Top 5 easiest Dota 2 heroes in each role

When it comes to Dota 2, learning the game can be difficult, so we have curated a list of the top 5 easiest heroes to learn in each role.

Dota 2 can be a daunting environment to enter, especially with 126 heroes to choose from. The game technically has 5 roles, each containing heroes that excel in that position. However, some heroes can play in multiple roles. All of this can get rather confusing for a new player, so we have compiled a list of the top 5 easiest heroes to learn in each role.

Below you will find a brief description of each of the lane roles in Dota 2, and the heroes that can help you on your journey to Immortal.

Offlane

The offlane, or position 3, in Dota 2 is generally one of the easiest for a new player to learn. This is due to the heroes that are often linked to the lane. Offlane heroes are, more often than not, those that are more tanky, or with the ability to heavily influence teamfights in the mid to late game period. Players in this lane need to be prepared to sometimes play solo, but need to be aware of constant pressure and enemy ganks while trying to farm to the best of their abilities.

• Axe

Axe can farm with ease while remaining relatively healthy in lane. Counter Helix proves a way for the hero to secure the offlane and to convert damage he takes into damage to the enemy. With high base armour, the hero excels versus melee opponents and can clear the nearest jungle camps with ease if needed. When it comes to teamfighting, a Blink Dagger is sometimes all you need to give your team a major opening.

• Dragon Knight

Much like Axe, DK has insanely good durability in the lane. Dragon Blood offers health regeneration, while his ultimate ability turns him into a lane pushing extraordinaire. One of the best parts of DK is his versatility. The hero can be played in just about any role. With strong crowd control (CC) and multiple build variations, DK is possibly one of the strongest heroes in the game.

• Centaur Warrunner

Centaur is a very simple hero to pick up and play. Although the hero can fall victim to ranged harassment, his Retaliate ability hits back at attackers. Early game periods are a breeze, and when it comes to mid or late game, Centaur’s CC capacity is massive. A straightforward tank build makes this hero a menace, but one that is easy to learn.

• Tidehunter

Tidehunter is one of the most annoying heroes to go up against in the offlane. This makes him even better to play. From Kraken Shell blocking a massive amount of damage, to the damage reduction from Anchor Smash, Tidehunter excels are negating the enemy’s ability to farm or kill him. Combine that with a gigantic area of effect (AoE) ultimate, and you have an offlaner that can completely change the game.

• Doom

Devour is a simple ability, but extremely strong. Doom can earn bonus experience and gold by selecting a unit and eating it. Equipped with a mini stun on Infernal Blade, extra damage from Scorched Earth, and an ultimate that effectively removes a single hero from a fight, Doom controls the lane.

Midlane

From one of the easiest roles, we move to one of the toughest – the mid lane, or position 2. Often, the most contested lane on the map, mid heroes need to have full control to ensure they get ahead. For some time, this lane was mostly the spot of mage-type heroes, but as Dota 2 evolved, so did the role. Now, the role sets the pace of the game with the hero picked.

• Viper

When it comes to mid, Viper is one of the easiest heroes to play. While he may not have a proper stun, Viper’s ability to be offensive and defensive simultaneously is amazing. Corrosive skin not only damages attackers but also slows their attack speed and increases the hero's magic resistance. Combine that with Nethertoxin and Poison Attack, and you can see why Viper is a menace.

• Lina

Lina is a lane bully, especially in the early game period. With a passive that boosts both her attack speed and movement speed, she controls the lane. Add that to her strong range and ability to spam spells, and you can see why she can farm with ease.

• Zeus

Although Zeus can be very mana-hungry in the early game, he is easy to play. Once you get a few items online, Zeus can take control of the entire map with ease. The hero’s ability to throw out massive early game damage, roam, and secure kills anywhere on the map with his ultimate is second to none.

• Dragon Knight

DK rears his head once again. Much in the same way as the offlane play, mid is a simple experience. Dragon’s Blood carries the hero through trades, while Dragon’s Tail CC allows him to win these. While DK was always strong in the mid lane, the addition of Facets into the game made him a powerhouse.

• Sniper

Sniper’s insanely long range is what makes him a brutal hero in the mid lane. The ability to farm from the safety of your tower or out of reach from the enemy is massive. Not only that, but due to Take Aim, last hitting and denying come at no real cost. Pair that with the zoning potential of Shrapnel, and Sniper quickly becomes the easiest mid carry.

Carry

Moving on from one carry role to the real carry role. Carries in Dota 2 are your main source of damage in the late game. While generally weaker early, your carry is often followed into the lane by a support, sometimes two. The main early goal of a carry is to farm gold and level up fast, gearing into a mid and late game monster. While midlane sometimes has a carry hero, the actual carry, or position 1, is situated in the safe lane.

• Sven

Sven has a very basic toolkit, which makes him perfect for new players. While being slightly tanky and having a ranged CC, God’s Strength turns the hero into someone that can wipe the enemy team with ease. Although veteran players work around kiting away from Sven, Storm Hammer can quickly lockdown multiple enemies for huge damage.

• Drow Ranger

Drow Ranger

Drow’s biggest asset is her ability to slow enemies while also clearing waves in the early game. Multishot combined with Frost Arrows give her the edge, while Gush gives her a form of escape from aggressors. When it comes to the mid and late game, a few situational items can keep Drow alive, while allowing her to deal huge amounts of damage with Marksmanship.

• Wraith King

Wraith King is another one of those highly versatile heroes that can be played in multiple roles. As a carry, the hero excels in the early game with the damage from Wraithfire Blast. However, his Bone Guard ultimate is what makes the hero shine, with the ability to release skeletal warriors to fight for him. During the early game, reincarnation gives Wraith King a huge AoE slow and a resurrection to continue the fight.

• Juggernaut

One of the biggest ways to sustain during the early game of Dota 2 is via healing, of course. Usually done via items such as Tangoes or Healing Salve, which cost gold. Juggernaut comes with a Healing Ward ability, which can keep the hero in lane for long periods of time. Blade Fury can be utilised to quickly clear waves, while in the late game, he becomes a real juggernaut with Omnislash.

• Phantom Assassin

Phantom Assassin can become an absolute menace in Dota 2. From Blur being extremely strong to massive critical strikes, the hero is a beast in the carry role. In the early game, Stifling Dagger is a quick and easy way to poke enemies or secure the farm. Once her ultimate is unlocked, the damage that she can deal with just a few items and Phantom Strike’s bonus attack speed is unimaginable. Simply a Black King Bar (BKB) can ensure survivability as she crits through teams.

Support

Support in Dota 2 comes in two forms. Hard support and soft support, also known as position 4 and 5, respectively. The job of the hard support is generally to provide vision, protect the carry, and provide for utility. Players picking this role will, more often than not, sacrifice themselves for the team, in more ways than one.

Soft support, alternatively, functions in a very different way. Often, this support will be able to roam to different lanes, with the chance of helping the carries to secure kills or objectives such as Runes. The soft support will most often be in the offlane. Heroes in this role will generally have CC abilities, with good mobility to roam.

• Lich

Lich is a fantastic starting hero for a support player. With Frost Shield being a strong defensive for the carry or offlane in the early game, Chain Frost and Sinister Gaze are amazing in late-game teamfights. The additional slow from Frost Blast can net your carry some easy kills or poke down your opponents.

• Crystal Maiden

Much like Lich, CM offers some amazing slows and poke opportunities. However, Arcane Aura is where she shines for mana hungry carries, while also sharing the aura across her team. In the late game, with some good positioning, CM can create chaos with her ultimate and completely turn a fight.

• Ogre Magi

Ogre Magi during the early game can do many things. While being able to roam, slow enemies, stun enemies, and buff his allies, the hero has a basic kit that is simple to understand. Multicast can have some crazy procs and works with some items and his abilities. While based on luck, Ogre can pick a Facet to increase the chance for a Multicast.

• Warlock

Warlock is another very easy support hero to pick up. Through Fatal Bonds, the hero allows his carry to get some good harass damage in, while sustaining them with Shadow Word. Once it comes to the mid and late game, both Upheaval and Chaotic Offering are massive teamfight abilities, with big AoE effects and pushing power.

• Tiny

Tiny is, as with many heroes, very versatile. Although often played in the 2 role, Tiny excels as a support too. With huge damage output and initiation capabilities, combined with the ability to throw in his teammates for initiation, Tiny can control the early game. A Blink Dagger on Tiny is an easy way to roam and help your carries get kills.

Dota 2 has a huge number of heroes, but some are much easier to get used to than others. For new players, it is vital to find the role that you are most comfortable with before learning the hero. The above list is merely a guideline to help you along the way, but once you get the hang of a role, branching out can help you climb the ranks.