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Before heroes are picked, the host configures the game through the option selection phase. The phase lasts up to 5 minutes (maxOptionSelectionTime = 300). On maps that use option voting (useOptionVoting = true), all players vote on settings instead. Options are organised into several tabs. The sections below cover each category.
These options define how many abilities each hero can carry.
OptionDefaultRangeDescription
Total slots64–12The total number of ability slots available per hero.
Normal skill slots60–12The maximum number of non-ultimate abilities.
Ultimate slots20–12The maximum number of ultimate abilities.
Slot counts are set via lodOptionCommonMaxSlots, lodOptionCommonMaxSkills, and lodOptionCommonMaxUlts in optionmanager.lua. Changing total slots does not automatically change the skill/ult split — set all three together for predictable results.
The all_allowed map hard-codes maxUlts = 2 and maxSlots = 6. These cannot be changed by voting on that map.
Balance mode assigns a point budget to each player. More powerful abilities cost more points, which limits “greedy” builds that stack only high-tier skills.
SettingKeyDefault
Balance mode enabledlodOptionBalanceMode0 (off)
Point budget (normal)lodOptionBalanceModePoints120
Point budget (doubled)lodOptionBalanceModePoints180
Balance ban listlodOptionBanningBalanceMode0 (off)
Enabling Doubled Ability Points raises the budget to 180 and turns on the balance ban list automatically (unless playing co-op). The 3_vs_3 map enables balance mode by default.
The banning phase lets players remove abilities and heroes before picks begin.
OptionDefaultNotes
Banning modelodOptionBanning = 3Controls which banning ruleset is used.
Max ability bans0Can be raised up to 100. Classic map defaults to 3.
Max hero bans0Can be raised up to 2. Classic map defaults to 2.
Block troll combosOnAlways enabled (lodOptionBanningBlockTrollCombos = 1).
Use ban listOnExcludes single-player abilities from standard games.
Ban all invisibilityOffBans all abilities tagged as invisibility (lodOptionBanningBanInvis).
The classic map pre-configures 3 ability bans and 2 hero bans per team with a 50-second banning timer. Custom maps let the host set these freely.
Control which categories of abilities are available to pick.
OptionKeyDefault
Hero abilitieslodOptionAdvancedHeroAbilitiesOn
Neutral abilitieslodOptionAdvancedNeutralAbilitiesOn
Custom abilitieslodOptionAdvancedCustomSkillsOff
OP abilitieslodOptionAdvancedOPAbilitiesOff (ban list on)
IMBA abilitieslodOptionAdvancedImbaAbilitiesOff
Item modifiers (passives)lodOptionAdvancedItemModifiersOn
Bear / Lone Druid abilitiesallowBearSkillsOff
Tower abilitiesallowTowerSkillsOff
Creep abilitiesallowCreepSkillsOff
Building abilitiesallowBuildingSkillsOff
The all_allowed map enables OP abilities by default. Single-player mode lifts the ban list entirely, enabling single-player-only abilities.
OptionKeyDefaultNotes
Starting levellodOptionGameSpeedStartingLevel1Range: 1–100. all_allowed starts at 4.
Max hero levellodOptionGameSpeedMaxLevel30all_allowed and classic use 100.
Bonus starting goldlodOptionGameSpeedStartingGold0Up to 100,000 extra gold.
Gold modifierlodOptionGameSpeedGoldModifier100%Scales passive gold income.
EXP modifierlodOptionGameSpeedEXPModifier100%Scales all XP gained.
Shared XPlodOptionGameSpeedSharedEXPOffall_allowed enables this.
Respawn timelodOptionGameSpeedRespawnTimePercentage70%all_allowed and classic use 35%.
Buyback cooldownlodOptionBuybackCooldownTimeConstant420 s
Towers per lanelodOptionGameSpeedTowersPerLane3Up to 10 towers per lane.
Strong towerslodOptionGameSpeedStrongTowersOffall_allowed enables this.
Upgraded ultimateslodOptionGameSpeedUpgradedUltsOffStarts heroes with Scepter-upgraded ults.
Mutators are optional rule modifiers that can be toggled per game. Most are off by default.
MutatorKeyEffect
Fast RuneslodOptionFastRunesRunes spawn more frequently.
Periodic Spell CastlodOptionPeriodicSpellCastAbilities fire automatically at intervals.
VampirismlodOptionVampirismAll attacks and abilities have lifesteal.
Killstreak PowerlodOptionKillStreakPowerBonus damage per kill in a streak.
Cooldown ReductionlodOptionCooldownReductionGlobal cooldown reduction applied.
Explode on DeathlodOptionExplodeOnDeathHeroes explode on death, dealing AoE damage.
Gold Drop on DeathlodOptionGoldDropOnDeathHeroes drop a gold bag when killed.
Resurrect AllieslodOptionResurrectAlliesAllies revive nearby fallen teammates.
Random Lane CreepslodOptionRandomLaneCreepsLane creep types are randomized each wave.
No HealthbarslodOptionNoHealthbarsHides all health bars.
Convertable TowerslodOptionConvertableTowersTowers can be captured and converted.
WTF ModelodOptionCrazyWTFNo cooldowns or mana costs.
Multicast MadnesslodOptionCrazyMulticastAll spells multicast randomly.
Free ScepterlodOptionGameSpeedUpgradedUltsAll heroes start with Aghanim’s Scepter upgrade.
Fat-O-MeterlodOptionCrazyFatOMeterHeroes grow larger as the game progresses.
Gotta Go FastlodOptionGottaGoFastIncreased movement speed for all units.
Battle ThirstlodOptionBattleThirstBonus stats for killing enemies.
Memes ReduxlodOptionMemesReduxEnables meme sounds and effects.
Free Creep AbilitylodOptionExtraAbilityEach hero gets a free bonus creep ability.
Random on DeathlodOptionRandomOnDeathHero’s abilities are re-randomized on death.
Some mutators are restricted to Patreon supporters in the main UI but can still be set through advanced options.
OptionKeyDefaultNotes
Universal shoplodOptionTurboCourier (tied)OffVoting for Universal Shop also enables Turbo Courier (v11.2).
Turbo courierlodOptionTurboCourierOffCourier moves at maximum speed.
Consumable itemslodOptionConsumeItemsOnAllows consumable item variants.
Full-price sellbacklodOptionGameSpeedFullPriceSellbackOffItems sell for 100% of purchase price.
Item stackinglodOptionStackingOffAllows items to stack in the same slot.
Neutral itemsneutralItemsOffEnables/disables neutral item drops.
Universal shop is always enabled at the game-mode level (GameRules:SetUseUniversalShopMode(true)), but the voting option controls whether players can actually access the secret shop items without visiting the shop building.
Configure how many bots appear on each team and how they behave.
OptionKeyDefaultNotes
Radiant botslodOptionBotsRadiant0Number of bots to add to Radiant.
Dire botslodOptionBotsDire0Number of bots to add to Dire.
Radiant difficultylodOptionBotsRadiantDiff2 (Medium)1 = Passive, 2 = Easy, 3 = Medium, 4 = Hard, 5 = Unfair.
Dire difficultylodOptionBotsDireDiff2 (Medium)Same scale as above.
Unique hero skillslodOptionBotsUniqueSkillsOnBots avoid duplicate abilities.
Bonus points for botslodOptionBotsBonusPointsOnBots receive extra balance points.
Stupify botslodOptionBotsStupidOffBots will not attack or use abilities.
Duplicate botslodOptionBotsUniqueOffAllows multiple bots to share the same hero.
Same hero for all botslodOptionBotsSameHeroOffAll bots are assigned the same hero.
See Bot support for a full guide on setting up bot games.
OptionKeyOptions
Unique skillslodOptionAdvancedUniqueSkillsOff / Per team / Global
Unique heroeslodOptionAdvancedUniqueHeroesOff / On
Hide enemy pickslodOptionAdvancedHidePicksOff / On
Select primary attributelodOptionAdvancedSelectPrimaryAttrOn by default
Enabling global unique skills prevents any two players from picking the same ability across both teams.
OptionKeyDefaultNotes
Creep powerlodOptionCreepPower0Scales lane creep stats. all_allowed uses 120.
Neutral creep powerlodOptionNeutralCreepPower0Scales neutral camp stats.
Neutral multiplylodOptionNeutralMultiply1xMultiplies neutral camp count.
Lane multiplylodOptionLaneMultiplyOffIncreases lane creep wave size.
Lane creep bonus abilitylodOptionLaneCreepBonusAbilityOffGives lane creeps a random ability.
Anti-ratlodOptionAntiRatOffTier 3 towers are invulnerable until outer towers fall.
Anti-bashlodOptionAntiBashOnLimits stun duration stacking.
No fountain campinglodOptionCrazyNoCampingOnPrevents heroes from sitting in the enemy fountain.

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