Hero Mastery
A taunt initiator: Berserker's Call forces enemies to attack you, Counter Helix spins pure damage each time you're hit, and Culling Blade executes low-HP targets.
Your GPM, last hits and damage per game against other Axe players — average vs Top 20%.
Members only5 stages, each with one target from your own games and one short quiz. Make Axe your mastery hero to start — progress shows on Home and Arcana.
Sign in through SteamSkills in lane — Pro cores max Counter Helix (E) first — 94% of 363 games since patch 7.41, then Battle Hunger (W). First talent at level 11.
Blink online — Blink → Berserker's Call is your main initiation: jump into the clump, taunt them all, and Counter Helix shreds them.
Skills 1–7
Starting items
Pros buy this phase
Axe
The items that shut Axe down, 4 heroes that trouble it, and your answer when you play it.
Members onlyOne hero, one role first
OpenAI's first bot played only Shadow Fiend, only mid, until it mastered it. Stay on Axe in one role before moving on.
Small, measurable rewards
OpenAI Five was rewarded for last hits and staying alive long before it understood winning. That's why each journey stage has one number to hit.
From yourself to the team
Its 'team spirit' rose over the game: early on, look after yourself; late, play for the team. Each phase's meter shows the split.
Use proven builds
OpenAI Five's builds were hand-written, not trial and error. Start from the pro build, then experiment.
Phase items: what pros buy on this hero (OpenDota). Parameters: percentiles of players on this hero (OpenDota). Item effects checked against Valve's own item data.