DOTA2 | Tinker

In the early stages of a game, Tinker appears to be a straightforward offensive spellcasting hero, with two exceptionally dangerous single target abilities and a large Area of Effect ability. Laser deals extremely high damage to one enemy and temporarily blinds them, making it very deadly against fragile spellcasters and agility heroes who rely on their physical attacks. Heat Seeking Missile also does a lot of damage; it not only has a very long range, but will track a single enemy across the map, making it especially good for finishing off injured heroes. March of the Machines can be difficult to master, but it will cause a lot of pain if placed correctly--not to mention the amount of gold it can harvest from plentiful creep kills. However, Tinker's true power lies in Rearm. With enough mana, Tinker can launch a constant barrage of spells on his enemies. Rearm also refreshes the cooldown of most inventory items, making high-priced equipment with active abilities far more effective for Tinker than other heroes.

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DOTA2 | Crystal Maiden

The Crystal Maiden is a powerful disabler and support spellcaster. Each of her offensive spells impairs the enemy in some way, making her a valuable addition to any lineup. Crystal Nova blasts multiple enemies with chilling damage, while Frostbite completely paralyzes a single foe. Freezing Field causes immense damage and slows everything in a large area around her, but her natural fragility makes it a difficult spell to use to full effect. Her greatest asset to her team is Arcane Aura, which gives all her allies a significant boost to their mana regeneration, no matter where on the map they might be. Although she tends to take on a supportive role, the Crystal Maiden is still one of the most valuable heroes for any team.

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DOTA2 | Pudge

Pudge is one of the most difficult heroes to play effectively, but also one of the most rewarding. His Meat Hook skill is extremely deadly, but difficult to master. A well placed Meat Hook will snag an enemy hero and drag them to Pudge, dealing damage along the way. Once the target has been hooked, Pudge can use his other two active skills to finish them off: Rot is a toggled Damage Over Time skill which affects all nearby enemies but also Pudge himself. (Pudge must be careful when using Rot, which can quickly drain his life and make him easy prey for enemies.) To stop his target from escaping or resisting, Pudge can use Dismember--a short-range skill that deals even more damage and completely immobilizes the target. When used in succession, these three skills make Pudge a dangerous opponent, although he may not look like much of a threat. To complement his risky maneuvers, Pudge enjoys a passive skill called Flesh Heap. Flesh Heap provides magic resistance, which reduces the damage he takes from rot, and adds a minor but permanent bonus to his strength every time he kills a unit.

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