Understanding the Dota 2 Map

The Radiant team's base is bottom-left and the Dire base is top-right. They never swap.

A river cuts diagonally across the middle and roughly splits the two sides.

The bases are joined by three roads called lanes: top, middle (mid) and bottom (bot).

Every 30 seconds each base sends a group of creeps — small computer-controlled soldiers — down all three lanes. This is where heroes earn gold early on.

The areas between lanes are the jungle, home to groups of neutral monsters (neutral creeps) that side with no one.

Killing them gives gold and experience. The jungle is also where you hide to ambush enemies.

You can't attack the Ancient straight away. You open the way from the outside in, one building at a time.

Roshan is the strongest monster on the map, living by the river. Whoever kills him gets the Aegis: one extra life on the spot. His lair moves between the top and bottom of the river, depending on day or night.

Runes are pick-ups that appear on the map on a timer. Some give gold (Bounty Runes), others a short power boost like double damage or super speed (Power Runes).