What Are Facets In Dota 2?

Dota 2 gets more and more complex as time goes by. With each major update, Valve always introduces new mechanics to add more depth and strategy. In patch 7.36, the facet system was brought into Dota 2. If you have no clue what facets are, here’s everything you need to know about them.

What Are Dota 2 Facets?

Facets in Dota 2 are pre-game customization options that allow players to tailor their hero’s playstyle before the match even begins. Every Dota 2 hero now has facets, and players must choose one before a game starts. The decision to pick a facet will significantly impact how the hero is played throughout the game, making facets one of the most strategic additions to Dota 2 in recent updates. 

Unlike talents or ability points, which can be adjusted as the game goes, facets are fixed. Once you lock in a facet, you’re stuck with it for the remainder of the game! This means it is vital for you to recheck which facet you chose before you load into the match. 

How Many Facets Do Dota 2 Heroes Have?

Generally, most Dota 2 heroes have two facets to select from. However, some heroes have more. Heroes like Alchemist, Chaos Knight, and Dragon Knight have three, while Chen has five. 

Facets on each hero serve different purposes. For example, some facets might provide offensive benefits, while others may focus on survivability or utility. 

How To Choose A Facet In Dota 2

Facets can be selected and changed before a game starts, allowing players to review and choose their preferred option for the game. There are two ways to choose a facet in Dota 2. 

In The Main Menu

Players are able to pre-select their preferred facet in the Heroes tab of the main menu. This allows you to set a default facet that will automatically be selected when picking that hero unless you manually change it in the drafting phase. 

In The Drafting Phase

Though we can change our facets in the main menu, it’s better to do it in the drafting phase, as we get to see what heroes are picked in the game. 

After picking a hero in the drafting stage, the facet selection menu will be available. Players can choose their preferred facet throughout the entire drafting phase and strategy time, so don’t forget to change your facets before the period ends!

It is also worth noting that the enemy team cannot see which facet you chose until the match begins, so you can also add an element of surprise when appropriate.

Selecting The Correct Facet For The Game

I’ve been putting heavy emphasis on how important facet choices are in a Dota 2 game, so how do we actually decide which facet is best for a specific game? Here are three things to consider when choosing a facet for a specific game. 

Role Adaptation

As we’ve learned earlier, different facets of a particular hero provide varying benefits to complement playstyles, such as roles. Heroes that can be played as a core or support might have to consider which facet to take to fit their intended role. 

A great example is Morphling. Morphling’s facets, Ebb or Flow, allow him to change his primary attributes. The former makes him an Agility hero, while the latter makes him a Strength hero. A carry Morphling who wants right-click damage will go for EBB, while a mid or support Morphling will go for Flow. 

Meta Considerations

In most cases, one facet is noticeably stronger than the other, making the choice straightforward rather than situational. Some facets have a pick rate of over 95%, indicating they are simply too effective to pass up compared to their alternative.

You can always visit websites such as Dota2ProTracker to see what facets professional players are taking. 

Team Compositions

Players should also take team compositions into consideration when selecting a facet. For example, if your team lacks sustain, you might have to take a facet that improves your survivability.

Let’s take Tidehunter as an example. His facets allow him to either become tankier (Kraken Swell) or scale into a damage dealer (Krill Eater). If he needs to be the sole tank of the team, the Kraken Swell facet might be ideal. But if the team is lacking late-game potential, Tidehunter can select the Krill Eater facet to transition into a carry. 

Enemy Lineup

Not only should you consider team synergy, but the enemy team’s lineup should also be taken into consideration when selecting a facet. 

We’ll take Silencer as an example. Taking his Reverberating Silence facet is ideal as it applies Global Silence twice. However, in some games, Silencer players might be forced to take his Irrepressible facet, which prevents him from getting silenced if they are against heroes such as Night Stalker or Puck.