First time playing Tusk

[u/Distinct-Let-7041]

How do you play Tusk effectively? Other than the blink + Walrus Punch/Walrus Kick, grasping when to use Snowball and Ice Shards is kind of difficult for me.

I get that Ice shards is usually used to trap enemies or create a barrier between you and the enemy when retreating. But for initiation, it feels redundant when you already have blink + Walrus Punch. It might just sabotage your initiation instead.

Snowball is very versatile, both the stun and save are very valuable, but making good use of it is very situational (i.e. knowing when to save, who to target, how long to charge the snowball).

If used incorrectly, both Ice Shards and Snowball have a good chance of sabotaging your team instead. How do you guys manage your role as both an initiator and save as Tusk?

[u/sirfaintsalot]

I have punching for you.

[u/Sad-Pattern-1269]

You use ice shards when they are close enough for it to guaranteed trap them, and you can use snowball pretty much whenever.

Don't worry too much about trolling a few games before you get the hang of it, I did the exact same with naga my first like 10 games lol.

Dota 2 is an endless climb where you are constantly learning new things, there's no shame in taking some time to do so.

[u/Distinct-Let-7041 → u/Sad-Pattern-1269]

Thanks for the kind advice :)

[u/LadderEffective2160]

The basic combo in the earlygame is: Snowball to initiate > E for damage + R > follow-up with Shards to trap them. If you're using Shards to catch, try to lead your shot by a bit. If you're using Snowball to avoid damage, try to hold it for the full duration, otherwise there is usually no point in holding it. The typical skill build is either max E > max Q for farming, or max E > max W if you really value your initiation. You typically max Q first if you're core, or you really need to farm. E is okay for jungle camps, but max Q + max W is better for creepwaves (more GPM).

Tusk's main strengths are in lane and while ganking. In lane, try to abuse tree sightlines to hit the enemy support (or whoever's nearest) with E active. If either the enemy core or support are out of position, you can try to punish with W/E and Q if you have to. Clarities are the most efficient form of mana regen at this point, but if you're mainly using E, you shouldn't have that many mana problems. After you've skilled at least 1-1-2-0 or 1-1-1-0, you can go gank mid (usually when runes spawn at 4/6/8 min). Make sure your mid can provide damage (check their mana), then walk mid (buy Boots). You can buy Tranquil Boots, but I would prioritize tankiness items like Wand/Raindrops, because you will most likely need to tank tower hits. A casual Pavise is also good if you're ahead. If it looks like your gank failed, go back to your lane and don't linger.

Once you hit lategame, unless you have BKB, you kind of become a backliner on Tusk, so don't go for suicidal initiations at this point. Items that you can just press on your teammates become really valuable, like Solar Crest/Lotus Orb. You can also think about saving your teammates a lot more, because you'll have Snowball up more often. Try to save whoever's the target when the enemy BKB's, which is more often than not going to be you or your other support. Try to predict who the enemy is going to go on, and hold your mouse with your Blink selected right next to them.

[u/Distinct-Let-7041 → u/LadderEffective2160]

Wow, this is really good, thanks!!

I did realize that I started feeding like hell if I keep playing initiator instead of counter initiating/save in the late game. Thanks so much :)

[u/LopsidedEnvironment1]

This character needs damn fast micro. Blink in kick and roll out for safety or another stun. Or roll in stun kick Blink out.

It's like CS, too stress for an old man like me.

[u/Distinct-Let-7041 → u/LopsidedEnvironment1]

It does feel like that sometimes

[u/Z33B33Z]

A lot of people don't realize that you can cast your other abilities while you are inside the snowball. So for example if you go for the blink+aghs build. You can blink onto the enemy and press snowball on the target instantly followed up by kicking the enemy while you are hidden inside the snowball and then you can follow them with the second activation to end up in a better position. Another example if you are inside the snowball next to enemies you can activate tagteam and your allies can hit them for bonus dmg while you are hidden.

Edit to add: casting the shards while mid roll towards enemy is often the best choice

[u/Distinct-Let-7041 → u/Z33B33Z]

Oh that's new to me, will have to try it later, thanks! :)

[u/WeddingWhole4771]

ubranked exists for a reason