Last updated: September 20, 2024 (to include Kez)

Embark on a journey through time as we explore the release dates of every Dota 2 character in the game! With over 100 heroes, there's guaranteed to be a hero to suit every individual player.

Each hero brings their own skills, lore, and gameplay mechanics to the ever-expanding tapestry of Dota 2, creating balance on the battlefield for players new and old. Behind the scenes, the introduction of these heroes is a carefully orchestrated developer dance, captivating players as they steadily reshape the meta with every new addition.

Since Dota 2's development has slowed in recent years and the player base is slowly dwindling, Valve now only tends to release around one new Dota 2 hero a year, making each new release a special event.

From Anti-Mage and Pudge to Primal Beast, Monkey King, and the Ringmaster; keep reading for all the release dates for every hero added to Dota 2 since 2010!

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED IN 2010

The concept for Dota (Defense of the Ancients) originally came from a custom modification of Warcraft III. Developers Eul and Guinsoo were involved in the game's creation. Later, IceFrog was hired by Valve Software, who eventually became the renowned forefather of Dota 2.

Dota 2 was officially announced in October 2010, with the beta officially launching in its infancy on November 1, 2010. The 24 heroes below were all available on launch.

  • Anti-Mage
  • Axe
  • Crystal Maiden
  • Dazzle
  • Drow Ranger
  • Earthshaker
  • Lich
  • Lina
  • Lion
  • Mirana
  • Morphling
  • Necrophos
  • Puck
  • Pudge
  • Razor
  • Sand King
  • Shadow Shaman
  • Sven
  • Tidehunter
  • Vengeful Spirit
  • Windranger
  • Witch Doctor
  • Zeus

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED IN 2011

Thirty-nine more heroes were added to the Dota 2 public beta in 2011.

  • Enigma (February 12, 2011)
  • Faceless Void (February 19, 2011)
  • Tiny (February 19, 2011)
  • Viper (February 19, 2011)
  • Venomancer (April 9, 2011)
  • Clockwerk (April 20, 2011)
  • Nature's Prophet (April 20, 2011)
  • Dark Seer (April 30, 2011)
  • Sniper (April 30, 2011)
  • Beastmaster (May 20, 2011)
  • Pugna (May 20, 2011)
  • Enchantress (May 26, 2011)
  • Leshrac (May 26, 2011)
  • Shadow Fiend (May 26, 2011)
  • Tinker (June 2, 2011)
  • Weaver (June 10, 2011)
  • Nightstalker (June 11, 2011)
  • Ancient Apparition (June 17, 2011)
  • Spectre (June 17, 2011)
  • Doom (June 24, 2011)
  • Chen (July 1, 2011)
  • Juggernaut (September 30, 2011)
  • Bloodseeker (October 6, 2011)
  • Kunkka (October 6, 2011)
  • Riki (October 13, 2011)
  • Queen of Pain (October 20, 2011)
  • Wraith King (October 20, 2011)
  • Broodmother (October 20, 2011)
  • Huskar (October 27, 2011)
  • Jakiro (October 27, 2011)
  • Batrider (October 27, 2011)
  • Omniknight (November 3, 2011)
  • Dragon Knight (November 3, 2011)
  • Warlock (November 11, 2011)
  • Alchemist (November 18, 2011)
  • Lifestealer (December 2, 2011)
  • Death Prophet (December 8, 2011)
  • Ursa (December 16, 2011)
  • Bounty Hunter (December 21, 2011)

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED IN 2012

2012 saw a grand total of 31 new heroes joining the growing roster. This was the second full year of the Dota 2 beta, adding a new dimension to the ever-evolving game.

  • Silencer (January 12, 2012)
  • Spirit Breaker (January 12, 2012)
  • Invoker (January 19, 2012)
  • Clinkz (January 26, 2012)
  • Outworld Destroyer (February 16, 2012)
  • Bane (March 1, 2012)
  • Shadow Demon (March 15, 2012)
  • Lycan (March 22, 2012)
  • Lone Druid (March 28, 2012)
  • Brewmaster (April 19, 2012)
  • Phantom Lancer (May 4, 2012)
  • Treant Protector (May 17, 2012)
  • Ogre Magi (May 24, 2012)
  • Gyrocopter (June 11, 2012)
  • Chaos Knight (June 11, 2012)
  • Phantom Assassin (June 11, 2012)
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  • Rubick (June 20, 2012)
  • Luna (June 28, 2012)
  • Io (June 28, 2012)
  • Undying (July 5, 2012)
  • Disruptor (July 5, 2012)
  • Templar Assassin (July 12, 2012)
  • Naga Siren (July 19, 2012)
  • Nyx Assassin (July 26, 2012)
  • Keeper of the Light (July 26, 2012)
  • Visage (July 26, 2012)
  • Meepo (September 21, 2012)
  • Magnus (October 4, 2012)
  • Centaur Warrunner (October 25, 2012)
  • Slark (November 15, 2012)
  • Timbersaw (December 13, 2012)

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED IN 2013

Dota 2 officially launched as a free-to-play game on Steam on July 9, 2013, with an average of around 200K players. These numbers only continued to increase as the game gained more traction.

  • Medusa (January 10, 2013)
  • Troll Warlord (January 24, 2013)
  • Tusk (February 14, 2013)
  • Bristleback (March 28, 2013)
  • Skywrath Mage (April 19, 2013)
  • Elder Titan (May 2, 2013)
  • Abaddon (July 12, 2013)
  • Ember Spirit (November 14, 2013)
  • Earth Spirit (November 14, 2013)
  • Legion Commander (December 12, 2013)

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED IN 2014

2014 is the first year where players see a significant drop in new heroes released onto the game, with only three new characters.

  • Phoenix (January 29, 2014)
  • Terrorblade (January 29, 2014)
  • Techies (September 4, 2014)

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED IN 2015

Dota 2 peaked in 2015 with around 1.2 million players. Since then, Dota 2 has only seen around 600K players at its peak. Tournaments like The International are one of the main factors reeling in players.

  • Oracle (February 12, 2015)
  • Winter Wyvern (February 12, 2015)
  • Arc Warden (December 16, 2015)

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED IN 2016

  • Underlord (August 23, 2016)
  • Monkey King (December 12, 2016)

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED IN 2017, 2018, AND 2019

  • Dark Willow (October 31, 2017)
  • Pangolier (October 31, 2017)
  • Grimstroke (August 24, 2018)
  • Mars (March 5, 2019)
  • Snapfire (November 26, 2019)
  • Void Spirit (November 26, 2019)

DOTA 2 HEROES RELEASED FROM 2020 ONWARDS

From 2020 onwards, the patterns of Dota 2 new hero releases have been few and far between in comparison to the early days of Dota 2. The infrequent hero releases to the game, combined with the dying player numbers, makes players wonder what the future of Dota 2 really is.

The new hero, Ringmaster, was revealed in the TI12 Final in an exciting introduction trailer. While nothing about his ability or battle potential was divulged, players are excited for the first new hero to join the roster since Muerta in March 2023.

  • Hoodwink (December 17, 2020)
  • Dawnbreaker (April 9, 2021)
  • Marci (October 28, 2021)
  • Primal Beast (February 23, 2022)
  • Muerta (March 6, 2023)
  • Ringmaster (August 24, 2024)
  • Kez, the Bird Samurai (Expected September 24, 2024)

Final Thoughts

That was the complete list of all 126 heroes in Valve's MOBA Dota 2, ordered according to their release dates. We'll update this article whenever a new hero is added, so watch this space! 

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FAQs About Dota 2 Heroes

How do I unlock Dota 2 heroes?

Heroes in Dota 2 can be unlocked through the Store, using real money or the points you get by playing the game. There is also a weekly rotation of free-to-play heroes, so you can trial them before you buy.

How many heroes are in Dota 2?

As of September 2024, there are 125 heroes in the game. The new hero, Ringmaster, is the newest addition to the roster after being annouced at TI12 in 2023. Kez, the Bird Samurai, was teased at TI13 in 2024, with a release date coming soon.

Who is the most popular hero in Dota 2?

Pudge is the most popular hero by a large margin in Dota 2, with a pick rate of 29%. He also has a sizeable amount of lifetime matches, with over 950 million games played.

Who is the latest Dota 2 hero?

Ringmaster was the latest hero to be added to DOTA 2, in August 24, 2024.

Where can players find accurate information on Dota 2 releases?

You can follow our blog for all the updates about new hero releases and abilities. Alternatively, you can visit the official Dota 2 website or Steam community page, where important announcements are posted.