Split pushing is one of the most effective and widely misunderstood strategies in Dota 2. Teams that do it properly can pull off incredible comebacks, but doing it wrong can immediately cost you games. 

In this guide, we’ll discuss everything there is to know about split pushing in Dota 2, from when to do it, which heroes excel at it, and the common misconceptions that players fail to understand. By the end, you’ll know how to split push and counter the strategy effectively. 

Editor’s Note: Owen Harsono is an Immortal-ranked (SEA #1,770) Dota 2 player with years of high-level experience. His insights come directly from playing in the top skill bracket, incorporating deep knowledge with practical advice that any player can apply in their own matches.

What Is Split Pushing In Dota 2?

In Dota 2, “split pushing” refers to a macro strategy where heroes push creep waves and pressure towers across multiple lanes to force rotations. Instead of grouping up to take on fights, the goal is to pressure the map and force the enemy team to split up to address their sidelanes. 

Importantly, split pushing should not be confused with lane farming. For this reason, our guide will be heavily focused on clearing waves, pushing your creep waves into enemy structures, and threatening buildings. These actions will force the enemy team to defend, typically using a teleport scroll. 

Once the enemy team is spread thin, the ball is in your court—your team can decide to go for pickoffs, secure Roshan, or pressure another lane. Overall, split pushing is one of the most annoying and stressful strategies to deal with in-game, as demonstrated by Alliance at The International 2013. 

Dota 2 Split Push vs. Teamfighting: When Each Strategy Works

Split pushing and teamfighting represent two very different ways to play Dota 2.

Teamfighting is the most direct approach. Basically, you attempt to win the game by taking a 5v5 fight, and if you win, you convert it into towers, Roshan, or map control. If you feel that your heroes are stronger or your item timings align, then teamfighting is usually the fastest way to close out a game.

However, reality suggests that not every game will pan out like this. When the odds are stacked against you, forcing fights is just a way of saying you’re flipping a coin with bad odds. That is where the split push strategy in Dota 2 becomes an attractive alternative. 

Instead of walking into the enemy and handing them an easy fight, you can pressure lanes, force rotations, and turn Dota 2 into a game of cat and mouse. Proper split pushing will put enemies in awkward and uncomfortable positions, allowing you to bait out mistakes and take fights on more favorable terms.

When Should You Split Push In Dota 2?

Split pushing is typically used when you’re playing from behind. This might be due to a large gold or experience differential, or after losing an important fight or objective. Ultimately, the goal of split pushing is to win the game by achieving better map outcomes, rather than engaging in direct combat. 

One of the most common situations to split push in Dota 2 is when the enemy team has taken Rosh.

Naturally, the team with the Aegis will be favored to win the fight and take the high ground. Instead of giving them an easy fight on a silver platter, you can split push to buy time. This involves shoving their waves and threatening their towers to force their cores to teleport back and defend.

If the enemy reacts this way, you’re buying time and running down the Aegis’ 5-minute window. This approach works best when the enemy team is far ahead, as direct fights are significantly more risky. The goal is to play the numbers game and only commit when enemies are split.

Checklist Before Split Pushing In Dota 2: Things To Think About

Before you initiate a split push, here are some things to think about:

How To Execute A Successful Split Push In Dota 2

Once you’ve decided that split pushing is the right play, the execution is pretty simple.

Before you commit, clearly communicate your plan with the team and that they shouldn’t take on any fights. Next, choose a lane to split push—usually, the one opposite the enemy’s position. By playing on the far side of the map, you force your opponents to overcommit if they want to punish you.

From there, start clearing the creep waves. The idea is to clear the waves in a few seconds and stay in the fog as much as possible. The less time you spend visible on the minimap, the harder it is for enemies to track you down. After clearing the wave, you can continue down the lane to clear the next one.

Repeat this pattern until the enemies go missing on the map, or until you force an enemy to teleport and defend. If an enemy core is the one teleporting to deal with the creeps, you’ve accomplished your job. You can teleport home and look for a fight, knowing one of their strongest heroes is far away from their team.

Pro Tip: While split pushing, ensure you’re walking on the outskirts of the lane to make it harder for enemies to detect you. If you’re waiting for the next wave, you can clear the nearby jungle camps in the meantime. 

Common Split Push Mistakes To Avoid In Dota 2

Split pushing isn’t about simply clearing the wave and calling it a day. To do it properly, you need to understand how far you can push it and what you need to look out for. Here are some split pushing tips in Dota 2 you should consider:

1. Avoid Common Misconceptions

Many people think “split pushing” is simply an act of pushing towers. In reality, the main focus of a split push is to force enemy rotations and put them in uncomfortable positions. 

Actually taking towers through split pushing is pretty rare—it really depends on the game and the heroes involved. In most matches, it’s simply too risky to stand there hitting a tower. Most of the time, the real goal is to threaten them, not commit to taking a building.

2. Show For As Little Time As Possible

When you clear the creep wave, you want to take less than 2 seconds to wipe out the creeps. After doing this, instantly leave vision and disappear into the fog of war. While you’re at it, do NOT walk with the creep wave.

When you’re split pushing, the only time you should show is when you’re clearing the creep wave. There is absolutely no reason for you to be walking side-by-side with the wave. Always walk along the tree lines adjacent to the lanes. 

3. Don’t Wait For The Creeps To Meet

You don’t have to wait for creep waves to meet at equilibrium. Use the minimap to check where your allied creeps are, as it can help you predict where the enemy wave will be after it spawns. Move to that location and clear the wave before it fully connects.

Pro Tip: Think of timings when support players would typically pull the creep wave in the laning stage. Use these timings to predict where the creep wave is likely to be. 

4. Don’t Hit The Tower If You Can’t Escape

Remember that the real goal of split pushing is to force reactions. Sometimes, hitting the tower can be bait. This is because enemies will likely teleport to that tower to punish you. Just pushing the wave in front of the tower is usually enough. 

Also, keep in mind that you’re going to be on the enemy’s side of the map while you split push. So, remember to carry a teleport scroll and be ready to escape or rejoin your teammates. It’s important to have an escape plan. Are you going to blink out, leap over cliffs, or hide behind tree lines?

Best Heroes For Split Pushing In Dota 2

Split pushing comes with risk—and that includes getting picked off and dying. So, the best heroes for split pushing generally have ways to quickly clear waves and get out of trouble.

Illusion-Based Heroes

Dota 2 heroes that can spawn illusions are perfect for split pushing, as they can send their illusions instead of their actual hero to clear waves. This completely removes any risk of them dying on creep waves. 

Terrorblade and Naga Siren are some of the best Dota 2 split pushers. Arc Warden can also summon a Tempest Double that can do all the split pushing for him. Similarly, heroes who buy Manta Style as a core item can also work (e.g., Luna, Medusa, and Juggernaut). 

Summon-Based Heroes

The concept for summon-based heroes is similar to the ones that spawn illusions. Instead of sending their actual heroes, they can send dominated creeps and summons to push waves for them. 

For example, Beastmaster and Lycan often buy Helm of the Overlord. And since the controlled creep isn’t on a timer, they can have their creeps camp in front of a tower and continuously cut the wave.

Lone Druid is also one of Dota 2’s best split pushers, especially when he has Aghanim’s Scepter. His real hero can sit in base, while his Spirit Bear wreaks havoc around the map. 

Heroes With Built-In Mobility

Heroes with mobility make for excellent split pushers, as they can go in and out quickly. 

Anti-Mage and Queen of Pain are the most obvious shouts, as they have built-in abilities that allow them to Blink. Heroes like Storm Spirit, Ember Spirit, Void Spirit, and Puck are known for their escape tools, and also have decent wave clear. 

Nature’s Prophet is notoriously Dota 2’s best split pusher with his ability to teleport anywhere on the map. With his Level 25 talent, his teleport does not have a cooldown. Tinker is also very close to Nature’s Prophet in this regard. 

Best Items For Split Pushing In Dota 2

Not all heroes have the abilities to become a proper split pusher, but the beauty of Dota is that such limitations can be fixed with the right items. Some items can turn regular heroes into legitimate split pushers:

How To Counter A Split Push In Dota 2

Being on the receiving end of a split push can be very frustrating—you have all the resources to win a fight, but the enemy team is cheesing you out. Here are some tips to counter enemies that continuously split push:

Fix Your Lanes Before Committing To A Push

If you’re planning to siege the enemy high ground, the most important thing to do is to fix your lanes.

This means your lanes must be pushed out. The ideal scenario is having two waves pushing into the enemy base, with the third lane at least pushed past the river. This makes it infinitely harder for the enemy split pusher to threaten your buildings. 

Use Vision To Anticipate The Split Pusher

If you see the enemy team trying to split push, keep track of the trends.

Which hero is actively split pushing, and which lane are they clearing? Then, you can place Observer Wards on the lane entrances or jungle paths to see them coming before they actually get to the wave. 

This idea is very similar to “Tinker Wards,” which are placed specifically to catch the split pusher.  

Don’t Panic Or Overreact

Remember, the idea of split pushing is to confuse your enemies.

Do not send three heroes to deal with a single enemy player. While you’re at it, don’t teleport back to defend while you’re in the middle of a crucial teamfight. Keep calm and communicate clearly with your team, even in intense situations. 

When You Commit, REALLY Commit

In high-pressure moments where you’re trying to end the game, and an enemy player is split pushing, it’s important to avoid thoughtless decisions.

If the team wants to address the split pusher, make sure everyone is on the same page. If half of the team is committed to doing one thing, while the others are trying to pull off another, this chaos in crucial moments can be game-losing.

Itemize Against Split Pushers

Items in Dota 2 are made to solve problems. If your team has an ongoing issue of getting split pushed, you can always itemize to solve it. If an enemy hero is buying Boots of Travel to split push, one of your own heroes can purchase it, too. 

Have this hero with Boots of Travel sit in base to defend the waves, and then teleport to the fight when needed. 

FAQs

How does split pushing work in Dota 2?

Split pushing refers to a strategy in which a team intentionally avoids teamfights by shoving creep waves to pressure towers and force enemy rotations. 

When should you split push instead of teamfight in Dota 2?

Split pushing is generally better when you’re playing from a disadvantage. When taking a head-on teamfight seems unfavorable, split pushing creates a better map state and can buy time.

What are the best heroes for split pushing in Dota 2?

Some of the best split push heroes in Dota 2 have great mobility, low risk of dying, and wave clear. They include Lone Druid, Nature’s Prophet, Tinker, Anti-Mage, and Terrorblade. 

How do you stop an enemy split push in Dota 2?

To stop the enemy team from split pushing, make sure to fix your lanes, keep vision around the side lanes, and don’t overreact. Panicking during these situations is exactly how you throw a lead. 

What items are best for split pushing in Dota 2?

The best items provide heroes with mobility, escape, and wave clear. Items like Blink Dagger, Shadow Blade, Manta Style, and Boots of Travel are among the best items for split pushing. 

References

1. Such is life – Overview (DOTABUFF)