How to Master Position 4 in Dota 2 (& Best Heroes For Beginners)

Dota 2 is a pretty complicated game, and every role comes with its own set of challenges. Position 4 is one of the trickiest to master, since you’re not just a support, you’re also the team’s playmaker. Unlike Position 5, who mostly stick to protecting cores, Position 4 players have to be active on the map, setting up kills, securing vision, and creating space.

This position can significantly alter the pace of a Dota 2 game, but to excel, you’ll need strong understanding of the game dynamics and good judgment skills. In this guide, we’ll share some key strategies to help you perfect the Position 4 playstyle and suggest a few heroes that are both straightforward and effective for this role.

How to Master Position 4 in Dota 2

Although Position 4 may seem straightforward, becoming proficient in this role demands considerable practice and understanding of the game. Here are some suggestions to help you grasp the fundamentals of playing the Position 4 Support character on your team:

1. Familiarize yourself with the hero’s abilities and strengths.
2. Learn when to use your abilities effectively, prioritizing assisting allies over farming gold.
3. Pay attention to the map for potential threats and opportunities, communicating any important information to your team.
4. Coordinate with your team to secure objectives such as towers, runes, or Roshan.
5. Adapt your playstyle based on the enemy composition and your team’s needs.

Lane Presence

In the world of Dota 2, the laning phase stands out as a crucial stage in the game. As Position 4, you often team up with Position 3 to engage in the Offlane. Your objective here is to support your Offlaner in defeating the enemy duo in the Safe Lane by exchanging blows, challenging the creep camps for resources, and capturing the Healing Lotus.

As a fan, I’d suggest this: In a good matchup for your lane, try pushing your advantage by moving a bit more aggressively to hinder the enemy Position 5, while also harassing their Hard Carry. Remember to grab the Healing Lotus at minutes 3 and 6, and the Wisdom Shrine at minute 7.

In challenging head-to-head situations, it would be wise to adopt a slightly more cautious strategy. By either stacking or pulling the difficult camp, and even side-pulling a wave beyond your T1 tower, you can help your Offlaner gather resources more efficiently.

Early Game Rotations

In the laning phase, it’s crucial for a Position 4 player, but don’t forget about assisting other team members too. Also, during the 6-minute Power Rune period, it’s vital to be close to the Midlane to aid your Position 2 in capturing the Rune.

Utilize the Twin Gates at an early stage to swiftly navigate towards your Safe Lane, potentially resulting in a kill against the enemy Offlane or Position 4. Don’t forget to rejoin your Offlane hero’s lane later on to offer support.

Make sure to set up a few Observation Wards with a cautious demeanor as you progress, gathering intel about the actions of the opposing team.

Mid-Game Itemization and Playstyle

In the current game, many Position 4 characters are versatile, boasting both initiating and playmaking skills. Characters such as Tusk, Lion, or Windranger can significantly impact team fights with the aid of a Blink Dagger. Meanwhile, strategic positioning empowers heroes like Winter Wyvern to influence entire team battles, making Glimmer Cape an excellent item for them.

As a seasoned gamer, I always keep an eye out for my hero’s pivotal power surge during the mid-game. The goal is to snatch the item that offers me the maximum utility, making my gameplay more effective and giving me an edge over opponents.

Rotate and Secure Vision

While it may be enticing to devote most of your attention to your farm since Position 4 allows for greater scale, remember that it’s equally crucial to keep track of the overall map for your team. In essence, despite being a Support, you often possess a broader understanding of the game’s landscape compared to your Position 5, given your dual role as the playmaker.

When navigating the map alongside your Offlaner, make certain to place Observation Wards to help us discover opportunities for more kills in the future. Utilize the map’s sight to coordinate ambush strategies with your team, maintaining a consistent offensive against the enemy’s Safe Lane.

Itemize for the Team

Although Position 4 might seem to function as a substitute for the main core of your team, it’s crucial to prioritize equipping items for your team’s advantage rather than solely boosting your hero’s damage. Hoodwink, for example, is an effective Position 4 support character that can amplify its potential significantly with items like Gleipneir, Mage Slayer, or even Daedalus.

In certain games where your team is low on damage output, opting for an item build that increases damage could be beneficial. However, if your team already has sufficient damage but the cores are struggling to stay alive against the enemy’s burst attacks, it would be wiser to prioritize items like Glimmer Cape, Force Staff, or Lotus Orb instead. Always remember to prioritize your team’s needs over your own when choosing item purchases.

Best Position 4 Heroes for Beginners in Dota 2

In Dota 2, the gameplay is incredibly fluid as the strategies often change, and here are some Position 4 heroes that are comparatively simpler to grasp yet proving effective in the present strategy landscape:

1. Crystal Maiden
2. Earthshaker
3. Vengeful Spirit
4. Dark Seer
5. Oracle
6. Tidehunter (if you prefer a more aggressive style)

Master these heroes and adapt your strategies accordingly to excel in the ever-evolving Dota 2 meta!

Lion

In the current game scenario, Lion ranks among the strongest characters occupying Position 4. Known as both a disabler and a nuker, this hero, despite his average health reserve, can significantly complicate matters for the enemy’s Safe Lane duo. Lion achieves a notable power boost around level 3, having invested two levels in Earth Spike and one in Hex, making him quite formidable.

His Mana Drain is quite bothersome for opponents in lane. Plus, when he reaches level 6, he’ll unleash a high-damage attack that can significantly decrease your opponent’s health in a single strike. With a Blink Dagger during mid-game, Lion can create a lot of turmoil in team fights as long as he manages to stay alive and avoid getting eliminated.

Jakiro

With the adjustments made in Patch 7.38 to Jakiro’s Facets, the character has witnessed a significant increase in victory rate. Much like Lion, Jakiro performs exceptionally well in both dealing damage (nuking) and imposing disabilities. However, unlike Lion, Jakiro is less frail and can more effectively engage in combat with the enemy Support (Position 5), thanks to his expanded Health Pool.

Instead of Lion, Jakiro doesn’t experience an early power surge. In fact, it takes some time for players to get accustomed to Jakiro due to the delayed casting animation on all his abilities. To enhance his performance, Jakiro often opts for items like Aether Lens or utility-based items such as Glimmer Cape and Force Staff, which assist in landing spells more effectively and saving allies respectively.

Mirana

Mirana isn’t the most straightforward character to play in Dota 2, but she’s still a highly effective one in the current game Meta. Her skill shot, Sacred Arrow, can be tricky to hit without preparation. However, if your Offlaner has a reliable stun that can immobilize an enemy hero, you can combine it with Sacred Arrow for substantial damage and control.

As a gamer, I find that Mirana’s Starstorm packs quite a punch and is great for putting pressure on enemy heroes. With her built-in escape mechanism, I can also play more assertively with Mirana. Her ultimate, Moonlight Shadow, is a game-changer; it makes my whole team invisible, making me an effective Position 4 support in the current meta.

As a gamer, I’ve found myself really enjoying the role of Position 4 Support in Dota 2 once I got the hang of it. At first, it’s all about learning the ropes and understanding how to navigate the map effectively to make things easier for my team. Initially, I started with the heroes we suggested as a good starting point, until I found one that truly felt like an extension of myself in the game.

2025-03-01 12:04