MOBA for beginners

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What's up steemians! As an avid android gamer, I'll try my best to give some tips for those people who are interested in playing the android version of DOTA, which is MOBA. As of now, Mobile Legends is the top MOBA game followed by a few like Vain Glory, Ace of Heroes, Arena of Valor, etc. According to Wikipedia, "MOBA or Multiplayer online battle arena, also known as action real-time strategy (ARTS), is a sub-genre of strategy video games that originated as a subgenre of real-time strategy, in which a player controls a single character in one of two teams. The objective is to destroy the opposing team's main structure with the assistance of periodically spawned computer-controlled units that march forward along set paths."

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I guess most gamers already know what the goal in MOBA is. I don't really need to go through the basics coz a lot of newbies are just gonna download the game and jump right in and start whacking at creeps without even doing some research about the game. But for us who know the advanced play style of the game, it kind of sucks to be put on a team of newbies who just wants to kill some time while doing their stuff at the bathroom or sitting in a bus on their way home. So here are some tips for those who want to be helpful to their team.

Mobile Legends Wiki

#1 READ, READ, READ
Before actually starting the game, try to do some reasearch on the internet about basics like how the minions/creeps and tower/turrets behave, how item specs work, ability effects and terrain interaction. In the game user interface and menu, you can see more in-depth facts about heroes and their skills and stats. There are even apps that are guides for MOBA games. Give sometime for reading, just to give you an idea of how the game really is before actually joining the fray.

Image by mobile-legends.wikia.com

#2 LANING
If you're a beginner, I advice that you use a ranged hero. Since most match ups will be a group of beginners who only have their starting heroes and a few purchased heroes, you'll be tapping your touch screen like crazy to get that gunner or archer type hero. But if you have experience in playing melee heroes, then try to partner with a ranged one in your lane. Choose one with AOE(area of effect) spells so you can harass them at the same time hit the creeps even if you go solo. The first few minutes of the game is centered in gaining experience and money so you can level up and get your ultimate skill. Do try to keep that tower alive in the process since only a few heroes can actually destroy a tower under 5 minutes on their own. Don't ask for help early on in the laning phase, you'll be sacrificing a lane and experience for the helping team mate in exchange for defending your lane. If you have an experienced player who can actually hold their lane, then another one can roam and hunt other heroes. Sometimes sacrificing a tower is inevitable. The advantage is that any enemy trying to push that far in your territory will be easier to gank(hunt).

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#3 REFLEX
MOBA games have been designed to be beginner friendly so a lot of skill aiming are automatic. Use it to your advantage. Always keep an eye on your surroundings and mini map. If you are pushing a tower or jungling, keep an escape skill or a disabling skill ready. Once you see a an enemy hero or a red dot on your mini map near you, be ready to use your skills for a fight. Just tap the skill icon and the skill will automaticlly target the nearest enemy. If you know you can't win, use your skill for escaping. Be wary too of your allies' movement and be prepared to help out if they are going to engage an enemy. I've seen a lot of players farming and ignoring their team mates being chased to death.

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#4 PATIENCE AND TEAMWORK
Hearing the word GODLIKE or LEGENDARY makes a MOBA player feel supreme and in high spirits but being MVP with Zilong on your first 5 games doesn't mean you can own with him everytime. Wise players will be able to beat him without any killer moves just by baiting and evasion. Use your tower to your advantage. Coordinate with your team. Never be greedy. Don't go rushing in solo because you bought that shiny sword. Push with your team. The purpose of the game is to destroy their shrine or main building and to do that you must push the lane and lead your creeps to the opponents base.

Image by mobile-legends.wikia.com

#5 FOG OF WAR
If they can't see you, they can't touch you. If they can't touch you, they can't kill you. If you can see all 5 red dots clumped on the far side of the mini map from you, then go ahead and farm or push. Once you can't see some of your enemies in the minimap, then it's time to retreat. Don't always use the lanes for traveling. Use the jungle to get somewhere. Never hunt alone and keep your distance from each other to avoid crowd control. Use the grass to your advantage. When teleporting back to base, be sure to do it far away from enemies or inside a patch of grass.

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#6 KNOW YOUR ROLE
Once you have a few heroes available at your disposal, know their roles in a team fight. If you don't really have a coordinated team, then check your line up if it lacks a key role. A well balanced team would be composed of a ganker(chasing and killing skills), tank(huge HP pool and armor/magic resist with defensive or crowd control skills), 2 supports(disables, defensive enchantments or healing ability) and a carry(big damage plus fast attack speed). Always let the tank be first to rush in and absorb the damage. I've played a lot of tanking where I charge in to soak up all their skills while my team mates retreat and watch me die. It's so effing frustating. Always be ready to throw every thing you got in a team fight. Once the tank gets hit by most of their spells follow up with the support. Disable first those who have strong AOE spells, other support heroes cast their defensive and healing skills then let the DPS(damage per second) carry and ganker heroes have the honor of getting the kills. Supporting your carry is equal to or greater than getting kill points.

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#7 FIGHT WITH YOUR MIND, NOT WITH YOUR EGO
Know when to quit a match. If you see 37/10 in the enemy team's favor and super creeps coming out of their base, throw the towel. No one want's to get penalized for leaving the match so to save time and your phone's battery, concede the game and type GGWP(good game well played) on the chat box. You will still gain experience points plus experience by learning from your mistakes. Time to move on to the next round.

#8 RESPECT
Never use profanity in chat. You can complain and rant. Just be respectful when scolding new players for their mistakes. Nobody is perfect.

So that's it for my attempt to give advice to new MOBA players. If you see any wrong grammar or have suggestions on how to write better blogs, any criticism will be accepted sincerely. I'm eager to learn and be better. Evolution is the greatest power all sentient beings possess.

Thanks guys! Steem on!!!!