In Dota 2, denying is just as important as getting CS (Creep Score) whether you are playing as a carry or support. It plays a significant role in increasing your chances of winning.
How to deny in Dota 2 (Image credit: Dota 2)
Understanding Denying in Dota 2
Denying refers to the act of attacking your own friendly lane creep to eliminate it before your opponent can. This can be done when the creep’s health falls below a certain threshold.
Upon a successful deny, an exclamation mark (or a question mark on April Fool’s Day) will appear above the denied creep.
Denying doesn’t grant gold or experience directly, but it prevents opponents from gaining those rewards, creating a significant advantage in the early laning phase.
April Fool’s Day version of the deny symbol (Image credit: Dota 2)
How to Deny Creeps Effectively
Every Dota 2 hero can deny creeps by attacking them when their health is below 50%. Timing is crucial as opponents will be vying for last hits. Focusing on denying high-value creeps, like the ranged creep, can provide a significant advantage.
Ranged creeps offer more gold and experience and can be denied without being in close proximity to opponents, maximizing safety.
Some heroes can deny creeps without health restrictions, using specific skills like Enigma’s Demonic Summoning.
Denying Your Hero and Items
In certain situations, denying yourself using neutral jungle creeps can prevent opponents from gaining rewards upon your death.
Denying items on the ground destroys them, preventing opponents from benefiting. However, it can be misused by toxic players to hinder their own team.
One infamous incident involves Lee “kYxY” Kong Yang accidentally denying the Aegis during a match, leading to his team’s defeat.
