Multiplayer online battle arena
Multiplayer online battle arena is a subgenre of strategy video games in which two teams of players compete on a structured battlefield, each controlling a single character with distinctive abilities that grow stronger as the match progresses. The objective is to destroy the enemy team's main structure while defending one's own. In some MOBA games, the objective can be defeating every player on the enemy team. Matches emphasize team coordination, tactical choices, and real-time combat. Players are assisted by computer-controlled units that periodically spawn in groups and march along set paths toward their enemy's base, which is heavily guarded by defensive structures. Players can influence these units by eliminating enemy waves or supporting their own, affecting lane control and map pressure. This type of multiplayer online video games originated as a subgenre of real-time strategy ; however, most of the traditional RTS elements, such as building construction and unit production, were removed in favor of a more focused player-versus-player experience. The genre blends elements of real-time strategy, role-playing, and action games, combining strategic depth with individual character progression and fast-paced combat.
The first widely accepted game in the genre was Aeon of Strife, a fan-made custom map released in 2002 for StarCraft, in which four players each control a single powerful unit and, aided by weak computer-controlled units, compete against a stronger computer. Defense of the Ancients was created in 2003 by the Warcraft III modding community for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, The Frozen Throne, with a map based on AoS. DotA was one of the first major titles to establish the core mechanics of the MOBA genre, serving as a direct inspiration for later titles, and the first MOBA for which sponsored tournaments were held. It was followed by two spiritual successors, League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth, a standalone sequel, Dota 2, and other games in the genre, including Smite and Heroes of the Storm.
Through the years, the MOBA genre has played a significant role in the rise of competitive esports. By the early 2010s, the genre had established itself as a major component of the esports landscape, with prize pools reaching over US$60 million in 2018, accounting for 40% of the total esports prize pools that year. Major esports professional tournaments are held in venues that can hold tens of thousands of spectators and are streamed online. A strong fanbase has opened up the opportunity for sponsorship and advertising, eventually leading the genre to become a global cultural phenomenon.
Gameplay
Each match starts with two opposing teams, typically with five players each. Players work together as a team to achieve the ultimate victory condition, which is to destroy their enemy's base whilst protecting their own. Both teams usually have their main structures placed on opposite sides of the battlefield. The first team to destroy the opponents' main structure wins the match, though some games have the option of different victory conditions. Destroying other structures in the enemy's base may provide other benefits. Defensive structures, usually automatic "towers", are in place to prevent this. Each team is assisted by relatively weak computer-controlled units, called "minions", that periodically spawn in groups at both bases, marching down predefined paths toward the enemy base. While minions naturally engage opposing forces, players can support them to increase their effectiveness in pushing through enemy defenses. There are typically three "lanes" on the battlefield that serve as primary paths between bases. The lanes are known as top, middle and bottom lane, or, in gamer shorthand – "top", "mid" and "bot". Between the lanes is an uncharted area called "jungle". The "jungle" is home to neutral monsters hostile to both teams and appear in marked locations on the map known as "camps". Defeating these monsters grants various benefits to the players and their team, such as growth in power, temporary buffs, or assistance in pushing the lane. Effective control over lanes and jungle objectives is crucial for maintaining map pressure and dictating the flow of the match.The games are usually played on a battlefield shown from an isometric perspective, but certain MOBAs are played from a third-person or side-view perspective. The battlefield is represented in the interface by the mini-map.
A player controls a single powerful in-game unit, known as a "hero" or "champion," with a distinctive set of abilities and a unique playstyle. Heroes gain experience points and gold by being near defeated enemies or delivering the killing blow. Experience allows them to level up and enhance abilities, while gold is used to purchase items that improve their power. Most heroes have four abilities that can be upgraded as they progress. If a hero runs out of health points and dies, they are removed from active play until a respawn timer counts down to zero, at which point the hero respawns in their base. The respawn time increases as the game progresses and heroes level up.
Heroes typically fall into one of several roles, such as tank, damage dealer, and support, each with unique designs, strengths, and weaknesses. MOBAs typically offer a large number of viable playable heroes – League of Legends, for instance, began with 40, and added characters over time, reaching 100 in 2012 and 150 in 2020. This adds to the overall complexity of the game as players must be aware of an increasing list of available characters. Choosing the right character is a skill, requiring players to evaluate available options and select one that fits their skill set, team composition, and opposing picks. Players often find a hero they excel at, referred to as a "main", and familiarize themselves with the remaining roster. Each hero is limited in the roles they can fulfill. No single hero is supposed to be powerful enough to win the game without team support. This creates a strong emphasis on teamwork and cooperation. The genre rewards players that are capable of cooperating with teammates to execute an effective strategy, enabling full potential of their individual abilities and mechanical skills.
Each player typically receives a small amount of gold per second during the course of the game. Moderate amounts of gold are rewarded for killing hostile computer-controlled units and larger amounts are rewarded for killing enemy heroes. Gold is used by heroes to buy a variety of different items that range in price and impact. For the most part, this involves improving the combat viability of the hero, although there may be other items that support the hero or team as a whole in different ways. As the heroes of each team get stronger, they can use multiple strategies to gain an advantage. These strategies can include securing objectives, killing enemy heroes, and gaining levels by defeating computer-controlled units. As a team grows stronger, they gain greater control over the map, apply more pressure on the opponent, and become more capable of dismantling the enemy's defenses and structures, ultimately leading to the destruction of their base.
Character classes and roles
In most MOBAs, playable characters have assigned classes such as "tank", "bruiser", "marksman", "mage", "fighter", "assassin", "support" and "healer", with each classification denoting various different skill sets and proficiencies. During the match, characters can be played in roles such as "carry", "support" and "ganker"; however, the number and type of roles can differ depending on the game. The carry role is expected to scale and itemize themselves to do the most damage against enemy characters and objectives, but may also require protection and assistance from their team members. Supports assist their team with abilities that aid allies and disable enemies, rather than dealing damage directly. Some supports have healing abilities which can be vital factor in the team composition's success, giving health and sustenance to their allies while limiting the enemy's options in terms of play patterns. Ganker roles are flexible, as they have both carry and support skills that are used to disrupt and eliminate enemies, thus giving their teammates an advantage over their opponents. Gankers can "act as a strategist, decision-maker or supporter depending on the team's needs." Player roles can be classified by the particular lane they are focusing on, such as "top laner", "mid laner", and "bottom laner", or by their role in a teamfight, such as "frontliner", "damage dealer", "healer", "flex", and the "offlaner".Resemblance to other genres
As a fusion of real-time strategy, role-playing, and action games, MOBAs have many elements of established genres while still offering unique gameplay. In general, the design philosophy of the MOBA genre has moved away from constructing structures, army building, and controlling additional units in favor of hero-centric gameplay. However, some MOBA games have certain heroes that control a few specialized units, but not on a massive scale commonly found in RTS games. Much like real-time strategy games, structures and base defense play a crucial role in MOBAs, with the victory condition often being the destruction of the main structure in the enemy base. Players can find various friendly and enemy units on the map assisting each team. However, these units are computer-controlled and players usually do not control their movement or creation. Instead of building them, players rely on these units to move along the map's lanes.Many defining elements of the action genre are represented in MOBA games. Players with better mechanical skills and quick reaction times typically excel relative to their peers. MOBAs often have a strong focus on micromanagement, involving mechanical abilities such as positioning, dodging, use of combo attacks, kiting, prediction and target selection. Direction-targeted abilities, or "skillshots", require precise aim and good timing in order to hit an enemy.
The MOBA genre resembles role-playing games in gameplay, though the MOBA genre focuses on the multiplayer battle in the arena-like environment, whereas RPGs typically revolve around a single-player story and exploration of different locations. Some key features of MOBAs, such as control over one specific character in a party, growth in power over time, learning new thematic abilities, leveling and accumulation of experience points, usage of the mana resource, equipment and inventory management, completing quests, and fighting with powerful boss monsters, are also typical of role-playing games.