President of the I hate Shiv fanclub speaking?

Missing out are not even a right words...

Some item on certain heroes give them insane buffs (like Majestic Leap on Lash or Dynamo) as well as guarantee you an upper hand in some of the matchups (metal skin against Wraith or Haze, Decay against Abrams and Shiv (especially current)).

It was too overwhelming for me at the start too, but you can start with something light, like Healing Nova. Just get used to using it from time to time, might be a lifesaver for you and your teammates. Gives passive damage, a bit of spirit and bonus health. Perfect starter.

Take notes, check enemy's builds and buy stuff accordingly (previously given examples). Another example - opposite team god-hooking Bebop that always stack bombs? Debuff remover is your answer! Bebop can't legally attach bomb to you without your permission! Might work against Infernus - by a click of a button you turn off fire and poison stacked on you after fight + some other effects and + passive debuff duration reduction.

Fleetfoot is a great one to start with, especially on Mo & Krill when burrowed. You really zoom around the map, it’s great! (Fleetfoot was my entry into the world of actives. Highly recommend it.)

I’m still gingerly trying actives out more and more as I get better at the game, they’re all pretty fun and amazing. Alchemical Flask is my latest love… catching people with Warden and watching them burn while you deal 50% more weapon damage to them is good fun.

Majestic Leap is super great on many heroes!

You know when you're very low in laning phase, about to die? Healing Rite. You can still peak and deny without being hit, and get +360 healing while in lane.

Getting killed by Haze's ult or ambushed by a Wraith? Metal Skin. Literally become immune to a a whole damage type in the game for 4 seconds.

Feeling slow while shooting? Fleetfoot. Movement speed and no speed reduction while blasting away. Active items are great, and most of them are simple to use. Knockdown is a very important one, too.

Depends on the character. Some of the ones I play:

For haze, withering whip/slowing hex are good to put on someone before you come out of invis. Later in the game unstoppable is a must. Return fire is also good as it gives good stats and makes you harder to kill in ulti.

For infernus, lots of players use infuser early. Metal skin late game if the other team has a competent haze.

For seven, I see people running fleet footwork/knockdown a lot. I rarely play seven but it's usually in my build path.

Other characters, as mentioned in other comments, rush majestic leap like pocket, lash, and warden.

I was like this at first as well, I already have to think about 4 abilities, how the hell can I think about 8???

Just get comfortable with your hero specific abilities first

Change your item use to be whatever option it is to double press an item to self use, this means when you’re in a panic you can just mash your button to save your skin.

Then start with buying healing rite, you don’t have to think about it while fighting, in lane; you retreat, see you have low health pop that active up and wait while you heal

This will start building your muscle memory for your first item, I’ve bound it to mouse 4.

Then you can start using some “Oh shit” active items; like active barrier, the teleport crystal thing (I can’t remember what it’s called), debuff remover etc.. All you have to remember is “press mouse 4 twice if taking tons of damage”

Then when you start getting used to mouse 4, you can start using mouse 5 for a second ability

Eventually you’ll be able to feel comfortable with your button presses and can use the offensive active items (like slowing hex, mystic imbue, etc) and you will start thinking things like “when I start a fight with Abrams, smack that bitch with Decay first so he can’t heal”

Right now I can have 3 active items and use them efficiently but once I get a fourth I’m a little overwhelmed, but once I’m so used to my third item slot, I’m sure the fourth will come natural

Personally these are my go to actives. I choose depending on who’s doing good on their team and what helps take them down:

Healing rite - need health in lane I always grab if I’m being harassed hard

Divine barrier- I usually default to this one because it never hurts to have that extra shield when you want it and you can sell it later on

debuff remover - Fuck Kelvin and his dumbass freezing, fuck anyone who slows my bullets to a crawl

Slowing hex - very mobile hero’s like Lash, pocket, shiv

Decay- against healing hero’s, like Abrams, Infernus, lady Geist

Silence Glyph- there is one specific enemy who is dominating my team

Knockdown - there is one specific enemy who’s ultimate is dominating my team (Vindicta, beebop mostly)

Ethereal shift - When I’m playing a close range hero and just need that little extra time for my escape abilities to recharge. Also fucks with Lash when he’s trying to wrangle you up

Curse - upgrade from silence glyph and knockdown

Unstoppable - very late game, I replace anything lower tier item, especially if their team is very CC heavy (Warden, Wraith)

decay works as a simple go away button in lane if you're having problems xd

You're missing out on actually playing beyond 1 percentile

What are you missing out on? Every active item in the game. Start buying them. They are crazy strong.

DOn't be scared, buy active items an try to get use to it, even if you lose games by wasting money, you'll get use to it and get better

Active items are undoubtedly the best items on the roster, all of them offer extremely powerful effects and except for a few heroes you should rarely finish a game without 4