Dota 2 Roles Explained To Newcomers

Starting a new game can be a daunting experience. Especially online games with team-based gaming and sophisticated match making. Dota 2 is one of the most complex Esport titles out there. Among it's many complexities are the differences among the Dota 2 roles.

In this article we will go through each Dota 2 role and explain what they do in the game. We will also list beginner friendly heroes for each role, and notable players as well.

The five Dota 2 roles in the game

The Carry - Position One

It takes a king to bring down a queen. (Credit: Valve)

The carry of the team is the one expected to bring victory later in the game. They have the highest farm priority in the team. While some players are off making space, the hard carry is (usually) hitting creeps and amassing gold to become a late-game raid boss.

Carries can join in early game skirmishes, but most aren't very well suited for that. There is a wide variety of carry play styles. From initiating carries like Faceless Void, to elusive heroes such as Phantom Lancer.

Notable Hard Carries: Juggernaut, Sven, and Phantom Assassin.

Famous Hard Carry players: Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk, Wang "Ame" Chunyu, and Alan "Satanic" Gallyamov.

The Mid lane - Position Two

I'm not worried, I have my own semi-tornado. (Credit: Valve)

The only player who starts the laning stage solo is the mid laner. This role often boasts the most mechanically skilled player on the team. They are expected to go one-on-one early on and try to slow or shut down their opponent.

The mid lane is often the team's main tempo role. Suitable for roaming around the map and making space. Among the Dota 2 roles, this is the quickest to reach level six and hunt down enemies. The position two scales well into the late-game, but is usually slightly behind the team's carry.

Notable Mid Lane Heroes: Puck, Storm Spirit, and Queen of pain

Famous Mid Lane players: Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan, Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen, and Michał "Nisha" Jankowski.

The Offlane  - Position Three

Dead in the Water is pretty bonkers. (Credit: Valve).

The so called tank among the Dota 2 roles. In the past, the offlaner was expected to go against dual or even tri-lanes and emerge...not victorious, but somewhat even. The offlane has evolved since then, being a more standard 2-vs-2 lane.

The offlane can be played in several ways. He can be the main team initiator, with heroes such as Magnus and Tidehunter. He can also buy auras and absorb damage for the squad, like Underlord. Some offlaners focus more on damage and scaling, functioning as pseudo-carries. It's a versatile role and rewards creativity among players.

Notable OffLane Heroes: Tidehunter, Underlord, and Legion Commander.

Famous Offlane players: Sébastien "Ceb" Debs, Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov, and Zhang "Faith_bian" Ruida.

The Soft Support - Position Four

Gold! Mountains of it. (Credit: Valve)

Among the Dota 2 roles, the soft support is the hardest to define. This role mostly does whatever they want, making it very flexible for players.

Soft supports can focus on winning the offlane with their partner. They can also rotate around the map to secure other lanes. Some offlaners can pick saving supports, while others initiate fights. Although it's important to note that this role has low farm priority, so players can't pick a hero that's too greedy.

Notable Roaming Supports: Spirit Breaker, Bounty Hunter, and Tiny.

Famous Soft Support players: Samuel "Boxi" Svahn, Myroslav "Mira" Kolpakov, and Xu "fy" Linsen.

The Hard Support - Position Five

The cold will bother your enemies a lot. (Credit: Valve).

The last on our list of Dota 2 roles and the one with the lowest farm priority. The hard support is expected to secure the early-game for the carry, and then work with other roles to make space around the map.

Hard support doesn't get much gold. Most of their income comes from stacking camps and assists from ally kills. Certain heroes in this role can farm, but it's not expected.

Players can tackle this role from multiple angles. Some players can opt for lane dominators such as Ogre Magi and Jakiro, while others can take Oracle and Winter Wyvern for powerful but risky ultimates. This role is no stranger to dealing, as heroes such as Phoenix and Ancient Apparition can attest to.

Notable Hard Supports: Lich, Crystal Maiden, and Lion.

Famous Hard Support players: Clement "Puppey" Ivanov, Johan "N0tail" Sundstein, and Aydin "Insania" Sarkohi.

READ MORE: Dota 2 Console Commands: Launch Options, Cheats

Featured Image Source: Valve