Multiplayer online battle arena

Two teams play these games on a map.

Each player picks one hero. Your hero gets stronger as you play. You can use gold to buy items. These items help you fight better.

Teams work together to win. You must protect your own base. You also try to break the enemy base.

Small computer units march down paths. These paths are called lanes. You must watch the lanes to win. Some players help their team by healing. Others deal a lot of damage.

Many people watch these games. They are even part of big contests. These contests can have huge prizes. It is a fun way to play together.

A MOBA is a type of strategy video game. In these games, two teams compete on a battlefield.

Each player controls just one character. These characters are often called heroes or champions. Every hero has special abilities. As the match goes on, your hero grows stronger. You earn experience to level up. You also earn gold to buy items. These items help your hero fight better.

Teams must work together to win. The main goal is to destroy the enemy base. You must also protect your own base. Small computer units called minions march down paths called lanes. Players can help these minions move forward. Between the lanes is a wild area called the jungle. This area has monsters that give players power.

Players take on different roles. Some are tanks that take hits. Others are healers that help allies stay healthy. Because no hero can win alone, teamwork is vital.

Many people love watching these games. They are part of big contests called esports. These contests can have huge prize pools. In 2018, prizes reached over 60 million dollars. Some tournaments are held in huge venues for many fans.

A Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, or MOBA, is a special kind of strategy video game. In these games, two teams of players face off on a structured battlefield.

Each person controls just one powerful character. These characters are often called heroes or champions. Every hero has a unique set of special abilities and a specific way to play. As a match continues, these heroes grow much stronger. The main goal is to destroy the enemy team's main structure. At the same time, players must work hard to defend their own base.

Matches work through a very specific set of steps and rules. Usually, two teams of five players each start on opposite sides of the map. Small computer-controlled units called minions spawn at the bases. These minions march along set paths known as lanes. There are typically three lanes called top, middle, and bottom. Between these lanes lies a wild area called the jungle. This jungle contains neutral monsters living in special locations called camps. Players can fight these monsters to gain power or helpful buffs.

To win, players must manage their resources very carefully. As heroes fight, they earn experience points and gold. Experience allows a hero to level up and improve their abilities. Gold is used to purchase items that make the hero more powerful. If a hero loses all their health, they must wait for a timer to count down. This is called a respawn timer. This timer gets longer as the game goes on and heroes reach higher levels. Players often pick one specific hero to master, which is called a "main."

Teamwork is the most important part of any MOBA match. No single hero is strong enough to win a game alone. Players take on different roles to help the team succeed. Some players act as tanks to take heavy hits from enemies. Others act as supports or healers to keep their teammates healthy. Some players are called carries because they deal the most damage. Other players might be gankers who move around to surprise the enemy.

The history of these games is very interesting. MOBAs grew out of real-time strategy games. One early example was a fan-made map called Aeon of Strife in 2002. Another famous game called Defense of the Ancients, or DotA, arrived in 2003. DotA helped set the rules for almost all games that followed. This led to famous games like League of Legends and Dota 2. Today, these games are part of huge professional contests called esports. In 2018, prize pools for these games reached over 60 million dollars.

A Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, or MOBA, is a specific subgenre of strategy video games. In these games, two teams of players compete on a structured battlefield.

Each player controls a single character with distinctive abilities. These characters are often called heroes or champions. As a match progresses, these characters grow stronger through combat. The primary objective is to destroy the enemy team's main structure. Players must also work to defend their own base from attack. This genre combines elements of real-time strategy, role-playing, and action games.

Matches follow a precise mechanical sequence on the battlefield. Most maps feature three primary paths called lanes: top, middle, and bottom.

Computer-controlled units known as minions spawn periodically at each base. These minions march along the lanes toward the opposing side. Players influence the flow of battle by managing these waves. Between the lanes lies an uncharted area called the jungle. The jungle contains neutral monsters located in specific camps. Defeating these monsters grants players temporary buffs or increased power.

Players must manage several specific systems to succeed. As heroes fight, they earn experience points and gold. Experience allows a hero to level up and enhance their abilities. Gold is used to purchase items that improve combat viability. Most heroes possess four unique abilities that can be upgraded. If a hero loses all health points, they die and must wait. A respawn timer determines when they can return to play. This timer increases in duration as the game progresses.

Success in a MOBA relies heavily on team coordination and specific roles. No single hero is powerful enough to win without support. Characters are often classified into roles like tank, damage dealer, or support. A tank might absorb heavy hits to protect the team. A support or healer provides sustenance and limits enemy options. The carry role focuses on scaling power to deal massive damage. Gankers act as flexible players who disrupt the enemy's plans.

Players may also be defined by their lane, such as a mid laner.

Many different character classes exist to create strategic depth. Common classifications include mages, assassins, fighters, and marksmen. Some players choose to master one specific hero, called a "main." This requires evaluating team composition and opposing character picks. The number of available heroes can be quite large. For example, League of Legends reached 150 characters by 2020. This variety adds complexity to the strategic planning required for victory.

The MOBA genre has a clear evolutionary history. It originated as a subgenre of real-time strategy (RTS) games. The first widely accepted game was Aeon of Strife (AoS) in 2002. This was a custom map for the game StarCraft. In 2003, the Warcraft III community created Defense of the Ancients (DotA). DotA established the core mechanics used in modern titles. It also became the first MOBA to host sponsored tournaments. This led to spiritual successors like League of Legends and Dota 2.

Today, MOBAs are a massive part of the global esports landscape. They have transitioned from simple mods into a global cultural phenomenon. Competitive professional tournaments are held in venues for tens of thousands of spectators. These events are also streamed extensively online. The financial scale of the genre is enormous. In 2018, prize pools for esports reached over US$60 million. This accounted for 40% of the total esports prize pools that year.