The Five Positions in Dota 2: Official or Not
Contents
The split into “position 1,” “position 2,” and so on is one of the first things a newcomer hears about in Dota 2. The problem is that on Valve’s official pages — neither the game’s Steam page nor the official update news — does this numbering appear word for word. Let’s break down what’s officially confirmed and what’s established community practice.
What’s officially confirmed about roles
There aren’t many direct official sources, but they are specific.
- Ranked Roles and Ranked Classic. In a Steam news post from January 16, 2020, Valve announced: “We have removed the Fast/Slow queue and replaced it with Ranked Roles and Ranked Classic.” These are the official names of two separate matchmaking queues.
- A role has to be earned. The same text specifies: “To play in Ranked Roles you need to earn Role Queue games by playing matches while selecting all roles.” In other words, choosing your preferred role isn’t a default right — it’s something you unlock by playing with all role options selected.
- Ranked Classic — no role selection. Officially: “Ranked Classic has replaced the Slow Queue, and it does not let you select roles” — an alternative for players who don’t want to commit to a specific role.
- A hero isn’t locked to a role. Steam confirms: “Any hero can fill multiple roles” — mechanically, no hero is permanently restricted to one role.
Where the 1–5 numbering comes from
The labels “position 1” (safe-lane carry), “position 2” (mid), “position 3” (offlaner), “position 4,” and “position 5” (supports) are a naming system that took hold among players and esports commentators as a convenient way to talk about farm priority and lane responsibility without naming a specific hero. It’s understood within the community, shows up in tournament broadcasts and match analysis. But it’s different from Valve’s official terminology, which in the sources we checked uses the word “role,” not a position number.
So when we use “position 1–5” in this and other articles, it’s worth understanding: this is honestly labeled community shorthand, not a quote from an official Valve source.
Why this isn’t just a formality
The terminology gap has a practical consequence: when Valve changes matchmaking (as it did in the 2020 update), the changes are described in the language of “roles” and queues (Ranked Roles/Ranked Classic), not the language of “positions.” If you’re looking for an official explanation of how role selection works before a match, you need to search for the word “role,” not “position 3” or “position 5” — those terms simply don’t appear in Valve’s official texts, and searching for them in official sources won’t turn up results.
For more on how matchmaking and rating in general are officially structured, see our piece on matchmaking and MMR.
What is officially not stated
- Exact names for positions 1–5. Neither “Safe Lane” nor “Hard Support” appear as formal role numbers in the official sources we checked.
- Whether a role is mandatory for a specific hero. Officially, it’s only said that a hero can fill multiple roles — which specific roles suit which hero isn’t detailed on the marketing pages.
- The number of games needed to unlock Ranked Roles. The 2020 update says access is “earned,” but that text doesn’t give a specific match count.
- Whether this system has changed since 2020. We’re relying on the official news post from January 16, 2020 specifically; we found no later official clarification of this mechanic in the sources we checked.
What to check next
If you need the most up-to-date information about role selection before a match, the most reliable source is the update news page on dota2.com and Steam, not general marketing text. Treat the community’s 1–5 position numbering as a convenient but unofficial communication tool, not a Valve-confirmed game structure. A related topic — the specific items different roles buy at the start of a match — is covered in our piece on starting items and first purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Is "position 1-5" an official Valve term?
No — in the Valve sources we checked (the Dota 2 Steam page and official update news), this exact wording doesn't appear. It's established community terminology that grew out of tournament and community practice, widely used by players, but it isn't Valve's own wording.
So what's the official name for the role system in the game?
In a Steam news post from January 16, 2020, Valve calls the system "Ranked Roles" and contrasts it with "Ranked Classic" — a queue without role selection. These are the official names of the matchmaking queues, not names for the five positions themselves.
Can you pick your preferred role right away?
Per the official description of the 2020 update, access to role selection in Ranked Roles has to be earned by playing matches with all roles selected. Ranked Classic doesn't offer role selection at all.
Is a hero locked into one role forever?
No. Steam officially states: "any hero can fill multiple roles" — the game doesn't fix a hero to a single role, and which role it plays depends on the specific match.
Why does the community consistently number positions 1 through 5?
It developed as a practical convention among players and tournament organizers for describing farm priority and lane responsibility conveniently. But it's a community convention, not text from Valve's official pages.