Getting started in Dota 2

First steps without needless pain: which mode to pick, which heroes to take and what to set up before playing against people.

The newcomer's path

• Dota 2 is free but deep: there are over a hundred heroes and hundreds of items. Do not try to learn everything at once. Go step by step: the tutorial and bots, then games against people with a few familiar heroes, and ranked once you feel at home.

Modes to start with

• The in-game tutorial — controls, the shop and the goal of the game.
• Games with bots — learn heroes and items calmly, without pressure.
• Demo Hero mode — try abilities, practise last hits and combos.
• Turbo — short matches with fast gold and experience: handy for trying heroes and items.
• Unranked games — your main mode while learning. Ranked unlocks later and needs a linked phone number.

First heroes

• Take three to five simple heroes (one complexity star) for one or two roles and play only them for your first few dozen games. That way you learn the game itself, not a hero: the lane, items, fights. Below are good starting picks; each has a page with abilities and story.
• Wraith King
• Juggernaut
• Drow Ranger
• Sniper
• Viper
• Dragon Knight
• Bristleback
• Axe
• Crystal Maiden
• Lich
• Ogre Magi
• Witch Doctor

Settings that help

• Quick Cast — an ability fires right on its key, without an extra click. At first you can turn it on with the radius shown while the key is held.
• Attack Move on its own key — the hero walks and attacks the first target on the way.
• Camera: learn to move it with the mouse at the screen edge or with keys, and to snap back to your hero with the center key.
• Turn on allied health bars and cooldown timers — it is free information.

Where to look on this site

• Hero pages explain abilities and roles, Strategies show who a hero plays well with, and How to read this site explains what the numbers mean.
• All heroes
• How to read this site