Dota 2 Beginners Guide: The Ultimate Resource for New Players

Dota 2 is the undeniable head of all MOBA games. Unlike other Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas, Dota 2 began the genre in the early 2000s. Starting as Warcraft III’s mod, the game’s evolution is matchless, making it the top preference of MOBA gamers.

Due to the steep learning curve in Dota 2, absolute newcomers may find it challenging to play compared to the other multiplayer games. But if you want to speed things up, you can visit battlelog for effective hacks and cheats.

Key Things to Know For New Dota 2 Players

Read this guide below to have a good grasp of the Dota 2 game.

1. Understand the Gameplay First

Dota 2 is a game of 5 versus 5 players meaning it’s typically based on team play. So you need to understand what you should do and what not to do to avoid being lost. 

You’ll have a character to control and a team plus a base. The same applies to the enemy team. Your primary goal is to abolish the other team’s base. Before that, you must get your character, upgrade him, and purchase other powerful items. 

The games last for about 30 to 60 minutes. Once you’ve begun, you must complete it. If you log out, you lose your progress and start from level one. The maximum level you could reach is level 25. At that point, the game ends to begin a new one. 

2. Understand the Roles in Dota 2

In Dota 2, there are 5 positions or roles: Hard Carry, Mid, Offlaner, Soft Support, and Hard Support. Understanding the roles helps you know what to play and how to play. It also helps you understand what the people in the game are trying to do. 

The numbering of the roles helps you identify their farm priority or resource collection in the game. For instance, the priority of Position 1, the Hard Carry, is to collect gold and gather experience in the game. And the last Position 5 will have the least golden experience. 

It doesn’t mean a role is more vital than the others. They all have the same impact level. But Position 1 needs a lot of gold and experience, while Position 5 only needs a little.

3. Understand the Lanes for each Role

There are different lanes for each role in Dota 2 where players can farm. The Safelane, at the bottom of the map, is a spot for Positions 1 and 5 to farm. If you love gathering gold and resources, you’ll likely be on the Safelane.

The Midlane is where Position 2 players can farm. The Offlane is a bit tougher than the others, and that’s where Positions 3 and 4 farms are. One thing to remember is that opposite each line is the same lane. 

This means the Safelane is faced with another Safelane on the map. The same applies to the Offlane. Meanwhile, the Midlane is in-between the map. The opposite lanes are for the enemy players. It is the Dire lane, while the Radiant lane is your team base.

4. Understand the Jobs in Dota 2

Under farming Gold and XP, your job is to be the last-hitting lane creeps and last-hitting jungle creeps. 

The objectives in Dota 2 also make the game more fun. You get more cash, gold, and XP by doing these jobs. 

Taking enemy building, killing heroes, and setting up vision is a great way to make the most of your Dota 2 gameplay.

In your map, you’ll see 3 squares with 3 different colors. The Blue square means Do This. The Green square means Enabling a teammate to do the job. The Red square means you must stop the enemy player from doing their task.

5. Understand How Each Hero Works

When you navigate the “Learn” tab, a dropdown of playable characters appears. You can hover over the characters to see their strengths and abilities. The best part of Dota 2 is that you can pick a hero from either the dire or radiant sides. It doesn’t matter the team or side you’re playing.

Once you select your hero, you will see their animation, strengths, and roles. For instance, the Earthshaker can be an initiator that starts a fight. Smen is theoretically a Ganker. 

You can check the list of heroes to find the one you want. You can proceed with your game if you find the hero you like. 

Conclusion

As a newcomer without experience in Dota 2 game, following our guide will help you learn and enjoy the game. Before jumping into any round, ensure you’ve understood the gameplay. Secondly, understand the role of your preferred hero and, more importantly, how your hero works. You don’t want to use a Midlaner to play on Offlane. Though it may not matter as a beginner, you should be mindful not to place your hero in the wrong lane.