3 mistakes to avoid in Aghanim's Labyrinth

Dota 2's new holiday event mode is out, and it is fun! But more than that, it is also very hard to beat. Aghanim's Labyrinth: The Continuum Conundrum is the sequel to the original Aghanim's Labyrinth that was released in the summer of 2020 along with the International battle pass.

Like its predecessor it is a roguelike PvE game mode where 4 players, either partying together or queuing into each other, go against a series of monster-filled rooms before reaching the final boss. Each room can have a variety of different modifiers that make them deadlier or harder to kill. Defeating the final boss, the Primal Beast, unlocks an even harder difficulty that introduces multiple modifiers to each room.

Regardless, the event mode is known to be quite challenging and frustrating because of its difficulty. Let's take a look at some of the common mistakes you should avoid when playing it.

Not understanding your enemy

One of the biggest mistakes that new or low rank players will make, not just when playing Agh's Lab but also regular Dota 2, is not understanding one's enemies. This makes it a very clear example of why they will consistently fail and die in even the easier rooms while high-skill players will be able to clear it with bare minimum effort.

In the event mode, you need to observe and understand what kind of damage the enemy is doing, and what triggers it. There's almost always an animation that precedes the actual spell or attack. Once you understand that, reacting to the animation and getting out of the way will make the process much easier.

Sometimes, there is a sequence of moves that a boss or captain will make. They will rarely, if ever, change that sequence of spells. This is also something you need to look out for and keep in your mind after spotting it. The rest is easy. Just use your spells or basic attacks to deal damage between the gaps where the enemy casts spells, and dodge these spells the rest of the time.

Not having a good team composition

Like it is in your everyday game of Dota 2, the heroes you choose while playing Aghanim's Labyrinth also matter. Although the same concept of farm priority i.e. position 1/2/3/4/5 is not used, there needs to be some kind of synergy in the utility each hero provides.

One thing you should know is that some enemies are deadlier against melee heroes while others are deadlier against ranged heroes. With that in mind, it can be a good idea to pick one or two melee heroes and two or three ranged heroes. This gives your team a more balanced composition and helps you decide who will be on the frontline.

Also, it is highly recommended that you have a mix of both physical and magical damage. Certain room modifiers make enemies stronger against magical damage, while others grant them more armor or evasion that counters physical damage. And lastly, it is important that at least one of the heroes (usually a melee hero), is the damage-soaker/tank that stays in the front.

Not playing with your team

Agh's Lab requires patience, mechanical skill, game knowledge and observation skills. But most of all, it requires teamwork. Low rank players will often make the mistake of not playing for their team and making sacrifices even in this game mode.

Sometimes, you need to let your teammates get certain neutral items or rewards at the end of the round. Sometimes, you need to lookout for them and use a heal or saving spell on them. Sometimes, you may even need to sacrifice your life so as to allow your team to win the round.

This game mode is one that really tests your limits and your ability to understand what to do in the right place at the right time. Teams that understand each other well and are able to help each other without needing to be asked have the highest rate of success.

You'll notice how a lot of these points also apply to a normal game of Dota 2 as well. That's because, at the end of the day, the challenges that we are faced with can be solved only with the solutions we are least willing to use. We hope this short guide helps you get better, not only at Agh's Lab, but also regular Dota 2 as well!