Dota 2 games typically progress through distinct phases, each with different priorities and strategies:
- Early Game (0-10 minutes): Focus on last hitting, denying, securing runes, and harassing enemy laners. Supports focus on warding and protecting the carry. Ganks are common.
- Mid Game (10-25 minutes): Teams start grouping up for objectives like towers and Roshan. Heroes begin to complete core items. Team fights become more frequent. Map control through vision is crucial.
- Late Game (25+ minutes): Heroes are fully farmed, and death timers are long. One decisive team fight can often determine the outcome of the game. Buybacks become critical. Focus shifts to destroying Barracks and the Ancient.
Adapting your playstyle and item choices to the current game phase is a hallmark of skilled players.