Matchmaking Game Modes in Dota 2

Dota 2 is a popular online MOBA where players can choose one of 127 heroes and enter a 5v5 match. However, this is a description of the traditional game mode. At the same time, there are several official variations that apply specific restrictions on how players can pick heroes.

Our guide will help you understand how the Dota 2 matchmaking system works across different game modes. We’ll review their key features and discover how they can affect your gaming experience. Use the information provided below to select a game mode that matches your plans for your next session.

All Pick Matchmaking Mode

Let’s start with one of the most popular Dota 2 matchmaking modes in the entire game. Here, players can choose any hero from the current pool. The draft phase in this mode has several features to consider:

1. Only the first two players on each team can pick random heroes by clicking the corresponding button.
2. Some heroes are randomly banned based on the pre-selected lists of each player in the match.
3. If two players select the same hero, the game will block that hero, prompt them to select another, and extend the picking time. Such a situation may occur only twice. On the third attempt, whoever picks the hero first gets them.

The draft phase here is divided into three stages. First, two players on each team select their heroes. Their choices are revealed once everyone has picked. Afterward, the other two members of each side select their heroes. Finally, the last players on each team make their picks, and the game enters the strategy-planning phase.

Note that you have 20-25 seconds (depending on the draft phase) to make your choice. If this time runs out and you haven’t chosen a hero, you’ll start losing 2 gold per second. If you continue ignoring the timer, the game will automatically select a hero for you.

All Pick is the most commonly used mode in Dota 2. It’s great for casual matches and for players who want to test different strategies, try hero combinations, or explore changes after the latest updates. Note that since this is not a ranked mode, you can play in a party of four players. Also, you can enter this mode right after downloading Dota 2.

The key drawback of a casual All Pick is that it doesn’t consider your MMR when matching enemies and teammates. As a result, you may find yourself in a situation where your team of newbies faces players from the pro scene.

Competitive Matchmaking Mode

Competitive is the second-most popular game variation among Dota 2 matchmaking game modes. It’s available for three sub-modes:

1. All Pick.
2. Random Draft.
3. Captains Mode (in official tournaments only).

The gameplay rules are the same as in their casual counterparts. However, in all three cases, the selection of your enemies and teammates significantly depends on your MMR. Moreover, you can’t play ranked matches until you meet the following conditions:

1. Play at least 100 hours in unranked modes.
2. Link a unique phone number to your Steam account.

In competitive matches, you cannot queue as a party of four players. Also, in ranked All Pick mode, you can choose your preferred roles.

Competitive modes are perfect for people who take Dota 2 seriously and want to track their performance. Monitoring your MMR allows you to define your skill level and identify the ways to improve.

Captain’s Matchmaking Mode

Although players usually opt for Captain’s Mode only in professional tournaments, you can actually test it whenever you want. Here, each team has a captain responsible for banning and selecting heroes. The draft phase is divided into several stages, during which the team captains make decisions (the table below includes the sequence of bans (B) and picks (P) for both teams (Team 1 — Red, Team 2 — Green):

If you play the casual version of this matchmaking game mode, you must be the first player to click the “Become Captain” button to become your team’s captain. In ranked matches, the game automatically selects the captain, usually preferring the player with the highest solo MMR.

This mode is a great option if you want to learn how to analyze different factors when banning and selecting heroes. It’s an essential skill for any player aiming to enter the pro scene and improve their tactical thinking.

Single Draft Matchmaking Mode

If you’ve ever received penalties in Dota 2, you’re probably familiar with this game mode. In Single Draft, a player has only four randomly selected heroes to choose from: one Strength hero, one Agility hero, one Intelligence hero, and one Universal hero.

Unlike other matchmaking game modes in Dota 2, Single Draft is considered a punishment. Most players here are those who have been abandoning matches too often and have been placed in Low Priority. So, if you choose to play this mode voluntarily, you are definitely stepping out of your comfort zone. Here are some features to consider if you still enter Single Draft:

1. The mode doesn’t include a traditional draft phase.
2. Randoming a hero out of the available four won’t provide any extra benefits.
3. You can’t swap heroes with teammates.

Single Draft is often referred to as “Dota 2 hell.” Even if one player in your party is in Low Priority, everyone must play this mode. On the other hand, it’s a great way to become a more versatile player and explore the heroes you might have previously avoided.

Random Draft Matchmaking Mode

If you want to improve your hero knowledge and avoid Single Draft, this mode is worth trying. Here, the hero pool is limited to 33 heroes, making strategic thinking more important during the draft phase. The mode follows standard matchmaking in Dota 2, which means that if you play ranked Random Draft, you’ll be put in a lobby together with players of similar skill levels. Each player has only 20 seconds to select a hero, and the picking order is the following:

Turbo Matchmaking Mode

In recent years, Turbo became one of the most popular matchmaking game modes among players who are always in a hurry and don’t have time for traditional matches. Overall, it is a faster and more dynamic version of All Pick. However, in order to shorten the duration of matches, it still has some unique draft-phase features:

1. All hero selections are blind.
2. Only 45 seconds are given for the entire team to pick heroes.
3. There are no penalties for exceeding the drafting time limit. A hero is automatically assigned when the timer reaches zero.

Once the match begins, you’ll immediately notice additional differences:

1. You get more gold and experience.
2. No gold is lost on death.
3. Heroes respawn 25% faster.
4. Ancients do not regenerate health.
5. Towers are weaker.
6. Lane creeps upgrade nine times faster.
7. Mega creeps have doubled HP and damage.
8. Couriers can fly from the start, have permanent haste, and deliver items automatically.
9. There is no difference between Secret Shops and regular shops.

Players often opt for Turbo to complete quests during events or progress their Battle Pass. However, it’s essential to consider that all rewards in this mode are halved compared to All Pick. That said, since even two matches in Turbo usually takes less time than a single traditional game, it’s still a reasonable choice if you want to earn rewards faster.

Ability Draft Matchmaking Mode

Finally, we arrive at one of the most exciting and unusual modes in the entire game. Ability Draft offers players a completely new approach to gameplay allowing them to create a unique combination of skills from different heroes. Here is a short overview of how it feels to play this mode:

1. Each player receives a random hero with no abilities.
2. The ability pool includes skills from the 10 heroes assigned to the players, plus two additional random heroes’ abilities.
3. Everyone drafts a skill one by one. In total, you can choose 3 regular abilities and 1 ultimate.
4. Once everyone has made their selections, the match begins.

This mode allows you to view the game from a completely different perspective. You can develop a custom strategy and potentially create an almost undefeatable hero. Playing Ability Draft feels like a sandbox, where you can unleash your creativity and discover unusual combinations.

Do you want to take your experiments even further and create a hero with only ultimates or passive abilities? In that case, you should definitely try custom maps such as Custom Hero Chaos or Custom Hero Clash (a more casual option).

Conclusion

We’ve reviewed the main matchmaking modes in Dota 2, but note that they are not limited to those mentioned above. There are several other popular ways to enjoy the game, including:

1. New Player Mode: A special mode with a low-pressure matchmaking queue, no penalties for leaving, and a restricted pool of 20 low-complexity heroes. This is an ideal option for new players.
2. 1v1 Solo Mid: You and your friend can determine who is the better midlaner. The match takes place on the middle lane, and to win the match, you must secure two kills or destroy the enemy Tier 1 tower. This mode is excellent for learning laning mechanics, hero control, and last-hitting.
3. All Random Deathmatch: An exciting game mode where each player is assigned a random hero at the start of the match. After each death, you receive a new hero while keeping your items. To win the game, you must destroy an enemy Ancient or force your opponents to exhaust a total of 40 respawns.
4. Reverse Draft: Available only in private lobbies, this is a reverse version of Captain’s Mode, where captains select the heroes that their opponents must play.

You can explore all these modes on public servers or private lobbies. Although most of them support bots, in some cases their AI may not always function properly, since it is primarily designed for traditional All Pick.

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