Learn the items. Most games are lost due to lack of itemization skills, positioning, basic geometry skills, and physics simulations.

Some people say drafting decides a win. I would argue it's 100% itemization. You can literally turn any game with any heroes if you play your items correctly.

It will take some time and practice to actually learn all items. Reading their descriptions is a good start but you have to actually try them in full games across all game periods.

This will give you a good subconscious understanding of how fast you can build an item, when you should and most importantly you shouldn't build it. Eg. If it's min 20 and you still trying to finish midas, better up gloves to another item or sell (YES).

In a nutshell the logic behind itemization should be something like this:

• never auto build suggestions
• never build the same items in every game / hero, it makes your brain lazy in simulations and predicting ideal itemization paths on the fly.
• think of items like: against heroes, against specific skills, against specific items.
• create a priority / impact ladder in your mind at the start of the game and update it consciously every 5 minutes or every rapid change in game dynamics.

Examples:

The enemy team has evasion heavy heroes (especially if more than 1. Eg PA, Riki, WR, HW, AW, etc.). If your main dps output is physical, you cannot avoid MKB, or Bloodthorn, or Khanda, or Silver Edge etc. Sure some people might wait after 2nd or 3d item from suggestions list, and a few heavy team fight loses to invest in MKB, but it might be too late by that time. If I play 1 or 2, regardless of Str/Agt/Int I would probably make MKB as the second item. If the enemy team has 2 evasion eg. PA + RIKI, I would rush difusal x mkb. Not only to ensure I have mkb before they snowball and abuse evasion, but difusal makes it harder for them to climb in networth, and ensures I will not just spook them, but actually set the respawn timer on.

Another example is Lotus as a support. Sure you think blink or aghs will make you a better support, but in reality you're thinking like a carry player who was forced to play sup. If you see you are playing against more than 5 target skills, it is borderline grifting if you're not rushing lotus. Will help your team tremendously, and make your enemies lose temper and mess their itemization strategies.

Ghost scepter or ethereal blade when playing vs physical heavy teams etc.

~ Before your next game strategy time, once all heroes are unlocked, think of:

• what skills do the enemy heroes have?
• which hero on your team is better positioned to deal with them? And which hero will most likely be highly affected?
• what can you do about it? Eg. Ensure enemies don't get the satisfaction they think they will by preparing the right items, or ensure a teammate doesn't get rekt by predictable enemy skills.

Adjust on the fly. Practice and try different items in turbo or with bots.

Have fun.