Improving in Dota 2 isn’t just about grinding matches. While experience is essential, real growth happens when you take the time to analyze your replays. Whether you’re an aspiring pro or a passionate pub player, reviewing your games provides insights you simply can’t get in the heat of the moment.

But here’s where most players fall short: they either don’t watch replays at all, or they skim through them without structure. Even fewer take notes. In this post, we’ll dive into how to analyze your replays effectively—and why note-taking is the secret weapon of serious Dota players.

Why Analyze Replays?

In Dota 2, small decisions snowball. One misstep can lead to a lost lane, a lost fight, or a lost game. Watching your replays helps you:

• Identify patterns in your gameplay (good and bad)
• Catch mechanical mistakes that feel invisible mid-game
• See the bigger picture, like map awareness, rotations, and team dynamics
• Understand your opponents’ decisions and strategies

Step-by-Step Guide to Replay Analysis

1. Choose the Right Replay

Not all games are worth reviewing. Pick:

• A recent game you felt unsure about
• A loss that felt winnable
• A game where you played your main role/hero

Start with just one game—deep analysis is better than skimming five.

2. Watch in Segments

Don’t just play the replay in the background. Break it down into segments:

• Laning Stage (0:00 – ~10:00)
  • How was your creep aggro?
  • Did you trade efficiently?
  • Were you checking the minimap and rune timers?
• Mid Game (~10:00 – 25:00)
  • Did you rotate at the right times?
  • How was your farm vs. impact?
  • Did you take good fights or force bad ones?
• Late Game (25:00+)
  • Were your teamfight decisions sound?
  • Did you position properly in fights?
  • Were your item and spell usages effective?

3. Use the Right Tools

Dota 2’s replay system allows you to:

• Toggle Fog of War – See what you could have seen.
• Switch Perspectives – View from your allies’ or opponents’ angles.
• Slow down/fast forward – Focus on key moments.

Use these to get clarity on what happened, and why.

Why You Should Take Notes

Note-taking turns passive watching into active learning.

Benefits of Note-Taking:

• Reinforces learning – Writing it down helps you remember.
• Builds a habit – You’ll start spotting problems faster mid-game.
• Tracks your growth – Over time, you’ll see fewer repeated mistakes.

What to Write Down:

• Timestamped mistakes (e.g., “7:45 – Overextended in lane with no vision”)
• Missed opportunities (e.g., “13:20 – Didn’t smoke when we had a power spike”)
• Good decisions (not just mistakes!)
• Things to improve (e.g., “Work on stacking while laning as support”)

Use a Google Doc, a notebook, or even a replay review template. The key is consistency.

Bonus: What Pro Players Do

Top-tier players and coaches often review replays with notes and a checklist:

• Positioning mistakes
• Objective timing
• Lane equilibrium
• Map pressure
• Hero power spikes

If it works for pros, it’ll work for you.

Final Thoughts

Analyzing your Dota 2 replays isn’t glamorous. It takes time, focus, and discipline. But if you’re serious about improving, this is how you get to the next level. Watch your games with intention. Take notes. Learn something every time. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being better than your last match.