Dota 2: All Positions & Roles Explained

As someone who’s spent countless hours in the mystical world of Dota 2, I can wholeheartedly say that the roles within this game are as diverse and captivating as the heroes themselves! Among these roles, the Position 4 Soft Support and Position 5 Hard Support are the unsung heroes, the silent partners to the flashy cores.

In essence, Dota 2 stands out as one of the most intricate Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games to grasp and excel at. It’s a competitive 5 versus 5 game where each role within the team has its unique purpose. Although hero matchups significantly impact the outcome, it is often the team that performs their assigned tasks more effectively that emerges victorious.

Mastering your role within the game, based on your specific position, is crucial for achieving victory in Dota 2. Ever wondered how it’s done? Here we provide a comprehensive guide about Dota 2 positions and roles to simplify things for you.

All Positions & Roles in Dota 2

Dota 2: All Positions & Roles Explained

There are a total of five positions in a game of Dota 2:

Position 1 (Carry)
Position 2 (Midlaner)
Position 3 (Offlaner)
Position 4 (Soft Support)
Position 5 (Hard Support)

You’ll find more information about how each of these roles works below:

Position 1 (Carry)

In the context of a multiplayer game, Position 1, often referred to as “The Carry,” is the character who accumulates the highest amount of resources, such as gold and experience, across the map. The primary responsibility of The Carry is to ultimately decide the game’s outcome by attacking the opponent’s strategic points (like high ground), isolating lanes for advantageous attacks, or engaging in battles to eliminate enemy characters.

1st position heroes in Dota 2 tend to be relatively weak initially but gain strength as they level up and acquire items. Many Carry heroes possess farming abilities or spells like Sven’s Greater Cleave or Gyrocopter’s Flak Cannon. Heroes without inherent farming skills often focus on purchasing items that enhance their farming speed. Anti-mage, for instance, frequently rushes the Battle Fury item to expedite his progress in obtaining other items.

In the present game setup, the primary Carry character typically heads to the secure lane accompanied by the Position 5 hero for support. During the initial phase of the game, also known as the laning stage, his main focus is to secure as many creep kills (last hits) as possible to hasten the acquisition of early-game equipment. Once he has amassed crucial items, he often moves to the Jungle area to continue farming and plays defensively, sticking to safer zones across the map.

As a gamer immersed in Dota 2, I’ve learned that every carry character has unique power surges. When I don role as Position 1 in my team, it’s crucial to nail down the item timings for my chosen hero. For instance, when I’m playing Medusa, I aim to grab my Manta and either Eye of Skadi or Butterfly by the 20-minute mark to start putting pressure on the enemy’s high-ground with my team. In the current meta, some top-tier carry choices include Lina, Weaver, Clinkz, Terrorblade, and Phantom Assassin.

Each Carry hero has unique moments when specific items are most effective, along with power surges. It’s crucial to grasp the advantages and disadvantages of the Position 1 hero you’re controlling.

Position 2 (Midlaner)

In most teams, the player at Position 2, often referred to as the Midlaner, serves as the rhythm-maker. Much like Position 1, they strive to meet their item deadlines and power surges. However, unlike the Carry, who is more focused on accumulating gold, the Midlaner’s priority lies more in level progression over gold collection.

The Midlaner goes to the middle lane to go up 1-vs-1 against the opponent’s Midlaner. Individual skill, game knowledge, and hero matchup play a huge role in deciding which Position 2 comes out on top.

In this position, the success largely hinges on the character you’re controlling. For instance, characters such as Shadow Fiend tend to prioritize acquiring their core items ahead of other objectives due to their somewhat self-centered playstyle. Conversely, heroes like Huskar prefer to move to side lanes post-Armlet of Mordiggian acquisition in order to secure kills. Other characters, like Dragon Knight and Death Prophet, show a preference for attacking enemy towers instead of seeking kills across the map.

Among the favored hero choices in the current game strategy (meta) are Monkey King, Broodmother, Primal Beast, and Earthshaker.

As a gamer, when it comes to the middle lane, the match-up between my hero and theirs plays a crucial role. If I find myself up against a counter hero, I switch strategies and focus on pushing the lane and retreating to the jungle. This way, I can keep up with the enemy’s farm and level progression without getting overwhelmed in the lane itself.

Position 3 (Offlaner)

Initially, during the formative stages of Dota 2, it was common for the Position 3 player to have the least amount of farm. However, over time, roles have significantly evolved, and now in contemporary games, the Offlaner is tasked with setting the pace and initiating early, aggressive actions on the map.

In most cases, three heroes are assigned to the Offlane, with hero number four acting as their partner in this lane. While position 3 shares the farming duties with positions 2 and 1, they have a unique role: harassing and bullying the opposing team’s Carry, denying farm opportunities from the enemy, keeping them under pressure, and posing a constant threat of elimination. These responsibilities can make the Position 3 role challenging for beginners to master due to its complexity.

Typically, the duo in the Offlane (Positions 3 and 4) tends to be more powerful than their opponents in the Safe Lane. Heroes in Position 3 often have an early strength surge, which they leverage to push the enemy’s Position 1 back towards the Jungle. In the mid-game, Position 3 moves around the map with the Supports, seeking opportunities for kills. The primary role of Position 3 is to expand the advantageous space for Positions 1 and 2 within the team.

As a dedicated Dota 2 enthusiast, I’d like to highlight some of the exceptional meta Position 3 heroes that have caught my eye: Beastmaster, Brewmaster, Primal Beast (in case you prefer his beastly form), Centaur Warrunner, and Axe. These characters truly make a mark on the battlefield!

Ensure dynamic positioning in your role as Position 3: Instead of maintaining a fixed location on the map, focus on moving around and creating space for your team.

Position 4 (Soft Support)

In Dota 2, if there’s a character that shares the versatility and adaptability of the Midlaner, it would likely be the Position 4 Soft Support. Despite being classified as a Support hero, many Soft Support characters function more like pseudo-cores, aiming to farm resources from across the map extensively.

Soft Support characters often possess a single or dual high-damage attacks capable of obliterating enemies and managing crowds. Unlike others, they aren’t heavily dependent on character levels or gold to perform effectively. With some mobility items, these characters can dictate the pace of the game much like an Offlaner does.

The Soft Support’s function primarily adapts according to the hero you choose. Heroes such as Rubick or Windranger, when placed in Position 4, excel at managing crowd control during battles. Conversely, characters like Clockwerk and Spirit Breaker typically prefer an initiator role. Lastly, heroes like Hoodwink and Marci grow stronger as the game progresses, transforming into formidable damage-dealers in the late stages of the game.

In the current metagame, Dark Willow, also known as the Shadow Demon, Rubick, Tinker, and Bounty Hunter are the most frequently chosen heroes for role Position 4.

1. When you’re playing Position 4, don’t hesitate to acquire a piece of land for yourself. Additionally, always keep detection items and Observer Wards in your inventory to ensure a clear view of the map.

Position 5 (Hard Support)

In the game Dota 2, the Role 5 position, formerly known as the “sacrificial role,” has undergone numerous transformations. Nowadays, it’s referred to as the Hard Support. This character is instrumental in ensuring that the lanes are controlled and the map is effectively managed for the benefit of the rest of the team’s heroes.

Typically, the Hard Support character tends to occupy the Safe Lane alongside Position 1. Their objective is primarily to safeguard this lane by killing creeps, gaining vision, and thwarting enemy attempts to do so. If the lane remains stagnant, Position 5 often leaves for the jungle to gather camp buffs. The ideal combination of Positions 1 and 5 can lead to potential kill chances, but the primary role of the Hard Support is ensuring that Position 1 can amass necessary items without suffering any losses.

In Dota 2, many Heroes positioned at slot 5 often possess a skillset that includes healing or protective spells for teammates, and they typically exhibit a noticeable power boost in the early stages of the game. These heroes also commonly boast crowd control and damage-dealing abilities.

In the role of a Support (Position 5), Winter Wyvern serves as an excellent representation of this hero type. Equipped with a reasonable damage-dealing ability for its second skill, a potent slowing effect in its first, and a third skill that can mend a Carry character when battles take a turn for the worse.

During the heart of the gaming session, it falls to me as a Position 5 to ensure we have ample wards and sentries scattered across the map for vision security. These characters don’t excel in the late game like others but rather focus on control, maintaining sustain, and setting up the team for success – instead of directly dealing damage ourselves.

In the current game strategy (meta), some frequently chosen Heroes for the Position 5 role include Treant Protector, Omniknight, Tusk, and Abaddon.

During Power Rune spawn intervals, make sure to adjust your positioning so you face towards the middle of the map to aid your Midlaner in gaining an edge over their opponent in the mid lane.

Dota 2 isn’t a walk in the park, but with patience and repetition, you’ll master it. Once you’ve grasped the roles of the five positions, you’re a step nearer to improving your Matchmaking Rank (MMR).

2024-08-22 06:04