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Most Iconic Dota 2 heroes
Dota 2 offers players a wide range of options when it comes to choosing a hero to play with, with over 120 unique heroes available.
The game has heroes that require intense microing and others that can be played with just two keys. Dota 2 forces the players to approach different heroes from different perspectives.
As a result, some heroes have become more popular than others, with their names becoming known throughout the MOBA genre due to their uniqueness. Without further ado, here's a list of the most iconic Dota 2 heroes.
Pudge
Credits: Valve
Pudge can be considered as the face of Dota 2. The fat meat man has been with the game since its release. Pudge is also the most picked hero in pubs. In low-level games, he’s even a solid first-pick hero. During the early days of the Dota 2 professional scene, Pudge dominated the meta.
Pudge is an iconic hero in the game due to his first ability, Meat Hook. The ability enables Pudge to throw a hook, pulling allies or enemies towards him. If used correctly, the ability can be extremely overpowered. Meat Hook can save allies when caught or pull enemies out of their positions.
During the early days of the Dota 2 professional scene, Danil "Dendi" Ishutin became synonymous with the hero. The player often plays the hero in the official matches.
Additionally, the infamous “Fountain Hook” incident at The International 2013 showcased the incredible talent of the player and the limitless creativity Dota 2 has to offer. Although the interaction has been patched out, to this day, the play remains one of the most iconic plays in Dota 2 history.
Invoker
Credits: Valve
Are you curious about what it feels like to be a mage? Look no further than Dota 2's hero, Invoker. Playing as an Invoker is the closest experience to being a mage that you can get. Thanks to his intricate mechanics, he is considered the most challenging hero to master in all MOBAs.
What makes Invoker the most iconic hero in all of MOBAs? Well, for starters, Invoker has a total of ten spells in his arsenal. These spells are a combination of the hero's three basic abilities - Quas, Wex, and Exort. Each spell has its own cooldown and mana cost. Additionally, Invoker can perform an incredible combo by consecutively using three or four spells.
Credits: Valve
In Dota 2, players often use Invoker's wombo combo move to showcase their mastery of the hero. It is flashy, but it is mainly not necessary. High-tier Invoker players only use a sufficient amount of their spells to get a score on the board.
Invoker’s arsenal of spells has everything, from slow to stuns to instant burst damage. Additionally, Invoker has Ghostwalk in his spell book. It allows the hero to become invisible to retreat from skirmishes or to set up one.
Credits: Valve
Nevertheless, there’s a catch while playing Invoker. Players need to memorize each spell’s combination to use the spells. The hero was only played as a midlaner in the early days of Dota 2.
He is the hero for those who want to make flashy plays and mentally destroy their opponents. However, in recent years, Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen pioneered a playstyle to make the hero more versatile. Thus, nowadays, Invoker can be seen in many roles, including as a support.
Shadow Fiend
Credits: Valve
Shadow Fiend plays a pivotal part in the original Dota. The hero is used to measure the skill of the midlaner. Fast forward to Dota 2, and the statement stands.
On the surface, the hero may seem easy to play. Every single ability of SF has the potential to increase his damage output. However, playing SF to his full potential requires a deep understanding of Dota 2 fundamentals, despite his seemingly easy-to-use abilities.
His second ability, Necromastery, increases his physical damage output with every unit he kills. However, SF loses thirty percent of his collected souls upon his death. Thus, players need to be cautious about their plays while playing SF.
Some players made Shadow Fiend their signature hero. SF was mainly a physical damage dealer in Dota 2 early days. However, players have figured out new ways to play the hero.
Nowadays, SF can either be a safelaner or a midlaner dealing physical, magical, or hybrid damage. Even though the hero is rarely seen in the professional scene, Shadow Fiend is a solid pick in pubs.
Sniper
Credits: Valve
Snipers are the most annoying characters in almost every game. The fact remains the same in Dota 2, but there is some difference. In the game, Sniper is a dwarf old man and a stable and annoying pick in low-level pubs.
The hero has high damage output, and staying true to his name, Sniper can attack from a distance. As a result, he is an ideal hero for beginners. Thus, the hero gets contested in every low-level pub.
However, Sniper gets mostly ignored in high-level pubs and professional matches. The reason behind this is simple. Despite Sniper’s potential to output massive burst damage, the hero is squishy. He is done for once a hero finds a way to get on top of him.
Moreover, the hero lacks mobility and has no escape mechanism, making him not a viable pick in many high-level pubs. However, players in high-level pubs still pick the hero every window they get because Sniper is overall a very fun hero.
Nevertheless, in low-level pubs, Sniper is played in almost every role. Despite the hero's many weaknesses, in low-level pubs, players are fearless in first picking the hero in the drafting stage.
Earth Shaker
Earthshaker is the favourite hero of many support players. Since the early days of Dota 2, he has been a stable pick as a support.
The results of it hugely thanks to his abilities. Earthshaker’s first ability, Fissure, is one of the most impactful abilities in the game. It’s also unique as well. Fissure creates an unpassable barrier that stuns opponents. The ability can be either used as a retreat or to catch unexpected enemies. Echo Slam, heavily punishes the opponents for grouping up.
In the past, Earthshaker is mainly played as a support. However, as players start trying new builds in recent years, the hero can also be seen in other roles, mainly as a midlaner. The hero even occasionally appeared as a safelaner.
The hero has also created many iconic moments in the Dota 2 professional scene. Regardless of the meta, the hero becomes a viable pick whenever a TI is around the corner.
The aforementioned heroes have significantly contributed to Dota 2's history, making them popular choices among players regardless of the current meta. Do you agree with our picks for the most iconic heroes of Dota 2? If you think we missed a hero or have a list of more iconic Dota 2 heroes, let us know in the comments below.
Featured Image Source: Valve
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