Anti-Mage woes...

I've been playing anti-mage for the last week and a half, trying to learn the ropes. Now, I've only played a total of 75 in DOTA 2, but I believe I have the general concept of LHing, denying, etc down in concept, as well as what my role is supposed to be as AM -- a hard carry that feeds early game, then when I have some gear I participate in team fights, then go back to farming.

For reference, I use this build: http://www.dotafire.com/dota-2/guide/original-anti-mage-173

Now, my games with AM are very hit or miss. It seems to entirely depend on whether my team mates are going to cooperate with me or not. What do I mean by this? Well, it seems one of two things happen to me:

1. Good Game
* My lane partner doesn't compete with me for LHs
* Helps me stay alive early game
* I in turn get my defensive gear quick and we win the lane
* If this happens, I am generally a beast the rest of the game through

2. Bad Game
* My lane partner competes with me for LHs, and usually wins. It seems in these cases, their basic attack out dmgs mine... so if he wants it, he gets it. I've tried to off-set this by getting a quelling blade, which puts me at equal footing, but I'm still competing.

* This is EVEN WORSE if the guy is range. As I end up going in for the LH, 50/50 losing it to the range partner, then I end up tanking the damage from the other player. IE: I become a meat shield

* Combine these two situations together... competing for LHs and being a meatshield... I get behind on CS, which means I don't get my defenses fast enough (ring of health, treads, vangaurd), which means I'm more likely to die... which is a domino effect for me becoming undergeared and useless



The good thing is... in most games, this isn't a problem! However, but it is in about 1/3 of the games I play. In some cases I've tried to ask them to cooperate, but I end up getting verbally abused... both because I asked and then getting attacked for having poor CS and bad gear when we start losing.


Can someone please give me some tips?

I'll help you, since Anti-Mage is my favorite hero.

First of all, that build isn't really good, instead of going for Vanguard as first item, you should go for Battle Fury, since it gives you mana and HP regen, and also makes your farming way easier with that damage and cleave attack.

Also, after the Manta Style, don't go for Butterfly, get something better, like Skull Basher or Black King Bar or the best option Heart of Tarrasque, it depends on the game. I find those items way more useful than Butterfly for Anti-Mage.

Also, max Blink before maxing Mana Break with just one point of Spell Shield at level 4(situational). The cooldown reduction and range increase on Blink is way better, also Mana Break doesn't help you farm at all, that's what you need to do early-mid game, farm farm and farm, and Mana Break won't help you farm. So go for Blink first, since it makes you escape way faster and also improves your chasing ability.

Also, get as many kills as you can, even if you steal them, just take them, because in late game, you will carry your team, also, in teamfights, try to use Mana Void on the unit with the highest amount of mana after they used spells and after you attacked him with your Mana Break + Manta Style. Remember that Mana Void does AOE damage and also ministuns.

Also, after you got your Battle Fury, farming is easy, just go jungle, clear a camp, blink to other, clean it, etc. Use your Blink to farm and move fast!

Try to watch some pro players playing Anti-Mage, watch some matches of them. :)


Hope I helped :)

I really appreciate your awesome response. Thank you so much!

To clarify, should I go Battlefury -> Vangaurd -> Manta?

You dont really need vanguard. Just go straight for your manta. If you really want a vanguard, then dont get battle fury since the point of bf is to get you farm up asap.

Awesome, I figured as much as soon as I saw the common Ring of Health being used to forge both items :D

Swapping Vanguard with the BF was hugely awesome this last game I just played! Thank you!

With these changes, I still need to figure out how to work on LHing in lanes where I'm getting shutout, or competing for LHs with my lane partner... or a combination of the two.

Kindly ask your lane partner to leave the LH's to you and harass and deny the other team. If that does not work, play with a friend who is willing to babysit and play a proper support role. If that doens't work I will play with you and do the aforementioned. I like support roles!! ;D Steam= DirtGrub

Also, if your lane can pull, then do that, the EXP and gold from the jungle is also good for you, also it's better than nothing. You can also ask the help of your mid lane to gank.

Yeah the best thing you can do is talk to your lane partner and ask him to focus on harass and denies and let you farm up. Always try to lane with a support hero if you can. Most people who play support by choice play the role very well, and understand the concept of letting the carry get the farm while they, well while they support you. In PUBs you have to deal with what you get, but always look for a support to lane with.

Lacking that, just play smart and defensive early game until you get some of your key items. Anti-mage really doesn't pick up in scariness until late game, but when you get there, oh my god is he awesome. If you fall behind early just focus on farming. Stock up on TPs and get to lanes whenever they're pushed and farm farm farm. Get in teamfights to get assist gold and snag kills and GTFO back to the jungle.

If you ever want a lane partner just hit me up on Steam. I like playing support =)

Steam = Raidhyn

Play more support there is too much carry in dota then people contest for last hits

Hades nailed it.