Position 5 (Hard Support) Playbook

Step 1: Read the Lane Correctly

Objective: Ensure your carry has a stable start.

Before creeps meet, analyse:

• •Is this lane stronger in 2v2?
• •Or should it be played as separate 1v1 trades?
• •Who has kill threat?
• •Who wins long trades?

Never play on autopilot.

Step 2: Pre-Game Preparation (0:00)

Checklist

1. 1.Buy 2x Observer Wards.
2. 2.Buy at least 1 Sentry.
3. 3.Bring Tangos and sustain.
4. 4.Share Tangos with mid immediately.
5. 5.Communicate lane plan with your carry.
6. 6.Block creeps properly to bring the wave closer to your tower.

Step 3: Lane Execution (0–6 Minutes)

Core priorities

• •Secure ranged creep denies.
• •Harass without drawing creep aggro.
• •Pull hard camp at correct timings to reset equilibrium.
• •Zone enemy offlaners from XP range.

Checklist

• •Carry a TP at all times.
• •Stack camps during downtime.
• •Punish enemy overextension immediately.

Step 4: Protect Your Carry (6–10 Minutes)

Your carry must exit the lane strong.

Checklist

• •Maintain defensive vision near safelane.
• •Stack nearby camps.
• •Rotate only if your carry is stable.
• •Secure power rune if mid needs assistance.

Step 5: Itemisation Philosophy

Your gold is for team impact.

Early Essentials

Early Game

Magic Wand

Boots Of Speed

Arcane Boots

Core Utility

Core Support Items

Glimmer Cape

Force Staff

Mekansm

Holy Locket

Avoid greedy damage items unless your draft specifically requires it.

Step 6: Vision Control (10–25 Minutes)

Vision wins mid-game fights.

Checklist

• •Ward objectives your team wants to contest.
• •Place defensive wards when behind.
• •Place aggressive wards when ahead.
• •Deward actively with Sentries.
• •Check minimap every few seconds.

Always carry detection

Detection

Dust Of Appearance

Sentry Ward

If you lose vision control, you lose map control.

Step 7: Mid-Game Teamfight Discipline

Your job

1. 1.Stay behind cores.
2. 2.Save abilities for high-impact moments.
3. 3.Use disables reactively, not randomly.
4. 4.Protect your highest net worth hero.
5. 5.Do not be the first hero revealed unless required.

Step 8: Late Game Execution (25+ Minutes)

Your life has value, but your carry’s life has more.

Checklist

• •Die for your carry if necessary.
• •Never wander alone.
• •Keep detection stocked.
• •Track Roshan timers.
• •Track enemy item timings (BKB, Blink, etc.).

Recommended Hero Archetypes

Strong Position 5 traits:

• •Reliable disable
• •Defensive save
• •Strong lane harass
• •Teamfight impact without heavy items

Common high-impact examples:

• 
  Lich
• 
  Witch Doctor
• 
  Dazzle
• 
  Warlock
• 
  Treant Protector
• 
  Abaddon
• 
  Crystal Maiden
• 
  Shadow Shaman
• 
  Jakiro

Choose heroes that function without farm.

If You're Losing, Do This

1. 1.Stop placing aggressive wards.
2. 2.Ward high ground defensively.
3. 3.Stay behind strongest core.
4. 4.Prioritise saving abilities over aggression.
5. 5.Stack and farm safe waves only when map is dark.

You can stabilise games through vision and clutch saves.

Do / Don't Summary

Glossary