Dota 2’s metagame is notorious for shifting and changing course on a dime thanks to the flexible nature of hero roles and the huge impact items have on the game. These days especially, diverse tournament metas are to be expected, with only a handful of heroes going unpicked.
At the highest levels of play, games can be won or lost even before the creeps spawn. Having a good hero composition can spell the difference between a struggle to breach high ground or a team with heroes that complement each other and form a well-oiled machine.
Based on the current competitive metagame, this tier list outlines which heroes are picked most often by professional teams and those that stand out in terms of their win percentages. Note that this list will not include every hero, mainly because there are simply too many in Dota to count. Instead, we’ll break down the list to only include around 40 of the most popular and effective heroes.
Here’s our tier list for the best Dota 2 heroes. Check back from time to time as the list is updated with every major patch.
Dot Esports’ Dota 2 tier list
S-tier: Most popular, borderline-broken
These S-tier heroes make up the top of Dota 2’s meta right now. You can expect to see these heroes in most professional matches and high-ranked matches—if they don’t get banned first. All data is courtesy of stats site Spectral.
- Bane
- Oracle
- Leshrac
- Shadow Shaman
- Lifestealer
- Meepo
- Abaddon
- Slark
Bane
Bane has quietly slipped into the top spot for win rate during Patch 7.35c. Possessing a versatile kit and dodging adjustments since 7.35 first dropped, Atropos’ ability to combo with other skillshot spells and his powerful Fiend’s Grip make him a potent pick.
Oracle
Like Bane, Oracle has survived the nerfhammer and has risen to the top of support picks over the past month. It’s the effectiveness of False Promise plus the rise of healing support items that make Oracle a strong pick. Just don’t spam Purifying Flames on your teammate unless you’re sure they won’t die.
Leshrac
Everyone’s favorite Disco Pony is back with a vengeance. Leshrac enjoyed an extended period at the top of the meta before falling off heavily as Valve nerfed him to death over the past few months. Now, thanks to a cheaper mana cost for Pulse Nova and an increase in Diabolic Edict damage, he’s returned to mid lane and will carve up without focus during teamfights.
Shadow Shaman
Shadow Shaman remains the best kept secret in the meta. He possesses some of the best lockdown spells in the game; Hex all but consigns an enemy to death, a well-positioned Shackles keeps them stuck in place, and the extra Serpent Wards during Shackle with the Agh’s Shard remains one of the best Shard upgrades in Dota today.
Lifestealer
Na’ix hasn’t seen this sort of success for some time in Dota 2. Lifestealer takes a greedier build these days, with the Armlet-Rage combination often enough to net a few kills. From there, a Radiance makes Lifestealer incredibly hard to kill while he runs you down and rips into you with Feast.
Meepo
Meepo’s sticking around, folks. A good Meepo is all but impossible to defeat but nerfs throughout 7.35’s cycle means the hero is in a bit of a twilight period in the meta. Expect the next one to two updates to further reduce the carry’s potency.
Abaddon
Buffs, buffs, and more buffs for Abaddon over the past few patches has seen the hero inch up the win rate charts both as a core and as a support. A slight nerf to Borrowed Time’s cooldown has done little to stifle him, with Curse of Avernus’ damage and slow handy alongside a solid carry.
Slark
Slark has one of the higher pick rates in the selection and is keeping up with the best for win rate. Mage Slayer copped a hefty nerf in 7.35c but the item remains useful enough for Slark alongside Diffusal Blade and Aghanim’s Scepter.
A-tier: Often seen, competitive at most levels
- Nyx Assassin
- Arc Warden
- Treant Protector
- Broodmother
- Elder Titan
- Earthshaker
- Visage
- Io
- Dark Seer
A-tier heroes can be just as strong as those above them. Members of A-tier often have higher pick rates as they’re less likely to be banned than S-tier heroes. The heroes on this list could even break into the top tier after small balance patches.
This tier generally consists of heroes who can win their lane by themselves and possess mobility spells. Farming fast will also be a plus for these heroes to extend their early lead.
B-tier: Pocket-picks, outliers
- Enigma
- Venomancer
- Night Stalker
- Clinkz
- Kunkka
- Troll Warlord
- Dazzle
- Winter Wyvern
- Tidehunter
- Centaur Warrunner
- Zeus
B-tier heroes are seen less commonly than their S or A-tier peers. The heroes in the third tier are still relatively strong, but they may have a few shortcomings that prevent them from breaking into the tiers above. Most B-tier heroes tend to be situational picks, requiring the right team setup or opponent to truly thrive.
This is not an end-all list of heroes to pick. As mentioned, the flexibility of roles and laning in Dota 2 means that even the most unorthodox picks and strategies can sometimes work.
And with the huge variety of heroes available to play, there’s almost always a way to fit that one Dota 2 hero into your team composition.
