If you’re looking for a solid new Arena Brawler, or simply want to play a MOBA without the shitty parts, Battlerite is offering a free weekend from now until December 4th. There’s even a 25% discount, so you can try before you buy, then still buy for cheap.
Below is my small collection of dos and don’ts for newcomers. Should it not be enough, you might want to also check out these other helpful sites and guides!
Do
- Control the center
Just because Battlerite doesn’t follow traditional MOBA tropes, such as laning with minions, it doesn’t mean you can charge into the enemy willy-nilly and hope for the best. Controlling the center allows for easy access to health and energy orbs, as well as the big center orb. Collect small orbs or last hit the big orb to heal and gain energy.
Treat the center orbs like a mini Baron from LoL or a Mercenary Camp from Heroes. Accrue small early leads by contesting and capturing orbs to charge up game-changing ultimates.
- Spam M1
Given its RTS origins, most characters in MOBAs auto attack unless cancelled or interrupted. In Battlerite, there is no auto attack, which means you have to manually left mouse click to attack. Hitting the enemy with M1 generates the energy necessary to build up impactful combos. All other abilities except M1 have cooldowns, and some cost energy.
Missing pivotal abilities will open doors for the enemy to push the game in their favor, but missing basic M1 attacks has minimal consequences. I know it’s not the most glamorous way to play, but it’s absolutely necessary: M1 should be your primary source of damage.
- Understand EX abilities
EX abilities are basically empowered versions of normal abilities that cost energy. You can see which abilities have an EX version by holding down shift. To use an EX ability, simply hold down shift and use an ability; alternatively, you can press 1 or 2. In the case of Iva, she has EX abilities on Boomstick (M1) and Tazer (E), which turn into Flame Thrower (M1) and Concussion Shot (E).
At first, you shouldn’t focus on using EX abilities. While they add depth to the game, it’s not required for newbies. Just know they exist, and as you get more comfortable with a character, incorporate them into your play. A final tip: you can adjust key bindings for EX abilities if it feels too awkward to simultaneously press shift and other keys while using WASD to move.
- Use C to cancel abilities
Some abilities like Jade’s Snipe (M2) have a cast time that immobilizes you for the duration. If you need to get out of dodge for any reason, press C to cancel the cast. Cancelled abilities go on a one-second cooldown. Canceling abilities is useful when the enemy has a counter ability up such as Bakko’s Bulwark or Freya’s Electric Shield. In higher levels of play, canceling leads to intense mind games similar to those in fighting games.
- Sprint with Z
Pressing Z while mounted gives you a speed boost for two seconds with the word “YEEHAW” on top of your character’s health bar. Sprint to the center in the beginning of the game. Getting to the center a few seconds earlier than your enemies won’t instantly win you the game, but it still will give you a slight edge, some time to prepare and position. Receiving damage while mounted dismounts you and applies a fading snare for a couple of seconds, so be extra careful when you engage the enemy when mounted. You can dismount by casting any ability.
Don't
- Engage head-on
Unlike in other team-based PVP games like Heroes or WoW Arena, supports in Battlerite can’t outheal damage. If you take a bunch of damage expecting a support to heal you back up to full, you’re out of luck. This is compounded by the fact that health in this game is divided into two types: recovery health and real health. Long story short, taking too much damage will decrease your max health. This is a deliberate design decision by the developer to make the matches feel snappy and prevent heals from dragging the games out.
- Stand still
It probably goes without saying, but you should never be a sitting duck in any competitive game. Think of it as classic MOBA stutter stepping. At the end of the day, Battlerite is about hitting the enemy while dodging their attacks; standing still accomplishes neither. If you’re not constantly moving, you’re doing it wrong. Using your primary attack (M1) slows down your movement speed, more for some characters than others. Familiarize yourself with how much movement speed each character loses while attacking. Gauge each situation accordingly.
- Blow all your escapes
This one is especially pertinent if you’re playing a ranged character. Melee characters deal most of their damage in close proximity and have abilities that close distance. Ranged characters are only more effective when they can avoid melee damage. Unless you’re absolutely sure using an escape will guarantee a kill, have a panic button ready in case things go south.
- Break line of sight with your teammate
Whether it’s 2v2 or 3v3, you have to play as a part of a team. That means staying with your teammates so you can focus fire or help them out if they get into too much trouble. Don't clump with your teammates so the whole team becomes a juicy target for a big AoE, but be aware of your your allies and enemies are at all times. Allies can neither see nor heal you over walls. Don't make your team blow valuable escapes to return to position. Having no outs is one of the surefire recipes for disaster.
- Forget to have fun
Battlerite is a competitive game, and you will often get crushed, especially if you’re new with a character. There simply isn’t enough time to completely learn a character during a rapid-pace match that only lasts 10 minutes on average. This is where Practice and AI modes come in handy. You can find some comfort knowing that the game is in Early Access and the developer is still improving matchmaking, so just try to celebrate small victories when you or teammates play well. Your goal as a new player should be to learn the ropes, and most importantly, to have a blast while doing it. One of the best ways to learn is to fail early and often.
Are there any other things you wish you had known when starting out? Share them as comments!
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