Even though Dota 2 no longer has the very high level of online activity that it had a few years ago, when it topped the ranking of games by number of players. However, it remains a very popular esports discipline among hundreds of thousands of gamers around the world. By releasing new patches for the game, Valve is trying to retain fans by providing them with more new and unique content that should also attract new players.

Dota 2 has undergone a lot of changes: map, balance, new heroes, abilities, character levelling systems, etc. After various updates, players often have to adapt to these innovations, and those who were not previously familiar with the game and the genre have to learn all the other mechanics.

In this guide, we will talk about the main and key mechanics that will help new players master the general features of the game and understand its aspects and individual details. This will make it easier to get acquainted with Dota 2 without delving into its depths.

What is DotA 2?

To begin with, let's understand what exactly the game is. Defence of the Ancients or DotA is a strategy game in the MOBA subgenre (multiplayer online battle arena) in which the player controls mainly one hero, playing for one of the opposing sides consisting of 5 people each. The main goal of each match is to destroy the main building of the opponent, the so-called Ancient One. At the same time, your main task is to prevent the enemy team from destroying their Ancient. To do this, players have to level up their hero by purchasing items to make him stronger.

Heroes

Dota 2 is famous for the number and uniqueness of its heroes, which are more than a hundred in the game. Each of them has unique abilities and mechanics that, in synergy with other heroes, can form interesting and spectacular combinations. Heroes are divided into categories: main attribute, role, difficulty, etc. The choice of a hero is usually adjusted in different ways. In regular matches, everyone plays for whomever they want, including "meta" characters or simply their favourite ones that they have learned to play. Experienced players choose more carefully according to the enemy's choice to win with better and potentially stronger characters.

It is important to choose your characters wisely, as if the entire team consists of only weak support characters, they will hardly be able to do anything against heroes with a more balanced set of characters.

Character roles

• Carry is the first-position hero. Usually plays on the light line in a pair with a support hero. His main goal is to farm as much as possible and as fast as possible. The sooner the hero gets his items, the sooner he will start to dominate the map. Examples of heroes: Phantom Assassin, Slark, Juggernaut.
• The leader is a hero of the second position. A hero plays on the centre line to get higher level and starter items as quickly as possible, and then runs to the other lines, helping them dominate the enemies and making the game easier for the allies. Examples: Storm Spirit, Visage, Templar Assassin, Invoker.
• An offlaner is a third-position hero, usually playing the role of a tank or initiator. Frequently, such heroes have to suffer, as they often have to stand alone on the line while other support characters help the mid or laner. But this does not mean that you will be completely helpless. Typically, the abilities of the hero of this role allow him to survive on this line, or from time to time you will have support from your allies. But you will have to suffer often. Examples of heroes of this role: Lone Druid, Underlord, Dark Seer, Bristleback.
• The roamer/ganker is the fourth-position hero who plays the role of sub-support. His main task is to monitor the map, identifying weak positions of the opponents to come to the aid of the team in time, especially in the early game, and help the allies. Roamers often create pressure on enemy heroes and use their abilities to attack opponents so that they are not able to farm or perform their functions freely. Examples: Pudge, Bane, Riki, Bounty Hunter.
• Support is the fifth-position hero, performing the role of full support. They do not farm gold and therefore are usually the poorest at the end of the game. Nevertheless, support heroes are perhaps the most important and even difficult role, as they require knowledge of the micro and macro game. They are mainly valuable because of their control and support abilities: health restoration, healing, aura, etc. They don't need gold, as even with a minimum number of items, they will be useful to the team at any stage of the game. Examples of heroes: Lion, Dazzle, Lich, Oracle, Witch Doctor.

Ancients

The Ancients in the game are two main forces — Light and Darkness, which act as the main fortress on the opponent's base, their location on the map is diametrically opposed. In each new match, players are randomly assigned to one of the sides, and the main task of the teams is to destroy the enemy fortress. The ancients are protected by towers, as well as swordsmen and mages, which are aimed at each of the three lines. An Ancient can only be attacked and destroyed when both towers next to it are destroyed.

Towers

Towers are defensive structures that are located on all three lines in three pieces. The closer the tower is to the team's base, the stronger it is. Two more towers are located next to the Ancient One that is being defended. Only by destroying them can you attack the Ancient One.

Towers on the line can only be destroyed one at a time, otherwise they simply cannot be attacked. Towers also have defences that make it difficult to destroy them. To bypass it, you need to have the enemy team's creeps next to them. Standing next to an allied tower, the hero will receive additional armour and health regeneration. If the enemy is within range of the enemy tower and attacks the enemy hero, the tower will immediately target the enemy.

Lotus Pool

A pond with lotus flowers allows you to collect them and use them to restore some of your health and mana. Thanks to its convenient location on the line, it allows you to do this without returning to the base or spending gold on consumables.

Twin portal

A portal structure that allows you to move to the same portal that is located on the opposite side of the map.

Outpost

Each team has one outpost on the map, which gives the team an additional point to which players can teleport. Players of the opposing team can capture an enemy outpost and use it for themselves.

Barracks

Barracks are buildings that are located near the three exits from the base. They are divided into two types — swordsmen's and mages' barracks, from which the corresponding mounts leave every 30 seconds. Mage barracks are less protected than swordsmen's barracks, as they do not have gradual health regeneration and have less armour. Destroying an enemy barracks will make allied creeps of the same type on the line stronger. These structures cannot be attacked until the third tower next to them is destroyed.

Creeps

Creeps are any creatures in the game that are not heroes. Creeps can be allied (enemy) — they are the ones that leave the barracks every 30 seconds of the game time. They follow a specific route and are not controlled by the players. Their goal is to target the creeps, heroes, and buildings of the opposing team that they come across on the line they are moving along. Creeps are the main source of gold and experience for all heroes.

In addition to swordsmen and mages, catapults appear at certain intervals. One of the creeps from each pack will be a standard-bearer, which gives an aura of regeneration, magic resistance, and also gives more gold for its kill. Every 15 minutes until the 45th minute of the match, an additional creep of a certain type will leave the barracks. Controlled creeps are allied, or enemy creatures summoned or recruited by heroes using abilities or items. The player can control them to implement certain tactics.

Neutral creeps

Neutral creeps are creatures that live in the forest and sit in their camps and do not belong to any side. They attack only when any hero or creep of one of the parties gets too close or is attacked by them. Neutral camps are divided by difficulty level: small, medium, large, and ancient. For killing them, heroes also receive gold and experience, and can also get a limited number of neutral items. Neutral creeps can become controlled with the help of certain abilities and items.

The first neutrals appear at 01:00 of game time and appear every minute if the camp is empty and no units or wards are blocking the camp. Players have the opportunity to use the mechanics of camp stacking. To do this, you need to provoke the neutrals and get them out of the camp before the next group of neutrals appears. Thanks to this tactic, heroes have the opportunity to get a little more extra gold and experience.

Tormentors

A type of neutral that players will receive Aghanim's Shard for killing. These creatures cannot attack, but are endowed with high defence values and also have a shield that reflects attacks from their attacker, which can be fatal to the hero himself.

Roshan

The immortal Roshan is a powerful neutral creep or a kind of boss in Dota 2 that can be located in one of two points on the map. Unlike other creeps, Roshan is not easy to defeat because he is very strong and can only be killed within his lair. Killing Roshan is a strategic move that will give one of the parties an advantage in the form of some rewards.

For the first kill, players will receive the Aegis of Immortal, which will revive the owner of the item after death with a full supply of resources. If the hero does not die within 5 minutes, the item will disappear. The second prize is cheese, which will instantly restore a significant portion of the hero's health and mana. After the third death, a Refresher Shard drops from Roshan if he was killed in the lair of the forces of Darkness. This is a one-time item that restores the recharge of abilities and items. If Roshan is killed in the lair of the forces of Light, players will receive Aghanim's Blessing, which has the same effect as the Aghanim's Scepter item.

Runes

In the game, you can find runes in the designated places. Two points of their appearance are on the water. At the beginning of the game, when the timer shows 00:00, there will be golden runes that will be distributed among the entire team that picks them up. Then other types will appear there, giving a short-term bonus to the hero: health regeneration, additional armour, double damage, invisibility, hero illusion, speed, and magic.

Shops and items

Each hero must use the accumulated gold to buy various items: consumables, items with passive or active effects, as well as those that improve the characteristics and certain indicators of the hero. The main store is located at the base of the fountain. You can open the shop by clicking on the blacksmith, on the gold reserve button on the game interface, or by pressing F4.

In addition to the main store, there is also a secret store located in the forest on each side of the team. There you can buy some items that are not available in the main store.

The selection of items for heroes is individual, as it depends on many factors, primarily the character's abilities, his main attribute, the role of the hero, and the situation that develops during the game.

Players who are just starting to play Dota 2 can use the built-in game guides in the store, offered by the game itself or other players. These will greatly facilitate the selection of items depending on the situation and stage of the game. A better understanding of item selection comes with time and experience.

Stages of the game

Early game

The entire match can be divided into separate stages depending on the time of the game. This division is arbitrary and is mostly made by the players themselves. The early game, or the lining up stage, lasts up to 15 minutes. During this time, players spend time farming gold and experience on the lane, each character performing their role and tasks to ensure a potential victory on the lane and further dominance. By this time, the Careers receive their first main item, which will help with further farming that will continue in the forest.

Midgame

Players move around the map more actively. Whenever possible, the respective heroes initiate massive battles or kill specific easily accessible targets, gaining an advantage over the enemy and leveling up their characters. This is also a stage of a kind of ‘tug of war’ that determines the further situation of the parties on the map. If possible, they kill Roshan and destroy several towers. Often, teams can go side by side until someone makes a fatal mistake that puts the opposing team in a more advantageous position. Alternatively, players simply stall for time to farm more items and move on to the next stage, which usually starts after 30 minutes of play.

Late game

Map control becomes an important element that can be decisive for the ultimate victory. Players may have most of the resources and items they need to get to the enemy side. The dominant side tries to do everything right, because one bad battle in enemy territory or a bad ambush can dramatically change the course of the game. If it all comes down to the fact that neither side can enter the enemy base and finish the game, then everything will move to the next stage.

Ultra Late Game

After 45+ minutes of playing time, almost all the heroes are equipped to the maximum, if they paid enough attention to the pharmacy. Now the right teamwork and the ability to implement your hero, as well as minimising strategic mistakes, become crucial. At this stage, it should be clear who will win. To do this, you should firstly catch the enemy in a mistake or focus on the most dangerous targets, provide yourself with items of control and resistance to magic, etc. A successful battle without the opponents' ability to redeem themselves is the ultimate victory, as the base becomes defenseless.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have considered the general elements of Dota 2 that form its basis, which allows beginners to understand their meaning and make it easier to get acquainted with the game. Of course, this is not enough to understand the game, as it has many mechanics and nuances that are difficult to grasp at once, especially without experience. To begin with, we recommend that you go through and read the ‘Training’ section in the game menu, which allows you to better understand some subtleties of Dota 2.