Custom games are perhaps the most anticipated element of the entire Dota 2 Reborn Beta. Their formal introduction harks back to the days of Defense of the Ancients as a Warcraft 3 mod, paying homage to Dota 2’s humble beginnings as a custom game mode in itself. It’s truly an exciting prospect that the community can now create innovative and intricate content, to be easily experienced within the Dota 2 client. Already hundreds of original custom games exist in the Dota 2 workshop, all varying in degrees of popularity and success. This article will our choice of the top five custom game modes of the Dota 2 Reborn Beta so far, outlining the basics of their gameplay, and giving some helpful tips for success.
5: Dota Strikers
Introduction
Dota Strikers is team based custom game which allows the heroes of Dota to challenge each other to variation of a match of football, based upon the popular Warcraft 3 mod, Banjoball.
Gameplay
Each player has the ability to sprint and kick, and also one or two unique abilities, depending upon the hero chosen. Some hero’s abilities are more offensive and lend themselves to attacking and scoring, whilst others are more defensive. Points are scored by getting the ball into the opposing team’s goal, and the first team to score eleven points win the game.
Tips
- Make sure you coordinate with your team, both when picking and playing. Dota Strikers is fundamentally a team game!
- It is very useful to have a designated goal keeper who is playing a suitably defensive hero. Earthshaker is an excellent choice with his Echo Slam easily foiling any potential shots on goal.
- It is also very useful to have a designated striker who is playing a suitably offensive hero. Slark is an ideal choice with his Stealth Sprint for mobility, and his Backflip for making his shots as difficult as possible for the enemy goal keeper to save.
- Don't always chase the ball! When your team is attacking, attempt to find space on the field and support your team mates by giving them viable passing options.
- When your team is defending, everyone should be marking a different opposition player. Close down any space as quickly as possible and don't let the opposition have any free time to execute a coordinated attack.
- Don't be afraid to pass the ball backwards! There is no rush, and not every single pass has to move towards the oppositions goal mouth, keeping possession of the ball is often much more important!
4: Skillshot Wars
Introduction
Skillshot Wars is a custom game in which two teams of five are against each other in an arena style battle, with only four skillshot abilities at the players’ disposal. It’s a beautifully simple design which is the exact reason for its popularity. Skillshot wars, like many of the best games, is easy to learn but hard to master.
Gameplay
Using Pudge’s Meathook, Mirana’s Arrow, Invoker’s Sunstrike, and Clockwork’s Hookshot, both teams put their skill and timing to the test, with the first to reach fifty kills securing victory.
Tips
- Be aware that there are no mana constraints in Skillshot Wars, so don't be afraid to spam your abilities!
- Mirana's arrow is especially difficult to land, but the reward of a lengthy stun is worth attempting it.
- Should you manage to successfully land an arrow on an opponent, you can follow up with a Sunstrike while they are stunned and immobile.
- Make sure to use your Meathook defensively to save stunned allies from any potential follow up.
- Although first instinct, it may not be wise to Meathook stunned enemies. You may cause your own allies to miss their planned Sunstrikes.
3: Pudge Wars
Introduction
Pudge Wars is a custom game which is a remake of the popular Warcraft 3 mod from which its name derives.
Gameplay
Teams of Pudge’s are pit against each other in a square map, which is split directly down the middle by an almost impassable river. The only available spell is Pudge’s Meat Hook, which can be used to both kill enemies and save allies. Killing enemy players is rewarded with leveling up and ability points, which can be used to increase the damage, radius, distance, and speed of your hook. Custom items have also been created for the game mode, and can be purchased and upgraded to give unique advantages to the Pudge who wields them.
Tips
- Remember to purchase and take advantage of the custom items! They can be used in a variety of ways, including enhancements to mobility, vision, damage, and health.
- Communication with your team is vital, and can be the difference between winning and loosing.
- This is especially important when attempting to 'headshot' enemies, which is done by hooking an enemy when they are already being hooked. A successful 'headshot' results in an immediate kill.
- Don't stop moving! You are a much easier target to hit if you stand still and try to wait for the perfect hooking opportunity. Try to be sporadic and unpredictable in your movements.
- Remember that you can bounce your hook off of certain sections of the map. This is useful for targeting enemies who are playing defensively, and hiding behind their team mates or defensive structures.
2: Power Multiplier x20
Introduction
Power Multiplier x20 is a custom game which is much like a regular game of Dota, however all hero’s abilities, items and stats are multiplied by twenty times.
Gameplay
Range, damage, AOE and speed are all multiplied, however critical strike, bash and evasion proc chances all aren’t affected for balance purposes. You are also give then option to choose whether the creeps and towers are affected by the times twenty multiplier. Games of Power Multiplier x20 can be played as either a regular all pick Dota match, or as an OMG Death Match where you are given a random set of abilities, which change with every respawn.
Tips
- It's difficult to give tips and tricks for this custom game, as some heroes and abilities are blatantly overpowered and having fun takes priority over strict balance. This is especially true for OMG Death Match mode.
- Nuking abilities which are usually powerful in regular Dota 2 become even more insanely destructive in this custom mode. Lina's Laguna Blade is an example, becoming a ten thousand plus pure damage nuke with twelve thousand units range.
- Item builds must be considered carefully, especially taking into account that critical strike, bash and evasion proc chances all aren’t affected for balance purposes.
1: Overthrow
Introduction
Overthrow is Valves very own custom game mode, created to showcase the potential and power of the custom game compatibility in Dota 2 Reborn. The game mode itself is a multi-team arena battle, with a focus on getting as many kills as possible in order to secure victory. There are three maps available to play for Overthrow, being Forest, Desert and Mines. Each map hosts different team arrangements for the game, being solo free for all, teams of two, and teams of three, respectively.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Overthrow is suitably fast paced and exciting. Each player starts out in a small base at the edge of the map which host a shop, secret shop, indestructible tower and a fountain. In the center of the map is the Midas Throne, and around the edges is a river, rune locations, and a variety of high ground paths. Players located near the Midas Throne receive faster gold and experience gain compared to other players on the map, due to the Over Boss sitting atop the Midas Throne and throwing out giant coins worth 300 gold. This central position is especially coveted and obviously hotly contested. Killing the top rated player or a player in the leading team also rewards a player with a bonus 500 gold. Item deliveries are also an important aspect of Overthrow. Items are dropped on the randomly on the map and an icon on your minimap will appear to mark their location. The fewer kills your team has, the better the item you will stand to receive from a delivery if you manage to secure it.
Tips
- Overthrow is centered around brawling and fighting other heroes. Your choice of hero should consider and reflect this fact.
- Good heroes to choose come in the form of traditional lane dominators or evasive heroes who can easily slip in and out of combat.
- Heroes who can stand strong and secure their place around the Midas Throne are especially valuable.
- Good burst damage for securing kills is also important. Purchasing a Dagon is explicitly restricted in Overthrow, which should highlight the importance of burst damage.
- Heroes who wield strong area of effect spells are also strong, excelling at competing for timely runes and important item drops.
- Bounty Hunter, Bristleback, Ember Spirit, Leshrac, Lina, Queen of Pain, Riki, Slark, Tiny, Tusk, Weaver and Zeus are all considered extremely strong choices.
- Always start by purchasing a Magic Stick! Abilities are used at almost any and every opportunity right from the start of the match, utilize this!
- Warding for offensive and defensive purposes is also encouraged, especially when there is a high chance of enemy heroes with stealth capabilities.
- Buy items which give you immediate advantages over your enemies. Examples would be items with strong active abilities such as a Blink dagger, Ghost Scepter, Black King Bar, Shadow Blade or Scythe of Vyse.
Honorable Mentions
Of course there are many amazing custom games which just couldn’t make the cut for this article due to the obvious constraints. Honorable mentions must be made to the below custom game modes which are definitely worth trying out!
Dota Imba: “Firetoad, Icefrog's evil twin, has usurped his brother and taken over Dota's development. In his raving madness, he buffed every hero thousands of times, and called his new creation Dota IMBA - where everything is stupidly overpowered!”
Life in Arena: “The legend of the Russian Garena is back. A hero survival game where you need to fight against waves of creeps, bosses and megabosses.”
Survival Co-op: “Win as many rounds as possible - How many can you Survive!”
Legends of Dota: “Pick your skills to build an overpowered masterpiece! Test out different combinations! Create unique and creative heroes to dominate your opponent.”
Demons’ Chaos: “A cooperative, RPG, wave defense and hold out game mode. You build up your character through custom items, abilities and levels, and attempt to protect your base from destruction at the hands of waves of enemies.”
Source: Dota 2 Blog, The Dota 2 Workshop, Youtube
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