In the highly competitive world of professional Dota 2, mastery often lies not just in complex maneuvers but in the diligent execution of fundamental principles. Recently, Anton “**dyrachyo**” Shkredov, the accomplished carry player for Tundra Esports, offered a look back at his time alongside former teammate, midlaner Bozidar “**bzm**” Bogdanov, shedding light on a specific, foundational lesson he imparted early in their shared tenure.
The anecdote centers on the strategic necessity of lane management before initiating map movements, particularly for a midlaner aiming to gank side lanes. Dyrachyo recalled observing bzm`s early habits and identifying a crucial area for improvement: understanding when and how to leave the lane effectively.
“I told him,” dyrachyo recounted, “Bzm, brother, if you`re going to gank on your Invoker, you are obligated to push the wave, even if you`re [playing] a Quas-Wex Invoker. You are obligated to push and then go gank.”
This directive highlights a core concept often learned early by experienced players, yet one that can be surprisingly overlooked even at higher levels: leaving a lane vulnerable to enemy creeps while you are away from it is highly inefficient and detrimental. When allied creeps are attacking an enemy tower without your hero present to clear the opposing wave, the enemy creeps will eventually arrive, push the lane back, and begin attacking your own tower. This results in lost experience and gold (from creeps dying to your tower or being denied by the enemy), and critically, damage to your own structure.
Dyrachyo observed this exact scenario unfolding. “Imagine, his creeps are hitting the enemy tower, and he`s going to gank, finding nobody,” dyrachyo explained. “And he`s, you know, shocked, tilted. It`s natural that you won`t find anyone [successfully or efficiently].”
The logic is straightforward: by taking the time to “push the wave” – quickly clear the current enemy creep wave – before leaving the lane, the allied creeps will then move towards the enemy tower, creating pressure. This buys the ganking hero valuable time to move across the map. It also ensures that the enemy lane creeps are less likely to reach your own tower before you return, thus preserving your structure and securing maximum resources from your lane.
Bzm`s initial tendency to leave while his lane was in a vulnerable state led to predictable negative outcomes: failed ganks due to poor timing or lack of opportunity, followed by returning to a damaged or unfavorably positioned lane. Dyrachyo`s simple, direct instruction aimed to instill this fundamental understanding of lane equilibrium and map efficiency.
This recollection serves as a pertinent reminder that even players destined for the highest tiers of professional play undergo a continuous learning process. Sometimes, the most impactful lessons are not about complex hero interactions or intricate teamfight executions, but rather mastering the seemingly basic mechanics of managing the battlefield`s foundational element: the creep waves.
Wesley Dunham 
Gilbert Pendleton