How To Play Dota 2 – Ultimate Guide to Get Started

Dota 2 is one of the most popular competitive games on PC, drawing in millions of active monthly players. This MOBA game is widely known as the highest-paying esport in the world, boasting tournament prize pools reaching a staggering $40 million.  If you dream of getting a slice of this prize pool, it’s never too late to begin your Dota 2 journey. Here is everything you need to know to start playing this beautiful game.

What is Dota 2?

Dota 2 is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game developed by Valve, the same company that created Counter-Strike. The MOBA genre aligns with other well-known titles such as League of Legends, Mobile Legends, or Heroes of the Storm. However, Dota 2 stands out due to its complexity and depth. 

Is Dota 2 Free To Play?

Yes, Dota 2 is completely free to play. The game has no upfront costs, no paywalls, and no “pay-to-win” mechanics. Players do not have to purchase characters using in-game credits or real money. The only things you can buy are cosmetic items which do not affect gameplay or offer an advantage. 

You can download it for free on Steam, which is Valve’s official gaming platform. It is available on Windows, MacOS, and Linux. 

How Dota 2 Is Played

Known for its deep mechanics, Dota 2 can be quite confusing for new players. Here is a breakdown of how a typical Dota 2 match is played: 

The Objective Of Dota 2

The main goal in a Dota 2 game is simple – destroy the enemy team’s Ancient before they destroy yours. Two teams of five players each will race to push through enemy defenses, win team fights, and ultimately destroy the final structure located deep inside the enemy’s base in opposite corners of the map – the Ancient. As you can probably tell already, the team that destroys the enemy team’s Ancient first wins the match.

Basic Match Structure

A standard game of Dota 2 follows several phases, explained in this basic match structure:

• Hero Selection: Before the match begins, each player picks a unique hero from a pool of over 120. Duplicate heroes are not allowed!
• Laning Phase: At the start of the game, players head to their designated lanes to earn gold and experience by killing creeps that spawn periodically. 
• Mid Game: After gaining gold and experience to become stronger, teams start gathering up to gank (ambush) enemies and begin taking objectives. 
• Late Game: Players accumulate more resources, leading to stronger items and levels. Team fights become more intense, and one good engagement can decide the game. 
• End Game: Once a team builds up a significant lead, they can use their advantage to break into the enemy base and destroy the Ancient and win the game.

How To Win A Dota 2 Game

Here are some general steps you’ll have to take when looking to win a game of Dota 2:

• Farm Gold and Experience: Heroes in Dota 2 power up by accumulating gold and experience. The former allows you to buy items, while the latter helps you strengthen your abilities. 
• Purchase Proper Items: Items in Dota 2 do various things. It’s important to build correct items that help your hero accomplish its role in the game. 
• Play As A Team: Dota 2 is a team game – it’s almost impossible to carry a game alone. Coordinate movements and plays with your team for a higher chance of success.
• Take Objectives Around The Map: Take down towers and other objectives to push your advantage further. Destroying objectives makes the map easier for your team to play. 
• Destroy The Ancient: Of course, the way to actually win a game of Dota 2 is to destroy the enemy team’s Ancient. 

Dota 2 Map Explained

In the game of Dota 2, hero compositions are constantly changing, but one thing that stays constant is the map. Therefore, it’s vital to understand everything there is on the map. 

Map Overview

The Dota 2 map is symmetrical and is divided diagonally between the two opposing factions, which include:

• Radiant (bottom-left of the map)
• Dire (top-right of the map)

Each side is mirrored and has a base containing their team’s Ancient, three lanes connecting both sides and a jungle filled with neutral creeps. There are also numerous buildings scattered around the map, such as towers, shrines, runes, and more. There is a river in the middle lane that separates both factions on the map. 

Lanes

There are three main lanes in the game, where creeps will march down and eventually meet each other:

• Top Lane (safe for Dire, hard for Radiant)
• Middle Lane (shortest lane, typically for solo heroes)
• Bottom Lane (safe for Radiant, hard for Dire)

Each lane is guarded by towers. Since creeps are valuable resources that reward players with gold and experience, there will be lots of activity in lanes.

Map Objectives And Structures

Winning a game of Dota isn’t only about killing heroes – teams must control the map by taking more objectives. Here are the major objectives you must know about:

Towers

Each lane has three towers per side (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3), defending the respective paths to the base. Meanwhile, there are two towers (Tier 4) that are placed right in front of the Ancient to protect it. 

• Tier 1 Towers are the closest towers to the river and are usually the first to fall. 
• Tier 2 and 3 Towers are found deeper in the lanes to guard the base and are tougher to take down. 
• Tier 4 Towers directly protect the Ancient. These towers must be destroyed for enemy players to attack the Ancient. 

Barracks

Inside each faction’s base is Barracks for Melee and Ranged creeps in each lane. The Barracks are protected by the Tier 3 Towers. 

If the enemy team’s Barracks are destroyed in a particular lane, your team’s creeps will be upgraded to be much stronger. Destroying all three sets of Barracks will result in Mega Creeps spawning, which are powerful creep waves that are difficult to deal with. 

Roshan

Roshan is a powerful neutral boss located in the Roshan Pit. There are two pits, one on the top side of the river and the other on the bottom.

• Killing Roshan rewards players with loot, most notably the Aegis of the Immortal, which grants the wielder a second life. 
• Roshan respawns after 8 to 11 minutes and, when killed again, will drop additional items such as the Cheese or Roshan’s Banner. 
• Roshan is a game-winning objective, making it crucial for teams to control Roshan to swing the momentum of a game. 

Tormentor

The Tormentor is one of the newer map objectives. It is a high-health neutral building that spawns in the corner of the map after the 15-minute mark. 

When killed, the Tormentor grants a free Aghanim’s Shard to the hero with the lowest net worth on the team. If the team member with the lowest net worth already has an Aghanim’s Shard, the reward will be granted to the person second in line. 

The Tormentor reflects a percentage of incoming damage, requiring teams to coordinate and share the damage taken. 

Heroes In Dota 2

Heroes obviously play a crucial role in Dota 2. They are unique characters that have their own set of abilities, playstyles, and personalities. 

There are over 120 heroes to select from and picking the best Dota heroes is no easy task since you can pick from all of them right from your very first game. You can try out as many as you like to find one that fits your style so no two games are ever the same. Players select their respective heroes at the start of a match, and two players cannot pick the same one in a game. 

Hero Abilities

Every hero has a unique set of four to six abilities, though the former is much more common.

These abilities include:

• Three basic abilities (active or passive)
• One ultimate ability (a powerful skill unlocked at level 6)
• Some heroes have additional abilities

As the game progresses, your hero will gain experience points by being close to dying creeps or participating in hero kills. Leveling up will grant you skill points that can be used to unlock or upgrade abilities. 

Hero Customization and Progression

Aside from abilities, heroes can further be customized by several unique mechanics:

• Talent Tree: At levels 10, 15, 20, and 25, heroes can select between two talents, which are passive upgrades that improve your hero’s strengths or provide them with new tools.
• Innate Abilities: These are passive abilities that every hero starts with at level 1. Innate abilities reflect a hero’s core identity, so different heroes have varying traits. 
• Facets: The facets system allows you to select two variations of a hero before the match begins. Facets slightly change how the hero is played, allowing for different playstyles.

Items In Dota 2

Items are gear that your hero can purchase throughout a game to become stronger. They can be purchased using gold, which is earned by killing creeps, heroes, buildings, or through passive income. 

Items can be either active or passive and serve different purposes. Buying the right items for your hero is one of the most crucial aspects of improving your gameplay. 

Item Categories

Dota 2 items are generally grouped by their cost and purpose. Here is an idea of the different item categories:

• Starting Items: Every hero starts the game with 600 gold. This gold is spent on items that help survive the laning stage, such as basic stat or regeneration items. (E.g. Tango, Healing Salve, Iron Branch)
• Early Game Items: Heroes purchase basic utility and stat boosters to help them stay relevant and transition into the mid-game. (E.g. Magic Wand, Boots of Speed, Soul Ring)
• Core Items: These are must-have items based on your hero’s role. (E.g. Battle Fury, Black King Bar, Glimmer Cape)
• Situational Items: Some items are chosen depending on the enemy team’s lineup or the current game state. (E.g. Lotus Orb, Pipe of Insight, Linken’s Sphere)
• Luxury Items (Late Game): Expensive and game-changing items that amplify a hero’s strengths or abilities. (E.g. Satanic, Abyssal Blade, Scythe of Vyse)

The Shop System

Items are purchased through the game’s shops. There are two types of shops:

• Main Shop: Located in your base, the Main Shop contains most general items in the game. 
• Secret Shop: Hidden in each faction’s jungle, the Secret Shop sells powerful artifacts you cannot get from the Main Shop. 

Some items, mostly luxury ones, require you to combine components. Some of these components are only available in the Secret Shop.

Courier Delivery

Your hero doesn’t need to walk back to your base or the Secret Shop to pick up items. Instead, you have a designated courier, which is a furry fellow, that will deliver your items from the shop directly to you.

Here are some things to know about the courier:

• Each player is assigned a courier when the game starts. It is not shared and does not need to be purchased.
• At the start of the game, the courier has to walk towards you. However, once your hero reaches level 4, it will be upgraded to a flying courier, allowing for speedy deliveries.
• Enemy players can kill your courier. If your courier dies, you must wait for it to respawn, and the items inside it cannot be taken in the meantime. 

Dota 2 Player Roles

The last thing you need to know is that, in a team of five players, each player takes on a specific role. These roles are numbered from Position 1 to Position 5 in order of farm priority. Understanding these roles will help you find your preferred playstyle and know what is expected of you in a typical game. 

Position 1 – Carry

The carry is the team’s late-game powerhouse. They start off very weak in the early game and must focus on accumulating gold to become stronger. After they have obtained their sufficient items, they will become the team’s primary damage dealer. Their job is to secure farm, survive pressure, and eventually carry the team and close the game.

Position 2 – Mid

The mid player must have solid mechanical skills and good map awareness. They are sent to the middle lane, where they will play independently. They dictate the pace of the game by rotating to gank other lanes. The mid hero is typically strong in all phases of the game and must actively join fights and skirmishes. 

Position 3 – Offlane

The offlaner is typically a tanky or utility-heavy hero that can start fights. They are sent to the harder lane to go against the enemy carry. The offlaner should focus on disrupting the enemy carry, initiating fights, and creating space for the team by tanking enemy spells. Offlaners must be tough, annoying, and self-sufficient.

Position 4 – Soft Support

The soft support accompanies the offlaner. Heroes in this role are usually equipped with stuns or damage-dealing spells. The roaming support must be mobile and aggressive, making plays across the map. This is the perfect role for players who like non-stop action and high-impact potential.

Position 5 – Hard Support

The hard support is the team’s babysitter. They ensure the carry gets out of the laning stage without being bullied. Then, they place wards and protect teammates. They have the lowest farm priority and must foster a team-first mindset. These players sacrifice gold for the glory of the team and do the dirty work.