As gaming rises to an all-time high with the orders to stay at home, some people have looked onto the many options the internet has to offer for multiplayer video games. Of course, free-to-play games get a step up in the competition for being accessible to anyone with sufficient system requirements and an internet connection.

Even before gaming rose during the pandemic, Dota 2 had established itself enough to attract new players. As one of the most highly competitive video games in the market, the biggest question for anyone coming in to Dota 2 is that: Is the game beginner-friendly enough for new players?

Legacy Skill and Dedication

The fundamentals of the first Defense of the Ancients, compared to today, have been relatively simple. The main objective is still to destroy the enemy base using a roster of heroes that also exist in Dota 2, save for a few minor ability reworks and differences. Couriers act the same, and so do the runes, jungle monsters, and the movement in Dota 2 is still present in the first Dota game, as it is based from the Warcraft 3 game engine after all.

Now, things like outposts, neutral items, and new hero releases are more concepts for players to bear with. It’s added more things for old players to think about, but such a change can be second nature to them after a few games of testing. For new players, however, it is additional homework as they continue studying and mastering everything else in the game.

The myriad of skill and item interactions are also a given. While to this day people are still figuring out optimal and quirky builds for their favorite heroes, old players already have the fundamental idea for most heroes after watching them played by allies and enemies alike. New players will still be surprised that getting hit by Force Staff under Bloodseeker’s Rupture ability will actually damage them, and it doesn’t stop there.

All of these actually reward the long-time Dota players who have stuck around since the first game, or at least the Beta and early years of Dota 2. Having the prior knowledge about such a competitive game allows veteran players sufficient breathing room to learn about new additions to the game since they already have the rest of the concepts in their heads.

On the other side of the spectrum, however, newer players are definitely troubled by the game’s overload of concepts, hero skills, and whatnot. Dota 2 has attempted to remedy this by giving newcomers accessibility options for learning as they play.

Accessibility

Dota 2 has a tutorial that is pretty okay compared to other MOBAs. While it may require some more work, it is definitely better than to have a bare-bones guide simply telling the basics without requiring player input. For some people, learning “by doing” is an actual method that calls on the attention of the player’s senses, making the learning immersive and has a strong effect on the player.

Player-made guides are also around the internet if you’re willing to look hard enough. Hero guides are in-game with a build preset and recommended items during your first back to base. Basic guides are also found in the Dota 2 subreddits, and questions are highly encouraged in those parts. Maybe some questions that players might ask have already been answered in a different thread or forum post, and all it takes is some diligence and some keen eyes.

For those who can afford it, Dota 2 also has a feature called Dota Plus, a premium service that provides a mix of player improvement features as well as access to additional benefits from Battle Passes and exclusive items. For new players, having access to hero progression, statistics, and the Plus Assistant for various live suggestions is a huge plus. It’s like having a virtual coach guiding you, and all it costs is $4 or PHP 200 for a month.

The Community

The great thing about Dota 2’s community that it spans the entire globe, all connected in one single server. Everyone is connected without boundaries, unlike other MOBAs that have separated its playerbase by their location. No matter where you look, people will still be talking about the same Wraith King, same IceFrog, same runes, and everything else about Dota 2.

However, one not-so-great thing about the community is the inherent toxicity. As it is a competitive game, things can get heated pretty quickly when one team has to win, and the other has to lose. In fact, a study has shown that about four out of five players get flamed and harassed in Dota 2, which is not good for those who do not have the thick skin needed to tolerate extreme amounts of hate.

Concluding Thoughts

Everything considered, Dota 2 is actually a beginner-friendly game—but the idea of who could be considered a beginner may fluctuate.

To consider a “beginner” in this context, he must have a sufficient background in modern video games. Beginners coming from games like League of Legends and Call of Duty automatically have some semblance of what they are about to get into. Players who have been in other multiplayer games know the pressure of Player versus Player, but it gets worse when even your allies are willing to harass for something trivial.

Absolute beginners in competitive video games who may only have a background in playing very casual mobile games will have a bad time. This may be exactly why people are initially turned off when thinking about playing Dota 2, but some others are willing to step up and take the challenge.

Despite the good and the bad of Dota 2, would you recommend the game to your friends?