Dota 2

Valve · Valve

Dota 2 is Valve's free-to-play MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena), released in 2013 as the successor to the original Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft III. Two teams of five heroes battle across a single map with three lanes, and the goal is to destroy the enemy's Ancient, a structure at the heart of their base. Dota is famous for its depth. There are well over a hundred heroes, each with unique abilities, and a huge item shop that changes how heroes play. Matches revolve around farming gold and experience, controlling the map, and winning team fights. It is also home to The International, one of the most famous tournaments in esports history. Players usually take one of five positions. The carry farms and becomes powerful late in the game; the mid laner fights one-on-one early; the offlaner holds the hardest lane; and the two supports protect teammates, place wards for vision and set up kills. Understanding your role is half the battle. Why play at a cafe? Dota is a team game, and a full five-stack in the same room, with live voice communication, is how it is meant to be played. Cafes often have rows of matching PCs, which is ideal. What you need: a PC with a good mouse, a keyboard with comfortable hotkeys, and a headset. Dota 2 runs well on most cafe PCs. You will need a Steam account. If you are new, here is where to start: Play the tutorial and some bot matches to learn the basics. Pick simple heroes like Wraith King, Sniper or Ogre Magi. Focus on last-hitting creeps for gold; it is the most important early skill. Buy wards as a support and place them in key spots. Stay with your team in fights; isolated heroes get picked off. Sessions run long. A typical match lasts 30 to 50 minutes, and some go well beyond an hour. Plan on at least two hours for two games. Dota 2 is rated T. It suits patient players who love strategy, groups of five who want a deep team game, and anyone curious about one of the biggest esports.