Updated on March 7, 10:14 a.m. (GMT+8): Edited photos, added Muerta.

The most important aspect of playing a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) like Dota 2 is selecting the right hero.

These unique characters range from magical tacticians to fierce brutes and cunning rogues.

The game’s hero pool is massive and limitlessly diverse, with each character able to unleash incredible abilities and devastating ultimates on their way to victory.

With more heroes joining the vast roster each year, players need to learn and understand which characters to pick to suit their playstyle.


MORE DOTA 2 GUIDES
Rubick guide: Expert advice from pro support Xepher
How to use Hero Chat Wheel
The 3 best heroes to counter Axe
The 5 best Tiny counters to stop him from coming in
The 3 best Beastmaster counters

What are Dota 2 heroes?

Dota 2 heroes Axe War Harbinger set
Credit: Valve

Dota 2 made its first appearance to the public at Gamescom in 2011 with the inaugural International Championship (TI1).

The tournament became Valve’s premier esports tournament event, and the game was officially released on July 9, 2013, after two years of beta testing.

The MOBA title’s characters are split into three categories: intelligence, strength, and agility. They all possess incredible abilities and overwhelming ultimates that they can unleash to devastate their opponents.

All heroes in Dota 2

Dota 2, MMR update
Credit: Valve

As of patch 7.32e, the game has 124 playable characters in total with 44 intelligence, 42 strength, and 38 agility heroes.

The game’s latest addition is Muerta, which was released on March 7, 2023.

STRENGTH
Abaddon
Alchemist
Axe
Beastmaster
Brewmaster
Bristleback
Centaur Warrunner
Chaos Knight
Clockwerk
Dawnbreaker
Doom
Dragon Knight
Earth Spirit
Earthshaker
Elder Titan
Huskar
Io
Kunkka
Legion Commander
Lifestealer
Lycan
Magnus
Marci
Mars
Night Stalker
Omniknight
Phoenix
Primal Beast
Pudge
Sand King
Slardar
Snapfire
Spirit Breaker
Sven
Tidehunter
Timbersaw
Tiny
Treant Protector
Tusk
Underlord
Undying
Wraith King

MORE DOTA 2 GUIDES
How to be a good support player
The 5 best Puck counters to stop the Pucker from destroying your team
The complete beginner’s guide to watching Dota 2 as an esport
How to counter Medusa
How to counter Viper

INTELLIGENCE
Ancient Apparition
Bane
Batrider
Chen
Crystal Maiden
Dark Seer
Dark Willow
Dazzle
Death Prophet
Disruptor
Enchantress
Enigma
Grimstroke
Invoker
Jakiro
Keeper of the Light
Leshrac
Lich
Lina
Lion
Muerta
Nature’s Prophet
Necrophos
Ogre Magi
Oracle
Outworld Destroyer
Puck
Pugna
Queen of Pain
Rubick
Shadow Demon
Shadow Shaman
Silencer
Skywrath Mage
Storm Spirit
Techies
Tinker
Visage
Void Spirit
Warlock
Windranger
Winter Wyvern
Witch Doctor
Zeus

AGILITY
Anti-Mage
Arc Warden
Bloodseeker
Bounty Hunter
Broodmother
Clinkz
Drow Ranger
Ember Spirit
Faceless Void
Gyrocopter
Hoodwink
Juggernaut
Lone Druid
Luna
Medusa
Meepo
Mirana
Monkey King
Morphling
Naga Siren
Nyx Assassin
Pangolier
Phantom Assassin
Phantom Lancer
Razor
Riki
Shadow Fiend
Slark
Sniper
Spectre
Templar Assassin
Terrorblade
Troll Warlord
Ursa
Vengeful Spirit
Venomancer
Viper
Weaver

This article will be updated each time Valve releases a new hero.

READ MORE: This artist’s incredibly detailed hero sculptures look amazing