggle between Attribute Shifts efficiently is the key to mastering Morphling. Practical usage makes Morphling a late-game beast.
• Using Morph wisely: Remember that Morphling can only use a target’s three non-ultimate abilities. Focus on Morphing into heroes with disables or spells that buff yourself.
• Waveform carefully: Waveform is a flexible tool that allows Morphling to initiate, reposition, and escape. Time this ability wisely. 
• Watch out for burst damage: Play with a higher strength threshold when playing against heroes with heavy burst abilities like Lina’s Laguna Blade or Lion’s Finger of Death.