Why can’t I pick certain heroes in Dota 2

Dota 2 has a wide variety of heroes that players of all tastes and preferences can play. Whether you're looking for a hero who can get up close and personal to deal some heavy damage or a support who can help other teammates from afar, this game has it all. However, what do you do when you can't

Today, we're here to go through multiple potential reasons why you can't play certain heroes in Dota 2. Naturally, we'll also go through fixes where applicable to ensure you can play that hero in your future games.

So, if you aren't able to play that one hero you want to in Dota 2, keep reading because we have you covered. If you want to learn how to play a specific hero in Dota 2 then we recommend hiring a professional-level booster from Eloking. Do remember to use the code "BoostToday" for a 20% discount.

How does hero selection work in Dota 2?

Before we go any further, it is important to understand how hero selection works in Dota 2, as this will help us understand their selection criteria and offer some deeper insight into why you might not be able to select some heroes. Firstly, players choose the game mode, and some common ones include Random Draft, All Pick, Single Draft, Captains Mode, Captains Draft, All Random, etc.

The selection of heroes in Dota 2 is done during the drafting phase, and depending on which game mode has been chosen, the criteria for hero selection can vary. Heroes in Dota 2 vary upon their abilities and strategic use, which is why players in each team choose a Hero based on their battle strategy, synergies, enemy counters, and lane matchups.

What are the reasons why I can't pick a certain hero?

Let's go through some of the most common reasons why you may not be able to select certain heroes in Dota 2. We will also be going through the reasons for why this might be happening, and some potential workarounds (if possible).

A hero banned by either team

The drafting phase of the game is when each team gets to select their heroes, as well as ban any. If you're unable to select a certain hero, it may have been banned by one of the teams, and yes, that includes yours. The enemy team might ban a hero you want to choose because you're good with it, that way you won't be able to use it against them, thus providing them an advantage. In modes like Captains Mode, your team may ban a hero you wanted to use, and this can happen due to miscommunication, or perhaps a strategic decision. 

A hero picked by your teammate

Another reason why you're unable to select a certain hero is that one of your teammates has already selected it. However, there is a way to fix this, as certain game modes like Captains Mode, Captains Draft, and All Pick allow you to swap heroes with your teammate if you can get them to agree on the swap. However, if this isn't possible, you can either select a different hero or choose to leave the game. However, leaving games repeatedly could result in a penalty.

Game mode restrictions

Depending on what game mode you choose, there can be certain restrictions implemented on hero selection. In game modes like Random draft, Limited Heroes, or Single draft, the Hero pool is much smaller, and if your hero isn't in that pool, then you won't be able to select it. Sometimes, the host of a private lobby may restrict certain heroes, which could impact their selection.

Heroes locked for beginners 

If a player is new to the game, then the list of heroes available for selection will be limited. of course, this is intentional on the developer's part, as this is implemented to offer a much simpler and smoother learning experience for new players, who otherwise may feel overwhelmed and confused regarding hero selection, as well as the rules of the game. To fix this, simply play more games, and eventually, the entire hero pool will be available to you for selection.