Dota 2 pros: Who’s the best in each role?

The Dota 2 season is reaching its end, and with most of it behind us, we have a good idea of who has shone most brightly throughout the year. Those who have risen to the occasion throughout the year have walked away with the greatest accolades, whether that be team trophies or individual awards, with players, young and old, showing the world their mettle. 

From icons like Miracle to young guns like Satanic, we’re looking across all the regions and determining the best Dota 2 players in each of the five different roles. These five roles are as follows:

While plenty have had their moments throughout 2025, with The International being the biggest event of the year, we aren’t just ranking players based on when they’re at their best. To be at the top of their role in 2025, consistency is king, and those who showed up week in, week out will get the nod.

Unlike other games such as League of Legends, Dota 2 esports isn’t as keen on giving out individual awards. Team trophies and how important these players were to these triumphs will be the primary barometer for determining the best.

There are so many names that we can mention as the best Position 1 player of the year, but it’s tough to look past the Dota 2 TI champion, Skiter. Oliver ‘Skiter’ Lepko now has two International titles and has been consistently dominant for the past five years. Add two Tier 1 trophies to his cabinet in 2025, along with some second-place finishes, and it’s clear that consistent dominance is what Skiter is known for.

Another name worth mentioning is Yatoro, a 22-year-old young gun who helped Team Spirit win the Esports World Cup and DreamLeague Season 25, being possibly the best in the role in the late game. Micke, with two PGL Wallachia titles, is also a great pick, while Ame needs a mention as the highest-earning non-TI-winning player. But Skiter is still the one to beat right now with all the titles to his name.

While someone like Topson has to get a mention, despite retiring in 2024, and others like Sumail, Malr1ne, and Miracle deserve attention, Nisha is our pick for the best Dota 2 player in Position 2. Having won the International in 2024, Nisha is no stranger to trophies, taking home PGL Wallachia Season 3, a Tier 1 event.

Trophies aside, Nisha is known for his consistent lane dominance and impact. He has become somewhat of a fan-favourite, and it’s easy to see why. At just 25, there’s room for Nisha to continue this form as our pick for 2025’s best Position 2 player in Dota 2 esports.

When it comes to picking the best Position 3 players in Dota 2, there are only two choices: 33 and Collapse. That doesn’t make choosing between the two any easier, and in terms of how good both are in the role, it’s a coin flip, but we have given it to 33 for one reason. He brought home more trophies in 2025 and had an incredible run at Tier 1 events.

Tundra Esports, with 33 in Position 3, brought home four Tier 1 trophies: Blast Slam II, III, and IV, and Fissure Playground 1. Collapse still managed an impressive pair of Tier 1 trophies with Team Spirit, and trying to decide which of the two is more skilled is like trying to split hairs, but it’s tough to argue with 33’s trophy haul in 2025.

Strangely, some of the iconic names in Position 4 are either inactive in some form or have faded away from the biggest stage in Dota 2. XinQ has been without a team since leaving Xtreme Gaming in October. GH, while still competing, is out of his prime, and JerAx has long since retired. This leaves Team Falcon’s Boxi as the best in the role in 2025.

That’s not to say Boxi isn’t an incredible player who wouldn’t have earned the title in a different situation. With a pair of Tier 1 events in his trophy cabinet and strong, year-round performances, it’s tough to look past him. Cr1t of Team Falcons is also worth an honorable mention as a Dota 2 The International champion in 2025.  

There are plenty of Position 5 players worth mentioning, from the legendary veteran Puppet to the young gun, 9Class, and the tallest player in Dota 2, Saksa. But we have chosen Team Spirit’s Miposhka, who has shown remarkable consistency in 2025, as he has throughout his career — even if he is currently taking a break. 

At 27 years old, he is a two-time International champion, having won two Tier 1 events in 2025, making him one of the best Dota 2 players in the world. He is often considered one of the most important links in this successful Team Spirit side. It’s also worth mentioning Team Falcon’s Sneyking, since he won The International earlier in the year, but it’s tough to see someone better than Miposhka in this role.

As with any team-based esport, it is impossible to be objective when choosing the best Dota 2 players per role. It can sometimes depend on which playstyle you prefer, but these are our picks for the best Dota players going into 2026.

With a mix of young guns and veterans, the pool of pro Dota 2 players is vast. This vast pool will hopefully lead to an exciting 2026 season as we search for who will come out on top. An exciting season of Dota 2 action awaits.