It seems like this item is listed as "core" for almost every Hero I've played around with. While I obviously see how useful it is, I think there are way better choices for some/most heroes. I tend to only get magic stick if I'm a squishy or supporty character and KNOW it's going to be a tough lane and I need the sustain.

When do you use magic stick? Do you find it useful on a lot of heroes?

Yes. Because sustain is important. I would never start with a stick - but I would work up to it first.

What I've seen on most every high level stream I've watched, a player will start with 1 potion and 1 tango. If it's a mana heavy caster (Skeleton King comes to mind) - then add in one clarity. Then, pick up a magic stick with your first 200 gold, and a wand shortly after. This goes for nearly every hero unless you are playing solo-mid, in which case I'd buy a bottle instead.

Because my lane control is less than perfect, I often find myself buying an additional tango/potion which sets my magic stick back a little ways. But I still get it.

Being the total noob that I am, my usual starting build for a Hero I'm not overly familiar with has been Circlet+2x(claws/boots/robe) + tango haha, I guess I'll have to give the stick a second shot.

You should watch this. It's one of the first videos I watched when trying to learn this game. It's an instructional video on how to best spend your starting 603 gold.

Dota 2 How to Spend Your Starting Gold

Wow that sounds like a total necessity haha. Thanks for the linkage I'll watch it at work tomorrow!

Yeah I would recommend bookmarking purges youtube channel as it is a wealth of great info.

Besides some casual reading while at work I haven't really watched many streams or tutorials etc. I'll be sure to spend a few hours pouring through this stuff, seems like a huge wealth of awesome info.

Thanks for the pro-tips.

Yea I love Purge's videos and guides. Make sure to watch the recent one on dotacinema, he gives a lesson on how experienced players outlane noobs. I think the biggest thing to learn from that is you should always always have regen in your lane. I have started looking at the magic stick/wand as a counter item, like if you are vs someone w/ short cool downs you get the wand to counter it so you get regen.

This is exactly how I felt when making this thread, that Stick is a situational (albeit common) item and not a necessity or "core". I've definitely had games where I still have 2/3 tango's left 10-15 minutes in and a stick would have been pointless.

That said I haven't played a single game without a stick since Ragequit Commando responded, and it has saved my ass more then once haha.