Each Dota 2 match is unique, with a different set of heroes, purchased items, and team composition. It's impossible to win all the time, and so from time to time, there are moments when a match is close to a clear defeat. But what if this is not the case, and you and your team still have a chance to win back and make a pretty epic comeback!

A Dota 2 comeback is one of the most exciting and challenging parts of the game, as it requires several interrelated factors to be realized. In particular, a comeback requires a good knowledge of the game mechanics, well-coordinated teamwork, and established communication, as well as well-developed strategic thinking. Each team member should make every effort to regain the advantage over the opponent and win. In this article, we will look at the main aspects and strategies that will help you make a successful comeback in Dota 2.

Mental toughness

One of the first conditions on the way to a comeback is the right attitude and mental setup. You won't be able to defeat your opponent if you and your team give up, think negatively, and start exhibiting toxic behavior. The consequence of this will be a tilt, which will cause the final defeat not only for the current game, but also for several subsequent matches. You can read about how to deal with tilt in Dota 2 in this article: How to Avoid Tilt and Improve Mental Fortitude in Dota 2.

Panic and frustration can make the situation worse, so you need to keep a positive attitude and motivate your teammates. Realizing that even the worst positions can be won is a key factor in achieving success. You should keep a cool mind and realize that if your base hasn't been demolished yet and your team is not in the tavern. Then, there are still plenty of chances to get back into the fight if you act in a balanced manner.

Psychological pressure on the enemy

Even when you are in a losing position, you can always put psychological pressure on the enemy team. This can be achieved by active actions on the map, when you purposefully "mock" a particular hero, killing him over and over again, which will remove him from future battles. You can often see situations where the enemy side seems to be winning, but the constant death of one or two players makes them give up and write pessimistic phrases of defeat.

Analyze the situation

To make a comeback, you need to clearly understand the reasons for your current situation. Assess what mistakes you made in the first place and think about how you can fix them. Perhaps you didn't buy an item that would help you survive longer in fights, for example, you need Black King Bar. Or maybe you were a support player and didn't buy Dust of Appearance, which is why you couldn't kill the target several times with your ally, and you paid the price later.

Analyze the following questions: Does the enemy control the map? Are you farming enough? Who on the team is choosing the wrong position in battles? Or which target do you need to kill first? Answers to these questions will help you develop the right plan of action. Situation analysis also includes understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your team and the enemy team. And one of the most important conditions for winning battles is proper positioning.

Choosing the right priorities

A successful comeback depends on the team's priorities. For example, specific objects on the map can be decisive, such as killing the enemy hero who causes the most problems in battles, controlling territory, Roshan, and protecting strategically important towers. Sometimes it is better to refuse to defend a tower to save the lives of heroes and avoid more serious losses. It is necessary to decide where and when to fight, and when it is better to avoid conflict to collect more resources to strengthen the team.

Efficient Farming and Economy

Farming is a key element for the game's cashback. Players need to focus on gold and experience, even if this means farming in dangerous conditions. All available resources should be used: the forest, the enemy forest, and free lines where enemy heroes do not move. At the same time, you need to make sure that you do not get ambushed, so you should buy wards and farm under them to avoid ganks from the enemy.

If the conditions for your team are not so terrible that you cannot leave your own base, then you have the opportunity to farm. You should do it correctly, getting the maximum benefit for every minute, moving from camp to camp correctly to farm as much as possible. We recommend reading this article to learn how to farm the forest: Effective Jungling in Dota 2: Maximizing Your Farm.

Also, don't forget about the runes of abundance and wisdom, which will give you a bit of extra gold and experience, which will be useful for support characters in particular. Understanding the game's economy, including when and what items to buy, is important for efficient resource utilization.

Choosing the right artifacts

You should spend your gold wisely by purchasing those artifacts that will strengthen your hero, cover his weaknesses, or help you realize your hero in battle. To begin with, understand what you lack or why you can't feel good in fights. If you lack damage, then you should buy the appropriate artifacts, such as Desolator or Echo Sabre. 

If the main problem is survivability, then you should buy something with characteristics (Sange and Yasha) or misses (Radiance/Butterfly). When playing as a support player, pay attention to Force Staff, Eul's Sceptre, Mekansm support items. Of course, it is not a fact that you will be able to buy them so easily, given the limited farming, but you can try. But your main task should remain wards.

Using smokes for ambushes

Smokes are one of the most effective tools for ambushes. They will allow your team to get together and organize an ambush against the enemy hero, which will prevent the enemy from participating in the fight in full. An additional kill will give your team gold and experience; if it was a high-value hero, the reward will be higher.  It is important to use smokes in a coordinated manner, choose the right targets, and be prepared for the enemy's surprises.

All battles should be fought on the high ground, as it always gives you an advantage over the enemy, and the presence of wards will allow you to take a good position and catch the right target. It is important to remember that each suck should have a clear goal: to kill an important character, capture an object, or gain control over a certain area.

Coordinated teamwork

A smack is possible only with good teamwork. Each player must fulfill his or her role, follow the general plan, and communicate constantly. It's important to stick to your roles: the laner farms, the support scouts the map, places wards, and the hardliner initiates fights if the secondary role is conducive to it. Coordination of actions during battles is also significant: timely use of ultimates, proper positioning, and focus on key objectives.

As mentioned earlier, the high ground is an important place to initiate battles, as it is the easiest place to hold a position. A high ground on your base is the most advantageous place, as some conditions allow you to keep the defense and prevent the enemy from coming to you. In case of death, you can immediately redeem yourself if you have gold, which means that you will re-enter the battle and support your allies, delaying the fall of your base.

In situations where you have managed to repel an enemy team, you should also analyze your next actions. If their time in the tavern is short, then you can find one of the nearby towers if they are still standing. If the only option you have is an enemy base, it is better to ignore it and pick up Roshan and then continue farming. After all, you won't have enough time to enter enemy territory and fluff something up, which means you'll lose this advantage of not having enemies on the map. In this way, you will get Aegis and cheese for a couple of heroes and farm the forest, which may equalize the value of the teams.

Knowledge of the metagame and balance

The metagame in Dota 2 is constantly changing, and it's important to keep up with the latest trends and balance changes. Some heroes and strategies may be particularly effective at a certain point in time. You should study the latest patches, watch professional matches, and analyze the game of the best teams to be aware of the current state of heroes, and items, and how to best implement them in what situations.

Conclusion

In the history of Dota 2, particularly on the professional scene, there are many situations with incredible comebacks that no one expected. But all this results from well-coordinated teamwork, correct and balanced decisions, constant communication, and, of course, years of practice and experience. Not every game is a good opportunity to make a comeback. If your base is being blown open in the 20th minute, there's hardly anything you can do about it, no matter how talented you are. However, you can always try to catch your opponent in a mistake and turn the entire course of the match in your favor.