What does Core/Situational items exactly mean?

[xoi]

I am sorry for sounding like such a noob but I have been wanting to ask this for a long time. For example, like in a build. I always thought that it meant that if I had enough gold, then I would buy it. I really do need help on this, usually I lose games because of this. I only have 30+ hours of DotA but I am still learning. If you guys are going to call me a dumb ass, don't bother, your wasting your time. Thanks in advance!

[Nyatasha]

Core means they're generally "Essential" items that's meant to be built 9 out of 10.
Situational items are for certain situations as the name suggests.

Linken's Sphere for example is a core item on Weaver but may be a situational item on someone like Brewmaster. (Not the best example but hey :))

Edit:
A better example would probably be a Pipe or Mekansm. Certain heroes have Mekansm as a Core but you don't necessarily want two of either of these items so if a Viper for example built a Mekansm then you as Witch Doctor could perhaps skip it and go straight for Aghanims.

Pipe is also a situational on alot of supports and initiators as a "In case no one builds this, build it"

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Originally posted by Soyaman:

Linken's Sphere for example is a core item on Weaver but may be a situational item on someone like Brewmaster. (Not the best example but hey :))

That is like a bad example because you really don't want to rush Linkens on Weaver in like 96% of games.

[Pie]

E.g Dazzle core items scepter/ staff
situational item vlads for melee heroes freeing them another slot

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Originally posted by ironclad.ŢEPEŞ:

E.g Dazzle core items scepter/ staff

What is this even

[Pie]

^ are you lost?

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Originally posted by ironclad.ŢEPEŞ:

^ are you lost?

You will seriously buy a Mystic Staff and an Aghs basically every Dazzle game, regardless of anything else?

[xoi]

I love you guys <3 No ♥♥♥♥ :3

[Pie]

Originally posted by The Unified Spongebob Timeline:

Originally posted by ironclad.ŢEPEŞ:

^ are you lost?

You will seriously buy a Mystic Staff and an Aghs basically every Dazzle game, regardless of anything else?

force staff sponge

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Originally posted by ironclad.ŢEPEŞ:

Originally posted by The Unified Spongebob Timeline:

You will seriously buy a Mystic Staff and an Aghs basically every Dazzle game, regardless of anything else?

force staff sponge

Would you seriously build Force Staff on Dazzle essentially every game? That's still pretty bad compared to other choices.

[Chronos]

Core - items needed for a hero to be impactful.

For example, Sand King and Batrider are incredibly stronger with blink daggers. If it's the only item they get other than boots, they'll still be useful throughout the game. Without them, they are far less impactful. Naturally they would still want other items, but blink dagger is just too good on them to not get.

On the other hand, Tinker has 3 core items: Blink Dagger (or a Force Staff), Boots of Travel, Soul Ring (and Bottle). Once Tinker has these items, he can become way more active in the game but before that he isn't nearly as dangerous.

Situational - items that are built depending on the state of the game. Look at your team and the enemy team's composition as well as how far ahead or behind your team is relative to the enemy team.

For example, you notice that the enemy team has huge amounts of magical damage. There can be Lina, Earth Spirit, and Zeus. As a carry, you'll consider getting a Black King Bar (BKB). As a support, a Mekansm and a Pipe of Insight. On the other hand, if the opposing team consists of huge amounts of physical damage, your team might consider getting Assault Cuirass, Vladimir's Offering, and Crimson Guard.

In another example, as an Anti-Mage you might have planned on getting Power Treads, Battlefury, Manta Style, Heart of Tarrasque, Butterfly, and Abyssal Blade, but the enemy team has a Brew Master and a Phantom Assassin, both who have evasion abilities. You'll have to decide which item you want to not get in order to buy a Monkey King Bar.

In the end, one can argue that every game has situational item builds, but core items usually mean that in the vast majority of games with a certain hero, the hero should definitely get certain items.

[Pie]

^ yah why not

[carrie alyssa]

Core items doesnt exist.

/thread

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Originally posted by Interruptor:

Core items doesnt exist.

/thread

Good post with sound reasoning, you're a really great poster