Advanced Mechanics: Animation Canceling and Orb Walking

Advanced Mechanics: Animation Canceling and Orb Walking

## Animation Canceling Fundamentals
### What is Animation Canceling?
Every attack has two parts:
- **Frontswing**: Time before damage is dealt (cannot be canceled)
- **Backswing**: Time after damage (can be canceled)

### How to Cancel Animations
1. **Move Command**: Issue a move command immediately after damage point
2. **Stop Command**: Use Stop (S key) then immediately move
3. **Spell Cast**: Cast a spell to cancel the backswing

### Benefits of Animation Canceling
- **Faster Farming**: More last hits per minute
- **Better Positioning**: Move between attacks
- **Harass Efficiency**: Hit and retreat quickly

## Orb Walking (Manual Casting)
### What is Orb Walking?
Using attack modifiers (orbs) manually to avoid drawing creep aggro.

### How to Orb Walk
1. Manually cast the attack modifier on enemy hero
2. This counts as a spell, not an attack
3. Creeps won't aggro to you

### Heroes with Orb Effects
- **Drow Ranger**: Frost Arrows
- **Viper**: Poison Attack
- **Clinkz**: Searing Arrows
- **Outworld Destroyer**: Arcane Orb

### Advanced Orb Walking
Combine with animation canceling:
1. Cast orb effect
2. Cancel backswing with movement
3. Position for next attack
4. Repeat

## Creep Aggro Manipulation
### The 500 Rule
Creeps aggro to the closest enemy unit within 500 range that attacked a hero in the last 2 seconds.

### Aggro Tricks
1. **Attack-Move**: Attack enemy hero, immediately cancel
2. **Aggro Reset**: Use A-click to reset creep targeting
3. **Safe Last Hitting**: Pull creeps toward you for safer farming

## Shift Queuing
### What is Shift Queuing?
Holding Shift while issuing commands queues them up.

### Practical Applications
1. **TP Combos**: TP + Blink + Spell combo
2. **Farming Patterns**: Queue up multiple camp rotations
3. **Item Combinations**: Blink + Force Staff escapes

## Advanced Micro Techniques
### Control Groups
Set up control groups for summoned units:
- **1**: Main hero
- **2**: All units
- **3**: Summoned units only

### Unit Micro
1. **Individual Control**: Select single units for precision
2. **Group Commands**: Move all units together
3. **Formation**: Maintain unit positioning

## Practice Exercises
### Animation Canceling Drill
1. Pick Sniper in demo mode
2. Practice last hitting with perfect canceling
3. Aim for 80+ CS in 10 minutes

### Orb Walking Practice
1. Pick Drow Ranger
2. Practice Frost Arrows without drawing aggro
3. Harass enemy while maintaining creep equilibrium

### Advanced Combos
1. **Invoker**: Perfect spell combinations with animation canceling
2. **Tinker**: March → Blink → Refresh combos
3. **Meepo**: Simultaneous micro management

## Common Mistakes
- **Over-canceling**: Moving too early, missing damage point
- **Tunnel Vision**: Focusing on mechanics over game sense
- **Inconsistency**: Not practicing regularly

## Conclusion
These techniques require hundreds of hours to master. Start with basic animation canceling, then gradually add orb walking and micro management. Practice in demo mode daily!

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