5 Reasons Why I Freakin Love DotA
By: Enzo Antonio
Tags: Gaming, Esport, Videogames, Dota 2, Games

I just love playing games. I pretty much wasted more than 15,000 hours just staring at my computer screen. I’ve played MMORPGs, Strategy Games, MOBA, Casual Games, NFT Games, Playstation, Family Computer (I know. I’m 22 and old), Nintendo DS Games, Pokemon, and others I can’t remember anymore.

Among all these games, only one has never left me (and probably never will): Defense of the Ancients.

Here are 5 reasons why I just can’t stop loving this game:

DotA, itself, is just Pure Art.

I can’t stress this enough. DotA is not very beginner-friendly as games like League of Legends or CSGO (which aren’t very hard to learn for a beginner), but it has served as the platform for almost every other ‘just-released’ MOBA Game out there. The genius creation of more than 100 unique heroes, 200+ items, and amazingly balanced Hero Skills pave the way to endless possibilities, strategies, and builds players can enjoy.

In the video below, 2-time The International Champion Sébastien ‘Ceb’ Debs briefly explained why he prefers DotA over League of Legends

OG.Ceb on Dota vs LoL

2. DotA is Mentally Challenging (and pretty much draining sometimes)

In order to succeed in Chess, you’ll need to outdo and outwit your opponent. Every move you make matters so much that one mistake can cost you the entire game. Dealing with one opponent’s brain is stifling enough, what more if there’s five?

Likewise, every step you take in DotA determines the pace of the game. Each member of the team has a specific role to fulfill and must synchronize with each other. Hero Drafting (in Captains Mode Format or Tournaments) almost always determines which team wins the game.

You’re gonna have to think about your team’s strategy, skill combos, farming, laning, item builds, item prioritization, team plays, minute runes, helping losing lanes, and studying enemy movements as well. If you mess up, expect to get a bunch of roasts (especially if you’re in SEA Server).

Dota 2 Captains Mode Drafting

3. Winning a Game is So Rewarding

Because an average game lasts around 25–40 minutes, spending half an hour only to lose absolutely makes NO SENSE. Winning a DotA game is so addictive, you’d trade three extra hours of sleep for another potential three wins.

There’s nothing more rewarding than winning with two core players who can’t carry the game. And especially if you’re in Southeast Asia Server, shutting down big-mouthed dummies who talk first before winning probably is one of the best feelings ever.

In DotA, you’re never gonna know who’s gonna win until the game ends. Even if your team is miles ahead in Networth and Experience, one slip can turn the tables around.

4. Fantastic Pro Scenes (with some sort of drama to spice it up)

A major reason why players start venturing DotA is because of its entertaining professional setup.

Dota 2 is home to many successful eSports players such as Danil “Dendi” Ishutin, Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, Amer al-Barkawi “Miracle-”, Syed Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan, and many others. The stories these players share inspire the younger generation to have a different outlook on Video Games such that (1) you can actually make a career out of it, (2) it can improve focus, social interaction, and confidence, and that (3) the gaming industry has the potential to become one of the most profitable sectors of society in the future.

Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, richest eSports Player

The International or TI, the largest DotA Tournament annually hosted by Valve, has gone from a million-dollar prize pool in 2012 to over 40 million dollars in total for professional DotA Players, a staggering 4000% increase from where it all started. (If your mom scolds you for playing DotA, remind her that the prize pool is 40 f#@*n million dollars)

The International 10 hosted on the 12th of October 2021

5. You can NEVER EVER quit DotA. Period.

Every DotA Player once said ‘I’m gonna quit DotA’ and FAILED. The moment you try to quit playing or leave the game completely because you’re tired of losing streaks and stupid teammates, or because you’ve decided to get serious with life, you’re always gonna find yourself, one way or another, playing the game again or watching the professional scene.

DotA is home. DotA is life. DotA, sometimes, even weighs more than your wife. Even when you haven’t played the game for the last 5–10 years, you’re always gonna be there when The International is back. The whole community does. You’re gonna feel the thrill, intensity, mixed emotions, and increased adrenaline while keeping your eyes glued to your screen.

After all, it’s so refreshing to watch the game you played during the good old times with your friends when you were still teenagers (I played it since I was eight). Now, seeing this beloved game broadcasted all over the world, I’m proud to say I’m one of the millions of people that got to enjoy this genius creation.