Dota 2 vs League of Legends – Which one is better?

If you want to start your MOBA journey, there are two mainstream options that you could choose. We are here for you to answer any question that could pop up in your mind about these games. Dota 2 vs League of Legends, which is the best for you?

First of all, these two games seem similar but they are way different from each other. Digging into their past, Dota was first published in 2003, and League of Legends’ release date is 2009. However, Dota and Dota 2 are two separate games, the second game came into our lives in 2013, ten years after the first release.

Esports Tournaments

One of the biggest differences that leads to the concept “Dota 2 vs League of Legends” is that their esports stages are completely different. Riot Games’ main focus is to create regional leagues just like traditional sports but Valve has a different understanding. Dota 2 also has regional leagues but they are very different. You can see different “tours” and “divisions” in Dota 2 and there are only 8 teams in each region competing in these tournaments. On the other hand, League of Legends prioritizes the franchising model that is being used in the NBA. Even though both games have open circuit tournaments, Valve’s preparations and formats are way better than Riot Games for sure.

Riot stopped supporting small tournaments but in Dota you could find a regional tournament with huge prizes. Back in the days, Riot Games used to organize small tournaments in many different cities but they stopped doing that and focused on their main product, franchising leagues. The academy leagues help to improve the ecosystem in terms of young talent but it kills the amateur scene. 

The International and Worlds are the biggest tournaments of these two titles. TI holds a huge prize pool every year but Riot Games are behind the competition in terms of this matter. In Worlds, you see a regular tournament format with play-ins, group stage, and playoffs. On the other hand, The International holds a format that grants losing teams a second chance in the lower brackets.

Communities

Dota 2 vs League of Legends, which game has the most toxic community? Well, there are toxic people everywhere, just like there are in both games. You could make bold predictions and generalize communities but you will never get the correct answer. You could play with toxic people in a game and in the next game, you could meet an angel who helps you win the game by helping in many aspects. 

Game Mechanics

To be honest, both games have similar champions and similar understandings. However, the biggest difference is that you could deny your own minions in Dota and it makes a huge distinction. In both games, you have to take down towers and reach the “heart” of their base. Even though most of the champions and their skill sets are similar, there are some differences and you can find out about them by watching their gameplays on YouTube.

To sum up, there are both cultural and mechanical differences between both games. For some, Dota is harder than League but this is a personal opinion that depends on your interests and skills. Lastly, if you want to become a professional player and make lots of money, you should check our piece about Dota’s The International tournament which holds the biggest prizes every year.