In this post, I will share my thoughts on how to identify the end of your lane as an offlane. Even though there are multiple cases, I will try to cover the general ones to help you make that decision easier.

So when does the lane end? When am I allowed to run over the map?

In a moment, I will try to simplify the thought process so you can make this decision accordingly. But before that, let me ask you a question: Do you think it’s good enough to say the lane is over with level 6?

If you said yes, then you are wrong. Well, not completely wrong, but not completely right either.

You see, although hitting level 6 on a core is known to be the end of the lane, it doesn’t make it the only case. There are other aspects you have to consider to determine the end of your lane.

Here are a couple of cases associated with the decision that your lane is over:

• When does your hero wanna make plays around the map?
• Is your hero able to take the enemy’s tower early? Do you need levels or items to be able to do so?
• When can you stand solo in the lane to let your pos4 free roam?
• Can your enemy’s carry flash farm the jungle, or does he want to stay in the lane?

Obviously, answering these questions will help you make a better decision in your next game. So let’s discuss these 4 questions more in depth.

• When does your hero wanna make plays around the map?

Some offlaners hit their timing faster than others. For example, Beastmaster can start making plays as soon as he gets the helm of Dom. Meanwhile, a hero like Axe might need a combination of vanguard & blink, or even vanguard, blademail, & blink, to start making plays. Understanding your hero really matters in order to make the right decision.

• Is your hero able to take the enemy’s tower early? Do you need levels or items to be able to do so?

In the same example, even though Beasmaster hits his timing faster and has his own creeps to push, Axe can still manage to take the tower earlier if he manages to combine his vanguard timing with siege creep. It’s also because Axe has a better matchup against more carry heroes, especially once he buys Vanguard. He can even take the tower at level 5 without the ult.

• When can you stand solo in the lane to let your pos4 free roam?

Some heroes can do this, and some others can’t. For example, Bristleback can stand solo, starting at level 4-5 in many matchups. On the other hand, Night Stalker can’t stand solo during the day, and at night, I don’t advise POS4 players to leave him because he needs help to recover or dominate the lane.

• Can your enemy’s carry flash farm the jungle, or does he want to stay in the lane?

Now to the final point: Understanding the enemy’s carry-jungling timing could help you make that decision. If your enemy is Luna, she can flash farm jungle at level 4–5. So even if you want the lane to go longer, she is just gonna keep farming the lane and the jungle. In that case, she can determine the end of the lane much earlier than a Riki, for example. Riki can’t jungle, yet he is a strong laner, and before buying Diffusal, he just wanna stay in the lane to farm creeps. So considering this might help you determine when your lane is over.

Conclusion

As you can see, it’s easy to say the lane is over once you hit level 6, but there are many other aspects to consider before making that decision next time you play. Of course, there are other deep things to consider, but let’s keep it at that in this post. I don’t want to overwhelm you with many thoughts at once. Try to keep it simple to master it faster.

In this post, I have shared with you a simplified thought process to help you improve as an offlaner. Consider it the start of a new dota mindset.

If you are an offlane player or you know someone who can relate, feel free to share the post and share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you still feel lost or want further help, feel free to join my Discord community for more free content from my Reddit profile bio or DM me on Discord at MKS#0011 or mks98.

Thank you for reading, and happy gaming! 😊