The short version
- 1Count the visible enemies. The missing ones decide how safe you are.
- 2Know the key clocks — runes, Roshan and respawns — because the enemy moves to them.
- 3Farm on the side of the map near your team, away from where enemies went missing.
01Counting the Missing Enemies
Every time you glance at the minimap, answer one question: how many enemies can I see?
- All five — you're free to farm or push anywhere far from them.
- Three or four — the rest may be rotating. Don't cross the river without vision.
- Zero to two — assume they're moving together. Play near a tower or your team.
Enemies who vanish right after buying Smoke, or right after their lane goes quiet, are almost always looking for a kill.
Coach's tips
- Check the minimap after every last hit — two seconds that often save your life.
- Enemy midlaner gone from lane? Ping it and warn the lanes next to mid.
- A ward of yours suddenly dying means an enemy is there, right now.
02The Clocks That Move the Enemy
The enemy moves to the clock, and the clock is predictable:
- Runes — power runes every 2 minutes from minute 6, bounty runes every 3, wisdom runes every 7. Enemy heroes drift toward those spots as the time approaches.
- Roshan — back 8–11 minutes after he dies. As that window opens, the pit becomes the fight.
- Respawns — after a fight, check the top bar for how long the enemies stay dead. That's your window for a tower or Roshan.
Ward and position before the clock hits, not when the enemy has already arrived.
Coach's tips
- Type the time Roshan died in team chat so everyone can prepare.
- Midlaners: reach the rune a few seconds early, at full HP.
- After a won fight, check the respawn timers before picking a target.
03Farming in the Right Place
Safe farm isn't about the richest camp — it's about how far you are from danger:
- Farm on the side of the map where your team is, so help arrives fast.
- Stay away from the lanes and jungle closest to where enemies went missing.
- Enter the enemy jungle only with vision and with enemies shown on the far side.
A carry who dies farming alone loses more gold than the camp was ever worth.
Coach's tips
- When in doubt, farm the wave near your own tower first.
- Move to your next farming spot along paths your wards cover.
- Carry a TP — farming far away without one means you can't help or escape.
What's your call?
Decide what you'd do, then open the answer.
Minute 15, you're the carry farming the jungle alone. The minimap shows two enemies bottom; the other three vanished 30 seconds ago. What do you do?Show the answer
Move your farm near your team or to a safe lane. Three heroes vanishing together are usually smoked or heading for one target — possibly you.
Roshan died at minute 20. It's now minute 28 and your team is ahead.Show the answer
Start controlling the pit area now: place an Observer and a Sentry, push the nearest wave, then group. Roshan can be back any time between minute 28 and 31.
Try it next game
Every time you die, replay the 10 seconds before it: how many enemies were missing from the minimap?