Dota 2 Online Games
Play Dota 2 online game | Vortex Cloud Gaming
Become the part of the global battlefield in this MOBA. Join the team of five players and try to destroy your opponents. Occupy and destroy another team’s base, collect unique items and control your hero. Play Dota 2 today and destroy the “Ancient”.
What is Dota 2?
Dota 2 is an online multiplayer battle arena (also known as MOBA). It was created by Valve Corporation as a sequel to cult classic DotA (Defense of the Ancients). The history of this game is unique because it was not created as a separate title. Defense of the Ancients was a community-created mod for another hit game – Warcraft III: Regin of Chaos. After DotA became a hit among players the mod became a separate title. Try Dota game online on Vortex!
How to play Dota 2 online?
If you never played World of Warcraft or Dota game you will need to know some basics. First of all, you need to know that Dota is a multiplayer game. It means that you will be playing online with other players. To do so you need an Internet connection gaming hardware that will be able to run Dota 2.
If you don’t have a professional gaming set and you don’t want to waste money, you can play Dota game online in the cloud. There will be no need for a gaming PC – you can play on old computer, mobile or smart TV.
In Dota 2 you play in a team of 5 players. Each team has a separate base that they need to defend. This base is called “Ancient”. You and your team will have to keep your Ancient safe and, at the same time, try to destroy the base opposing team. To win you and your team need to destroy the other team’s Ancient.
How to choose Dota 2 heroes?
In Dota game you will be controlling a character known as “hero”. Each hero has unique abilities and requires a different fighting style. It is important to choose the character that will suit you best while you play. They have their strengths but also weaknesses so choosing a character requires some thought and strategy.
There are two primary roles of heroes. They either
“carry”
or “support”.
Characters that are “carry” are weak at the beginning of the game but have the potential to become very powerful as the game progresses. They can “carry” their team to victory.
Supporting characters lack the ability to deliver heavy damage, but they have other strong points. They can support “carries” using healing skills and other buffs.
If you are wondering when is the time to chose the character we can answer that this happens before the game starts. You will have your chance to chose which character you want to play as in the pre-game drafting phase. This is also a time to consult with your teammates and chose a strategy. The choice of a character depends on how your team plans to play and not only on your preferences. Remember – this is a team experience! As the heroes can’t be changed mid-game this is the final time to make a decision.
What happens when the Dota gameplay begins?
When you choose your hero you will be transported to the game. There you will find your team and the opposing team. Teams are known as Radiant and Dire. Each team occupies its base in opposing corner of the map. Now the fun begins! Destroy the Ancient of the opposing team and win! Dota 2 online game is fun and will keep you engaged for hours!
Sounds easy? We are sad to say that this is not so simple!
We recommend you to chose a strategy before the game starts so now it is time to stick to it. In the game, there are three main roadways called lanes. While you play you and opposing team will be positioned in these lanes. It is time for a fight of control. Whoever wins and manages to get to the opposing Ancient and destroy it, will win. You need to figure out how you and your team will go about it. There is no good way to do it so we will let you figure your style on your own.
Have we mentioned that Dota 2 online is a team game?
You will be playing with your team so the most important part is to work together. If you stick to your strategy and work as a team you will slowly beat your enemy. If you decide to play separately another team that works together will have an easy time in beating you.
What are Creepers?
Creepers are funny looking monsters that are the part of Dota 2 world. You will not be able to control them, but they are a part of your team! They will be your main wall of defense! Creepers will attack your enemies and their towers and also protect you. It is a good idea to let them cover you. They can be killed but they also spawn every so often. And what to do with other team’s creepers? Kill them and you will get gold!
You may also ask:
What does Dota stand for?
DotA stands for Defense of the Ancients. It was a mod to Warcraft III: Regin of Chaos and it was a beginning of DOTA as we know it.
Is Dota 2 online just like League of Legends online?
There are similarities between these two games but they are separate titles with different rules and worlds.
If you are a LOL beginner, read the blogpost on how to play League of Legends.
Is Dota 2 free?
Dota 2 is free to play. You can buy in-game items via microtransactions, but the game itself is free-to-play!
How many heroes are in Dota 2?
At this moment there are 115 heroes in Dota 2 game
How many people play Dota 2?
There are more than 1, 5 million Dota 2 players at the moment!
Is Dota 2 Dying? 2021 – Everything Technology
Dota has survived more than a decade and Dota 2 officially came out in 2013 (open beta in 2012). The short answer is No. In order to explain why Dota 2 is not dying we will need to look at several stats from Steam and Twitch.
Steam 2013 Dota 2
Dota 2 is finally coming out of beta and being officially released. During this year we average around 300, 000 players. Many are still playing Dota 1 and probably not making the switch yet. Many heroes are yet to be implemented.
Steam 2016 Dota 2
From 2013 to 2016, Dota 2 experienced a steady increase in player number from 300, 000 to an amazing 700, 000. To put this into perspective the max average number of players Warframe, another popular game, has ever amassed is only 154, 000 (Steam and other platforms like PS4 included) and by no means can we say it is dying.
Steam 2021 Dota 2
Fast forward to right now Dota 2’s average player base has now stabilized to 400, 000. If you have played Dota 2 you probably know the ruthlessness of the old players who expect new players to perform well in matches. This can often be seen as toxic behaviour by newer/younger players.
Valve has a done a great job here to improve the experience and I think this has reflected positively on the number we see above.
Twitch Dota
1 million peak viewers on Twitch is just during The International we should discard that because this includes viewers from other games.
If you go on Twitch right now and look at the number of viewers for Dota 2 you might see a meager number like 50, 000. Even if you find the viewership for the largest internationals you will notice that they only climb to maximum 150, 000 average viewers. This number can easily deceive you into thinking Dota 2 is dying compared to other games like League of Legends.
Twitch viewership has nothing to do with the actual user base.
Firstly because Dota 2 players can spectate professional games from inside the game itself.
Secondly because most of the Dota 2 players, I think, are now probably in their 30s with thousands of hours invested in the game. I personally don’t find it enjoyable to look at a pro player playing a solo game on Twitch.
At this point you understand that a real Dota 2 match is played with between good teams and you will only be watching tournaments ( that too only big ones which competent teams).
Bonus: New Dota 2 Servers
If you are an African you already know this(like me). Valve has done great job adding more servers. For example, in the past we did not have a South African server so many of us had to queue in Europe. If you are from Europe and are now experiencing longer wait times it might be because now we have our own servers. Just kidding (not really though), this is a good sign for the future of Dota 2.
I really love this game and hope that it continues to live for at least another 2 decades. So far, no signs of Dota 2 dying!
How To Play Dota 2 – Hotspawn
What is Dota 2?
Dota 2 is a Multiplayer Online Battle Area (or MOBA Game). If you’ve heard League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, or SMITE, you may be familiar with the genre. If you haven’t, MOBAs are real-time strategy games in which teams of super-powered characters battle it out in lanes to destroy their opponent’s base.
Dota 2 takes place during the Battle of the Ancients, a conflict between two ancient sentient relics. Here a group of legendary Heroes battle it out on the side of these two forces, The Radiant and The Dire. Heroes are often associated more heavily with one faction or the other but can still be played on either side.
In each match of Dota 2, players pick from various Heroes to assemble two teams of five. The heroes then battle it out across three lanes and a shared jungle to destroy their opponent’s Ancient and win the game.
Assembling a balanced team is key on Dota 2 (Image via Valve)
How Much does Dota 2 Cost?
Dota 2 is completely free to play! Available on the Steam Client, Dota 2 requires you to have enough space to install the game. From there, you can download Dota 2 for free and play straight away. Dota 2 comes with all its heroes available to play, so there’s no need to worry about unlocking characters.
The monetization model in Dota 2 instead comes primarily from cosmetics. Heroes can be customized in various ways, from the weapon they hold to the voice lines and taunts they use to their entire appearance. These are done through items and item sets. Some of the most sought-after items are part of Arcanas, which completely transform the way a hero looks and often sounds.
In the run-up to internationals, Dota 2 releases a battle pass. Players can purchase a battle pass with real-world money to help support the prize pool of The International, Dota 2’s premier competitive event. A battle pass unlocks a huge variety of rewards, including cosmetics for players.
Dota 2 also offers a premium service called Dota Plus. Dota Plus is a subscription service that adds additional features, from hero guides and trends, to in-game advice and overlays. Dota Plus is advertised as a tool that allows you to learn quickly from your gameplay.
How Do I Win Dota 2?
There are multiple game modes in Dota 2. The most common is All Pick, in which each player gets to choose from the full pool of heroes. However, there’s also Turbo Mode, a quicker, more streamlined version of All Pick, Captains Draft (the mode competitive play uses), Single Draft, Random Draft, All Random, Ability Draft, and All Random Deathmatch.
However, whichever game mode you play, the main objective is always the same: Destroy the enemy team’s Ancient at any cost. In a typical game of Dota 2, the two teams will face off over the standard map. Across three lanes, creeps (small non-player controlled characters) are periodically spawned at each player’s base. They will slowly progress towards their opponent’s Ancient. In their way, however, are multiple sets of towers.
Towers are the first objective you’ll need to topple, and to do so, you’ll have to support your lane creeps as they attack. Opposing heroes will try and stop you. Using your abilities, you’ll fight over each lane until the towers are destroyed. Once three towers in a lane fall, the Ancient becomes vulnerable to attack. Destroy the Ancient to win the game!
The Dota 2 Map
It will take time before you know the ins and outs of the Dota 2 map.
The standard Dota 2 Map is a battleground over which players’ heroes fight. This map’s key features are the two high grounds, three lanes, the central river, and the jungle.
The high grounds are located in the bottom left and top right of the map. These are the home base for the Radiant and Dire, respectively. Heroes will spawn at the start of the game in the fountain, a heavily protected area at the back of the area. There is also a shop here, where players buy items. The rest of the base consists of towers, barracks that spawn lane creeps, and various other defensive structures.
The three lanes run across the top, middle, and bottom of the map. Each contains four towers, two for each side. A third tower in each lane sits at the top of the high ground. Dividing the map in the middle is the river. This low area spawns various relics which appear on timers. It’s also a very open and dangerous area. In the middle of the river is a stone pit containing the powerful neutral monster Roshan. This incredibly strong monster is a full team effort to defeat but will grant whoever defeats it special items.
The rest of the map is taken up by the jungle. A heavily forested area, the jungle contains destructible trees, outposts that grant vision, and jungle camps filled with neutral monsters. These creatures drop neutral items when killed. But they also get stronger after each defeat. The jungle is also the location of the two Secret Shops, which can be used to purchase rare items.
Dota 2 Heroes & Abilities
Snapfire and Void Spirit are two of the newer Heroes in Dota 2 (Image via Valve)
In Dota 2, players each control one of 120 unique heroes. Besides appearance, each hero has its own unique stats and abilities. Each hero has three basic abilities bound by default to the Q, W, and E keys. Heroes also have a fourth Ultimate ability unlocked at the sixth level. Abilities can be active, meaning you have to cast them actively, or passive, meaning they are either constantly on or can be toggled. At the start of a game, none of your abilities will be unlocked. Instead, you’ll have to choose which ability to start the match with.
As the match progresses, you’ll gain experience. Experience is gained both passively over time and through attacking opponents. Killing minions, jungle monsters, and other players also earns experience. At a certain threshold, you’ll have enough experience points to level up. At this point, you’ll be prompted to put another point in one of your abilities. Leveling up also grants a bonus to heroes’ stats, increasing their health and damage, etc.
At level 6, you’ll unlock your hero’s ultimate ability. Ultimates are the core component of a heroes’ kit and often their strongest ability. A pair of powerful items will also unlock additional abilities in heroes. Using an Aghanim’s Shard or equipping an Aghanim’s Scepter will unlock a further power for your hero.
At level 10, and every five levels after this, heroes gain a choice of talents. These improve and change the effects of your abilities. At level 30, the maximum hero level, all talents are unlocked.
How Do I get Items in Dota 2?
Items are a vital part of Dota 2. They improve your hero’s stats or act as consumables that can heal, buff, and aid your team. Items can be combined together to create powerful upgraded versions. The most powerful items in Dota 2 can change the tide of a team fight or make you practically unkillable.
At the start of a game of Dota 2, you’ll have a chance to buy a series of starting items. In some game modes, you can also pre-buy these items before the game starts. After this, you’ll need to get items from either your team’s shop in the base, the secret shop in the jungle or from killing neutral monsters.
Each player can carry six items in their inventory that affect their character and one neutral item. Players can also carry an additional item, Town Portal Scrolls, in their own slot. This item allows you to teleport from anywhere on the map to a friendly building. Spare items can be stored in your backpack and additional smaller inventory. Neutral items can also be stored in a shared stash.
What is that little donkey following me?
Make sure to get familiar with your couriers! (Image via Valve)
That’s a Courier! Couriers are used to purchase and collect items from the shop even if you’re nowhere near it. They can also pick up gear from the Secret Shop and even items other players drop.
What are the Hero Roles in Dota 2?
Each hero has a distinct role category they fall into. Roughly speaking, these roles define that heroes playstyle and how they should be used in-game. They are:
Carry
Carries are the heroes that do the most damage to opposing heroes. Their style usually involves spending the early game acquiring as much gold as possible before winning the game almost single-handedly later on. They must rely on their teammates to protect them until they are powerful enough to do this.
Support
Supports try to help their team win, often at the expense of their own power. Their abilities will often heal, protect, or otherwise buff their teammates. Supports are often good strong early game but fall off in power as the match progresses.
Nuker
A hero specifically designed to take an opponent’s health from 100-0 in the shortest time possible is a Nuker. Sometimes this is with a single powerful ability, or otherwise a lethal combination.
Disabler
Disablers specialize in locking down enemy heroes so they can be killed. They usually have a lot of crowd control abilities.
Jungler
Sometimes called a roamer, junglers take to the jungle (unsurprisingly) to fight neutral creeps. Their abilities are often tailored around taking the huge amounts of damage that jungle creeps inflict without dying.
Durable
More often known as a Tank, Durable heroes are designed to take a lot of punishment and survive. They’re often used to distract opponents from more high-value targets such as Nukers and Carries.
Escape
Escape heroes excel in doing a lot of damage and then getting away. Frequently their abilities will include teleportations, blinks, and stealth elements.
Pusher
Pushers are best at pushing waves of creeps, killing creeps, and destroying towers. Frequently these heroes will also have ways of summoning their own creeps or controllable creatures.
Initiator
Initiators pick fights. They often have crowd control or are otherwise able to force opponents to fight them with their abilities.
Heroes often have multiple roles, as their abilities complement multiple styles of play. Durable Initiators, for instance, are great for starting fights and then surviving. At the same time, Escape Nukers take on assassination roles in the game.
What are the Player Roles in Dota 2?
There are five roles when playing Dota 2 (Image via Valve)
Within your team, roles are simpler than Hero roles. A team usually has two supports and three carries. The first carry is the Hard Carry or Core and typically plays in the safe lane alongside the Hard Support. Cores must build up their strength so they can eventually use their power to win the game.
The second carry is the Solo Mid. This alternative Core uses the short length of the middle lane and the river buffs to offset the fact he does not have any support. Solo Mid players share the responsibility of carrying the team along with the safe laner.
Offlaners work in the final lane, frequently opposing the enemy safe laner in a losing battle. The offlaner must balance safety and security with his own need to farm. Offlaners must limit how fed their opponent gets while still getting strong enough. While supported by the Soft Support, he must often go it solo or 1v2 as his support roams the map.
Soft Supports or Roaming Supports use their abilities to try and affect all lanes. While sometimes accompanying the Offlaner, often they’ll be on the move attempting to press an advantage for their whole team.
The Hard Support is the final piece of the puzzle. A dedicated support for Cores, Hard Supports will sacrifice gold, resources, and anything else to get their Core fed.
In competitive games, these positions are assigned numbers, relative to how much farm, experience, and other resources they will get during a game. Cores are position one, Solo Mid is two, offlaner three, Soft Support four, and Hard Support five.
What Are the Best Heroes for New Players in Dota 2?
There are literally hundreds of heroes in Dota 2, and they range in complexity from incredibly intricate to almost insultingly simple. But for beginners, it’s often best to pick a hero that has a low entry-level (can be picked up and played simply) but a high ceiling. Below are some of the best:
Axe
For beginners, Axe is perfect because despite his simplicity, he can still make a huge difference in-game. His taunt, Berzerker’s Call, forces opponents into battle with him. This synergises perfectly with his Counter Helix, which grants a passive chance to deal massive damage to opponents. His culling blade makes farming easier early game, and deals lethal damage late game. Axe is ideal to be played as a side lane carry.
Dragon Knight
Besides being the star of the new Netflix animated series, Dragon Knight is also a great hero for beginners. The melee hero has a ranged nuke thanks to his basic Breathe Fire ability, and at level six gains the ability to transform into a Dragon. As a carry pick, he’s versatile enough to be played in all lanes, and his passive ability means he can take a lot of punishment. He can be played in the middle or side lanes as a carry.
Dragon Knight is a great hero for new players to learn.
Lich
Lich is one of the most simple and safest casters, thanks to his variety of ice abilities. His basic abilities give him enough damage to harass and kill opposing laners while protecting himself and his carries. Almost exclusively a hard or five position support, Lich survives with very little farm and is still able to deal incredible damage.
Lion
One of the more complex Heroes on this list, and is best played as a support. Able to sustain in lane while spamming abilities thanks to his Mana Drain ability, Lion is a hero that only needs one or two items to be deadly. His Hex and Earth Spike abilities give him tremendous amounts of crowd control. Meanwhile, his ultimate, Finger of Death, is the perfect support nuke. Gaining bonus damage with every kill, this ability grows unstoppable late game.
Frequently Asked Questions about dota 2 online games
Can I play Dota 2 online?
If you don’t have a professional gaming set and you don’t want to waste money, you can play Dota game online in the cloud. There will be no need for a gaming PC – you can play on old computer, mobile or smart TV. In Dota 2 you play in a team of 5 players. Each team has a separate base that they need to defend.
Is Dota 2 dying?
Dota has survived more than a decade and Dota 2 officially came out in 2013 (open beta in 2012). The short answer is No. In order to explain why Dota 2 is not dying we will need to look at several stats from Steam and Twitch.Aug 30, 2021
Where can I play Dota 2?
Dota 2 is completely free to play! Available on the Steam Client, Dota 2 requires you to have enough space to install the game. From there, you can download Dota 2 for free and play straight away. Dota 2 comes with all its heroes available to play, so there’s no need to worry about unlocking characters.Mar 5, 2021
