From Dota 2 to League of Legends: Game transition

Welcome to the MOBA genre

Many things came through when one of the leading developers left the project of the Warcraft 3 mod which name was Defense of the Ancients and created a path of his own. Consequently, after a couple of years, League of Legends became an entirely new computer video game that everyone enjoyed. Rather than starting from scratch and create a new game, the development team borrowed some gaming mechanics from DotA, but at the same time, made different new things. Therefore, the final result was a mixture between the old mod and this new video game that already had a release date. As a result, it was a huge success, everyone saw the original “champions” with positive receptions, and we got to see different ways to play the game at that time, with three unalike maps.

At the same time, there was a new business model that got everyone’s attention, and that was free to play approach. Therefore, people had no excuse to try this new game; you only had to create a new Riot account and download the entire client from their official website. Unquestionably, there’s always a catch in this innovate model, this time around, the champions were behind paying walls (which you could unlock with in-game currency), and the cosmetic items needed real money for them to activate in your account. Plus, at that time, you had to unlock the runes with in-game currency as well. In contrast, the game modes and different maps were available to anyone from the start.

In this article, we’ll discuss the differences and similarities between different games, and make the Game Transition. As a result, there’s going to be more comfortable for you to accommodate the “new” gaming mechanics.

Why do you want to change/try?

After the success of League of Legends, other video games with the same genre in mind hit the market in the next upcoming years. As a result, the sequel from the mod that originated everything hit the online servers with the aid of the video game company called Valve. Due to the new gaming engine, this sequel had better graphics and fewer limitations to add different new things to its contents. Likewise, this game has to offer casual match play, as well as a ranking system where you fight against more skilled players for the best spots. Besides following the League of Legends’ “free to play” approach, this game has the complete roster unlocked at the start, and their only revenue comes from cosmetics.

But just like any other MOBA (or any video game for the matter) you may feel “burn out” after playing the same thing over and over again. It seems like any other video game on the market doesn’t “cut it” like Dota 2, until you go and try another option with the same genre in mind. Because League of Legends contains lots of similar mechanics, this game transition is going to feel a lot easier for you to go through. Likewise, if you feel like everything in League of Legends suits your needs even better, you always have the option to go upside down and change your gaming routine completely.

Like Dota 2, League of Legends is free to play, which means that you don’t have too many excuses to at least give it a try.

Similarities Between Both Games

Since both games take inspiration from the Defense of the Ancients mod, some gameplay elements feel way too similar in both games. After all, they both appeal to the “MOBA” genre, which means that the core mechanic is there for us to enjoy. First of all, they both share the “original” map, you know which one, it practically is impregnated in our minds from a long time now. Above all, this map always contains the three-lane format, the turret defenses, the copy/paste feel were both teams start, and no one can forget the famous last structure that dictates the win or lose. Likewise, in every new match, you create a group with other four random players and are matched with another team of five players.

Furthermore, each participant controls a single unit which can gather gold coins, level up to unlock its abilities, and buy equipment to improve the stats and have better chances of winning. At first games like these made interesting matches between friends in “Lan” environments, but sooner than later it became too successful in creating a eSports empire on their own. At the current moment, both MOBA games have tournaments with more than a million in prices, across different regions, and gathering professional players from different corners of the Planet.

Besides these similarities, both games have different characteristics that we need to discuss even further, they represent critical elements from both games but are available in their way. Knowing more about their differences can make the game transition between Dota 2 to League of Legends a lot less troublesome. These elements are the follows:

Heroes to Champions

Every hero in Dota 2 contains the following characteristics: Base stats, four abilities and an ultimate that can either be passive or active, last but not least they all have the same level cap. Likewise, these heroes have a division according to their primary stat and abilities. For example, one hero with intelligence as its primary stat and some healing abilities will likely put it in the support group. Each time you level up your character, you get to choose to add one point in one skill that your hero has to offer.

Furthermore, the higher your hero is, the more time you need to wait for respawn. At the same time, your hero loses more gold after death. Last but not least, the “buyback” becomes more expensive.

League of Legends, on the other hand, makes things a lot easier for you. Similarly to Dota 2, their “champions” have their primary stat, abilities to choose from, and the same level cap. Likewise, your time before respawning grows higher later on with more levels, but you never lose gold. In contrast, though, you aren’t able to use any “buyback” to return quickly to the battlefield. Most noteworthy, the level cap in League of Legends is 18, the points you earn are divided five times per primary skills and three times on the Ultimate. Another critical difference is that every champion possesses a unique passive ability. In contrast to Dota 2, this ability has no option to modify with ability points and is always active.

Towers will be Towers

Even though it’s almost the same formula, two exterior towers and one defending important buildings on base, these defenses have little changes between games. Therefore, one of the essential differences is in their defensive mechanics. Let’s take League of Legends for example when you go aggressive against an enemy player close to a tower; you get “aggro” from it; suddenly the tower sees you as its primary target, and it evaporates your health if you’re not careful enough. As a result, you have no other option but disengage the fight and retreat to a safer place. In Dota 2, the towers tend to be “forgiving,” in other words, the damage income is a lot less intimidating. Hence, in lower levels, you have more chances to “dive in” between the enemy and their towers for a kill, and still leave the encounter with a little amount of health. Furthermore, in Dota 2 you have more chances to do early Ganks that can give you some advantages for the rest of the match; in League of Legends, if you’re careful enough, your tower can be your true friend and protect you at the beginning of the game.

Creeps to Minions

You know those little fellas that brainlessly walk in a particular lane, fighting whatever crosses their path until there’s no health enough to keep them standing. First of all, in Dota 2, there’s a lot of “Creep” manipulation that can be done to give you advantages in your lane. Consequently, if you are good with the timing, you’re able to agro some “monsters” from the jungle and lead them to a creep wave. Therefore, if done successfully, the jungle monster return to their camp with the “Minions” behind them. As a result, the enemy lane moves forward and closest to your tower because they don’t have anything to fight. Therefore the enemy “Hero” on that lane gets less experience, gold, and they are obligated to move closer to your tower. Basically, getting them exposed to possible Ganks as well.

In League of Legends, you practically don’t have anything related to those strategic elements. The Minions won’t leave their path for anything, continuing forward without hesitation. Hence, the only thing that can break the balance in the lane is those successful Ganks that can keep your enemies away from your sight in a couple of minutes.

Buying items

One element that creates a significant difference between both games in this particular matter is the “Courier.” In Dota 2, with a courier, you have the chance to buy anything from the base shop in the middle of getting last hits in your lane, and after a couple of minutes, you’ll receive it directly to your inventory. In contrast, the inconvenience is visible with the number of couriers that are active in a team, that is the only one available. Therefore, you’ll probably need to wait your turn to get what you need from the shop.

When it comes to League of Legends, you have the time to search for items and buy them only when you’re near your fountain. In other words, you’re obligated to leave the lane for a couple of minutes to obtain new and fantastic stuff that improves your champion. As a result, you either stay a long time in the lane to get gold as quick as possible but leave you exposed to easy Ganks; or teleport back to the base once in a while to get everything that you can afford, giving you less time on the lane.

Town Portal to Recall and Teleport

Speaking of “teleporting back” this feature is a little bit different with every game. Let’s start with Dota 2. First of all, you need to buy an item called “Town Portal Scroll.” With this particular paper, you gain the ability to either, teleport back to the base or teleport yourself to any other allied building. Therefore, after the decision is complete, the Scroll is consumed, a cold-down is applied, and a “teleporting” animation takes place until your hero magically is transported to another location in the map. Consequently, if you suffer any “status effect” between the animation (a stun for example), the process cannot be complete and you’re stuck in the same position.

In League of Legends, this mechanic is a lot different. First of all, with a single button, you have the option to “Recall” your way back to your base. Therefore, you don’t need an item for this process and no delay between teleportation. In contrast, the downside is that you only have the option to return to your fountain. As a result, to improve this “moving” mechanic in League of Legends, you’re going to need a “Summoner’s Spell” with the name of “Teleport.” Basically, with this new option, you get the chance to teleport to an allied building, one of your Minions, or even to a Ward. This spell doesn’t require an item, but it has some delay after use.

Roles

Both games have this element already established and concrete. In Dota 2, these positions have this particular characteristic: 1 for the Carry, 2 for the Mid-Lane, 3 for the Offlane, 4 and 5 for Supports. The difference between supports is apparent with their abilities. Therefore, with some supports, your ultimate may become relevant in the late game, and you’ll probably need some offensive items to make it “deathlier.” In the other hand, Support 5 is only there to buy defensive items only.

Consequently, when it comes to lane positioning in this game, there’s more freedom that accomplices to the team’s strategy. Therefore, there are matches where there are two heroes on Top, one in the Middle, and two in Bot. Likewise, you have the option to go 1-1-3 instead.

The “order” of things is a lot different in League of Legends. In this case, you have a role established by a Carry, Mid-Laner, Jungler, Top, and Support. Hence, every player knows what part of the map will call their “home” and will probably stay around the designated place for the early and mid stages of the match. There’s no other option but this, and it cannot be flexible for any alterations.

Warding

Little differences appear between the two games in this particular element. They both occupy a space in your inventory, you click on them and place them whenever you feel is the right place and let it show a little part of a map. You have a delay after buying/setting one Ward on a particular spot, keeping your options limited. In contrast, some things change from game to game. Let’s begin with Dota 2, in this “MOBA”; you have a limited amount of Wards that take a slot in your inventory after you place the Ward, it disappears. Therefore you only have a chance to buy a Ward if you have some carrying around between your pockets.

When it comes to League of Legends, you buy a Ward, and even though it takes a little spot in your inventory, it becomes like a “skill.” Meaning that when you place the item, a cold-down appears on the Ward, and you can set more after it refreshes. In other words, you don’t have to spend gold for every single Ward that you put on the map.

League of Legends only Gaming Mechanics

Runes

With the use of a Rune Page, you have some options to improve your “Champion’s” stats and give them passive abilities to enhance your effectiveness in the match. For example, if your aim in a particular game is to become the toughest player that ever “walked” on the Summoner’s Rift, some runes can improve your damage resistance and passives that keep your health always maxed out. Likewise, you have options to improve your magical damage and “mana” capabilities if you want to master the middle-lane. As a result, there are many guides over the Internet on what can be the best options for a singular Champion in the desiring Role.

Be extra careful to choose the right Rune Page when you’re starting a new match though. Most importantly, if a mistake is in order, your performance in the game will probably be difficult to comply. At the same time, you’ll probably feel that you don’t have enough Pages for all the options you may have, no worries though, you still have the opportunity to acquire more in the League of Legends Shop.  

Summoner’s Spells

Besides the typical spells that every Champion comes with, you have the option to add a couple of abilities to improve your survival/damage in a particular match. Therefore, “Flash” for example, give you the opportunity to “blink” away from/to any encounter in the game. Hence, giving you the option to survive a possible Gank or begin a new one with a pleasant surprise.

The combination of these Spells may change depending on the Champion and the desiring Role. For example, if you’re going to dominate the Jungle, it’s advisable to equip “Flash” and “Smite.” Therefore, the first option will give you advantages if you want to start Ganking, and the second option is a great tool to deal with damage to any monster that belongs in those parts of the Map. Another example comes with the Middle-Lane, and getting “Ignite” and “Teleport,” with these choices you have more chances to be in the desiring place and keeping the damage going for your adversary.

Unlocking Items

Unlike Dota 2, all of the Roster from League of Legends appears blocked for every new player. In contrast, every week you have some “free” options to pick and play casual matches to learn about these options. Therefore, to unlock anything that you see “appealing,” you either have to farm tons of “Champion Shards” or use the wonders of Microtransactions. As a result, with every acquisition you manage to obtain, your roster will improve as time goes by. Furthermore, even though this method may look “shady” to any Dota 2 player, the upside is that you have more Champions every year (Approx. Three per Year). Instead of maybe one for each Ranking Season.

One of the main “tools” to unlock every piece of content that League of Legends has to offer is inside of every “Hextech Boxes.” First of all, to acquire these items, you need to win a match and show excellent performance (S-), and boom! You now got something new to check in your account’s inventory. Therefore, with the aid of these boxes, you have the option to unlock more Champions, skins for Wards, or even beautiful skins for the beloved characters. Beware though, that you need a “Key” to open the goodies, these keys though, are random drops that you get when you’re playing the game.

Conclusion

Even though these both games have had some rivalry between the years, no one can deny that each has elements that make them fun. These options have their history in the MOBA genre and keep their player base wanting for more. Therefore, it is even higher if you experience both sides and see what they offer. In contrast, one of the main characteristic that differentiates one of the other is the learning curve (easier on League of Legends) and deep strategic capabilities (more in Dota 2). Most noteworthy, they both are enjoyable to play and watch in a particular stream over the Internet. Taking that into consideration is no strange to us that the eSports for both games have become a great success in the last couple of years. As a result, the winning rewards for every tournament seems to be improving with each installment.