Inkarnate Profile Joined April 2010 Canada 33 Posts Last Edited: 2019-05-01 09:59:09 #1 This article was written in 2012 and is, at this point, very outdated. We have produced another article updated for use in 2019. You can find that here: The Dota 2 1-to-5 system, an introduction to farm priority



Introduction



I apologize in advance for terrible formatting.



+ Show Spoiler [Disclaimer] + Obviously this is not the only way to play DotA, and should not be taken as such. This is an overview of a popular team composition. Many heroes can be played in many roles, and item builds are just as diverse



Previously a Chinese system, the 1-to-5 system is a general model of how a DotA team is structured. The structure itself is pretty simple, the lower the number, the higher priority they have on farming gold and experience. 1 being the highest priority and 5 being the lowest.



Where it gets interesting, is how do you know which position a hero should play, and how to play that position effectively. This post won’t talk about how to lane your composition correctly, I might do a post about that some other time.





Positions:



1



A hero in the 1 position means that they have the highest priority for levels and gold on your team. This is your ‘hard carry’. Heroes that fall into this category are the most item and level dependent on your team. They deal a ton of damage later in the game, and generally build towards damage and survivability.



Common Heroes





Common Major Items







2



The 2 position means that they have the second most need for gold and levels. The reasons can vary, but in general they should be farming any lane that isn’t occupied by your 1. The 2 generally builds toward initiation and survivability items, though some heroes benefit from damage items as well



Common Heroes







Common Major Items







3



The third most farm dependent on your team, generally builds toward team fight/support items such as Pipe/Drum or initiation items. 3 is generally item independent for most damage.



Common Heroes







Common Major Items







4



As secondary support on the team, the 4 will build towards the cheaper team fight items like Drum/Mek. The 4 helps on pure support items such as wards, smoke, dust when the 5 cannot afford it.



Common Heroes







Common Major Items







5



The 5 mainly uses money on pure support items such as wards, smoke, dust, and sometimes regen and teleports for the 1-2 heroes. It is not uncommon to see a 5 hero purchase nothing more than a boots and a wand for themselves the entire game.



Common Heroes







Common Major Items







EDIT: This is just an overview, not intended as a thorough guide. Most heroes can be played in multiple positions. Position does not always correspond 1:1 with role. The 1-to-5 is the priority on gold and experience, which can shift during the game. Once your Sand King or Tidehunter hits level 6, and/or gets blink, their priority drops significantly. This is often seen with running AA mid (not too common anymore). Once AA hits 6, he will rotate out of mid, and another hero will take the solo gold/experience.



Leave ideas for next guide! I apologize in advance for terrible formatting.Previously a Chinese system, the 1-to-5 system is a general model of how a DotA team is structured. The structure itself is pretty simple, the lower the number, the higher priority they have on farming gold and experience. 1 being the highest priority and 5 being the lowest.Where it gets interesting, is how do you know which position a hero should play, and how to play that position effectively. This post won’t talk about how to lane your composition correctly, I might do a post about that some other time.A hero in the 1 position means that they have the highest priority for levels and gold on your team. This is your ‘hard carry’. Heroes that fall into this category are the most item and level dependent on your team. They deal a ton of damage later in the game, and generally build towards damage and survivability.The 2 position means that they have the second most need for gold and levels. The reasons can vary, but in general they should be farming any lane that isn’t occupied by your 1. The 2 generally builds toward initiation and survivability items, though some heroes benefit from damage items as wellThe third most farm dependent on your team, generally builds toward team fight/support items such as Pipe/Drum or initiation items. 3 is generally item independent for most damage.As secondary support on the team, the 4 will build towards the cheaper team fight items like Drum/Mek. The 4 helps on pure support items such as wards, smoke, dust when the 5 cannot afford it.The 5 mainly uses money on pure support items such as wards, smoke, dust, and sometimes regen and teleports for the 1-2 heroes. It is not uncommon to see a 5 hero purchase nothing more than a boots and a wand for themselves the entire game.: This is just an overview, not intended as a thorough guide. Most heroes can be played in multiple positions. Position does not always correspond 1:1 with role. The 1-to-5 is the priority on gold and experience, which can shift during the game. Once your Sand King or Tidehunter hits level 6, and/or gets blink, their priority drops significantly. This is often seen with running AA mid (not too common anymore). Once AA hits 6, he will rotate out of mid, and another hero will take the solo gold/experience.Leave ideas for next guide!

Implenia Profile Joined August 2012 Austria 1845 Posts #2 Thanks, very helpful article.

EchelonTee Profile Joined February 2011 United States 254 Posts Last Edited: 2012-09-05 17:43:16 #3 Glad to see a thread on this. I would mention where the positions commonly lane; for example the general 1-1-2+jungler will put the 3 on the offlane, 2 on mid, 4 in the jungle, and 1/5 in safelane.



A large portion of games I see people just lose because they put a hardcarry on the suicide lane, or put two supports on their safe lane for no particular reason. aka "neophyte". learn lots. dont judge. laugh for no reason. be nice. seek happiness. -D[9]

TheYango Profile Joined September 2008 United States 10886 Posts #4 Minor quip: Mek is significantly more common on 3rd position heroes than 4th. Moderator

Asway Profile Joined April 2010 Canada 4 Posts #5 :D ^-^

Bisonte Profile Joined March 2012 Portugal 26 Posts #6 Very usefull thread here, since in interviews some of the asian players told: " Hi, im [insertnamehere] and play position 1 for [insertteamhere]". So for the ones who were confused about this here we have a nice explanation. Good job. E-SPORTS!

Sliver Profile Joined April 2010 United States 29 Posts #7 Playing position number 5 is just no fun, to be honest. Great guide though.

Inkarnate Profile Joined April 2010 Canada 33 Posts #8 On September 06 2012 02:43 TheYango wrote:

Minor quip: Mek is significantly more common on 3rd position heroes than 4th.



Depends on the lineup. In a push strat, 3 or 2 will pick it up. In a later game oriented (chinese style) often a 4 will grab it. Depends on the lineup. In a push strat, 3 or 2 will pick it up. In a later game oriented (chinese style) often a 4 will grab it.

Heh_ Profile Joined April 2012 Singapore 467 Posts #9 A few things I feel differently about:



CK doesn't really belong in position 1, he seems better for position 2/3. It's true that he has monstrous late game potential due to his ulti, but he is a disgustingly good ganker at low levels. If you're just afk farming with CK, you're missing out on his ganking potential.



Butterfly is really good, but few heroes get it. The only hero I can think of that uses butterfly as a core item is luna. If it's the super late game and you have 10k gold to spare, then sure.



Rubick can play as position 2, but also works as position 4/5. It depends on the rest of the lineup. Many heroes have this flexibility, but it's just more apparent on rubick. =Þ

FloKi Profile Joined March 2012 311 Posts #10 Nice post.

Quick read and informative. Where do whores go?

NB Profile Joined February 2010 Netherlands 3919 Posts #11 enigma also is more commonly used at 4th position as the farming power is significantly reduced when put on 3rd position. A hero that could easily level as equal if not faster than lycan. Another special case could also be lycan/furion who often cause line up rotation to put they into 4th slot due to jungling power. Naga should be category as 2nd slot, a commonly mistake that most teams use her as hard carry then she got out DPS entering late game phase. This is also why radiance should never be the #1 choice on naga but it is a whole new topic. Im daed. Follow me @TL_NB

Inkarnate Profile Joined April 2010 Canada 33 Posts #12 On September 06 2012 02:42 EchelonTee wrote:

Glad to see a thread on this. I would mention where the positions commonly lane; for example the general 1-1-2+jungler will put the 3 on the offlane, 2 on mid, 4 in the jungle, and 1/5 in safelane.



A large portion of games I see people just lose because they put a hardcarry on the suicide lane, or put two supports on their safe lane for no particular reason.



Might do a new post for this. Might do a new post for this.

duoform Profile Joined August 2012 Spain 2355 Posts #13 Great read for newcomers! "I really like Marauders and Marines." - Flash

TheYango Profile Joined September 2008 United States 10886 Posts Last Edited: 2012-09-05 18:02:09 #14 On September 06 2012 02:54 Inkarnate wrote:

Show nested quote +

On September 06 2012 02:43 TheYango wrote:

Minor quip: Mek is significantly more common on 3rd position heroes than 4th.



Depends on the lineup. In a push strat, 3 or 2 will pick it up. In a later game oriented (chinese style) often a 4 will grab it. Depends on the lineup. In a push strat, 3 or 2 will pick it up. In a later game oriented (chinese style) often a 4 will grab it.

No, even in Chinese games, it was far more frequent for the off-lane DS/Beastmaster/Furion to get Mek to wait for the 4th position to get it, unless that 4th position was Chen.



Even in a slower game, the midgame Mek timing is absolutely critical, whether for pushing or for teamfighting. No, even in Chinese games, it was far more frequent for the off-lane DS/Beastmaster/Furion to get Mek to wait for the 4th position to get it, unless that 4th position was Chen.Even in a slower game, the midgame Mek timing is absolutely critical, whether for pushing or for teamfighting. Moderator

vurt Profile Joined October 2010 United States 1 Post #15 Very cool guide. This helps immensely for spectating. Thanks OP! obviously you're not a golfer

Inkarnate Profile Joined April 2010 Canada 33 Posts Last Edited: 2012-09-05 18:09:05 #16 On September 06 2012 02:59 TheYango wrote:

Show nested quote +

On September 06 2012 02:54 Inkarnate wrote:

On September 06 2012 02:43 TheYango wrote:

Minor quip: Mek is significantly more common on 3rd position heroes than 4th.



Depends on the lineup. In a push strat, 3 or 2 will pick it up. In a later game oriented (chinese style) often a 4 will grab it. Depends on the lineup. In a push strat, 3 or 2 will pick it up. In a later game oriented (chinese style) often a 4 will grab it.

No, even in Chinese games, it was far more frequent for the off-lane DS/Beastmaster/Furion to get Mek to wait for the 4th position to get it, unless that 4th position was Chen.



Even in a slower game, the midgame Mek timing is absolutely critical, whether for pushing or for teamfighting. No, even in Chinese games, it was far more frequent for the off-lane DS/Beastmaster/Furion to get Mek to wait for the 4th position to get it, unless that 4th position was Chen.Even in a slower game, the midgame Mek timing is absolutely critical, whether for pushing or for teamfighting.



In many lineups the offlane solo is the 4, at least in the early game while there is a jungle or pulling hero. But as mentioned, this is an overview, there are a lot of different variations. In many lineups the offlane solo is the 4, at least in the early game while there is a jungle or pulling hero. But as mentioned, this is an overview, there are a lot of different variations.

EchelonTee Profile Joined February 2011 United States 254 Posts #17 On September 06 2012 02:52 Sliver wrote:

Playing position number 5 is just no fun, to be honest. Great guide though.

I main 5, and like playing it a lot. Depends on your preference :p I main 5, and like playing it a lot. Depends on your preference :p aka "neophyte". learn lots. dont judge. laugh for no reason. be nice. seek happiness. -D[9]

d0da Profile Joined September 2007 United States 2 Posts Last Edited: 2012-09-05 18:43:15 #18 On September 06 2012 03:19 EchelonTee wrote:

Show nested quote +

On September 06 2012 02:52 Sliver wrote:

Playing position number 5 is just no fun, to be honest. Great guide though.

I main 5, and like playing it a lot. Depends on your preference :p I main 5, and like playing it a lot. Depends on your preference :p



I also enjoy the 5 spot. It's pretty rewarding knowing you set up a good environment for the team to succeed. It definitely is for the people who are more about the team than the glory. I also enjoy the 5 spot. It's pretty rewarding knowing you set up a good environment for the team to succeed. It definitely is for the people who are more about the team than the glory.

Sliver Profile Joined April 2010 United States 29 Posts #19 On September 06 2012 03:42 d0da wrote:

Show nested quote +

On September 06 2012 03:19 EchelonTee wrote:

On September 06 2012 02:52 Sliver wrote:

Playing position number 5 is just no fun, to be honest. Great guide though.

I main 5, and like playing it a lot. Depends on your preference :p I main 5, and like playing it a lot. Depends on your preference :p



I also enjoy the 5 spot. It's pretty rewarding knowing you set up a good environment for the team to succeed. It definitely is for the people who are more about the team than the glory. I also enjoy the 5 spot. It's pretty rewarding knowing you set up a good environment for the team to succeed. It definitely is for the people who are more about the team than the glory.



Yeah but in situations like that I'm denying creeps like a mad man, pushing the people we're laning against away just to see my lane partner mess up every single last hit. It just doesn't feel rewarding to me. Yeah but in situations like that I'm denying creeps like a mad man, pushing the people we're laning against away just to see my lane partner mess up every single last hit. It just doesn't feel rewarding to me.

Ognam Profile Joined October 2011 United States 326 Posts #20 Good post. I disagree with CK and DK being in the 1 spot however.



Also you should probably indicate that there is a lot of fluidity between the higher numbers (ex. some of the 2 spot heroes can be played as 3/4 and some 4s can be played as 5, etc)

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