What does DotA stand for?
DotA stands for Defense of the Ancients.

What is DotA?
DotA is the most popular scenario/mini-game in Warcraft. It involves choosing one of over 70+ heroes, and using this hero to fight other enemy heroes and creeps. Heroes are able to level up to level 25, and there are hundreds of powerful items to empower your hero. DotA is a team-based game and is very popular in multiplayer. There are various team strategies and hero combinations. No single hero is the best, and no single hero will be the best for your team either. DotA involves a lot of strategy and is the most competitive Warcraft scenario out there.

Who created DotA?
DotA was originally developed by Eul. Meian created DotA Allstars. Guinsoo modified Meian's version and created the DotA Allstars we have today.

What is my objective in DotA?
Your team must destroy the opposing team's base. The base is centered around a main building (Tree of Life for Sentinels or Frozen Throne for Scourge). Once the opponents' main building is destroyed, your team wins.

What are the different game modes DotA offers?
Please refer to the DotA Game Modes page.

What are power-ups/runes?
Powerups come in the form of runes. They can be found along the river dividing the Scourge and Sentinel bases. Runes give you bonuses such as invisibility, double damage, haste, or illusions.

What is farming/creeping?
Farming/creeping describes the process of killing creeps to collect gold. Only the player that last hit the creep (in effect, the player that actually killed the creep) will gain gold.

How can I get lumber?
You can't. The items that require lumber are recipe scrolls. To obtain these items, just buy all the other items that the recipe scroll requires. Once you have all these items all at once in your inventory, they will either combine into one item automatically or they will combine after you purchase the recipe scroll. None of this requires lumber.

Where are the secret shops?
The secret shops are in the forest. The Scourge secret shop is in the forest right above Roshan. The Sentinel secret shop is on the left side of the map inside the forest.

Where is Roshan and what do I get for killing him?
Roshan is an optional golem you can kill. He is found in the Scourge forest on the right side of the map. Killing him will give the ENTIRE team gold (even if the entire team was not present in the battle). Roshan will also drop an item which differs from version to version. Among the items he has dropped include the "Cheese" and "Aegis of the Immortal."

What are the special kill messages?
You must make at least 3 kills in a row (without dying) before any special kill messages are displayed.

3 kills = "Killing Spree"
4 kills = "Dominating"
5 kills = "Mega Kill"
6 kills = "Unstoppable"
7 kills = "Wicked Sick"
8 kills = "Monster Kill"
9 kills = "Godlike"
10 kills = Beyond Godlike "Holy Shit"

After 10 kills, the last message will just be repeated. If a player kills more than one hero at a time:

2 kills = "Double Kill!"
3 kills = "Triple Kill!"

If a hero is attacked with two or more spells and killed, you will hear "Combo Whore!"