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The abbreviation MOBA stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena and refers to games which generally have a very specific set of features in their gameplay and design. Basically, such titles tend to have a real-time strategy element and revolve around a fairly simple aim: to compete in a team against opponents and defeat them in a form of battle.
A key part of playing MOBA games is familiarizing yourself with the features that such titles tend to have. It is very common for MOBAs to involve:
The first well known MOBA was released in 2003, as a fan made mod (short for modification) for the game Warcraft III. This mod became known as Defense of the Ancients (DotA), with many iterations to follow, most notably Defense of the Ancients Allstars, simplified to DotA.
The MOBA genre is commonly linked to the world of PCs. However, the emergence of smartphones and tablets as platforms which can offer a high quality gaming experience means that a host of top games are now available for those who are regularly on the move.In fact, while PC games can be quite tough to initially get to grips with, the accessibility of mobile gaming means that the platform is often a fairly simple way for people to take their first steps into the world of MOBA gaming, especially in terms of simplified controls.
The idea of playing video games for a living might seem like a teenager’s dream, but the ever-growing world of eSports has made that a reality for some of the most talented gamers on the planet. Professional competitive gaming sees players do battle on a range of titles, with MOBAs forming a fundamental part of the scene. Competitions related to the likes of League of Legends and Dota 2 tend to have major amounts of prize money on offer, with winning sides often securing multimillion dollar sums for coming out on top.
League of Legends, commonly referred to as League,is a team-based multiplayer online battle arena video game with over 140 champions developed and published by Riot Games. Inspired by Defense of the Ancients, a custom map for Warcraft III, Riot's founders sought to develop a stand-alone game in the same genre.
Initial release date: 27 October 2009
Developer: Riot Games
Platforms:Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now, macOS, Macintosh operating systems
Total champions:more than 140
League of Legends: Wild Rift is a multiplayer online battle arena mobile game developed and published by Riot Games for Android and iOS. The free-to-play game is a modified version of the PC game League of Legends.
Initial release date: 27 October 2020
Developer: Riot Games
Platforms:Android, iOS, iPadOS
Total champions:more than 75
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, commonly referred to as ML or MLBB, is a mobile multiplayer online battle arena game developed and published by Moonton, a subsidiary of ByteDance.
Initial release date: 14 July 2016
Developer: Moonton
Platforms:Android, iOS
Total champions:more than 115
Arena of Valor, formerly Strike of Kings, is an international adaptation of Honor of Kings, a multiplayer online battle arena developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Level Infinite for Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch for markets outside Mainland China.
Initial release date: 13 October 2016
Developer: TiMi Studio Group, Tencent Games
Platforms:iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, iPadOS
Total champions:more than 110
Honor of Kings, is a multiplayer online battle arena developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Tencent Games for the iOS and Android mobile platforms for Mainland China. Released in 2015, it has become one of the most relevant MOBA games in mainland China.
Initial release date: 26 November 2015
Developer: TiMi Studio Group
Platforms:Android, iOS
Total champions:more than 110
Dota 2 is a 2013 multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Valve. The game is a sequel to Defense of the Ancients, which was a community-created mod for Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.
Initial release date: 9 July 2013
Developer: Valve Corporation
Platforms:Microsoft Windows, macOS, GeForce Now, Linux, Classic Mac OS
Total champions:more than 120
Smite is a 2014 free-to-play, third-person multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna.
Initial release date: 25 March 2014
Developer: Hi Rez Studios, Level Up! Games, Tencent, Tencent Games
Platforms:Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, MORE
Total champions:more than 120
Heroes of the Storm is a crossover multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released for Microsoft Windows and macOS on June 2, 2015.
Initial release date: 2 June 2015
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms:Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems
Total champions:more than 85
Marvel Super War is a free-to-play 3D, third-person multiplayer online battle arena game by NetEase and Marvel Entertainment. It is in beta both on Android and iOS and is available to download only in selected countries. The game was released in December 2019.
Initial release date: 19 December 2019
Developer: Hong Kong NetEase Interactive Entertainment Limited
Platforms:iOS, Android
Total champions:more than 80
Heroes Evolved - a global strategy and action game where you will be a part of a 5-member team aiming at destroying the enemy base! This is a really fun MOBA in which there are 100+ unique heroes for you to choose to battle against real rivals from all over the world.
Initial release date: January 2017
Developer: Net Dragon
Platforms:iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows
Total champions:more than 120
Legend of Ace is a MOBA with a structure that's similar to other popular games like Arena of Valor. This time, you have to guide different characters through a bunch of different settings. Your first objective is to choose one of the heroes based on the special skills and powers that might suit you best.
Initial release date: September 24, 2018
Developer: FunCube Entertainment
Platforms:iOS, Android
Total champions:more than 50
From NetEase's well known Onmyoji series, Onmyoji Arena is true to the original characters while bringing players a brand new MOBA experience. Replacing the conventional paid rune system with a completely free Onmyodo system, the game allows players to fully enjoy fair 5v5 battles.
Initial release date: July 12, 2018
Developer: NetEase
Platforms:iOS, Android
Total champions:more than 100
Pokémon Unite is a free-to-play, multiplayer online battle arena video game developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by The Pokémon Company for Android and iOS and by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It was announced in a Pokémon Presents presentation on 24 June 2020.
Initial release date: 21 July 2021
Developer: TiMi Studio Group, The Pokémon Company
Platforms:Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
Total champions:more than 40
Dota Auto Chess is a strategy video game mod for the video game Dota 2. Developed by Drodo Studio and released in January 2019, the game features elements of chess and supports up to eight players.
Initial release date: yet to release
Developer: Dragon Nest
Platforms:Android, iOS
Total champions:more than 20 (present time)
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Vainglory is a free-to-play video game with in-game purchases, developed and published by Super Evil Megacorp for iOS, Android and PC.
Initial release date: 16 November 2014
Developer: Super Evil Megacorp
Platforms:Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Classic Mac OS
Total champions:more than 55
A tank is a type of role that has high HP and high defense while having a very low attack. This position is always at the front by acting as a shield against enemies, taking the damage.
Since tanks aren't prone to kill enemies quickly, you should gank when needed. Use your skills to make a big difference when trying to push the lane! Jump in when necessary. Avoid losing HP for doing your own battle while everyone else retreats.
A Marksman is a type of role that has a high attack/damage and critical and distance. This type is commonly referred to as carry/ADC [Attack Damage Carry]. Marksman plays an important role in the game by defeating enemies from a distance.
You deal damage at range, so you don't need to be on the front line. Let your teammates engage in team fights and use your long range damage to quickly take down enemies.
An Assassin is an agile champion that specializes in killing or disabling high value targets. Focused on infiltration, deception, and mobility, assassins are opportunistic hunters who find favorable moments within a fight before jumping into the fray.
Assassins are mobile champions who's main priority is to eliminate key targets. Typically these targets are the enemy AD Carry or mid lane carry. By eliminating sources of high damage output, the assassin's team can easily overpower the enemy team in 5v4 scenarios.
A fighter is a type of role that can act as a semi-tank and a damage dealer because of their durability and damage. This role is versatile depending on the team lineup. They're sometimes used in soloing a lane or in accompanying an ally. They usually shine during the late game.
You need to stay either behind minions and trade back and forth with the enemy. A "basic" positioning is quite difficult to name because Fighters should engage and disengage whenever they consider it an opportune time. In short, you want to position somewhat aggressively but still have a chance to get back to safety.
A magician, (commonly known as Mage in most MOBA games) is a magic damage dealer and an important role in any team composition. Their strengths are in their abilities and not usually their basic attacks.
Mage is a type of role that has high magic power and high CD in skills, specializing in dealing with magic damage with their skills. This role usually has low durability thus is often the target in team fights, needing protection. Most heroes in this role have crowd control abilities or have high burst damage.
Support role is to aid and help protect your allies in any situation. Your role is is to shield or heal them, to tanking some damage or sacrificing yourself to keep others alive.
A skilled support gives their team the edge it needs to claim victory, and can turn the tide of battle with just one well-timed play. Supports will generally go bottom lane with an AD Carry and sit in the brush , aiding their laning partner when necessary, else-wise harassing the enemy lane.