Guide · 6 min read · Patch 7.41f
How to Win in Dota 2
To win a Dota 2 match you have to destroy the enemy Ancient, the big structure in their base, before they destroy yours. Everything else, from killing heroes to farming gold, is a way to get there. This guide explains the objectives in the order you will meet them, so you always know what to do next.
New to the game? Start with best Dota 2 heroes for beginners, then come back.
The map in 60 seconds
The map is split in two halves by a river. Radiant is in the bottom left, Dire in the top right. Three lanes (top, middle and bottom) connect the two bases, and creeps walk down them every 30 seconds. Between the lanes is the jungle, full of neutral creeps you can kill for gold.
Each team defends its own base with towers and barracks. Your goal is to push through the lanes, take down the buildings and reach the Ancient. Read positions and roles to see who goes where.
Towers, barracks and the Ancient
- Towers. Each lane has three towers per team, called tier 1, 2 and 3. You have to destroy them in order. Two more towers (tier 4) guard the Ancient.
- Barracks. Every lane has a melee and a ranged barracks. When you destroy one, your creeps in that lane become stronger.
- The Ancient. Destroy it and the game is over.
Towers shoot at the closest enemy, so pushing them with creeps in front is much safer than going alone. Killing a tower also gives gold to your whole team, which is why taking towers after a won fight is so valuable.
Gold and experience: how heroes get strong
You earn gold by killing creeps (see last hitting and denying), killing heroes and destroying buildings, and you spend it on items. You earn experience by being near dying units, and it levels you up so you can learn abilities.
The team with more gold and levels usually wins fights. That is why games are not decided by a single kill: they are decided by who builds the bigger advantage over time.
Roshan and the Aegis
Roshan is a powerful neutral boss in a pit on the river. A team that kills him earns a reward that includes the Aegis of the Immortal, an item that brings its owner back to life after a death. Because Roshan takes a lot of damage to kill, you usually fight him when the enemy is not nearby, or after you have won a team fight.
A simple game plan
- Early game (the first 10 minutes or so). Win your lane: last hit, deny and stay alive.
- Mid game. Group with your team, win fights and take towers. Use your Town Portal Scroll to join them.
- Late game. Fights decide the game. Stay with your team, do not die for no reason and push when an enemy hero is missing.
How teams throw games
Most lost games that were once won come down to the same mistakes:
- Chasing kills after a won fight instead of taking a tower.
- Going into the enemy base alone with the team not nearby.
- Fighting without vision in the jungle or near their base.
See common beginner mistakes for more.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you win a game of Dota 2?
- By destroying the enemy Ancient. You get there by winning lanes and fights, taking towers and barracks, and staying ahead in gold and levels.
- What are the Radiant and Dire?
- They are the two teams. Radiant starts in the bottom left of the map and Dire in the top right. The sides are balanced, so neither is better.
- What does Roshan do?
- Roshan is a neutral boss. The team that kills him gets a reward that includes the Aegis, which revives its owner once after death.
- How long does a Dota 2 game take?
- Most games last between 30 and 50 minutes, depending on how the fights go and how fast a team takes objectives.
Numbers in this guide are computed from 3.4M public matches (OpenDota) and refreshed with every site update. Hero data is Valve’s. Builds Forge is an unofficial fan site, not affiliated with Valve.