CoreLight: Tavern Guide, Sentinel

Strength
Introduction

This is the first in the line of my guides on DC. This guide will be catered towards
beginners & newcomers who are curious about the competitive side of the DotA
scene. This guide was made due to the fact that as more people join a DotA
Commentaries Inhouse, they are simply confused as to what role they are supposed
to play. Whether you are thinking about joining or simply wanting to observe a game,
you NEED to learn the role of each hero properly.

How to use this Guide?

The heroes will have their roles standardized to better allow you to understand the
role they are meant to be played as. Core items are meant to be cheap and
obtainable in a normal game. Extension items are also considered optional or
situational items.

This guide is meant to be a Quick Reference Guide, which means that it will be kept
simple. This will NOT be a detailed in-depth guide as to how or why a build works
unless little justification is needed.

SENTINEL STRENGTH
Time to Role Play

Generally EVERYONE should carry TP SCROLLS

Support
 Allow your carry to farm (protect, defend)
 Control the lane (pulling when necessary)
 Control the map (set up wards and counter enemy wards)
 Gank efficiently and effectively
 Trolling the lane is way to vague

Gank
 Know your priorities! (AoE Disablers > Carries > Stunners)
 Hunt down heroes on map
 Read enemy movement
 Roam, scout, kill

Pusher
 Take down First Towers ASAP
 Keep lanes in your team’s favor
 Defend towers efficiently

Carry
 Learn to last hit (seriously, learn to last hit)
 Farming is a must so learn to last hit
 Last hitting under the tower is a necessity
 Pick off stragglers
 Counter-gank whenever possible
 SURVIVE - If you die, blame your support =)

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained…”

The Art of Laning

Dynamic – Constantly switching lanes and returning to your own lane. Gankers fulfill
this role. This is technically a form of roaming but you gain levels (if you really need
to) first before you do.

Defensive – Staying in lane for the sole purpose of farming and surviving. A lot of
tower hugging involved, pulling only to keep creep equilibrium in your favor. Usually
has a babysitter involved.

Offensive – Aggressively harassing heroes to force a hero kill. Lane is always paired
up with disablers to chain stun.

Mid Solo – This lane is granted to heroes that need levels to gank. This can be
considered a dynamic lane but you gank when the rune allows it. (Top/Bottom solo is
different from the fact that you can’t gank, your job is to level up & farm.)

Roaming – This is ganking from level 1 onwards. Your only advantage is being hidden
by fog. An enemy that can’t see you, fears you. Farming is a priority only if your hero
is a powerhouse.

Jungling – You don’t lane, you farm up neutrals. Gank when your nearby lane
demands it.
Admiral, Kunkka
Favorite Lane: Flexible
Play Style: Farm-Gank
Primary Role: Damage Dealer/Disabler
Secondary Role: Tank

Skill Build:

Tidebringer – 1,3,5,7
Torrent – 2,4,8,9
X Marks The Spot – 10,12,13,14
Ghost Ship – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Note – Kunkka’s skill build is very flexible. Don’t be afraid to interchange skills for
the benefit of your team. Tidebringer must always be maxed by 7.

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (8600 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Your primary job is to pull off a Torrent + Ghost Ship during team fights. During ganks
however, you should pick off heroes with XMTS + Torrent. Farm consistently, Kunkka
is item-dependent.
Beastmaster, Rexxar
Favorite Lane: Mid Solo
Play Style: Gank (Rune Whore)
Primary Role: Disabler/Initiator/Map Control

Skill Build:

Wild Axes – 1,3,5,7

Call of the Wild – 2,4,8,9
Inner Beast – 10,12,13,14
Primal Roar – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (4700 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

It is absolutely imperative that you farm up bottle as quickly as possible. It is your

job to control the runes. Use your hawk to look for easy prey and scout as much as
possible (it only costs you 25 mana, don’t be a douche and hold back on your
teammates).
Centaur Warchief, Bradwarden
Favorite Lane: Offensive Dual/Tri Lane
Play Style: Farm
Primary Role: Initiator/Disabler/Tank
Secondary Role: Carry

Skill Build:

Hood Stomp – 1,4,8,9

Double Edge – 2,3,5,7
Return – 10,12,13,14
Great Fortitude – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (13000 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Farm for dagger to initiate a few team battles. You are the first one in and last one
out.
Earthshaker, Raigor Stonehoof
Favorite Lane: Dynamic Dual/Tri Lane
Play Style: Gank
Primary Role: Disabler/Initiator
Secondary Role: Warder

Skill Build:
Fissure – 1,3,5,7
Enchant Totem – 4,12,13,14
Aftershock – 2,8,9,10
Echo Slam – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (3959 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Fissure-block opponents early game. When you get the chance, farm up dagger. As
soon as you acquire dagger, start buying wards. Your primary job is to blink in and
echo stomp clumped up heroes.
Omniknight, Purist Thunderwrath
Favorite Lane: Defensive Dual Lane
Play Style: Support
Primary Role: Babysitter
Secondary Role: Tank

Skill Build:

Purification – 1,3,5,7
Repel – 2,4,13,14
Degen Aura – 8,9,10,12
Guardian Angel – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (7909 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Omniknight’s heal doubles as a nuke so take advantage of it during team fights. You
are your team’s surviving mechanism. The sole purpose of having Omniknight on the
team is to repel allies (specifically, your damage dealing carries). You must be aware
of all your allies at all times.
Pandaren Brewmaster, Mangix
Favorite Lane: Offensive Dual Lane
Play Style: Gank
Primary Role: Initiator/Tank
Secondary Role: Damage Dealer
Tertiary Role: Pusher/Disabler

Skill Build:

Thunderclap – 1,3,5,7
Drunken Haze – 15,17,18,19
Drunken Brawler – 4,12,13,14
Primal Split – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 2,8,9,10,20-25

Note – If there is a dps threat on the opposing team, replace one level of stats for
one level of Drunken Haze on the early levels.

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (8853 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Phase Boots already allows you to gank so you can hold off dagger early game. Roam,
Thunderclap is a great AoE gank spell! Your primary job is to Blink, Clap, and Split.
Stun low hp targets. Cyclone hard-to-kill targets. Micromangement needed.
Rogue Knight, Sven
Favorite Lane: Offensive Dual/Tri Lane
Play Style: Gank
Primary Role: Disabler/Initiator/Damage Dealer
Secondary Role: Tank

Skill Build:

Storm Bolt – 1,3,5,7

Great Cleave – 10,12,13,14
Warcry – 2,4,8,9
God’s Strength – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (8609 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Rogue Knight has a simple job, stun targets and kill at will. Farm up dagger to
initiate every team fight.
Stone Giant, Tiny
Favorite Lane: Offensive Dual Lane
Play Style: Gank
Primary Role: Disabler/Initiator
Secondary Role: Damage Dealer
Tertiary Role: Tank

Skill Build:

Avalanche – 1,3,5,7
Toss – 10,12,13,14
Craggy Exterior – 2,4,6,8
Grow! – 9,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (8809 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

You only need 240 mana for an Avalanche + Toss combo to obliterate low hp targets
(315 mana with dagger). Always roam after your first two primary spells have been
maximized.
Tauren Chieftain, Cairne Bloodhoof
Favorite Lane: Defensive Dual Lane
Play Style: Farm-Gank
Primary Role: Disabler/Initiator/Tank
Secondary Role: Damage Dealer

Skill Build:

Echo Stomp – 1,3,5,7

Ancestral Spirit – 10,12,13,14
Natural Order – 2,4,8,9
Earth Splitter – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (7434 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Tauren Chieftain’s primary job is to set up allies. Always stay in front of your team
although Natural Order has a small AoE, it lowers/removes all resistances making any
enemy hero a dead target.
Treant Protector, Rooftrellen
Favorite Lane: Defensive Solo/Dual Lane
Play Style: Farm
Primary Role: AoE Disabler/Initiator/Tank
Secondary Role: Carry
Tertiary Role: Map Control

Skill Build:

Nature’s Guise – 4,12,24,25

Forest Sentinel – 1,8,9,10
Living Armor – 2,4,5,7
Overgrowth – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 13-15,17-23

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (7764 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Treant Protector’s primary objective is to complete Double Overgrowth (675/725/775

mana). As you gain more levels, the Null Talisman and Magic Wand become
replaceable. Rooftrellen can farm a ton of items but games should be finished as
soon as Refresher Orb is complete.
Wisp, Io
Favorite Lane: Defensive Dual Lane
Play Style: Support/Gank
Primary Role: Babysitter
Secondary Role: Disabler

Skill Build:

Tether – 1,12,13,14
Spirits – 2,3,5,7
Overcharge – 4,8,9,10
Relocate – 6,11,16
Attribute Bonus – 15,17-25

Item Build:

Starting Items:

Core Items (5025 gold):

Extension Items:

Strategy:

Tether allies! When this wisp heals, your ally heals. Babysitting requires you to use
tether when you use a consumable. With Ring of Basilius, you double the amount
your ally regenenerates mana. The same goes with Mekansm, you double the amount
your ally is healed. This hero requires you to communicate with your ally to be used
effectively. When your babysitting phase is over, join an ally who is capable of killing
heroes quickly. Ward only when necessary, Io can barely survive without any items.