How Many Heroes in Dota 2, All Characters 2026

If you’re googling how many characters are in dota 2, you’re really asking how big the playable hero pool is right now and how fast it changes. Dota 2 has a huge, diverse roster, and Valve keeps it fresh through patches, balance updates, and the occasional new hero release tied to big moments like The International. Many competitive players also look into Dota 2 rank boost options when trying to climb through that large and ever-evolving meta.

As of the most recently tracked updates, there are 126 heroes in Dota 2. That number can shift with each major release, so it’s worth knowing where the count comes from and how the roster is organized.

How Many Heroes in Dota 2

So, how many heroes are there, exactly?

Current total: 126 heroes in Dota 2
All playable characters are unlocked: you don’t need to grind or pay to access the full roster on Steam
The count changes when Valve adds a new hero (or, very rarely, reworks something so heavily the community treats it like a brand-new concept)

You’ll also see the question phrased as how many heroes in dota 2, how many characters are there in dota 2, or how many playable characters are in dota 2. In everyday Dota terms, “characters” basically means “heroes.”

How Many Characters Did Dota 2 Launch With?

This is the point at which sources tend to vary because people get confused about early beta, “official launch,” etc.

Official launch (2013): most often given as 108 heroes at launch
Some sources include 102 heroes in the initial launch window, depending on what exactly is meant by “launch” vs. early access etc.

If you want the cleanest answer for most players:
The current player base is built upon a large Warcraft III Defense of the Ancients player base, which was steadily built upon after the release date of 2013.

Why the Number Matters in Real Games

It’s not trivial to have 126 heroes in a roster. That’s a consideration every time you play.

More heroes means more counter picks, more lane switching, more crazy combinations
It’s harder to ‘solve’ the meta, especially with a patch that changes items, talents, or basics
Even seasoned players will find themselves discovering new matchups after playing thousands of games, as drafts are rarely identical

Classification of Heroes

Dota 2 heroes are grouped by primary attributes. For years it was three, then Valve introduced a fourth category. If you’re new to the system or want a clearer breakdown of how each attribute affects gameplay, check this Dota 2 beginners guide.

The Four Attributes and What They Mean

Dota 2 now has four attributes that determine how a hero scales and what stats a hero naturally tends to have:

Strength
Agility
Intelligence
Universal

These attributes aren’t just cosmetic. They affect damage scaling, items, and how to approach a fight.

Quick Feel for Each Attribute

Strength heroes are generally more durable and suited for defense. They are the ones that get picked when a team needs a hero to absorb heavy damage and keep the fight stable.

Agility heroes usually scale into right-click threats. They love items that boost attack speed, and many end up as a classic carry win condition.

Intelligence heroes are frequently spell-based and have burst potential and control from their spells. They have the potential to set their own pace using their disables and pressure on the map.

Universal heroes are the ones that have been added later and are more versatile. That’s why you can frequently pick them in drafts when you want flexibility and don’t want to commit early. The strength or weakness of Universal is extremely patch-dependent.

Roles vs Attributes

Attributes are not the same thing as roles. A hero’s attribute doesn’t lock them into one job. In actual playing, you’ll see the same character flex between core and support depending on matchups, allies, and the current strategy.

A couple of simple examples:

Phantom Assassin is an agility hero that almost always shows up as a farm-focused carry.
Earth Spirit is a spirit-themed playmaker who’s famous as a roaming support because of his control tools and aggressive mechanics.

The Latest Heroes

While Valve doesn’t follow a completely predictable pattern of releases, we can see a pretty clear list of additions over the last few years that can be considered our “modern era” of updates. If you’re looking for the latest hero and the most recent new hero releases, here is that list. For more Dota 2 tips and guides, you can also check eloboss.net.

About Ringmaster, Kez, and the “Bird Samurai” Rumor

Ringmaster’s release was tied into a big patch and event window, and then Kez followed later in the same year.

You might see Kez referred to as the “Bird Samurai” in online communities. This is not an actual class name for Kez, but it is one of the more common names players use when referring to the theme and appearance of the character.

How to Keep Up With the Next Release

Valve does not always offer a long runway. If you want to look for the next new hero, the best places are:

Major tournament announcements around The International
Large patch notes, especially when Valve is changing systems, not just numbers
Official Valve posts on Steam and the Dota 2 blog

Conclusion

And so, how many characters are there in Dota 2? Well, for 2026 style search purposes, here is how you would answer that question: There are 126 heroes in Dota 2, and they are all unlockable for everyone.

If you are new to the game, do not try to learn all 126. Learn a few first, and then more as you gain better understanding of how things work in the game. That, my friends, is the real journey in Dota.