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The biggest difference maker between a high level player who plays for fun and pro gamers is Deliberate Practice.

If you're going to rise from 1800 mmr to pro level, you'll need deliberate practice, and a lot of it. If you're not familiar with the term, here are a couple books and an article to introduce you to the subject. Learning these techniques will have benefits far beyond dota.

The first goal is to prepare your fundamentals. There are plenty of other comments in this thread to help you there. You should build a working knowledge of every hero in dota. How? Don't just play games. For every single hero in dota, do the following.

• watch a guide video to learn the hero. Learn their combos, playstyle.
  
• watch a pro replay. Take notes.
  
• go into demo mode. CS with no items for 10 minutes. I don't care if it's fucking Techies. You need to know how to lasthit at heroes you want to play. Spawn some enemies and practice the stuff you saw the pro doing. If you're not sure how to do something, find a video that breaks it down.
  
• Play a game as that hero
  
• Go back into demo mode and do no items CS for 10 minutes.
  
• practice some more combos.
  
• play 2-4 more games on the hero.
  
  At this point, ask yourself if you can see yourself playing this hero long term. You should be looking to whittle down the pool from ~115 to ~20. If so:
  
  
• watch your worst replay and take notes.
  
• play at least 10 more games on that hero. Watch replays of the worst ones and take notes.
  
  At this point, you should have 700-800 games of dota under your belt. If you haven't improved to at least ~3.5k during this whole process (yes I know you've been learning heroes.), then pro dota is not in the cards for you.
  
  If you have improved, choose AT MOST 5 heroes, the best heroes you've got, to become your hero pool. Why? Because once you've learned the fundamentals, everything you can improve upon requires playing against better players. The longer you're in the trench, the longer you're solidifying bad habits. You're getting away with stuff that will be punished at higher mmr. Therefore...
  
  The second goal is to gain MMR. Like, at least 5000 higher than your current MMR. One important thing to realize is that it's possible to obtain a high MMR without any concept of teamwork whatsoever. You can begin working on your teamwork now, but KEEP IN MIND that this practice can be counterproductive at low MMR, as many patterns you will learn will change as you get better.
  
  Spam. Get a coach. Tryhard. Watch replays. Get yourself out of the trench. DON'T buy an account. Don't rely on your teammates. Watch replays, take notes. Win at all costs. We want to be playing against better players.
  
  If you actually make it to 6k, I think you'll know enough to be able to know how to take the next step.
  
  Good luck!

While people are recommending headsets that come with the mic. I'm going to recommend something else. Get a high quality set of over the ear headphones. I'm talking something like the Audio Technica ATH-M50S, Audio Technica ATH-AD700, Sennheiser HD555/595 (The 595's are very similar to the 555's but sound better, there are links around that you can mod your 555's to become 595's), or Sennheiser HD380 Pro. And then attach a Zalman Mic to it.

I have a pair of HD595's and absolutely love them, I can wear them all day and not feel it. They are built like tanks and have amazing sound quality. With my Zalman mic, I not only have a headset that has much higher sound quality than any gaming headset, but I can also use it for VOIP.

I used to have a pair of Creative Fatal1ty MKii, but after picking up my Sennheiser's I can't go back to them. The comfort and sound quality is literally night and day.

Although slightly out of your price range, the two companies make extremely high quality audio equipment. If you look through their offerings you'll definitely find a pair of headphones that will fit your budget. If you watch Amazon you can find that they cut prices dramatically from time to time, I picked up my 595's for around $150, and now they're almost $250.

I've played neither LoL or HoN, only DoTA. Real dota is going to be the best practice for dota 2 for a few reasons:

• You're going to get a good "feel" for the heroes, like attack speed/animation/cast point etc. This is sooo important for dota since there is so much focus on laning, last hits, denies, half-denies and harass
  
  
• You'll get familiar with the actual hero spells, so you won't get used to playing an odd reworking of clock or lich or something, get reliant on a skill that works differently, and then have to 'relearn' how the hero actually works
  
  
• Its $20 new or $10 used on amazon.com! Seriously! One of the greatest games of all time, and you get the real dota!
  
  
• You'll get to know and hate the Dota community, and then you'll get to actually appreciate the hard work valve's put into improving the new-player experience.
  
  
• Similar, you'll get to see how absolutely shitty dota looks, and it will be so nice when you get to move to dota 2. If you 'start' with lol/hon, you'll miss out on the creamy-jeans you'll get the first time you play dota 2 yourself!
  
  
• If you want someone to play some pub dota with, I'll totally play with you! Really!

A brew hoodie (this one happens to be small): https://www.amazon.com/DOTA-Brewmaster-Zip-Up-Hoodie-Small/dp/B00H7IPOGS

Edit: more brew hoodie searches. The firts few are M/L and more places after that: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=dota%202%20brewmaster%20hoodie

Brew shirt: https://www.amazon.com/Brewmaster-Short-Sleeve-Charcoal-Heather/dp/B00HB4FPQW

Shirt: http://www.redbubble.com/people/oprove/works/22481323-pandamonium?grid_pos=1&p=t-shirt&style=mens

Mousepad: https://www.amazon.com/Customized-Resistent-Brewmaster-Mouse-Pads/dp/B00ZKXKEJ4/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1472828892&sr=8-31&keywords=dota+2+brewmaster

A brew pint glass (because brew drinks duh!): https://www.amazon.com/Dota-2-Brewmaster-Glass-Code/dp/B00NY0MT16/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472828850&sr=8-2&keywords=dota+2+brewmaster

Brew poster 1: https://www.amazon.com/CGC-Huge-Poster-Brewmaster-DOTS09/dp/B00XZEG5P2/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1472828850&sr=8-11&keywords=dota+2+brewmaster

Brew poster 2: https://www.amazon.com/CGC-Huge-Poster-Brewmaster-DOTS10/dp/B00XZEGIBI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1472828850&sr=8-6&keywords=dota+2+brewmaster

And a bunch more stuff on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Adota+2+brewmaster&keywords=dota+2+brewmaster&ie=UTF8&qid=1472828957

A brewmaster plushie (Search for the best prices and shipping time. It comes in a blind box series 3.): http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=dota+2+brewmaster&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=dota+2+brewmaster+plushie&_sacat=0

Good luck!

Edit: If you need anymore help I am pretty good at finding gifts online, so just shoot me a message.

To add on to this,

Going on the Brewmaster theme, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dota-2-Brewmaster-Glass-Code/dp/B00NY0MT16/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472828510&sr=8-2&keywords=dota+2+brewmaster

There is this. Also Valve used to do an official one on their site, but they seem to have taken it down now.

This shirt features brewmaster (middle left), along with Tusk (top right) and Bristle (bottom right) If he enjoys Brewmaster, its not out of the realms of possibility that he has similar feelings for the other 2 heroes as their playstyles are pretty similar.
http://valvestore.welovefine.com/brawling-buddies-81.html



There are also these Mini Plushies
http://valvestore.welovefine.com/series-3-dota-2-blind-box-micro-plush-40.html

One of them is brewmaster, unfortunately they are blind boxes, and so you dont know what you are going to get. So its a bit of a gamble.


On a more general 'Dota player' gift guide. There are some cool things below, that show that he likes dota, but are maybe a little more discreet so people who know, know, but its not in your face for people who dont know to ask.

http://valvestore.welovefine.com/all-accessories/dota-2-neck-tie-11037.html

http://valvestore.welovefine.com/all-accessories/dota--new-beanie-11031.html

http://valvestore.welovefine.com/all-accessories/dota-2-metal-cap-11029.html

http://valvestore.welovefine.com/home-office-drinkware/dota-2-coaster-set-of-4-11047/sort/pps.seller_sort.html?order=DESC

Here is my contribution to the list

Normal mug

Wall Print of the same image

Travel mug

Glass Stein (plus ingame unlock)

T-Shirt (plus ingame unlock-unlock not brewmaster related though)

Iconic Muggernaut (Not brewmaaster, but perhaps the best mug option, if he uses mugs)

I would encourage you to peruse RedBubble, a site full of community submitted designs. They have some really neat things. Your key words would be Brewmaster and/or Primal Split, and Dota 2 I guess. Most of the designs can be made as anything from stickers to hat to metal prints.

Required reading for people looking to legitimately get better at Dota (especially when you've played for a long time with little improvement):

Talent is Overrated : What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else

and

The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance

While these books clearly do not focus on Dota, the ideas contained in these books are probably the most helpful ideas in making you a better player, in terms of what your practice and mentality needs in order to get better.

This guy gets it. Games are a steady productivity drip that help you feel more in control/accomplished compared to what real life usually offers. The first step out of a cycle of suffering is to see that you are in one, which it sounds like you are doing. Engage your problems, make improvements, and keep trying. Feel free to PM me as well.

For related reading, try Reality is Broken and The Art of Learning. The latter, in particular, helps cultivate the perspective that makes success in other things as interesting as games can be.

The Zalman mic you're referencing.

I cannot recommend this gadget enough. I have used multiple headsets and been disappointed by every last one of them. Without fail, the headsets had shoddy build quality, uncomfortable earpieces, miserable sound, or some combination thereof.

In grabbing that link, Amazon reminded me that I purchased my Zalman mic three and a half years ago. In that time, I've used it in two apartments on three computers, on headphone cables or just taped to my desk. It's been used and abused and it's still fantastic; my friends regularly praise the audio quality. The ONLY downside is that in a taped-to-the-desk configuration, it will not sufficiently cancel echo from the speakers, but for an $8 mic being used outside of the intended configuration... that's barely a concern.

Whenever anyone asks what to get for a headset, this is always what I answer. Getting a pair of headphones you LOVE and adding a modular microphone is so much more cost efficient, comfortable, and versatile than buying a branded gaming headset, and the Zalman mic fights way above it's weight class.

I currently use this combo:

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD555-Professional-Headphones-Channeling/dp/B0001FTVDQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1323130988&sr=8-6

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323130978&sr=8-2

I have had plenty of headsets over the years, and this one has been my best purchase. My friends on skype tell me the voice quality is fine.

You are also going to get way better sound quality through headphones rather than a headset.

its arguable. The basic rule I would advise people is that if you can spell it logically it is latin based. If you can't spell it logically its german. If the verb changes tense in the middle of the word, then its of semetic origin, as all germanic strong verbs are.

If you are curious please see:

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Magnificent-Bastard-Tongue-History/dp/1592404944/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412209131&sr=8-1&keywords=our+glorious+bastard+tongue

The book will actually make you laugh. Well written.

Here

I have one of these at home for play and one for work. It has a very comfortable Matte finish on it and can customize all the side buttons, DPI, etc. Even save multiple profiles for quick switches. If you are looking for one with hotkeys on it anyways.

JVC Harx700 + Zalman mic. Runs about $45, and much better quality than any "gaming headset".
There is a more expensive ($60) JVC Harx900 headset if you want to get something a little more pricey.

If you want to get fancy you can get some snakeskin cabling, some heatshrink, and a lighter and semi-permanently combine the mic cable to the headphone cable.

https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ
https://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-Precision-Sound-Headphones/dp/B0013OWPV4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013P3ZOE/ref=psdc_12097479011_t1_B0013OWPV4

While you are at it a decent soundcard will do wonders if you are using an onboard card. You can get a decent entry level card for about $40. Just like a standalone mic is better than a headset mic. A standalone sound card is miles ahead of an onboard card in the vast majority of cases.

https://www.amazon.com/Xonar-DGX-GX2-5-Audio-Engine/dp/B007TMZ1BK

Redragon Perdition

This is what i use, Really comfortable, up to 16400 DPI, 12 macro buttons, Weighted mouse that you can change, Love it

ITT: Too many people recommending headsets.

OP, the ModMic is on the pricier side at $40, but is a great mic and can attach to your headphones, turning it into a headset of sorts.

The Zalman clip-on mic isn't quite as good, but still more than adequate, and is only $9.

As the poster below said, that's a borrowed word from Old Norse (The Vikings raided England and actually ruled the island for a few years almost a millennium ago. The show Vikings depicts this event.) .

There's actually a good book about the history of English, with a great name. "Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue". The tl;dr is in the title: English has a lot of words borrowed from other languages.

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Magnificent-Bastard-Tongue-History/dp/1592404944

As for stuff like "Knight" of "Thought", the "gh" used to be pronounced like the "ch" back of the throat sound in "blech" but it eventually got dropped.

Then there's the famous "Vowel Shift" which changed how basically every vowel was pronounced, which was most likely influenced by the large number of borrowed words in the middle ages.

http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_early_modern.html

I use a Logitech G13, mostly because it lets me move the camera with the analog stick on it and it has way more buttons than any other of the similar devices that Razor puts out (and changeable back light colors, a screen, and better software).

My map for the G13 stems from my roots in League of QWER DF and 123456, it looks like this screenshot, ctrl, shift, tab, and alt all do their default things; I have my voice and chat wheel on my side mouse buttons (as well as another way to quick buy).

Here is a real cheap $6 one that you attach to your headphone cords that works great. I've used it for years and never got complaints about it.

https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485230223&sr=8-1&keywords=zalman+clip+on+mic

These have faithfully served me for at least two years... I would highly recommend them.

Amazon!

But the awesome part is the autographs he got from TI2.

I use a Logitech G600 combined with my Logitech G13 and I love every minute of it.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Headset-Surround/dp/B003VANOFY

Wireless headphones : Best headphones

i use this and i love it.

This is probably the best option sub $20 - https://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/

You should read the book "Talent is Overrated"

http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Overrated-Separates-World-Class-Performers/dp/1591842948

Which strangely reminds me of a saying that there is always someone out that there is better than you.

After looking at reviews on amazon just now for the deathadder, it really doesn't seem to be the exception at all. Look at any of the low star reviews and they all say it's an amazing mouse that's going to break in 6months http://www.amazon.com/Razer-DeathAdder-Ergonomic-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00AAS888S

I have this steelseries keyboard, I really like it. I found out later it's the same one the Xbost uses, which explains all the throws I've experienced.

But seriously, A word of advice: get a keyboard that doesn't have a windows key on the left side. A ton of headaches will be solved. Everything else is subjective.

Don't get a laptop if you have that budget. Try getting a good keyboard and a mouse. I use Corsair Vengence K70 Red Switches and Razor Deathadder Chroma

Can recommend too: all the keys are raised above the chassis, making cleaning significantly easier.^we know how dirty our keyboards get...

I use the MX Brown version, though—it's mainly personal prefernce whether you opt to use MX Red switches (linear, no resistance), MX Browns (tactile and a little resistance), or MX Blues (more resistant than Browns and clicky). If you can, I recommend that you either go to a local computer hardware store and get a feel for the mechanical keyboards on display, or order a basic mechanical switch sampler kit such as this one.

Well darn :(. At least we'll be able to get his Dota comics out on physical print soon.

Keyboard: Razer Blackwidow Ultimate

Mouse: Razer Deathadder 2014

Headset: Astro A40

Just ask away if you want a quick review of those.

It's 21 euros at spanish amazong rolf.


Edit: not making fun of you, just sounds like you paid an extra tax for being at TI.

Here's the amazon link where I'm getting it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1506703488/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1506703488&linkCode=as2&tag=darhorcom20-20

Seriously though, there have been cases of this kind of thing. Josh Waitzkin in his book mentions how in one of the world Tai Chi Chuan tournaments he attended, the tournament played with the schedule and gave everybody 'heavy' food (everyone becomes hungry because matches are delayed). The point was to throw off the foreign combatants. The local teams already knew of the schedule alteration, so they planned their eating accordingly.

https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/dp/B00CD1FC6G

RGB or Blue is avaible if u want

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Desktop-Microphone-Black-Silver/dp/B00009EHJV + http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-555-Stereo-Headphone/dp/B0001FTVDQ

the mic was like $20 back when I bought it, no clue why it's so expensive now

http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Siberia-Full-Size-Gaming-Headset/dp/B005LUVLRU

Then what do you do with your items? I have my items bound on keys 1-6 and I use a Razer Naga to quickly use them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E71W4O8/

I bought this and it was a decent way to decide which type of switch I wanted

Here ya go: Logitech G930s

Full input volume, I use this mic. It's in an audio jack, I'll test with other games and get back to you at some point.

just outta curiosity what did you wanna bind it to?
Also BUTTONS EVERYWHERE

This mouse is right on your budget, [http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G700s-910-003584-Rechargeable-Gaming/dp/B00BFOEY3Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1418180920&sr=8-4&keywords=wireless+gaming+mouse]

I will not suggest a keyboard because I use a mechanical keyboard and to my knowledge I do not think there are wireless mechanical. You could look for a wireless "Gaming" keyboard.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Headset-Surround/dp/B003VANOFY

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G500-Programmable-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B002J9GDXI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1371040752&sr=8-3&keywords=logitech+g400

Work 3 more hours and spend the extra $.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G500-Programmable-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B002J9GDXI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1412386091&sr=8-2&keywords=g500+mouse

http://www.amazon.com/Warcraft-III-Battle-Chest-Mac/dp/B00009ECGK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319490620&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-6Gv2-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/dp/B008OQTGBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374191972&sr=8-1&keywords=6gv2

red, not black :)

Here's another option, only $6! It's not what i'm using (i have an at2020) but it's hard to beat for $6!

Exactly what happened to mine, I actually just replaced it with a G700s just last week. Ergonomically it feels about the same.

I was skeptical of wireless for gaming, but besides the mouse dying now and then, I notice no difference to when I used wired.

I use separate headphones and mic.

This mic you can clip to the headphones cord or I have it sitting on the desk in front of me and have had no problems.

Wrong. http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G700s-910-003584-Rechargeable-Gaming/dp/B00BFOEY3Y/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1425604105&sr=8-9&keywords=wireless+gaming+mouse

This wireless gaming mouse has a 1ms latency, which is perfectly fine. Your wired mouse might not be any better. I've owned wireless mice, there's definitely no lag. I have a wired mouse now, I'm sick of the wire. Mouse cord snag is infuriating.