Mechanics

Gameplay

Info

Mechanics are the inner workings of Dota 2. The following is a list of mechanics topics. Click on each topic to view how they are calculated, where they originate, as well as their complex interactions with other mechanics elements.

Videos

Unit mechanics

See also: Hero Mechanics   Main   Mechanics   Attributes Table   Release Dates   Grid Layout     Heroes are the essential main characters of Dota 2, controlled by the players. Heroes possess the three attributes, strength, agility and Table of hero attributes   Main   Mechanics   Attributes Table   Release Dates   Grid Layout     Click on the arrows in each column to sort heroes by that attribute. Cast point and cast backswing are unique

These properties are used by units in general, including heroes   Main   Mechanics   Attributes Table   Release Dates   Grid Layout     Heroes are the essential element of Dota 2, as the course of the match is dependent on their intervention. During , creeps Creeps are basic units in Dota 2. Every unit which is not a hero, building, ward or courier is considered a creep. Creeps can belong to either faction, be neutral, or be player-controlled units. Unlike , and summons This page is about in-game units. For cosmetic pets, see Summoned Unit. Summons are a type of units that are created with spells. Players do not encounter them, unless they play as, with or against . Heroes possess a number of unique mechanics that other units don`t.

Mechanic	Introduction
Abilities Abilities are unique skills that heroes and creeps have access to on the battlefield. They range from simple passive effects, to devastating explosions of energy, to complex, terrain changing feats. All heroes have four or Cooldown Play I m not ready! “ Play  Initializing in... 3..2..1! Click to listen— Tinker ” A cooldown is a period of wait time before a spell, ability, or item power can be used again. Contents 1 Mechanics	Skills possessed by units, to be used on the battlefield. All heroes have at least three basic abilities, and one ultimate ability. Hero abilities are acquired upon leveling up with experience. Most abilities need to be activated, while others are passive. Active abilities have a cooldown period between uses.
Attributes For a list of heroes sorted by attributes, see Table of hero attributes.   Attributes   Old Abilities     Attributes are the main statistics of all heroes that independently determine most scaling statistics. These Strength Strength is the attribute that grants health and health regeneration. For each point of strength a hero gets: 20 Health 0.06 Health regeneration Additionally, strength heroes also get 1 attack damage per strength point. To Agility Agility is the attribute that grants armor and attack speed. For each point of agility a hero gets: 0.14 (1/7) Armor 1 Attack speed Additionally, agility heroes also get 1 attack damage per agility point. Intelligence Intelligence is the attribute that grants mana, mana regeneration and spell damage amplification. For each point of intelligence a hero gets: 11 Mana 0.04 Mana regeneration 0.07% Spell damage Additionally, intelligence heroes also get 1	Baseline stats that increase with each level. Strength increases health and health regeneration, Agility increases armor and attack speed, Intelligence increases mana, mana regeneration, and magical damage. All heroes are associated with one of three attributes, known as their Primary Attribute. Raising a hero`s Primary Attribute also raises their physical attack damage. Attributes can also be increased by items and abilities.
Talents   Main   Table of Gained Bonuses     The Talent Selection interface. Talents are traits unique to each hero. They are chosen every 5th level starting at level 10, offering a permanent choice between	Bonuses that increase a hero`s stats and properties. Players can pick one of two talents at levels 10, 15, 20, and 25.
Experience   Main   Changelogs     “ Play I grow stronger! Click to listen— Storm Spirit ” Experience allows heroes to level up, which makes them stronger and allows them to learn new abilities. Experience is earned	Points needed for heroes to level up. Experience is gained from killing creeps and enemy heroes. Maximum level is 25, after which experience no longer serves any purpose.
Spawning	Heroes spawn at the fountain Fountain Building Level 1 Health 500 Health regeneration 0 Armor 0 Magic resistance 0% Attack damage 190‒199 Acquisition range 1200 Attack range 1200 Base attack time 0.15 Attack animation 0+0 Projectile speed 1400 Collision size , in their base. Dead heroes respawn after a set amount of time. Respawn time is determined by the hero`s level.
Health “ Play Life becomes death becomes new life. As it should be.  Click to listen— Treant Protector ” Health (also known as HP, which can be short for: health pool or health points) represents the life Health regeneration “ Play Life becomes death becomes new life. As it should be.  Click to listen— Treant Protector ” Health (also known as HP, which can be short for: health pool or health points) represents the life	The amount of hit points a hero has. Health and health regeneration can be increased by strength, items, abilities, and talents.
Mana Play Out of mana! “ Play It s a new age of magic! Click to listen— Keeper of the Light ” Mana (also known as MP, which is short for mana points) represents the magic power of a Mana regeneration Play Out of mana! “ Play It s a new age of magic! Click to listen— Keeper of the Light ” Mana (also known as MP, which is short for mana points) represents the magic power of a	The resource required to use most abilities. Mana and mana regeneration can be increased by intelligence, items, abilities, and talents.
Armor Armor is an attribute shared by all units. Armor is used to determine the amount of damage reduction (or amplification if an armor value is negative) a unit takes from physical damage sources. Higher armor Armor types Armor is an attribute shared by all units. Armor is used to determine the amount of damage reduction (or amplification if an armor value is negative) a unit takes from physical damage sources. Higher armor Armor manipulation Armor is an attribute shared by all units. Armor is used to determine the amount of damage reduction (or amplification if an armor value is negative) a unit takes from physical damage sources. Higher armor Effective @@@#@@@HP(hp.com)###@### Armor is an attribute shared by all units. Armor is used to determine the amount of damage reduction (or amplification if an armor value is negative) a unit takes from physical damage sources. Higher armor	Property that reduces incoming physical damage by a scaling amount per attack. Armor comes in three types, and can be increased or decreased by some items and abilities.
Damage block Damage Block is a passive ability that gives the wielding unit a chance to block some physical damage from an attack. Contents 1 Mechanics 2 Stacking 3 Sources of Damage Block 4 Version history 5	Property that reduces incoming damage by a fixed amount per attack. It is granted by some items and abilities.
Magic resistance Magic resistance is an attribute of heroes, similar to armor. Instead of reducing physical damage, it reduces magical damage. All heroes, except for Meepo and Visage, possess 25% magic resistance from their armor type. This	Property that reduces incoming magical damage by a percentage. Most heroes start with 25% Magic Resistance. It can be further increased by some items and abilities.
Evasion Relationship Between Effective HPTechnology company % and Evasion Evasion is a passive ability that gives the unit a chance to dodge an incoming physical attack. When evaded, the attack gets completely nullified, acting as if it True strike Relationship Between Effective HPTechnology company % and Evasion Evasion is a passive ability that gives the unit a chance to dodge an incoming physical attack. When evaded, the attack gets completely nullified, acting as if it Accuracy Relationship Between Effective HP % and Evasion Evasion is a passive ability that gives the unit a chance to dodge an incoming physical attack. When evaded, the attack gets completely nullified, acting as if it	Property that grants a percentage chance to completely avoid a physical attack. True strike allows a hero to ignore evasion.
Movement speed DPS multiplier when chasing Minimum (pursuer MS / target MS) Ratio for Maximum Chase DPS Movement speed (sometimes abbreviated as move speed or MS) is the speed at which a unit can move. Movement speed	The rate at which a unit moves. Movement speed can be increased and decreased by items and abilities.
Turn rate Turn rate is the speed at which a unit can turn. When moving to a location, a unit first turns to face that location, then begins walking. Similarly, when targeting another unit with an attack	The rate at which a unit`s model turns. Most actions require the model to be facing towards the direction of the action about to be taken.
Collision size Collision size is a unit s internal size that cannot be passed through by other units. This allows units to block each other with their bodies. Most heroes have the same collision size, regardless of their	The internal size of a unit, which is impassable and can block other units. Most heroes have the same collision size, regardless of their graphical model.
Aura Auras are passive abilities that grant a buff or debuff to units in an area of effect around the holder, or in some cases, over a short period at a targeted point or unit. By	Passive buffs and debuffs that surround a hero or unit in a circular radius. Auras come from abilities and items, and cannot be dispelled   Dispel   Removable buffs   Removable debuffs     A dispel is the term used for a forced removal of status effects. Dispels usually come together with other mechanics and are rarely seen as .
Illusions Default buff iconPlay Spawn soundPlay Death sound “ Play A legion sprouts from one! Click to listen— Phantom Lancer ” Illusions (also commonly called illus) are imperfect, weaker copies of heroes, created by spells or items. They	Clones of heroes that are generated by abilities, items, or runes. Illusions come in different types, and possess lesser properties of the original hero.

Attack mechanics

Mechanic	Introduction
Damage types Damage is any means by which unit s current health can be reduced. Heroes, creeps, ancients, Roshan and fountains are all capable of dealing damage. Contents 1 Damage sources 1.1 Attack damage 1.2 Spell damage 2 Physical damage Damage is any means by which unit s current health can be reduced. Heroes, creeps, ancients, Roshan and fountains are all capable of dealing damage. Contents 1 Damage sources 1.1 Attack damage 1.2 Spell damage 2 Magical damage Damage is any means by which unit s current health can be reduced. Heroes, creeps, ancients, Roshan and fountains are all capable of dealing damage. Contents 1 Damage sources 1.1 Attack damage 1.2 Spell damage 2 Pure damage Damage is any means by which unit s current health can be reduced. Heroes, creeps, ancients, Roshan and fountains are all capable of dealing damage. Contents 1 Damage sources 1.1 Attack damage 1.2 Spell damage 2 HP Removal Damage is any means by which unit s current health can be reduced. Heroes, creeps, ancients, Roshan and fountains are all capable of dealing damage. Contents 1 Damage sources 1.1 Attack damage 1.2 Spell damage 2	There are three overall categories of damage. Physical damage is done by basic attacks, and some abilities. Magical damage is done by abilities and items. Pure damage is the rarest, and penetrates armor and magic resistance. HP Removal ignores all forms of damage manipulation, and is not technically considered a type of damage.
Attack damage Attack damage is the amount of damage a unit is dealing with an unmodified basic attack; the base values are different for every hero. The total attack damage of a unit is the sum of Hero damage Attack damage is the amount of damage a unit is dealing with an unmodified basic attack; the base values are different for every hero. The total attack damage of a unit is the sum of Basic damage Attack damage is the amount of damage a unit is dealing with an unmodified basic attack; the base values are different for every hero. The total attack damage of a unit is the sum of Pierce damage Attack damage is the amount of damage a unit is dealing with an unmodified basic attack; the base values are different for every hero. The total attack damage of a unit is the sum of Siege damage Attack damage is the amount of damage a unit is dealing with an unmodified basic attack; the base values are different for every hero. The total attack damage of a unit is the sum of	Damage done by basic attacks. This type of damage is always physical, but is split into four minor types that interact differently with armor types.
Spell damage   Spell damage   Spell damage sources     Spell damage is all damage which is not dealt by physical attacks. This includes all spells which deal magical, physical or pure damage. Even the damage Spell amplification   Spell damage   Spell damage sources     Spell damage is all damage which is not dealt by physical attacks. This includes all spells which deal magical, physical or pure damage. Even the damage	Damage done by any source other than basic attacks. Spell damage can come in magical, physical, or pure damage types. It is amplified by the Intelligence attribute.
Damage manipulation There are several ways to affect the final value of a damage instance. Damage can be manipulated on both ends, from the dealing unit (outgoing damage) and the receiving unit (incoming damage). Armor and magic Damage amplification Damage reduction Damage negation	Calculations that affect the final value of a damage instance. Items and abilities can amplify, reduce, or negate final damage.
Damage over time	Periodic damage done over intervals, usually in small amounts.
Attack speed	The time it takes to perform an attack. Attack speed can be increased or decreased by items and abilities.
Attack animation Attack point Attack backswing	The model animation that plays when a unit attacks. Damage is dealt at the attack point, followed by the attack backswing of the animation. Attack animations play faster or slower according to a unit`s attack speed.
Cast animation Cast point Cast backswing	The model animation that plays when a unit uses an ability. The ability is used at the cast point, followed by the cast backswing of the animation. Each ability has its own unique cast animation. The speed of cast animations cannot be altered, and therefore cast speed stays the same throughout the match for each ability.
Channeling	The model animation for certain abilities that require a unit to stand still in order to affect the ability over time.
Missile speed	The speed at which the projectile from a ranged basic attack travels. Abilities have unique missile speeds for their projectiles.
Attack range	The distance from which a unit can perform basic attacks. Most melee heroes have a range of 150, while ranged heroes can have a range of up to 700.

Attack modifiers

Additional effects can be added to basic attacks. Some of these effects stack with each other in several ways, while others do not stack at all.

World mechanics

Status effects

Status effects are a variety of conditions that can afflict units. They are caused by abilities and items.

Dispelling

Dispel refers to methods that remove buffs, debuffs, and status effects. This is an important topic to understanding the internal interactions of Dota 2.

System

This is a list of major functions that are not directly part of the game. It involves various featuresSpecial attraction regarding player input, Steam, and others.

Settings

Game settings allow users to change display, graphics, audio, and control settings.

Matchmaking

Matchmaking is the automated system that finds and matches players together, usually based on internal calculations of player skill. Casual and ranked matchmaking are both available.

Cosmetic items

Cosmetic items can be used to alter the appearance of heroes and various elements of the interface. They are purely cosmetic and do not affect game mechanics.

Gameplay Mechanics

Hero Mechanics

Attack Mechanics

Status Effects

Item Mechanics

Metagame

Game Client