The best custom Dota 2

It was when the custom map Dota Auto Chess entered the world of Dota. The popularity of Dota2 soared to the skies, as you can guess, not due to the main content. Gamers from different games started playing chess. It was gaining popularity extremely fast. The first Dota Auto Chess tournaments emerged a few days after its release. Then, the custom map repeated the fate of its predecessor DotA. The implementations of Dota Auto Chess as a standalone game were released very soon: Dota Underlords (by Valve), Auto Chess, Teamfight Tactics, etc. Valve managed to create a super cool beta test of Underlords and the overwhelmingly bad release version, which got rid of all the audience of this game. The Chinese version called Auto Chess hosted a $1,000,000 tournament and went dark. Only TFT by Riot Games is still doing fine.

This is a real ugly duckling story, so let’s have a look at the list of popular custom maps in Dota2!

Dota Auto Chess

Subscribers: 10,077,613

Despite all the things this custom map has faced, including the above-mentioned occasion, it is still on top. Definitely, the hype train is behind but playing it is always cool.

In Dota Auto Chess, eight players fight each other not directly, but with the help of an uncontrolled army.

You will need to gather it by buying and improving it for the heroes’ gold, which can be mixed into different combinations, receiving additional bonuses. The great variety of combinations, the thoughtful economy, and the unique gameplay – are the things that attracted even the most sophisticated gamers at the time.

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Overthrow and Overthrow 2.0

Subscribers: 10,544,486 and 4,323,812

The classic Deathmatch mode in Dota2. 7 different game modes for players to choose from. One of the first custom maps in Dota was made by Valve.Depending on the number of participants on the battlefield and the distribution of teams, starting from eight teams with two persons in each and finishing with classic Deathmatch where 10 users fight in the mode «every man for himself».The main objective is to score the necessary number of kills first or to have the highest number of kills by the end of the in-game time limitTo diversify the gaming process, and make it more dynamic, the developers have focused all battle action in the middle of the field, which is always visible for all players and provides those who stay within a small radius additional experience and gold.Here you can use your gaming skill nicely. It is not worth picking passive heroes, they will not be able to compete at such a rapid pace of the game. Endless fighting and clashes allow you to gain experience quickly.Help your teammate or a team and sweep to victory together.

Pudge Wars

Subscribers: 6,305,114

All secret desires in terms of hitting an opponent with a hook, the ones that are difficult to do in a regular match, can be brought to life in this custom map. Everything is simple. There are four abilities:

• Hook — throw and kill. One hook - one kill.
• Earthbind — the Meepo’s net, throw it to fix an enemy in place, and be 100% sure that your hook will reach the target.
• Phase Shift — Puck-Pudge? press it to dodge the opponents’ hooks.
• Rearm — to reload all skills, which will require only your gold.

There are things to spend gold on. For example, Rod of Atos for additional fixation or Aether Lens for a higher cast range of your hook, without SMS and registration.

Practice the aim of your hook here:)

Angel Arena Reborn

Subscribers: 3,529,354

Another interpretation of the legendary WC3 map.Upgrade a character, win duels, and beat your opponents.The balanced world inside the particular custom map. Besides basic upgrading of your character by killing creeps, you can purchase books, which will not only increase your experience but the main attributes of your hero. Also, there are many cool artifacts, which you will never find in the usual Dota.Generally, it is a nice custom map, in which you can stay for about 70 minutes.

Custom Hero Chaos

Subscribers: 3,313,579

This is one of the most popular custom maps among streamers. It is based on the similar one back in WC3 – Hero Wars. Each of the 8 participants receives a random hero, which can be replaced by one of three characters. Then, players choose abilities during level upgrading (like in Ability Draft) from the offered list (it can include random abilities from 123 Dota heroes). You choose two skills at the first level, one more at the third one, then at the 5th-6th level (depending on your success in the first duel), and the last one at the 8th-9th level (it also depends on the results of the duel).

Combining abilities correctly, you build some kind of an in-game strategy. Besides waves of creeps, you will see duels with other players. The other players, which do not take part in duels, can place bets on an outcome. Depending on a victory/loss, death, or survival in the arena, you will earn a sum of money +% of bets. If players have not bet on you any gold but you achieved victory – wait for a big jackpot.

There are four most frequently used combinations of abilities:

• physical damage dealer - a character, which chooses physical passive skills and artifacts that boost the damage done by regular hits
• summoner - a character, which collects abilities that summon units and also buys all items that enhance them
• mage - a character, which chooses magical abilities (usually with small cool down and providing DOT effects) and purchases items, which enhance these spells
• DOT user - a character, which picks skills with negative effects that provide magic damage over time.

The main objective is to focus on killing creeps but not winning duels. Some combinations of abilities allow you to mix these two activities. However, many players make a mistake when they try focusing on full domination on the arena but are diminished by creeps, and you will also need to face and survive the battle with Roshan during 40+ waves.

Every player has 3 lives at the beginning, which, by the way, you can buy. After 5 players lose their lives, the rest of the players will be losing 1 life if they are defeated in duels. When players are out of life, they will be debuffed by reducing the damage and stats of their characters, and also increasing the incoming damage.

Your goal is to live longer than your opponents.

P.S. In this custom map, there is a PVE mode, in which you will have just to farm waves of creeps. It is a pretty uninteresting activity, only for setting new records of PVE walkthrough.

Element TD

Subscribers: 2,249,859

All new is well forgotten old. The incredible Tower Defense, probably one of the best in its genre, survived till nowadays, which, by the way, was recreated in a standalone game called Element TD 2 - Tower Defense

Elements of light, darkness, fire, water, earth, and nature will allow you to build 59 unique towers.

You will need to learn how to predict the upcoming waves of creeps and bosses, and their elements, and adapt your approach for maximum protection. Every element has its strong and weak sides, so choosing the right ways of improving is crucial to winning.

You can not just pick random elements and towers, you will need to get into it and understand how it works. It is nice entertainment and food for thought.

Dawn of War

Subscribers: 1,944,890

It is a nice PVP custom map created as an active analogue of Auto Chess. Pair duels, a more active hero upgrade system, and an opportunity of choosing positions will allow you to have fun.

There are three game modes to choose from

As in the majority of cases, there is its own atmosphere and rankings.

Use a more creative approach to the placement of characters, their upgrading, and item builds, and you will be the best.

Watchers Of Samsara

Subscribers: 1,185,525

Its essence lies in protecting the base. Four players can play it but it also can be played alone.Three difficulty levels: Easy, Difficult, and Nightmare

After walking through the custom map at an easy level of difficulty, the endless modes are unlocked. After killing Roshan during the 55th wave, you will be fighting monsters, for which there are no rewards – the test of power, which you were accumulating during the main time.The summon of elite bosses, hounds with gold, bosses, etc are waiting for you here. At the start, you can choose one of a few heroes, each of them has its own abilities (they are different from the skills in Dota2 in most cases).

The limit of the picked heroes is 3, and the limit of the chosen warriors (creeps with unique abilities and skills). Upgrade a character, build your defense, and combine the heroes’ and warriors’ skills – you will face both easy enemies, and interim and final bosses (Roshans, during the 25th and 55th waves, respectively).

Every 5th wave will provide you with a lot of gold but remember – the number of gold depends on the damage you have done in a particular wave.The further you advance, the higher rank you will receive and proceed through the standings.

On the outcome of the season, the best of the best will be rewarded with some prizes inside the custom map.

Atomic War

Subscribers: 761,345

One of the varieties of Ability Draft PVP custom maps. The idea is to gather a team of 5 heroes, which will be destroying everything on their way. During the mid-round period, you choose new heroes, abilities, and artifacts.

At the beginning of the game, you choose the Lord, one of three with an opportunity to refresh the list. Every Lord has its own bonuses, around which you can build one or another game strategy.

During the game, you upgrade a tavern, which increases the variety of heroes/abilities and artifacts, and also their level. Every round is a duel with one of the players, having lost it, you will lose your Lord’s health points.

The game will be over when your Lord’s hp or the opponents’ ones will hit zero:)

Random Farm TD

Another Tower Defense, which has come to us from Warcraft 3. Here you will see a great variety of towers and artifacts for them. You can understand this custom in one game without any problems.

Plant pumpkins, cabbage, or watermelons (using all your mana) and sell them at a profitable price, preferably more than 100+ golds per item, sometimes the price may reach more than 135+ but don’t be too greedy because you can be destroyed while choosing the right price. Every plant crop can be upgraded (the maximum level is 7), which increases the price bonus, so it is not worth switching between crops. Also, you will receive buffs to choose from during some waves:

• a random cool tower
• a damage bonus
• a money bonus

We have figured out about “a vegetable garden” but here comes fishing! At the very beginning, you will have an opportunity to go fishing three times and catch lots of prizes (from fish to a diamond, which gives you money). You will receive another try in every round. Besides prizes, you will solve quests, so do not sell something useful occasionally.

Definitely, not the least important thing is tower building. You can avoid it in Tower Defense:) 170 gold for a common one and 1550 for a master tower. Towers are divided into a few sublevels:

• basic
• advanced
• expert
• master
• legendary
• divine

Build common ones, upgrade them to a better one as gold accumulates, and don’t forget to improve the most widespread type of attack and summon bosses, which will bring you 200/400/800 mana points depending on their difficulty level.

You can play alone and with friends or random players, which will be given to you by Dota.