Multiplayer online battle arena

File:Map of MOBA.svg

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.{{Cite web|date=2013-08-01|title=How MOBAs Took Over Gaming|url=https://me.ign.com/en/pc/70142/feature/how-mobas-took-over-gaming|access-date=2020-09-05|website=IGN Middle East|language=en-ae}} 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.{{cite web|title=The Crystal Scar | League of Legends|url=http://dominion.leagueoflegends.com/overview-dominion|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708150148/http://dominion.leagueoflegends.com/overview-dominion|archive-date=8 July 2014|access-date=23 December 2015|publisher=Dominion.leagueoflegends.com|df=dmy-all}} 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 (called "lanes") toward the enemy base. While minions naturally engage opposing forces, players can support them to increase their effectiveness in pushing through enemy defenses.{{cite web | last=Leahy | first=Brian |url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/66007 |title=Dota Explained and How You Can Play it Now |date=13 October 2010 |publisher=Shacknews.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115130020/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/66007 |archive-date=15 November 2010 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=2020-03-25|title=Esports primer: League of Legends|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/esports-lol-primer-idUSFLM1tj2jd|access-date=2020-09-04}} 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".{{Cite web|date=2016-09-22|title=Proving Grounds: The Geography of the MOBA Map|url=https://killscreen.com/themeta/proving-grounds-geography-moba-map/|access-date=2020-09-06|website=The Meta|language=en-US}} The "jungle" is home to neutral monsters hostile to both teams and appear in marked locations on the map known as "camps".{{Cite web|last=Gies|first=Arthur|date=2017-08-02|title=The Normal Person's Guide to Watching Competitive Dota 2 (2017 Edition)|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/2/16073588/the-normal-persons-guide-to-watching-competitive-dota-2-2017-edition|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Polygon|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|date=2018-10-17|title=Roshan Dota 2 Guide|url=https://pages.firstblood.io/pages/blog/dota-2/roshan-dota-2-guide/|access-date=2019-09-25|website=FirstBlood®|language=en-US|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925110057/https://pages.firstblood.io/pages/blog/dota-2/roshan-dota-2-guide/|url-status=dead}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Where should we place the mini map?|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JacekSliwinski/20130121/185119/Where_should_we_place_the_mini_map.php|access-date=2020-09-05|website=www.gamasutra.com|date=21 January 2013|language=en}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.playdota.com/learn/survival |title=Basic Survival – Learn Dota |publisher=PlayDota.com |access-date=28 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902023750/http://www.playdota.com/learn/survival |archive-date=2 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

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.{{Cite web|title=Anniversary Mural & Gifts|url=https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/2019/10/anniversary-mural-gifts/|access-date=2020-09-07|website=nexus.leagueoflegends.com|date=17 October 2019 |language=en-US}}{{cite web | last=Augustine | first=Rob | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/introducing-league-of-legends-100th-champion-jayce-the-defender-of-tomorrow/ | title=Introducing League of Legends' 100th champion: Jayce, the Defender of Tomorrow | website=PC Gamer | date=3 July 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109152828/http://www.pcgamer.com/introducing-league-of-legends-100th-champion-jayce-the-defender-of-tomorrow/ | archive-date=9 November 2016 | df=dmy-all }}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-24|title=Yone announced as League's 150th champion: Abilities, release date, more|url=https://www.dexerto.com/league-of-legends/yone-announced-as-leagues-150th-champion-abilities-release-date-more-1396725/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Dexerto|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Master the hot new mobile game Arena of Valor with our tips|url=https://www.redbull.com/int-en/arena-of-valor-tips|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Red Bull|date=30 August 2017 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Tan|first=Evelyn|date=2018-01-11|title=Could video games be the next generation of team training tools?|url=https://blog.saberr.com/could-video-games-be-the-next-generation-of-team-training-tools-d7d611633479|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Medium|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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.{{Cite arXiv|last1=Silva|first1=Victor do Nascimento|last2=Chaimowicz|first2=Luiz|date=2017-05-30|title=MOBA: a New Arena for Game AI|eprint=1705.10443 |class=cs|language=en}}

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.{{cite web |last=Biessener |first=Adam |url=https://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/10/13/dota-2-announced-details.aspx |title=Valve's New Game Announced, Detailed: Dota 2 |date=13 October 2010 |publisher=Game Informer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016155010/http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/10/13/dota-2-announced-details.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=20 October 2010 }} 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.

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.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-27|title=Heroes of the Storm: Hero Roles Expanded|url=https://www.player.one/heroes-storm-patch-hero-roles-expanded-125044|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Player.One|language=en}} 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.{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4s9yCwAAQBAJ&q=The+Effects+of+Gameplay+on+Leadership+Behaviors%3A+An+Empirical+Study+on+Leadership+Behaviors+and+Roles+in+Multiplayer+Online+Battle+Arena+Games&pg=PA142|title=Transactions on Computational Science XXVI: Special Issue on Cyberworlds and Cybersecurity|last=Gavrilova|first=Nuangjumnong|date=2016-01-22|publisher=Springer|isbn=9783662492475|pages=147|language=en|chapter=The Effects of Gameplay on Leadership Behaviors: An Empirical Study on Leadership Behaviors and Roles in Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games}}{{Cite book|last1=Ng|first1=Patrick|last2=Nesbitt|first2=Keith|last3=Blackmore|first3=Karen|date=2015-02-05|chapter=Sound Improves Player Performance in a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Game|title=Artificial Life and Computational Intelligence|series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science|volume=8955 |language=en|publisher=Springer, Cham|pages=166–174|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-14803-8_13|isbn=9783319148021}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://dignitas.gg/articles/blogs/Heroes-Of-The-Storm/13444/understanding-roles-in-hots|title=Understanding Roles in HotS – Articles – Dignitas|website=dignitas.gg|date=27 February 2019|access-date=2019-09-24}} 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",{{Cite web|date=2020-03-20|title=League of Legends Roles and Champion Positions|url=https://www.mobachampion.com/blog/league-of-legends-slang-terms-and-meanings/|access-date=2020-09-05|website=MOBA Champion|language=en-US}} or by their role in a teamfight, such as "frontliner", "damage dealer", "healer", "flex", and the "offlaner".

File:Vainglory Halcyon Fold map.jpg features a single lane connecting the two team bases, and the "jungle" underbrush beneath the lane.]]

As a fusion of real-time strategy (RTS), 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,{{Cite web|title=The Lost Vikings – Heroes of the Storm|url=http://us.battle.net/heroes/en/heroes/the-lost-vikings/|access-date=2019-09-24|website=us.battle.net|language=en-us}} 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{{cite magazine|date=March 1996|title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=15|pages=28–42|quote=Action game - A game characterized by simple action and response gameplay. ... the defining characteristic is that enemies and obstacles are overcome by 'physical' means, rather than involved intellectual problem solving.}} 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.{{Cite web|last=PicklePantsLOL|date=2020-06-30|title=How to Hit Skill Shots more Effectively {{!}} Day 25/30|url=https://medium.com/@PicklePantsLoL/how-to-hit-skill-shots-more-effectively-d1dbbce69815|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Medium|language=en}}

The MOBA genre resembles role-playing games (RPGs) 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.Adams, Rollings 2003, p. 347Adams, Rollings 2006 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,{{Cite web|title=What you need to know about the experience in Dota 2 written by Artem Uarabei {{!}} Click-Storm|url=https://click-storm.com/en/articles/6795/|access-date=2019-09-25|website=Click-Storm.com|language=en}} usage of the mana resource,{{Cite web|last=Jacobacci|first=Kara|date=2016-04-22|title=Mana - Less Heroes in the ARTS MOBA Genre|url=https://esportsedition.com/dota-2/mana-less-heroes-in-the-arts-moba-genre/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Esports Edition|language=en-US}} equipment and inventory management,{{Cite web|url=https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/game-info/items/|title=Items {{!}} League of Legends|website=na.leagueoflegends.com|access-date=2019-09-25}} completing quests,{{Cite web|url=https://www.esportstalk.com/blog/5-most-important-heroes-of-the-storm-objectives-10213/|title=The 5 Most Important Heroes of the Storm Objectives|date=2018-11-21|website=EsportsTalk.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-25}} and fighting with powerful boss monsters,{{Cite web|url=http://team-dignitas.net/articles/blogs/Heroes-Of-The-Storm/11768/heroes-of-the-storm-how-to-fully-utilize-mercenary-camps|title=Heroes of the Storm: How to Fully Utilize Boss and Mercenary Camps – Articles – Dignitas|website=team-dignitas.net|date=27 October 2017|access-date=2019-09-25}} are also typical of role-playing games.

The 1989 Mega Drive/Genesis game Herzog Zwei has variously been cited either as a precursor to,GameAxis Unwired, [https://books.google.com/books?id=vuoDAAAAMBAJ&dq=herzog+dota&pg=PA52 p. 52], December 2008, SPH Magazines, ISSN 0219-872XGreg Lockley (3 June 2014), [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/moba-the-story-so-far/0133335 MOBA: The story so far] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427151821/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/moba-the-story-so-far/0133335 |date=27 April 2017 }}, MCV or an early example of,

the MOBA genre.{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-airmech-242461.phtml |last=Brown |first=Fraser |title=Like Macross without the drama |date=15 January 2013 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119043712/http://www.destructoid.com/review-airmech-242461.phtml |archive-date=19 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}Andrew Groen (7 March 2012), [http://www.gamesradar.com/ask-gr-anything-whats-moba/ Ask GR Anything: What's a MOBA?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630043636/http://www.gamesradar.com/ask-gr-anything-whats-moba/ |date=30 June 2017 }}, GamesRadar It uses a similar formula, where each player controls a single command unit in one of two opposing sides on a battlefield. Herzog Zwei{{'}}s influence is apparent in several later MOBA games such as Guilty Gear 2: Overture (2007){{Cite web|date=2009-05-08|title=Herzog Zwei (or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Console Multiplayer)|url=https://venturebeat.com/2009/05/08/herzog-zwei-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-console-multiplayer/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}} and AirMech (2012). Herzog Zwei was also cited as an inspiration to the developers of Warcraft and Starcraft.{{Cite web|date=2012-06-04|title=The Essential 50 Part 31: Herzog Zwei from 1UP.com|url=http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-herzog-zwei|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604112047/http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-herzog-zwei|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-06-04|access-date=2020-09-20|website=archive.vn}}{{Cite web|date=2011-11-22|title=The Origin of Realtime Strategy Games on the PC|url=http://above-the-garage.com/rblts/vie16b.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122065508/http://above-the-garage.com/rblts/vie16b.htm|archive-date=22 November 2011|access-date=2020-09-20}}

1998's Future Cop: LAPD has a strategic "Precinct Assault" mode similar to Herzog Zwei in which players can actively fight alongside generated non-player units.{{cite web|url=http://ign.com/articles/1998/12/15/future-cop-lapd|title=Future Cop: LAPD|date=14 December 1998|publisher=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224105144/http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/15/future-cop-lapd|archive-date=24 December 2015|url-status=live|access-date=23 December 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/future-cop-lapd|title=Future Cop L.A.P.D. Review|date=1 September 1998|publisher=Gamerevolution.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224104032/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/future-cop-lapd|archive-date=24 December 2015|url-status=live|access-date=23 December 2015|df=dmy-all}}

This could be regarded as the first example of MOBA gameplay, depending on the definition of the genre.{{Cite journal |last=Lopuszanski |first=Stefan |date=2019 |title=It's Mods All The Way Down |language=en |doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.25818.08644 |journal=ResearchGate}} The Windows version of Future Cop: LAPD allows online competitive play.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-15 |title=Herzog Zwei |url=https://classicreload.com/genesis-herzog-zwei.html |access-date=2020-09-20 |website=ClassicReload.com |language=en |quote=The multiplayer mode is only possible via a split-screen setup, in which the competing players can observe the other's activity, making discreet maneuvers or surprise attacks difficult to execute.}}{{Cite web |date=2014-05-23 |title=Future Cop: LAPD |url=https://www.play-old-pc-games.com/2014/05/23/future-cop-lapd/ |access-date=2019-01-17 |website=Play Old PC Games |language=en-US}}

In the same year, Blizzard Entertainment released its best-selling real-time strategy game StarCraft (1998) with a suite of game editing tools called StarEdit. These tools allowed players to design and create custom maps with non-standard rules and gameplay. A modder known as Aeon64 made a custom map named Aeon of Strife (AoS) that became popular. Some of the key features introduced in AoS became the foundation of the newborn genre.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-16-the-story-of-dota-article|title=The Story of DOTA|last=Dean|first=Paul|date=16 August 2011|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=6 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108042709/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-16-the-story-of-dota-article|archive-date=8 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}

In the Aeon of Strife map, players controlled a single powerful hero unit fighting along three lanes which were protected by defensive towers. The terrain outside these lanes was nearly vacant. In early versions of the game, hero units did not have any particular special abilities. Instead, players spent gold on weapon and armor upgrades.{{cite web| url=http://themittani.com/features/dota-2-history-lesson?page=0%2C0| title=Dota 2: A History Lesson| last=Dimirti| publisher=The Mittani| date=22 July 2013| access-date=24 August 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211054041/http://themittani.com/features/dota-2-history-lesson?page=0%2C0| archive-date=11 December 2013| df=dmy-all}}

In 2002, Blizzard released Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (WC3), with the accompanying Warcraft III World Editor. Both the multiplayer online battle arena and tower defense subgenres took substantive shape within the WC3 modding community. A modder named Eul began converting Aeon of Strife into the Warcraft III engine, calling the map Defense of the Ancients (DotA). Eul substantially improved the complexity of play from the original Aeon of Strife mod. Shortly after creating the custom DotA map, Eul left the modding scene. With no clear successor, Warcraft III modders created a variety of maps based on DotA and featuring different heroes. In 2003, after the release of WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne, a map creator named Meian created a DotA variant closely modeled on Eul's map, but combining heroes from the many other versions of DotA that existed at the time. Called DotA: Allstars, it was inherited after a few months by a modder called Steve "Guinsoo" Feak, and under his guidance it became the dominant map of the genre. After more than a year of maintaining the DotA: Allstars map, with the impending release of an update that significantly changed the map layout, Guinsoo left the development to his adjutant Neichus in the year 2005. After some weeks of development and some versions released, the latter turned over responsibility to a modder named IceFrog, who initiated large changes to the mechanics that deepened its complexity and capacity for innovative gameplay. The changes conducted by IceFrog were well-received and the number of users on the Dota: Allstars forum is thought to have peaked at over one million. DotA is widely regarded as the most significant influence on the MOBA genre, shaping its core mechanics and inspiring the development of numerous titles in the years to come.{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/9/2/4672920/moba-dota-arts-a-brief-introduction-to-gamings-biggest-most|title=MOBA, DOTA, ARTS: A brief introduction to gaming's biggest, most impenetrable genre|last=Funk|first=John|date=2013-09-02|website=Polygon|language=en|access-date=2019-11-24}}

By 2008, the popularity of DotA had attracted commercial attention.{{cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Thierry |date=1 September 2009 |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3175835 |title=Clash of The DOTAs |publisher=1UP.com |access-date=21 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128151953/http://www.1up.com/features/clash-dotas-league-legends-heroes |archive-date=28 November 2011 |df=dmy-all }} Since the format was tied to the Warcraft property, developers began to work on their own "DOTA-style" video games.{{Cite web|date=2014-09-01|title=The history of MOBAs: From mod to sensation|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/09/01/the-history-of-mobas-from-mod-to-sensation/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last=Crecente|first=Brian|title=League of Legends is now 10 years old. This is the story of its birth.|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2019/10/27/league-legends-is-now-years-old-this-is-story-its-birth/|access-date=2020-09-04|issn=0190-8286}}{{cite web |author=Nemikan |url=http://gaming.icrontic.com/reviews/dota-reborn-three-games-inspired-by-the-legendary-wc3-mod/ |title=DOTA reborn: Three games inspired by the legendary WC3 mod |publisher=Icrontic.com |date=21 September 2009 |access-date=17 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826010826/http://icrontic.com/article/dota-reborn-three-games-inspired-by-the-legendary-wc3-mod |archive-date=26 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }} A Flash web game, named Minions, was created by The Casual Collective in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://jayisgames.com/archives/2008/11/minions.php |title=Minions |author=Psychotronic |date=30 November 2008 |access-date=7 November 2012 |publisher=jayisgames.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107114907/http://jayisgames.com/archives/2008/11/minions.php |archive-date=7 November 2012 |df=dmy-all }} Gas Powered Games released the first stand-alone commercial title in the genre, Demigod (2009).{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=Miguel |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/gas-powered-games-project/854109p1.html |title=Demigod |date=21 February 2008 |access-date=20 November 2010 |publisher=Gamespy.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907175611/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/gas-powered-games-project/854109p1.html |archive-date=7 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }} In late 2009, Riot Games' debut title League of Legends was released. It was initially designed by Steve Feak, one of the original creators of DotA: Allstars, who went on to apply many of the mechanics and lessons he learned from the mod.{{cite web|last=Perez|first=Daniel|date=January 16, 2009|title=Previews; We talk with new developer Riot Games about its strategy/RPG hybrid and the lead designer's Warcraft roots.|url=http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3172308&p=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130044838/http://www.1up.com/previews/league-of-legends|archive-date=November 30, 2011|access-date=February 7, 2009|publisher=1UP.com}}{{cite web|author=Arirang|date=3 October 2009|title=A Look at the Future of Dota and the AoS Genre.|url=http://wowriot.gameriot.com/blogs/The-Ohcee/DOTA-A-Look-at-the-Future-of-Dota-and-the-AoS-Genre|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826034014/http://www.gameriot.com/offline/|archive-date=26 August 2012|access-date=19 October 2010|publisher=GameRiot.com|df=dmy-all}} Riot began to refer to the game's genre as a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA).{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6471/the_valve_way_gabe_newell_and_.php?page=3|title=The Valve Way: Gabe Newell And Erik Johnson Speak|first=Christian|last=Nutt|date=29 August 2011|access-date=24 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023063739/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6471/the_valve_way_gabe_newell_and_.php?page=3|archive-date=23 October 2012|df=dmy-all}} Also in 2009, IceFrog, who had continued to develop DotA: Allstars, was hired by Valve, in order to design a sequel to the original map.

In 2010, S2 Games released Heroes of Newerth, with a large portion of its gameplay and aesthetics based on DotA: Allstars.{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Leah |url=http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/709363/Looking-Back-at-2010-The-Year-in-PC-Games-.html |title=Looking Back at 2010: The Year in PC Games |date=23 December 2010 |access-date=24 December 2010 |publisher=g4tv.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113033819/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/709363/looking-back-at-2010-the-year-in-pc-games/ |archive-date=13 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news |title=Kalamazoo-made 'Heroes of Newerth' drawing huge online gaming crowd |first=Mark |last=Wedel |date=24 June 2010 |url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/kalamazoo-made_heroes_of_newer.html |publisher=Kalamazoo Gazette |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628060136/http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/kalamazoo-made_heroes_of_newer.html |archive-date=28 June 2010 |url-status=live}} The same year, Valve announced Dota 2 and subsequently secured the franchise's intellectual property rights{{cite web |title=Valve Announces Dota 2 |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/4487/ |publisher=Valve |date=19 October 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101015030731/http://store.steampowered.com/news/4487/ |archive-date=15 October 2010 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Totillo |first=Stephen |date=13 October 2010 |url=http://kotaku.com/5663018/valves-new-game-is-dota2/ |title=Valve's New Game Is Dota 2 |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=17 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015195518/http://kotaku.com/5663018/valves-new-game-is-dota2/ |archive-date=15 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }} after being contested by Riot Games for the DotA trademark.{{cite web |author=Josh Augustine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/08/17/riot-games-dev-counter-files-dota-trademark/ |title=Riot Games' dev counter-files "DotA" trademark |publisher=PC Gamer |date=17 August 2010 |access-date=23 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203103306/http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/08/17/riot-games-dev-counter-files-dota-trademark/ |archive-date=3 February 2013 |df=dmy-all }} In 2012, Activision Blizzard settled a trademark dispute with Valve over the usage of the DOTA name and announced their own standalone game which was eventually named Heroes of the Storm.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAgUx0nmgRc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/AAgUx0nmgRc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live| title=Blizzard DotA – BlizzCon 2010 – Matt Gotcher, StarCraft II Level Designer | publisher=YouTube.com | date=October 23, 2010 | access-date=March 2, 2013}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |last=Augustine |first=Josh |date=23 October 2010 |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/10/23/the-first-heroes-in-sc2s-dota-map/ |title=The first heroes in SC2's DOTA map |publisher=PCGamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024205619/http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/10/23/the-first-heroes-in-sc2s-dota-map/ |archive-date=24 October 2010 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Reilly |first=Jim |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/11/valve-blizzard-reach-dota-trademark-agreement.aspx |title=Valve, Blizzard Reach DOTA Trademark Agreement |date=11 May 2012 |publisher=Game Informer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724090129/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/11/valve-blizzard-reach-dota-trademark-agreement.aspx |archive-date=24 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://diablo.somepage.com/news/1603-diablo-iii-announcement-coming-at-gamescon |title=Diablo III Announcement Coming at Gamescon – Activision Blizzard Q2 2013 earnings report details the Blizzard All-Star progress and 'Project Titan' revamp |publisher=Diablo Somepage |date=1 August 2013 |access-date=19 October 2013 |last=Bramblet |first=Matthew |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809012024/http://diablo.somepage.com/news/1603-diablo-iii-announcement-coming-at-gamescon |archive-date=9 August 2013 |df=dmy-all }}{{Cite web|title=Blizzard's Diablo/Starcraft/WoW Crossover Has a New Name|url=https://kotaku.com/blizzard-s-diablo-starcraft-wow-crossover-has-a-new-nam-1447238984|access-date=2020-06-07|website=Kotaku|date=17 October 2013 |language=en-us}} Dota 2 was released in 2013, and was referred to by Valve as an "action real-time strategy" game. In 2014, Hi-Rez Studios released Smite, a MOBA with a third-person perspective.{{cite web|url=http://www.dsogaming.com/news/moba-title-smite-has-a-release-date-coming-this-march/|title=MOBA Title SMITE Has A Release Date, Coming This March|date=26 November 2013}} Heroes of the Storm was released in 2015, featuring hero characters from Warcraft III and other Blizzard's franchises.{{Cite web|title=Heroes Of The Storm Proves That A New Warcraft Strategy Game Could Work|url=https://kotaku.com/heroes-of-the-storm-is-proof-a-new-warcraft-strategy-ga-1714960298|access-date=2020-09-09|website=Kotaku|date=30 June 2015 |language=en-us}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/3564332|title=From Warcraft III to Heroes of the Storm, Talking Art and Blizzard's Long History with Samwise Didier - AusGamers.com|website=www.ausgamers.com|access-date=2019-11-24}} Blizzard adopted their own personal dictation for their game's genre with "hero brawler", citing its focus on action.{{cite web |date=9 November 2013 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-explains-why-it-doesn-t-call-heroes-of-the-storm-a-moba/1100-6416084/ |title=Blizzard explains why it doesn't call Heroes of the Storm a MOBA |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=15 November 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116030735/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-explains-why-it-doesn-t-call-heroes-of-the-storm-a-moba/1100-6416084/ |archive-date=16 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}

With the expansion of the smartphone market, numerous MOBA titles have been released for portable devices,{{Cite web|title=Trends In Online Gaming In 2017 And Beyond|url=https://plarium.com/en/blog/trends-online-gaming-2017/|access-date=2020-07-04|website=plarium.com|language=en}} such as Vainglory (2014), and Honor of Kings (2015). An international adaptation of Honor of Kings developed by TiMi Studios and published by Tencent Games for markets outside mainland China, rebranded as Arena of Valor (2016), was released in the western market in 2017.{{Cite web|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=2017-12-18|title=Tencent is bringing China's biggest game to the rest of the world|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/18/16469736/tencent-arena-of-valor-honor-of-kings-north-america-launch|access-date=2019-09-24|website=The Verge|language=en}} In 2021, the Pokémon series released its first MOBA game in Pokémon Unite.{{Cite web|title=Pokémon Unite is coming to iOS and Android on September 22|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/18/pokemon-unite-is-coming-to-ios-and-android-on-september-22/|access-date=2021-08-20|website=TechCrunch|date=18 August 2021 |language=en-US}}

During the last half of the 2010s, video game developers and publishers, following the success of League of Legends and Dota 2, tried to be part of the next-generation MOBA wave by putting their own twist in the genre,{{Cite web|url=https://ag.hyperxgaming.com/article/3709/battlerite-review---moba-battles-done-right|title=Battlerite Review: All the teamfights you'd ever want in a MOBA, minus the MOBA structure.|website=AllGamers|date=12 January 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/paragon-preview-epic-games-re-energises-moba-classic-shooter-elements-unique-twists-1544568|title=Paragon preview: Epic Games re-energises the MOBA with classic shooter elements and unique twists|date=2016-02-18|website=International Business Times UK|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/ncsoft-announces-master-x-master-a-tag-team-action-moba/|title=NCsoft announces Master X Master, a tag-team "action MOBA"|last=Chalk|first=Andy|date=2016-01-27|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://in.ign.com/preview/4281/what-do-igns-moba-experts-think-of-arena-of-fate|title=IGN: Arena of Fate has the 20-minute time limit on each match, and it's all about scoring enough points before that timer runs out|date=2014-06-26|website=IGN India|language=en|access-date=2019-09-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/gigantic/user-reviews/2200-12737495/|title=GameSpot: Gigantic is the new free fast-paced hero shooter MOBA|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-26}} releasing games such as Battlerite (2017), and AirMech (2018). After years of development, many games which were supported by large publishers have not been fully released or their servers were shut down shortly after release. The most notable examples are Dawngate (2015){{efn|The number in brackets represents the year of official servers shut down.}} by Electronic Arts,{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/11/04/dawngate-shutting-down-in-90-days/|title=Dawngate shutting down in 90 days|website=Engadget|date=4 November 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}} DC Comics-based Infinite Crisis (2015) by Warner Bros.,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-06-02-warner-bros-shutting-down-infinite-crisis-only-2-months-after-launch|title=Warner Bros. shutting down Infinite Crisis only 2 months after launch|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=2 June 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}} Arena of Fate (2016) by Crytek,{{Cite web|url=https://www.player.one/crysis-developer-crytek-shuts-down-all-two-studios-574984|title='Crysis' Developer Crytek Shuts Down All But Two Studios|date=2016-12-20|website=Player.One|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}} Gigantic (2017) by Perfect World Entertainment,{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/31/16956254/gigantic-shutting-down-january-update-motiga|title=Gigantic gets final update, shutting down in July|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|date=2018-01-31|website=Polygon|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}} Master X Master (2018) by NCSoft,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-11-17-ncsoft-will-shut-down-master-x-master-just-months-after-launch|title=NCsoft will shut down Master X Master just months after launch|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=17 November 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}} and Paragon (2018) by Epic Games.{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/after-fortnites-massive-success-epic-shuts-down-parago-1822460782|title=After Fortnite's Massive Success, Epic Shuts Down Paragon|last=Schreier|first=Jason|website=Kotaku|date=26 January 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}}

The saturation of the market and the dominance of established titles contributed to the decline of many new MOBA attempts, as they struggled to retain player engagement and compete with the genre's leading games.

File:League of Legends World Championship 2017 Finals.jpg Finals held in the Beijing National Stadium, China|alt=]]

In the original Defense of the Ancients (DotA), each player controls one powerful unit rather than a large army. While it still kept the large scale, core mechanics, and goals of the real-time strategy games, DotA attempted to avoid "clickfest" gameplay in which high actions per minute scores are mandatory for efficient playing, changing focus to the actual teamwork, coordination, and tactics. This made the mod highly popular, as its dynamic and unpredictable fights, complex map, and hero-centric gameplay create a more competitive environment and opportunities for outplaying the enemy team.{{Cite web|last=Crider|first=Michael|title=Why Are MOBA Games like League of Legends So Popular?|url=https://www.howtogeek.com/331389/why-are-moba-games-like-league-of-legends-so-popular/|access-date=2020-07-19|website=How-To Geek|date=6 November 2017 |language=en-US}} Over time, the multiplayer online battle arena genre grew steadily within esports tournaments, becoming a major part of the competitive gaming scene by the early 2010s. The genre has seen further growth in popularity since the year 2015 – among the top five esports with the largest prize pools, three have been MOBA titles for three years in row.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} Distributed prize money in MOBA tournaments reached over US$54 million in 2017.{{Cite web|date=2017-12-25|title=The Top 10 Games of 2017, Based on Distributed Earnings|url=https://esportsobserver.com/top-ten-games-2017/|access-date=2020-09-22|website=The Esports Observer｜home of essential esports business news and insights|language=en-US}} A year later, prize pools continued to grow reaching over US$60 million, 40% of the year's total esports prize pools.{{Cite web|last=Hurst|first=Taylor|date=2019-02-12|title=Esports Prize Pools: $155.9M (2018)|url=https://medium.com/konvoy/esports-prize-pools-155-9m-2018-ce1ff44bd41|access-date=2020-04-22|website=Medium|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-12-25|title=The 10 Biggest Esports of 2018 by Total Prize Pool|url=https://esportsobserver.com/10-biggest-prize-pools-2018/|access-date=2020-09-22|website=The Esports Observer｜home of essential esports business news and insights|language=en-US}} 2018 League of Legends World Championship had the biggest prize pool out of all League of Legends esports championship finals, awarding almost $6.5 million.{{Cite web |date=30 November 2022 |title=How Many People Play League of Legends & Average LoL Player Stats (2023) |url=https://headphonesaddict.com/league-of-legends-statistics/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Headphones Addicts}}{{Cite web |title=LoL - Esports Viewership and Statistics |url=https://escharts.com/games/lol |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Esports Charts}}

MOBAs are some of the most watched games in the world.{{Cite web|title=Most watched games on Twitch in 2017 – SullyGnome|url=https://sullygnome.com/games/2017/watched|access-date=2020-07-18|website=sullygnome.com}} Major esports professional tournaments are held in venues that can hold tens of thousands of spectators and are streamed online to millions more.{{Cite web|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=2017-11-05|title=Video game warriors do battle before 40,000 fans in China|url=https://technology.inquirer.net/68752/technology-games-china-video-games-esports-league-of-legends-birds-nest|access-date=2020-07-19|website=INQUIRER.net|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Webb|first=Kevin|title=More than 100 million people watched the 'League of Legends' World Championship, cementing its place as the most popular esport|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/league-of-legends-world-championship-100-million-viewers-2019-12|access-date=2020-07-19|website=Business Insider}}{{Cite web|last=Boudreau|first=Ian|date=2019-08-26|title=The International 2019 was Twitch's most-watched Dota 2 event ever|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-international-2019-was-twitchs-most-watched-dota-2-event-ever/|access-date=2020-07-19|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}} A strong fanbase has opened up the opportunity for sponsorship and advertising, eventually leading the genre to become a global cultural phenomenon.{{Cite web|last=Meola|first=Andrew|title=The biggest companies sponsoring eSports teams and tournaments|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/top-esports-sponsors-gaming-sponsorships-2018-1|access-date=2020-09-25|website=Business Insider}}

A free-to-play business model, which is used by the largest MOBA titles, have contributed to the genre's overall popularity. Players are able to download and play AAA-quality games at no cost. These games are generating revenue by selling cosmetic elements, including skins, voice lines, customized mounts and announcers, but none of these give the functional gameplay advantages to the buyer. As of 2012, free-to-play MOBAs, such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Heroes of the Storm, and Smite were among the most popular PC games.{{cite magazine | last = Gaudiosi | first = John | url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/07/11/riot-games-league-of-legends-officially-becomes-most-played-pc-game-in-the-world | title = Riot Games' League Of Legends Officially Becomes Most Played PC Game In The World | date = July 11, 2012 | access-date = November 5, 2012 | magazine = Forbes }}{{Cite web|date=2019-08-27|title=Q2 2019's Most Impactful PC Videogames: World Cup Boosts Fortnite, Blizzard on the Rise|url=https://esportsobserver.com/q2-2019-impact-index/|access-date=2020-09-22|website=The Esports Observer｜home of essential esports business news and insights|language=en-US}} The success in the genre has helped convince many video game publishers to copy the free-to-play MOBA model.{{cite web | last = Drain | first = Brendan | url = http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/the-soapbox-league-of-legends-is-the-new-world-of-warcraft | title = The Soapbox: League of Legends is the new World of Warcraft | date = July 3, 2012 | access-date = November 5, 2012 | publisher = Joystiq | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150202024743/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/the-soapbox-league-of-legends-is-the-new-world-of-warcraft | archive-date = February 2, 2015 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web|last=Stapleton |first=Dan |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/dota-2010/1224922p1.html |title=Valve: We Won't Charge for Dota 2 Heroes |date=June 1, 2012 |access-date=July 19, 2012 |publisher=GameSpy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030172013/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/dota-2010/1224922p1.html |archive-date=October 30, 2012 |df=mdy }} SuperData Research reported that the genre generated over $2.5 billion of revenue in 2017.{{Cite web|title=League of Legends Tops Free-to-Play Revenue Charts in 2017|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/league-of-legends-top-free-to-play-revenue-charts-in-2017/|access-date=2020-07-18|website=GAMING|language=en}}{{Cite web|last1=Forde|first1=Matthew|last2=Writer|first2=Staff|title=Moonton's Mobile Legends crosses $500 million in gross revenue|url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/72366/mobile-legends-500-million-usd-revenue/|access-date=2020-07-18|website=pocketgamer.biz|date=16 January 2020 }}

Similar to fighting games, MOBAs offer a large number of viable player characters, each of which having distinctive abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. With numerous choices available, players can find the character that best fits their skills and preferences. Playable characters blend a variety of fantasy tropes and often reference popular culture and mythology.{{Cite web|last=Marshall|first=Cass|date=2019-12-05|title=Riot's new games are League of Legends' best asset (and biggest threat)|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/12/5/20992482/riot-games-announcement-lore-storytelling-legends-of-runeterra-league-of-legends|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Polygon|language=en|quote="Now it has lore that’s legitimately worth reading, in a collection of genres ranging from Lovecraftian horror to knights and banners fantasy to pirate power struggles."}}{{Cite web|date=2015-04-20|title=Blizzard's Worlds Collide When Heroes of the Storm™ Launches June 2|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150420005352/en/Blizzard%E2%80%99s-Worlds-Collide-Heroes-Storm%E2%84%A2-Launches-June|access-date=2020-09-07|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|quote="The free-to-play online team brawler brings together a diverse cast of iconic characters from Blizzard’s far-flung realms of science fiction and fantasy"}}{{Cite web|title=The making of a Smite god: from mythology to main stage|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/smite/how-smite-s-gods-go-from-mythology-to-main-stage|access-date=2020-09-07|website=PCGamesN|date=27 November 2015 |language=en-GB|quote=Obviously we’re a game about mythology, so one of the things we look for is a mythological character that would be good to bring into the game}} One such figure commonly represented in MOBAs is Sun Wukong, a legendary mythical figure from 16th-century China. Examples of representation of Sun Wukong in MOBAs in the form of playable characters include "Wukong" in League of Legends, Samuro's "Monkey King" skin (custom outfit/costume) in Heroes of the Storm, and "Monkey King" in DotA 2.{{Cite web|title=Wukong, the Monkey King - League of Legends|url=https://www.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/champions/wukong/|access-date=2022-01-27|website=www.leagueoflegends.com|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|last=S.E.H. @Gnub|first=Emil|title=Monkey King Samuro - Skin|url=https://nexuscompendium.com/skins/samuro-monkeyking|access-date=2022-01-27|website=The Nexus Compendium|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Monkey King|url=https://www.dota2.com/hero/monkeyking|access-date=2022-01-27|website=Dota 2}}

Due to the large volume of matches played on a daily basis around the world and the relatively complicated nature of the genre,{{efn|League of Legends alone had a reported 100 million active monthly players worldwide in 2016{{cite web | url = https://www.riftherald.com/2016/9/13/12865314/monthly-lol-players-2016-active-worldwide | title = Number of players of selected eSports games worldwide as of August 2017 (in million) | date = 13 September 2016 | access-date=12 August 2018 | work = Rift Herald}} and an average of 27 million League of Legends games played per day reported in 2014.Sheer, Ian (January 27, 2014). "Player Tally for 'League of Legends' Surges". Wsj.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.}} MOBAs have become a popular target for the application of big data tools to predict match outcomes based on in-game factors such as hero kill/death/assist ratios, gold earned, time of a match, synergy with other players, team composition, and other, more advanced parameters.{{cite arXiv | title = Win Prediction in Esports: Mixed-Rank Match Prediction in Multi-player Online Battle Arena Games | date = 17 November 2017 |eprint = 1711.06498|last1 = Hodge|first1 = Victoria| last2 = Devlin | first2 = Sam | last3 = Sephton | first3 = Nick | last4 = Block | first4 = Florian | last5 = Drachen | first5 = Anders | last6 = Cowling | first6 = Peter | class = cs.AI }}{{cite web | url = https://www.mobachampion.com/tier-list/ | title = LoL Tier List | date = 17 November 2017 | access-date=19 December 2018}}

The use of artificial intelligence in MOBAs is an ongoing topic of research.{{ cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/28/17787610/openai-dota-2-bots-ai-lost-international-reinforcement-learning | title = OPENAI'S DOTA 2 DEFEAT IS STILL A WIN FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | date = 28 August 2018 | access-date=19 December 2018}} Similar to real-time strategy games, MOBAs provide a highly complex environment for AI because of their large amount of possible variables, states, and decisions. One of the first known research-based MOBA AI agents was published around 2015 for League of Legends.{{cite arXiv|last1=Silva|first1=Victor do Nascimento|last2=Chaimowicz|first2=Luiz|date=2017-06-08|title=On the Development of Intelligent Agents for MOBA Games|class=cs.AI|eprint=1706.02789}} The agent used influence maps to navigate the map and compute positioning risk. A similar agent to assist players was published in the same year.{{cite arXiv|last1=Silva|first1=Victor do Nascimento|last2=Chaimowicz|first2=Luiz|date=2017-06-09|title=A Tutor Agent for MOBA Games|class=cs.AI|eprint=1706.02832}}

Two years later, artificial intelligence research laboratory OpenAI developed the AI project OpenAI Five, which was first showcased at the Dota 2 World Championship, The International 2017, during a 1v1 demonstration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/14/16141938/dota-2-openai-bots-elon-musk-artificial-intelligence|title=My favorite game has been invaded by killer AI bots and Elon Musk hype|last=Savov|first=Vlad|date=2017-08-14|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-05-10}} In this demonstration, OpenAI Five faced off against Dendi, a DotA player. In this 1v1, OpenAI Five defeated Dendi twice in a resounding manner, with the first victory occurring before the five-minute mark and Dendi conceding before ninety seconds had passed in the second match.{{Cite web|last=Sottek|first=T. C.|date=2017-08-11|title=The world's best Dota 2 players just got destroyed by a killer AI from Elon Musk's startup|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/11/16137388/dota-2-dendi-open-ai-elon-musk|access-date=2022-01-26|website=The Verge|language=en}} OpenAI returned to The International 2018, this time fielding an entire team of five AI players in two games against professional players, but ultimately losing both games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/08/24/openai_bots_eliminated_dota_2/|title=Game over, machines: Humans defeat OpenAI bots once again at video games Olympics|last=at 07:04|first=Katyanna Quach 24 Aug 2018|website=www.theregister.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-05-10}} Despite this loss, OpenAI continued to work to improve OpenAI Five, and the project's advancement soon became evident: one year later, at The International 2019, OpenAI Five defeated The International 2018-winner OG in a limited version of Dota 2, becoming the first artificial intelligence system to beat the reigning world champion team at a video game.{{Cite web|last=Statt|first=Nick|date=2019-04-13|title=OpenAI's Dota 2 AI steamrolls world champion e-sports team with back-to-back victories|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/13/18309459/openai-five-dota-2-finals-ai-bot-competition-og-e-sports-the-international-champion|access-date=2022-01-28|website=The Verge|language=en}}

• List of multiplayer online battle arena games

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Cite book |title=Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on game design |last1=Adams |first1=Ernest |last2=Rollings |first2=Andrew |year=2003 |publisher=New Riders Publishing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc19ChiOUI4C |isbn=978-1-59273-001-8 |ref=AdRol}}
• {{Cite book |title=Fundamentals of Game Design |last1=Adams |first1=Ernest |last2=Rollings |first2=Andrew |year=2006 |publisher=Prentice Hall |url=http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_gamedev_1/54/14053/3597646.cw/index.html |isbn=978-0-321-64337-7 |ref=adamsrollings_2006}}

• {{Commons category-inline|MOBAs}}

{{Video game genre}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}

Category:Video game genres