DOTA2 don't require high APM.. Just one click and let the hero walk all the way to the tower. Hero's don't run faster if you click 200 times per minute on the same spot anyway.

Thanks capt obvious..

I'm a gold/platinum zerg player and I play at around 180 to 200APM (400+ APM during clashes). Back in SCBW I didn't have this APM. I only pressed a button when I really had to.

Yep, call it spamming, but moving my fingers at this rate allows me to think faster, and react and see better. I don't know how or why, but it does. For me, at least.

More pro-gamer examples below:

Team8-Jaedong (now EG)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glSiSoAounY

EG_IdrA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JnOuodCDEk

Slayers`Boxer (now SKT1 Head Coach):
2003 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MEeKD6F7VA
2011 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSn86oGFzks

LG-IM_MVP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69vwWlWlHhk

KT_Flash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwVOJpZfdt4

Liquid_TLO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OlwfCqy3uk

and the craziest in my opinion:

LG-IM_Losira
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4UTDudShDY

wow thanks man! hope i can increase my APM by watching it

need practice

Its not merely practice. Its Specialized practice with the intent on improving the speed in which you execute your tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible.

I used to use a map called Hotkey trainer in Brood War. It helped me to build some stamina and momentum to go up to 360 APM. I transferred to ingame of 240 by then due to the need to think (Training map doesn't need any thinking lol)

Once you practiced a bunch, then you put it to the real application.

FPVODs help tremendously as the mouse cursor can reveal to you where your APM stagger occurs the most.

Example from my youtube channel is here from a WOL game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGgAsG9ICrY

You got any SC2 HOTS replay at youtube ? I wanna see it. And beside what's with the duskbin sig thing anyway ? Webpage unavailable.

some how Im able to increase mine to 140 at the endgame score screen. but its with AI.

and I still dont understand why in pro replay they spam click like mad in the beginning although all u can do is just create worker..is there any secret to it? faster gathering? lol

warm up, blood circulation etc.

somehow i feel you're trolling me again

Well, honestly, I don't think you could increase your APM just by watching videos of progamers with blistering APM.

Like what Marksman said, you play lots of meaningful games where you strive to do something faster and more efficiently.

Of the videos I posted, I think the slowest one is IdrA. He plays fast but very, very efficient, not mindless spamming between 2 buttons.

Instead of just focusing on APM, try to polish your mechanics. If you play Zerg, that means not missing your injects and spreading creep. If you play Terran, you keep up with your Mules, split your forces. If you play Protoss, use your Chrono energy.

I played a ZvP Elite AI last night to take note of how I play, so that I could add to this thread.

Focus one 1 or 2 openings (I used to call it "build" in SCBW, but in SC2, I would rather call it "openings" as the game clock allowed me more flexibility). I play zerg, so I did this by learning a pool-first opening and a hatch-first opening. (For Terran and Protoss, this may mean learning a 1-base opening, or 2-base opening.)

I timed everything. I always go 9 overlord, and I make sure that I made that overlord before between 00:51 and 00:54 game time. If I open pool-first, I take one drone and move it towards where I want to place my pool when I see that I have 175 minerals (I also make sure that I don't pick the drone that's on the close mineral patches). Then on the split second I see 200 minerals, I put down my pool.

And when I make my 2nd hatchery, I take a drone at 200 minerals and move it towards the natural. It arrives at the natural base when I have 290 or 295, then I make my hatchery the split second I see 300. Then I click on the 2nd hatchery, go shift-4, rally to a close mineral patch, press 4 (to choose both my hatcheries) then right-click near the opening of the natural, then go "S-D" to make a drone. From the moment I make my hatchery, I think I did all that in less than 2 seconds.

I normally have my first overlord at Ctrl group 1, so I go "1-1" to check where it is and what it's seeing. Then I go "4-4" to look at my base to continue my opening. I have my hatchery selection button (originally the "~" button) also bound to my mouse's "back" thumb button, so I could scroll through my hatcheries quickly.

When I make a refinery, I make sure to put 3 drones in it as soon as it finishes. Then when I get my first 100 gas, I make sure to make use of it by going ling speed (or lair). If I went ling speed first, I use the next 100 gas to go lair. Or if on a ZvZ, I use the next 50 gas to make a baneling nest.

I also notice that I hit "4-S" and "5-5" throughout the game (I have all my queens on "5"). As mentioned above, I have all my hatcheries on "4" and hitting "4-S" allows me to select all my available larvae. I also notice that after a "4-S", I usually look at my mineral and gas bank. This tells me how much I could spend for units and how many of each unit I could build. I go "5-5" to center on the nearest Queen. I don't necessarily look at the Queen, but I look at the hatchery, to check if I need to inject, and how long I have before I need to do the inject.

So, yeh, basically, everything I do has an underlying purpose for it. I'm not saying that what I do is correct and you should follow it, but my point is, do what feels most comfortable to you. Another underlying point is, noticing and improving on the little things ultimately make you faster due repetition. And in this game, doing something faster and more efficiently, makes you better.

watch more korean videos explaining on their apm

No he's not. I agree with his comment.

Ur apm will increase when u know what u wan to do.. Dont just try increase for the sake of increasing.. When u know what u want to do, then u just go and do, and try to do it faster, then ur apm will increases.. This is what i learn from demuslim's stream.

That is awesome guide, never used zerg but will try it based on your explanation. yes I do hotkey my stuffs but from 1-4 only. I guess the pros use from 0-9

Thanks..this forum need thread with more guides like this. I am more familiar with Protoss and Terran. and haven't tried HoTS units yet, I figure I need to be adapt at using WoL units first.

Alright thanks, although I think if I want to warm up it's better to do it before the game actually starts. I'm afraid my hand gets numb faster by doing that

You're welcome. I'm glad to be of help. Add me in battle.net so we could play a practice game or 2 some time. My username and character code is on my signature below.

I also play Protoss and Terran from time to time. But since I don't play them as often as I do Zerg, I only know like 3 builds each for Protoss and Terran. I could try to give you tips but I think I need to brush up on it first.

I've read that some Korean pros remap their control keys. Instead of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0, some might have 1-2-3-4-5-q-w-e-r-t. It makes sense, actually, because they don't need to reach far to utilize the extra ctrl groups. Most pros also use the F2-F3-F4 keys as location keys, so instead of say doing "4-4" to center on the nearest hatchery, they'd just go "F2" to center on the main base, "F3" on the natural, and "F4" on the 3rd base.

(I suddenly remembered to remap the locust upgrade at the Infestation Pit from "L" to another key nearer to my left hand.)

I again have to Quazacolt's comment that keeping your hands fast, helps you keep your hands fast (hot) throughout the game.

I actually feel that when I slow down, my hands get cold and then my brain slows down processing and I don't get to do what I'm supposed to do.

Precisely. Momentum is an important thing that should be maintained. Getting harassed and distracted can easily break this momentum and cause confusion.

Some people do change their hotkeys but I don't since its my habit since BW (All defaults). I only added the Camera keys, pretty much else is stock .

Positioning and grip of your hardware can also provide an effect to your APM. That's why Flash measures his position first with a ruler .

google 'athlete's flush' & 'adrenaline rush'

Low APM can win also, High APM is just for fun clicking.

Having lower APM than your enemy yes it is possible to win. However, if you want to do some important skills such as Terran Splitting, Zerg Creep Spread + Inject and Multiple Caster management, you do need a good amount to perform them at an effective rate.

When I play as Terran, it is important to control the army and also control as many groups of harassing units as effectively as possible at the same time. Meanwhile, you also need to macro before, during and after fights to ensure you have an army and not a bank. The more things you need to do, the more APM that is required to perform them ideally (Means no macro banking, proper control etc).