TOP 10 Best Heroes for Beginners in Dota 2

Criteria for Choosing a Hero as a Beginner

For your first matches, choose a hero whose abilities and role are easy to understand. Keep the following criteria in mind:

• Few active abilities. In your first matches, it’s difficult to keep track of your hero’s abilities, items, and everything happening on the map at the same time. So, to start with, it’s more convenient to play a character who doesn’t require long combos or lots of button presses.

• High survivability. Beginners often make mistakes when choosing a position or the right moment to attack. A hero with a large health pool, armor, or an ability that can save them from lethal damage will let you stay in fights longer and learn the game with less pressure. 

• Less reliance on positioning. Some characters need to constantly stay at a safe distance or choose the exact right moment to attack, or they’ll be killed quickly. For your first matches, it’s more convenient to play heroes who can withstand some extra damage or contribute from a distance.

• A suitable role. Choose a hero for the position that interests you: carry, midlaner, offlaner, or support. This will make it easier to learn, because you’ll know what you want to do in the game. 

Who Should Beginners Play in Dota 2: Hero List

This list features ten heroes that make it easier for beginners to learn the main roles and contribute to their team. 

Wraith King (WK)

Suitable roles: carry (position 1), sometimes offlaner (position 3).
Useful items: Phase Boots, Radiance, Blink Dagger, Black King Bar, Assault Cuirass. The build depends on the match.
Useful allies: Crystal Maiden and Magnus help keep enemies in place while Wraith King deals damage; Dazzle can support him with healing and protection.
Strong against: Ursa, Clinkz, Shadow Shaman.
Weak against: Underlord, Naga Siren, Phantom Lancer.
Best talents: at level 10, +2 seconds of slow from Wraithfire Blast; at level 15, +300 health; at level 20, +50 attack speed; at level 25, choose based on the situation: an additional effect for Reincarnation or a more frequently usable Mortal Strike.

Wraith King is a melee hero who is a good fit for your first matches as a carry. He has a simple role: farm, stun enemies with Wraithfire Blast, and attack them up close. Lifesteal helps him restore health with his attacks, while Reincarnation lets him come back to life after dying. His straightforward abilities and extra life make him an easy hero to play in your first carry matches. 

Abilities:

• Wraithfire Blast - stuns an enemy, deals damage, and slows them after the stun.

• Vampiric Spirit - grants lifesteal to attacks and allows him to summon skeletons that help in fights and while farming.

• Mortal Strike - passively allows attacks to deal increased critical damage.

• Reincarnation - Wraith King respawns at the place where he died.

Sniper

Suitable roles: midlaner (position 2), carry (position 1).

Useful items: Power Treads, Mjollnir, Hurricane Pike, Daedalus, Black King Bar.

Useful allies: Dazzle and Vengeful Spirit can protect Sniper, while heroes with stuns, such as Lion or Sven, can help keep an enemy in place.

Strong against: Medusa, Enigma, Elder Titan.

Weak against: Storm Spirit, Morphling, Spectre. 

Best talents: +30 Headshot damage at level 10, +45 attack speed during Take Aim at level 15, +2 seconds to Take Aim's duration at level 20, +50 Headshot knockback distance at level 25. 

Sniper is a ranged hero that beginners can try in the mid or carry position. His long attack range lets him deal damage from behind his allies, while Shrapnel helps slow enemies and control an area of the map. In fights, stay at a distance and don’t move ahead of your team: Sniper has few ways to escape if an enemy reaches him. This makes him a good hero for learning an important skill: keeping an eye on your position during a fight. 

Abilities:

• Shrapnel - fires on a chosen area, damaging and slowing enemies. You can use the ability’s charges to harass your opponent in lane or cover your retreat.

• Headshot - Sniper's attacks can deal bonus damage and knock back the target.

• Take Aim - increases attack range; when activated, grants bonus attack range and attack speed, but limits movement.

• Assassinate - Sniper takes aim at an enemy hero and deals damage to them from long range.

Dragon Knight (DK)

Suitable roles: offlaner (position 3), midlaner (position 2), and more rarely, carry (position 1).
Useful items: Power Treads, Blink Dagger, Black King Bar, Aghanim’s Shard. Blink Dagger helps initiate fights, while Black King Bar protects against enemy abilities.
Useful allies: Crystal Maiden helps Dragon Knight slow and damage enemies, while Magnus can group opponents together in a convenient formation for attacking.
Strong against: Naga Siren, Phantom Lancer, Templar Assassin.
Weak against: Viper, Huskar, Necrophos.
Best talents: at level 10, +15 damage is a common choice; at level 15, +300 health; at level 20, +220 Breathe Fire damage; at level 25, increased Wyrm’s Wrath bonuses.

Dragon Knight is a durable hero with straightforward abilities, making him easy for beginners to learn in the offlane. In lane, he can survive trades thanks to Dragon Blood, while Dragon Tail's stun helps allies finish off opponents. After obtaining Elder Dragon Form, the hero turns into a dragon and can attack from a distance, including sieging towers. At the start of the match, focus on farming and survival; in fights, stun a dangerous target and stay close to your team.

Abilities:

• Breathe Fire - breathes fire, damaging enemies and reducing their attack damage.

• Dragon Tail - stuns the chosen enemy and deals damage to them.

• Dragon Blood - passively increases Dragon Knight's armor and health regeneration.

• Elder Dragon Form - transforms the hero into a dragon and empowers his attacks; the form's properties change with the ability's level.

Ogre Magi (Ogre)

Suitable roles: position four or five support.
Useful items: Arcane Boots, Hand of Midas, Aether Lens, Glimmer Cape, Force Staff. Midas helps you gain gold and experience faster, while defensive items let you save yourself and your allies.
Useful allies: Drow Ranger and Sven work well with Bloodlust, which increases an ally's attack speed. Heroes with area damage can take advantage of the slow from Ignite.
Strong against: Troll Warlord, Bloodseeker, Phantom Assassin.
Weak against: Phantom Lancer, Naga Siren, Anti-Mage.
Best talents: at level 10, +10 Ignite damage; at level 15, bonus attack speed from Bloodlust; at level 20, +30 Strength; at level 25, +10% Multicast chance.

Ogre Magi is a durable support hero with easy-to-understand abilities. In lane, he can stun an enemy with Fireblast and slow them with Ignite, while Bloodlust helps an ally attack faster. In team fights, stay close to your allies and empower the one dealing the most damage. The Multicast ability sometimes repeats a spell or item, so a single successful cast can have a major impact on a fight. His high survivability forgives some positioning mistakes, and his role is easy to understand from your first matches.

Abilities:

• Fireblast - stuns an enemy and deals magical damage to them. Thanks to Multicast, the ability can be cast on the target multiple times.

• Ignite - sets an enemy on fire: they take damage over time and move more slowly.

• Bloodlust - increases the movement and attack speed of a chosen ally or Ogre himself.

• Multicast - a passive ability that has a chance to repeat spells and certain items.

• Unrefined Fireblast - an additional ability available after purchasing Aghanim’s Scepter; it stuns the target but consumes some of Ogre's current mana.

Crystal Maiden (CM)

Suitable roles: position five support, more rarely position four.
Useful items: Tranquil Boots, Glimmer Cape, Force Staff, Blink Dagger, Aghanim’s Shard. Defensive items help you escape and support allies, while Blink Dagger lets you find a good position for your ultimate.
Useful allies: Sven and Wraith King can quickly attack enemies that Crystal Maiden holds in place with her abilities.
Strong against: Meepo, Phantom Lancer, Broodmother.
Weak against: Juggernaut, Enigma, Puck.
Best talents: level 10 - +200 health; level 15 - Crystal Nova cooldown reduced by 4.5 seconds; level 20 - Glacial Guard barrier strengthened; level 25 - choose between bonus Crystal Nova damage and increased Frostbite duration.

Crystal Maiden is a support hero with simple crowd-control abilities and an aura that usefully restores mana for the whole team. In lane, she slows enemies and helps her ally catch a target. In team fights, stay behind your allies: Crystal Maiden has little health and can be killed quickly. Use Freezing Field when enemies are busy fighting or unable to interrupt the ability. She is a good fit for a beginner who wants to learn to help the team with spells and choose a safe position.

Abilities:

• Crystal Nova - deals damage to enemies in an area and slows them. It also briefly reveals the selected area.

• Frostbite - immobilizes an enemy and deals damage over time. The ability is especially effective against regular creeps.

• Arcane Aura - passively restores mana to all allies on the map; allies near Crystal Maiden receive more mana restoration.

• Freezing Field - creates an icy storm around the hero that deals damage and slows enemies. Crystal Maiden must stand still while casting, so her ultimate can be interrupted.

• Glacial Guard - an innate passive ability: some of the mana spent on spells is converted into a physical barrier.

Sven (Sven)

Suitable roles: carry (position 1), less often offlaner (position 3).
Useful items: Power Treads, Mask of Madness, Black King Bar, Daedalus, Harpoon.
Useful allies: Wraith King and Dragon Knight can draw the enemies' attention while Sven reaches his target and deals damage.
Strong against: Meepo, Phantom Lancer, Naga Siren - Great Cleave's area damage helps attack several targets at once.
Weak against: Templar Assassin, Batrider, Troll Warlord.
Best talents: level 10 - +5 seconds of Warcry duration; level 15 - God's Strength cooldown reduced by 12 seconds; level 20 - +8 armor from Warcry; level 25 - +50% God's Strength damage.

Sven is a hero that beginners should try as a carry. He farms quickly thanks to Great Cleave, stuns enemies with Storm Hammer, and boosts his attacks with his ultimate, God's Strength. Before a fight, activate your ultimate and Warcry, then stun an enemy and attack them with your team. Sven is easy to get started with because his main tasks are easy to remember: farm, strengthen yourself, and join fights with your abilities ready.

Abilities:

• Storm Hammer - stuns the selected enemy and nearby enemies, dealing magical damage.

• Great Cleave - passively deals area damage around the target with each attack. The ability helps Sven farm quickly and is especially effective against grouped enemies.

• Warcry - increases the armor and movement speed of Sven and nearby allies.

• God's Strength - significantly increases Sven's attack damage for a time and grants slow resistance.

• Wrath of God - an innate passive ability: Sven's strength additionally increases his attack damage.

Viper (Viper)

Suitable roles: midlaner (position 2), offlaner (position 3).
Useful items: Power Treads, Aghanim’s Shard, Hurricane Pike, Black King Bar.
Useful allies: Lion and Shadow Shaman can stun an enemy and prevent them from escaping while Viper attacks them with poison.
Strong against: Huskar, Dragon Knight, Bristleback.
Weak against: Phantom Lancer, Arc Warden, Terrorblade.
Best talents: at level 10 - +1 second of Viper Strike duration; at level 15 - +15% to Poison Attack's slow and damage; at level 20 - +70 damage per second from Viper Strike; at level 25 - 50% reduction to Viper Strike's mana cost and cooldown.

Viper is a hero who is easy to learn in the mid or off lane: his ranged attacks and poison help him pressure opponents in lane. Several Poison Attack hits slow the target and deal damage over time, while Nethertoxin lets him control an area of the battlefield. Viper is especially strong in the early and mid game, so try to join fights and help your team take control of the map. The hero has low movement speed, so keep an eye on the map and don't stray too far from your allies.

Abilities:

• Poison Attack - empowers attacks with poison: the target takes damage over time, is slowed, and has its magic resistance reduced. The effect stacks with repeated attacks.

• Nethertoxin - covers the selected area with poison. Enemies inside take increasing damage and lose attack speed.

• Corrosive Skin - passively damages and slows the attack speed of enemies who attack Viper nearby. It also increases the hero's magic resistance.

• Viper Strike - strikes the selected target with poison, slowing it and dealing damage over time. The ability also disables the target's passive abilities.

• Predator - an innate passive ability: Viper's attacks deal bonus physical damage to heroes based on how much health they are missing.

Zeus (Zeus)

Suitable roles: mid, support.
Useful items: Arcane Boots, Aghanim’s Scepter, Aghanim’s Shard, Aether Lens, Refresher Orb.
Useful allies: Ogre Magi, Lion, Shadow Shaman - their stuns help Zeus land his abilities.
Strong against: Riki, Sand King, Sniper.
Weak against: Meepo, Broodmother, Lifestealer.
Best talents: +200 health at level 10, +75 Thundergod’s Wrath damage at level 15, +60 Arc Lightning damage at level 20, Lightning Bolt deals damage in an area at level 25.

Zeus is a hero that beginners should try in the mid lane or as a support. His abilities deal a lot of magic damage, and his ultimate hits all enemy heroes on the map. In fights, stay behind your allies and don't get too close to enemies: Zeus is vulnerable if an enemy manages to reach him. Heavenly Jump helps him retreat, but it won't save him if used too late.

Abilities:

• Arc Lightning - lightning jumps between enemies and deals damage to them.

• Lightning Bolt - strikes the selected enemy, briefly stuns them, and grants vision around the target.

• Heavenly Jump - Zeus jumps forward and slows the nearest visible enemy.

• Thundergod’s Wrath - deals damage to all enemy heroes on the map.

• Static Field - passive ability: Zeus's attacks and spells deal bonus damage to enemies based on their current health.

Axe (Axe)

Suitable roles: offlaner.
Useful items: Vanguard, Blink Dagger, Blade Mail, Blade Mail, Aghanim’s Shard.
Useful allies: Crystal Maiden, Drow Ranger, Zeus - heroes with area damage that helps quickly take down enemies gathered around Axe.
Strong against: Phantom Assassin, Sniper, Drow Ranger.
Weak against: Ursa, Lifestealer, Viper.
Best talents: +25 movement speed at level 10, +10 armor at level 15, +150 Culling Blade damage at level 20, +100 damage per second from Counter Helix at level 25.

Axe is a hero that beginners should try in the off lane. He is tough, can quickly clear creep waves, and starts fights himself: with Blink Dagger, Axe jumps onto an opponent and taunts them into attacking him. This gives his team time to join the fight and deal damage. Keep an eye on the minimap and don't jump in alone if your allies are far away: even a durable hero needs support.

Abilities:

• Berserker’s Call - Axe taunts nearby enemies into attacking him while gaining bonus armor.

• Battle Hunger - applies a slow and damage over time to an enemy. The effect ends when the target kills another unit.

• Counter Helix - has a chance to trigger in response to attacks and deal damage to all enemies near Axe.

• Culling Blade - Axe executes an enemy with low health. If the ability kills the target, its cooldown is reset, and Axe and nearby allies gain a movement speed bonus.

Juggernaut

Suitable roles: carry, sometimes mid.
Useful items: Power Treads, Battle Fury, Manta Style, Butterfly, Aghanim’s Shard.
Useful allies: Crystal Maiden, Lion, Shadow Shaman - their abilities hold enemies in place while Juggernaut deals damage.
Strong against: Viper, Bristleback, Crystal Maiden.
Weak against: Axe, Clinkz, Riki.
Best talents: reduced interval between Bladeform charges at level 10, bonus movement speed during Blade Fury at level 15, increased Blade Dance critical damage at level 20, bonus lifesteal from Blade Dance at level 25.

Juggernaut is a hero beginners should try in the carry role. Blade Fury helps him survive dangerous situations and damages nearby enemies, while Healing Ward gradually restores the health of nearby allies. In fights, try to use Omnislash when there are no creeps near your chosen target; otherwise, the attacks may switch to them. Between fights, farm items and remember to keep an eye on Healing Ward, since enemies can destroy it quickly.

Abilities:

• Blade Fury - Juggernaut spins with his sword, dealing damage to nearby enemies and gaining strong protection from many effects.

• Healing Ward - summons a totem that heals Juggernaut and nearby allies.

• Blade Dance - gives attacks a chance to deal critical damage.

• Omnislash - Juggernaut dashes to the chosen enemy and rapidly attacks them and nearby enemies, becoming invulnerable for the duration of the ability.

• Bladeform - a passive ability: while Juggernaut takes no damage, he gradually gains charges that increase his agility and movement speed.

Which hero should beginners choose based on their role

Your hero choice depends on which role you want to try. The table lists characters suitable for beginners in the carry, mid, and other positions.

Which heroes are best to avoid picking in the early stages

In the early stages, it’s best to set aside heroes that require you to control several units or illusions at the same time. For example, Meepo, Chen, and Lone Druid require you to keep track of additional creatures, distribute them across the map, and use their abilities. At the same time, a beginner needs to learn how to last-hit creeps, watch the minimap, and understand when the team needs help.

Heroes with a large number of active abilities and complicated combos can also seem difficult. Invoker, Arc Warden, and Earth Spirit require you to memorize button sequences, choose the right moment for each ability, and quickly assess the situation in a fight. You can try them later, once the game’s basic mechanics have become familiar.

Conclusion

For your first matches, choose a hero whose abilities and tasks are easy to understand: for example, Wraith King or Juggernaut as a carry, Ogre Magi or Crystal Maiden as a support, or Dragon Knight in the mid or offlane. This will make it easier to focus on the fundamentals of Dota 2.

Don’t try to learn every character or copy experienced players’ builds right away. Try several heroes in the role you’re interested in, and stick with the ones you feel most comfortable playing. The better you master your role and basic decision-making, the easier it will be to move on to more complex heroes.