League of Legends (LoL) and Dota 2 are two of the most popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games dominating the esports market with a massive player base and millions of viewers during tournaments. The objective of both games is to destroy the enemy team’s base, but LoL players must destroy turrets, inhibitor structures, and the nexus, while Dota 2 players must destroy the enemy barracks and towers. LoL has over 150 champions, while Dota 2 has about 120 heroes, and both host massive esports tournaments with lucrative prize pools. The better MOBA depends on personal preference, and both games attract millions of viewers in their respective esports scenes.
The Battle of the Best MOBA Esports Teams: League of Legends vs. Dota 2
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games have taken the esports industry by storm because of their challenging gameplay, strategic depth, and fast-paced action. Two of the most popular MOBAs that have dominated the esports scene for years are League of Legends (LoL) and Dota 2. Both games have a massive player base and attract millions of viewers during their highly anticipated esports tournaments.
Gameplay and Objectives
League of Legends and Dota 2 both have similar gameplay mechanics where two teams of five players each go head-to-head in a battle to destroy the enemy team’s nexus or ancient located in their base. Players select different champions or heroes that have unique abilities, statistics, and playstyles which they use to gain advantages, outmaneuver their opponents, and secure objectives.
However, there are some significant differences in how the two games approach their objectives. In LoL, players must destroy turrets, inhibitor structures, and then the nexus to win. In Dota 2, players must destroy the two enemy barracks along with the towers that protect them before being able to target the enemy ancient.
Champion/Hero Roster and Variety
When it comes to champion or hero selection, LoL boasts a roster of over 150 champions. Meanwhile, Dota 2 has a smaller pool of around 120 heroes. Both games continuously add new champions or heroes to their respective rosters to keep the gameplay fresh and exciting, and maintain a balanced meta game.
However, the champions or heroes in each game are quite different in terms of abilities and design. LoL champions tend to have colorful and quirky designs along with unique ability combinations that rely on engaging enemies in skillful and tactical ways. On the other hand, Dota 2 heroes have more straightforward abilities and designs, but obscure and complex playstyle mechanics that often require a lot of practice to master.
Esports Tournaments and Prize Pools
LoL and Dota 2 both hold massive esports tournaments that attract thousands of professional players from all around the world. LoL has its world championship event called the League of Legends World Championship (LWC) that offers a multi-million dollar prize pool. The 2019 LWC had a prize pool of $2.2 million USD, which was awarded to the winning team, Fun Plus Phoenix.
Similarly, Dota 2 holds its world championship called The International, which is famous for having one of the largest prize pools in esports history. The tournament in 2019 awarded a staggering $34.3 million USD to the winning team, OG Esports.
Viewer Base
Both LoL and Dota 2 hold a massive viewership, with millions of people tuning in to watch professional matches and tournaments each year. According to Esports Charts, LoL had peak viewership of 3.9 million during the 2020 League of Legends World Championship finals. Similarly, The International 2020 Dota 2 tournament had a peak viewership of about 2 million people.
Conclusion – Which is the better MOBA?
It’s difficult to determine which game is better because both LoL and Dota 2 have their strengths and weaknesses. Some players prefer LoL’s fast-paced gameplay and quirky champions, while others prefer Dota 2’s complex mechanics and hero designs. Similarly, both games have their unique esports scenes that attract millions of viewers and offer lucrative prize pools.
Ultimately, the choice falls down to personal preference, and players should try out both games to see which one they enjoy more. Regardless of which game you prefer, both LoL and Dota 2 have undoubtedly secured their place in the esports industry as the best MOBAs out there.