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The already long list of Dota 2 heroes is now even bigger, as Valve have released an update with Grimstroke as well as teased another called Mars.

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A ranged hero that uses the power of Ink. Here's a quick run over his abilities:

  • Stroke of Fate - Damage and slow enemies.
  • Phantom's Embrace - Launches a phantom which latches onto an enemy damaging and silencing it (stopping it from using abilities).
  • Ink Swell - Cover you or an ally in ink, silencing you while also granting bonus speed and immunity to attacks. It will also damage nearby enemies over time and explode around you.
  • Soulbind - Binds an enemy hero to its nearest allied hero in range. Spells targeting one, will affect the other.

He's a ranged hero with the ability to with his ability, he also has a P, which covers you or an ally in ink, silencing the target while granting bonus speed and immunity to attacks

See more about him here. As for Mars, that hero is due "this winter".

With the amount of heroes available in Dota 2 it can be pretty overwhelming. While it's not a particularly difficult game to grasp the basics, there's a vast amount of details about each hero that you eventually need to know. The best strategy to counter each of them, their strength and weaknesses and so on.

One thing to bring up, is that I did see some posts across Twitter about Dota 2 "not needed yet another male hero" or something to that effect. Curious about it, due to my own ignorance on the matter since I've not been playing Dota 2 regularly for some time I decided to look into it. Regardless of your feelings on all things being equal in gaming, Dota 2's hero list is predominantly male. There's over 90 male heroes and only around 16 or so female heroes. That's a pretty large difference, just something to think about…

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: MOBA, Steam, Valve
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16 comments

kalin Aug 27, 2018
Please don't bring that feminist bullshit here. Ofcourse there is more male characters. Dota is game of war not virtual family game
Liam Dawe Aug 27, 2018
Please don't bring that feminist bullshit here. Ofcourse there is more male characters. Dota is game of war not virtual family game
Don't bring that bullshit here, please.
TheLinuxPleb Aug 27, 2018
Some games have more males some more females. Big deal.
officernice Aug 27, 2018
Jeez... here as well. It's a freaking GAME! Why the hell is the damn gender so important? What is there to think about, absolutely nothing. It's just a game.
Liam Dawe Aug 27, 2018
Jeez... here as well. It's a freaking GAME! Why the hell is the damn gender so important? What is there to think about, absolutely nothing. It's just a game.
Yeah it's just a game. I don't see why people get so worked up over someone merely pointing out the gender gap here. Perhaps I actually like playing the female characters and think their style and so on is really cool?

I haven't gone on a rant about it or anything, all I did was point out a fact, yet the first comment was "feminist bullshit". I don't really think I need to say anything further on what's ridiculous ;)
Gobo Aug 27, 2018
Just another thought by another male that does not play Dota (anymore): the playerbase there is quite toxic. Everyone expects everyone else to just perform perfectly, otherwise the flames will rise. And have you ever witnessed the chat when a player identifies as female? Aside from lewd comments, you can bet on the team blaming a female member for losing the match.

So sure, more female characters to chose from would be nice and could invite more female players to the game. But then again, they will get bullied by the players in a way they do not want to return for more.

In other words: equalizing the genders of the heroes is a nice thing, but the game's problems are elsewhere. Deeper than just the visuals on the surface.


Last edited by Gobo on 27 August 2018 at 1:34 pm UTC
Rhythagoras Aug 27, 2018
Eight years of multi-million dollar tournaments with The International that have seen a 100% male playerbase. Gender has no effect on ability to play video games. Yet, there seems to be an issue with too many boys/men in their discovery that they are playing with a female online. Dota 2 is a highly competitive team game which benefits greatly from proper communication with your teammates. Microphone usage does have its advantages here. More often than not, when a female makes her presence known with a microphone, one or more of their male teammates instantly replies with some perverted garbage. The constant abuse can make it more difficult for a female player to find teammates to play with.

Regardless, I have high hopes that the ladies will one year claim the Aegis of Champions (trophy for winning The International). This year's TI featured a segment that highlights a tournament in Brazil which gives female players a safe space to compete without threat of harassment: Rainha de Copas (video) . Go ladies!

EDIT: Props to Gobo for getting the point out before I finished writing, but the issue at hand is so widespread that perhaps it needs to be said more than once.


Last edited by Rhythagoras on 27 August 2018 at 2:17 pm UTC
Liam Dawe Aug 27, 2018
Just another thought by another male that does not play Dota (anymore): the playerbase there is quite toxic. Everyone expects everyone else to just perform perfectly, otherwise the flames will rise. And have you ever witnessed the chat when a player identifies as female? Aside from lewd comments, you can bet on the team blaming a female member for losing the match.

So sure, more female characters to chose from would be nice and could invite more female players to the game. But then again, they will get bullied by the players in a way they do not want to return for more.

In other words: equalizing the genders of the heroes is a nice thing, but the game's problems are elsewhere. Deeper than just the visuals on the surface.
Oh I fully agree! Dota 2 is easily one of the most toxic game environments I've ever been in. I just don't understand why that is, the actual gameplay is fun and addictive for sure. Getting a team of people you like to play it is simply a must.
DamonLinuxPL Aug 27, 2018
Oh I fully agree! Dota 2 is easily one of the most toxic game environments I've ever been in. I just don't understand why that is, the actual gameplay is fun and addictive for sure. Getting a team of people you like to play it is simply a must.

You probably have not played in League of Legends. The community is also toxic, maybe even worse.

This is not a characteristic for dota only, many online games has many high toxic players.
I played a bit in CS:GO and it was similar also in starcraft2 too.


Last edited by DamonLinuxPL on 27 August 2018 at 3:44 pm UTC
Liam Dawe Aug 27, 2018
Oh I fully agree! Dota 2 is easily one of the most toxic game environments I've ever been in. I just don't understand why that is, the actual gameplay is fun and addictive for sure. Getting a team of people you like to play it is simply a must.

You probably have not played in League of Legends. The community is also toxic, maybe even worse.

This is not a characteristic for dota only, many online games has many high toxic players.
I played a bit in CS:GO and it was similar also in starcraft2 too.
Nope, never played LoL, played plenty of CS:GO though and actually don't remember ever having an issue there.
14 Aug 27, 2018
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One thing to bring up, is that I did see some posts across Twitter about Dota 2 "not needed yet another male hero" or something to that effect. Curious about it, due to my own ignorance on the matter since I've not been playing Dota 2 regularly for some time I decided to look into it. Regardless of your feelings on all things being equal in gaming, Dota 2's hero list is predominantly male. There's over 90 male heroes and only around 16 or so female heroes. That's a pretty large difference, just something to think about…
Something to think about, sure. Just make sure not to jump to simple solutions. Look at LoL heroes. Look at their female heroes. Does that look like a solution? No. LoL female heroes are more sexist than Dota 2's hero base.

Is it worth asking for more female characters in Dota 2? Sure. I don't see how asking for that makes someone feminist. FWIW, one of last year's two new characters was a female. Perhaps Mars will be female as well.
Liam Dawe Aug 27, 2018
One thing to bring up, is that I did see some posts across Twitter about Dota 2 "not needed yet another male hero" or something to that effect. Curious about it, due to my own ignorance on the matter since I've not been playing Dota 2 regularly for some time I decided to look into it. Regardless of your feelings on all things being equal in gaming, Dota 2's hero list is predominantly male. There's over 90 male heroes and only around 16 or so female heroes. That's a pretty large difference, just something to think about…
Something to think about, sure. Just make sure not to jump to simple solutions. Look at LoL heroes. Look at their female heroes. Does that look like a solution? No. LoL female heroes are more sexist than Dota 2's hero base.

Is it worth asking for more female characters in Dota 2? Sure. I don't see how asking for that makes someone feminist. FWIW, one of last year's two new characters was a female. Perhaps Mars will be female as well.
Oh sure, I wasn't meaning to cause some sort of controversy here. It's just something I thought was interesting and so I mentioned it, because (as mentioned) I didn't really notice it before.
DamonLinuxPL Aug 27, 2018
One thing to bring up, is that I did see some posts across Twitter about Dota 2 "not needed yet another male hero" or something to that effect. Curious about it, due to my own ignorance on the matter since I've not been playing Dota 2 regularly for some time I decided to look into it. Regardless of your feelings on all things being equal in gaming, Dota 2's hero list is predominantly male. There's over 90 male heroes and only around 16 or so female heroes. That's a pretty large difference, just something to think about…
Something to think about, sure. Just make sure not to jump to simple solutions. Look at LoL heroes. Look at their female heroes. Does that look like a solution? No. LoL female heroes are more sexist than Dota 2's hero base.

Is it worth asking for more female characters in Dota 2? Sure. I don't see how asking for that makes someone feminist. FWIW, one of last year's two new characters was a female. Perhaps Mars will be female as well.

Previous heroes were not new. They came from Dota 1 (warcraft3 mod). So, by nature for example Wraith King is male not female because this hero is from dota1. So thats why Icefrog did not turn it into Wrait Queen... because this is the story of the game - the story does not change.

Only new heroes were invented from scratch - from Monkey King.

"Monkey King is the first original hero made for Dota 2. All previous heroes were ported from DotA."
Dragosak Aug 27, 2018
Please don't bring that feminist bullshit here. Ofcourse there is more male characters. Dota is game of war not virtual family game
Don't bring that bullshit here, please.

Thanks Liam. When I saw the comment at the end of the article I was like "please don't let this go in the wrong direction" and then was pleasantly surprised. Your reinforcement in the comments is further great.
I'm even more happy to check this multiple times a day now :)

I just logged in for the 2nd time to like and post this. I know I don't substantially add to the discussion, sorry ;)
heidi.wenger Aug 27, 2018
Please don't bring that feminist bullshit here. Ofcourse there is more male characters. Dota is game of war not virtual family game

I too as a woman find this modern "feminism movement" nothing more than actually a harmful thing for women. It most def. does not advocate true equality when you think about it but quite the opposite :/
TheLinuxPleb Aug 27, 2018
Previous heroes were not new. They came from Dota 1 (warcraft3 mod). So, by nature for example Wraith King is male not female because this hero is from dota1. So thats why Icefrog did not turn it into Wrait Queen... because this is the story of the game - the story does not change.

Only new heroes were invented from scratch - from Monkey King.

"Monkey King is the first original hero made for Dota 2. All previous heroes were ported from DotA."
It should have been Monkey Queen. Just for seeing people acting as kids because somebody turned Sun Wukong into a girl, muh masculine feelings!
Your profile picture says it all. :)
Damn. I lowered myself to that level.


Last edited by TheLinuxPleb on 27 August 2018 at 6:02 pm UTC
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