Draft Guide
Drafting strategies, counter-picks, and team compositions.
Draft Phases
Ban Phase 1 (4 bans per team)
Each team bans 4 heroes simultaneously. Target heroes that counter your strategy or are currently overpowered in the meta. In pubs, ban the hero you least want to play against.
Pick Phase 1 (2 picks per team)
Teams alternate picking 2 heroes each. First picks should be flexible heroes that do not reveal your strategy. Pick heroes that can play multiple roles (e.g., Mirana can go mid, offlane, or support).
Ban Phase 2 (3 bans per team)
After seeing 4 picks, each team bans 3 more heroes. This is the reactive ban phase - ban heroes that counter picks already shown or heroes that complete the enemy draft.
Pick Phase 2 (2 picks per team)
Teams pick 2 more heroes each. This is where you solidify your team composition and fill roles. Start revealing your strategy but keep your last pick flexible.
Ban Phase 3 (1 ban per team)
Final ban round with 1 ban each. This is highly targeted - ban the one hero that perfectly counters or completes the enemy lineup.
Pick Phase 3 (1 pick per team)
The final pick is the most important. Last pick advantage is huge in Dota 2 - use it for your mid or carry to ensure a favorable matchup.
Drafting Tips
Draft for Synergy
Pick heroes whose abilities combo well together. Enigma + Dark Seer (Black Hole + Wall), Magnus + Juggernaut (Empower + cleave damage), or Faceless Void + Witch Doctor (Chronosphere + Death Ward) are classic combos.
Cover All Roles
Ensure your draft has initiation, damage, crowd control, and push. A team of 5 carries loses to a balanced lineup. At minimum you need: 1 initiator, 1 damage dealer, 1 support, 1 frontliner.
Counter the Enemy
Pay attention to enemy picks. Against heavy physical damage, pick armor-giving heroes. Against illusion heroes, pick area damage. Against healing, pick Ancient Apparition.
Lane Assignments Matter
Think about how your heroes match up in each lane, not just in teamfights. A lost lane can snowball into a lost game. Ensure your safe lane carry has a good matchup.
Timing Windows
Draft heroes with complementary power spikes. If all your heroes peak at 40 minutes, you have no early game. Mix early-game aggression with late-game insurance.