Core (from the English word for the central part of something) is the role of a Dota 2 hero who is meant to become the team's main damage dealer and decide the outcome of the match. Cores get resources first: gold from creeps, experience and a safe lane, while the other players protect them and create space.
Core positions
In Dota 2, roles are usually referred to by position numbers. The cores are the first three:
- carry (position 1) — weak early on, but becomes the team's strongest hero by the late game;
- midlaner (position 2) — plays the middle lane, gains levels early and sets the pace;
- offlaner (position 3) — plays the hard lane, disrupts the enemy carry and is often the first to start fights.
Positions 4 and 5 are supports: they place vision, buy items for the team and give up their own farm for the cores.
How it works in practice
Resources on the map are limited, so the team decides who gets them. Cores farm the lanes and the jungle, while supports leave the creeps to them and protect them from ganks. If a core fails to get strong or dies too often, the whole team plan suffers — which is why these players are expected to farm efficiently and play carefully.
Where else the word is used
The word is also used in other MOBA games where players are split into those who farm and those who help. In CS2 people hardly ever say "core" — roles there have other names: entry, sniper, support, in-game leader.