This guide will give you information about the different public matchmaking game modes available in Dota 2. It will also go into detail about the drafting phase and certain exceptions and restrictions in each mode.

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You can change which game mode you are queueing for by clicking on the Play button at the top of the Main Menu of Dota 2.



You'll then be taken to the Find a Match screen. From this screen click on the Select button underneath the Game Modes box.



From this screen you're able to select which game modes to queue for, you're able to select as many as you'd like.



When you're done making your selection click on Save Settings. The game will now put you in the pool of eligible players for each game mode if you have multiple selected when you begin queueing.

Some game modes allow you to swap heroes with other players. If you're in an eligible game mode this can be done before the clock reaches zero and the creeps spawn.

To do this open up the Scoreboard by clicking on the scoreboard icon at the top left of the HUD.



With the scoreboard open left click on the name of the player you want to swap with. From the drop down menu select Swap Hero.



Once a swap request is made the player will be given the option to accept or deny the request.



Once accepted, the players will instantly swap roles.

All Pick allows you to chose from every hero in the game. There are no restrictions on which heroes you can select and no time restrictions or order in which to do so.

Single Draft will present three heroes for each player to chose from. In the drafting phase the player must pick from one of their three choices. Decisions in Single Draft are final and you can't repick or swap with other players.

Random Draft will randomly select 20 heroes. Players will then take turns to make hero selections from the pool. The selection process follows a specific order:

• Radiant: 1 Pick
  
• Dire: 2 Picks
  
• Radiant: 2 Picks
  
• Dire: 2 Picks
  
• Radiant: 2 Picks
  
• Dire: 1 Pick

During the drafting phase players will be alerted when it is their turn to pick next, and when it's currently their turn. If the selection timer runs out a random hero will be assigned, however no bonus gold will be rewarded.

All Random will assign every player a random hero. Players can use the repick option at the cost of bonus gold. Whenever the repick option is selected the hero that was initially assigned is added back into the pool of possible choices, meaning it's possible to get the same hero if you repick.

Least Played excludes your personal 40 most played heroes from the pool. There are no time restrictions or a selection order in this game mode.

In Captains Mode one member of the team will be elected as a captain who will make all of the drafting choices for the team. It will alternate between both teams to take turns banning and picking heroes. If the selection timer runs out in a picking phase, a random hero will be assigned, however no bonus gold will be rewarded. If the selection timer runs out in a banning phase, no hero will be banned from the pool.

The banning phase will allow the captain to eliminate heroes from the selection pool. This means that they cannot be played in the game by either team. The picking phase will allow the captain to make the hero selections for their team. Once the drafting phase is complete, team members will be able to make their selection from the captains picks.

Captains mode is commonly used in a variety of pro Dota 2 tournaments.

• Ban Phase #1: Team A/B/A/B
  
• Pick Phase #1: Team A/B/B/A
  
  
• Ban Phase #2: Team A/B/A/B
  
• Pick Phase #2: Team B/A/B/A
  
  
• Ban Phase #3: Team B/A
  
• Pick Phase #3: Team B/A

Captains Draft is a mixture between Captains Mode and Random Draft. In Captains Draft one member of the team will be elected as a captain who will make all of the drafting choices for the team from a random pool of 24 heroes. It will alternate between both teams taking turns banning and picking heroes.

The picking phase will allow the captain to make the hero selections for their team. If the selection timer runs out in a picking phase, a random hero will be assigned; however, no bonus gold will be awarded.

The banning phase will allow the captain to eliminate heroes from the selection pool, this means that they cannot be played in the game by either team. If the selection timer runs out during a banning phase, no hero will be banned from the pool.

Once the drafting phase is complete, team members will be able to make their selection from the captain's picks.

• Ban Phase: Team A/B/A/B
  
  
• Pick Phase: Team A/B/B/A/A/B/A/A/B

Random Ability Draft assigns a random hero to every player in the game and will prompt them to take turns choosing which ability they want their hero to have. Every player can choose three standard abilities and one ultimate.

The abilities that are available to pick from is built up from all of the heroes that are currently in the game along with an extra set of abilities from two other random heroes.




For more information on Ability Draft you can read my guide below.

http://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=222350344

If you have any questions or comments regarding this guide please feel free to leave a comment below.



You can also check out all of my other Steam Guides here.


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