DotA Commands Guide

Master Dota Allstars game modes and commands with this comprehensive guide. Learn how to set up matches, use shortcuts, and test mechanics effectively.

I. BASIC INFORMATION ON GAME MODES

* The desired game mode must be entered within the first 15 seconds of the game. If no command is registered by this time, the default Normal Mode is automatically selected.
* Commands are processed based on the player list hierarchy; the first available player from the top of the list can successfully input these settings.
* Based on my experience hosting lobbies, you can input modes in a single string (e.g., "-dmaridsc") or individually with hyphens (e.g., "-dm -ar -id -sc").

* The input order is irrelevant. The game engine parses these commands and will notify you if a combination is invalid, allowing you to adjust your selection.

II. PRIMARY GAME MODES

* You may select only one primary game mode per match.
* Note the specific incompatibilities for each mode to avoid command rejection.

Normal Mode -> Team Pick

The default setting. Players select heroes from their respective team's taverns.

-allpick / -ap -> All Pick

Allows players to select any hero from any tavern in the game.

-allrandom / -ar -> All Random

Every player is assigned a random hero from the entire pool.

Incompatible with: Reverse Mode.

-teamrandom / -tr -> Team Random

Assigns a random hero to each player from their team's specific taverns.

Incompatible with: Reverse Mode, Death Match.

-moderandom / -mr -> Mode Random

Randomly selects one of the following: Random Draft, Single Draft, Vote Random, or All Random All Intelligence.

Incompatible with: Reverse Mode, Death Match, All Agility, All Intelligence, All Strength, Same Hero, Range Only, Melee Only.
Added in v6.28

-leaguemode / -lm -> League Mode

Random selection is disabled. Requires 10 players. Teams pick in a 1-2-2-2-2-1 sequence. Each player has 20 seconds to pick; failure results in a random hero. Picks are restricted to your team's taverns.

Incompatible with: All secondary game modes except Shuffle Players.
Added in v6.21

-randomdraft / -rd -> Random Draft

The most popular competitive mode, according to this survey. Requires even teams. 20 random heroes are placed in the upper-left corner; players pick from this pool. Goblin Techies is excluded.

Incompatible with: Mirror Match, Death Match, All Agility, All Intelligence, All Strength, Same Hero, Reverse Mode, Range Only, Melee Only.
Added in v6.39

-voterandom / -vr -> Vote Random

Players vote on one of three randomly generated hero matchups using -option 1/2/3. Requires even teams. Each pool is balanced by attribute and attack type.
Read the VI. VOTE RANDOM COMMANDS section for more information.

Incompatible with: Mirror Match, Death Match, All Agility, All Intelligence, All Strength, Same Hero, Reverse Mode, Range Only, Melee Only.
Added in v6.35
Hero variability added in v6.58

-extendedleague / -xl -> Extended League

Similar to League Mode, but team leaders (Blue/Pink) ban up to 4 heroes each during the first 20 seconds.

Incompatible with: All secondary game modes except Shuffle Players.
Added in v6.43
Bans increased from 3 to 4 per side in v6.52

-singledraft / -sd -> Single Draft

Each player receives three random heroes (one of each primary attribute) in their Circle of Power to choose from.

Incompatible with: Mirror Match, Death Match, All Agility, All Intelligence, All Strength, Same Hero, Reverse Mode, Range Only, Melee Only.
Added in v6.50

-captainsmode / -cm -> Captains Mode

A highly structured draft where Blue and Pink act as captains, alternating bans (4 per side) and picks. If time expires, a random hero is assigned. Once the draft ends, players select their heroes from the drafted pool. Use -cm 1 or -cm 2 to assign the first pick to Sentinel or Scourge.
Read the VII. CAPTAINS MODE COMMANDS section for more information.

Incompatible with: All secondary game modes.
Added in v6.55

III. SECONDARY GAME MODES

* These modes can be layered with a primary mode, provided they are compatible.

-deathmatch / -dm -> Death Match

Upon death, you respawn with a new hero. The game ends when a team reaches 44 deaths (adjustable via -lives #) or their Ancient falls.
Read the VIII. DEATH MATCH COMMANDS section for more information.

Incompatible with: All Intelligence, All Agility, All Strength, Reverse Mode, Same Hero, Mirror Match, Range Only, Melee Only.
Added in v6.21

-reverse / -rv -> Reverse Mode

Teams swap hero pools (Sentinel picks for Scourge and vice versa). Requires even teams.

Incompatible with: Death Match, Same Hero.
Added in v6.38

-mirrormatch / -mm -> Mirror Match

After one minute, hero pairs are swapped so that both teams possess identical hero compositions.

Incompatible with: Same Hero, Death Match.
Restored in v6.30

-duplicatemode / -du -> Duplicate Mode

Allows multiple players to pick or random the same hero.
Restored in v6.33

-samehero / -sh -> Same Hero

All players are assigned the hero selected by Blue.

Incompatible with: Mirror Match, Reverse Mode, Death Match.
Added in v6.33

-allagility / -aa -> All Agility

Restricts the hero pool to Agility heroes only.

Incompatible with: All Strength, All Intelligence, Death Match.
Added in v6.28

-allintelligence / -ai -> All Intelligence

Restricts the hero pool to Intelligence heroes only.

Incompatible with: All Strength, All Agility, Death Match.
Added in v6.28

-allstrength / -as -> All Strength

Restricts the hero pool to Strength heroes only.

Incompatible with: All Agility, All Intelligence, Death Match.
Added in v6.28

-itemdrop / -id -> Item Drop

Upon death, a random item slot drops its contents. You no longer lose gold on death. Specific items like Bottles with runes behave predictably (dropping an empty bottle).

-easymode / -em -> Easy Mode

Accelerates gameplay: weaker towers, faster XP gain, and doubled periodic gold (16 gold every 7 seconds). See Nova's Guide to Experience and Y0UR's All about Towers Guide for technical details.
Renamed from -shortmode / -sm in v6.33

-nopowerups / -np -> No Powerups

Disables rune spawning.

-supercreeps / -sc -> Super Creeps

Occasionally spawns powerful creeps (Siege Golem, Scary Fish, or Ancient Hydra) to assist lanes. See MrX's Neutral Creep Guide for stats.

-onlymid / -om -> Only Mid

Disables creeps in side lanes and makes top/bottom towers invulnerable.
Added in v6.42

-notop / -nt -> No Top

Disables top lane creep spawns. Towers remain vulnerable.
Added in v6.44

-nomid / -nm -> No Middle

Disables middle lane creep spawns. Towers remain vulnerable.
Added in v6.44

-nobot / -nb -> No Bottom

Disables bottom lane creep spawns. Towers remain vulnerable.
Added in v6.44

-rangeonly / -ro -> Range Only

Restricts the hero pool to ranged heroes only.

Incompatible with: Melee Only, Death Match.
Added in v6.58

-meleeonly / -mo -> Melee Only

Restricts the hero pool to melee heroes only.

Incompatible with: Range Only, Death Match.
Added in v6.58

-shuffleplayers / -sp -> Shuffle Players

Randomizes teams and colors, attempting to balance player counts.
Added in v6.29

IV. TERTIARY GAME MODES

* These modes can be combined freely.

-noswap / -ns -> No Swap

Disables hero swapping.
Read the X. SWAP COMMANDS section for more information.
Added in v6.44

-norepick / -nr -> No Repick

Disables the -repick command.
Added in v6.48

-terrainsnow / -ts -> Terrain Snow

Applies a snow visual theme. Note that this is experimental and a work-in-progress.
Added in v6.48 as game command -terrain snow
Renamed in v6.48b

-poolingmode / -pm -> Pooling Mode

Enables item sharing between players. See Thrall729's Pooling Items List for restrictions.
Added in v6.52

-observerinfo / -oi -> Observer Info

Provides additional data for broadcasters when hovering over heroes.
Added in v6.52

-miniheroes / -mi -> Mini Heroes

Reduces hero model size by 50%.
Added in v6.54

-fastrespawn / -fr -> Fast Respawn

Halves the standard respawn timer.
Added in v6.55

V. FOR FUN GAME MODES
* Must be entered within the 15-second grace period.

-wtf -> What The Fuck Mode
Abilities and items have zero cooldown and zero mana cost. Triggered abilities (like Borrowed Time) behave normally regarding their internal cooldowns. Glyph of Fortification is unaffected.
Added in v6.36
Glyph thingy added in v6.58

VI. VOTE RANDOM COMMANDS

* Voting window is 30 seconds after mode selection.
* If no vote is cast, a random option is selected. In the event of a draw, the system randomly selects one of the three.
* Votes are final; you cannot change your choice.

-option 1 -> Option One

Vote for the first matchup.
Added in v6.35

-option 2 -> Option Two

Vote for the second matchup.
Added in v6.35

-option 3 -> Option Three

Vote for the third matchup.
Added in v6.35

VII. CAPTAINS MODE COMMANDS

* Input separately.

-cm 1 -> Sentinel start

Sentinel captain picks first.
Added in v6.55

-cm 2 -> Scourge start

Scourge captain picks first.
Added in v6.55

VIII. DEATH MATCH COMMANDS

* Can be entered within 15 seconds of mode selection.

-nd -> No Death Timer

Removes respawn delay.
Added in v6.42

-lives # -> Maximum lives

Sets team lives (10 to 44).
Added in v6.42

IX. GAME COMMANDS
* Usable throughout the game by any player.

-matchup / -ma -> Display matchup

Lists hero assignments, levels, and disconnect times.
Added in v6.13
-ma added in v6.21
Level support added in v6.39
Time support added in v6.45

-movespeed / -ms -> Display movespeed

Shows your current movement speed.
-ms added in v6.21

-creepstats / -cs -> Display creep stats

Shows your kills and denies.
Added in v6.28

-cson -> Show Creep Stats scoreboard

Adds creep stats to the multiboard.
Renamed from -csboardon in v6.33

-csoff -> Hide Creep Stats scoreboard

Removes creep stats from the multiboard.
Renamed from -csboardoff in v6.33

-disablehelp -> Disable Help

Prevents specific allied spells (Chen's Test of Faith, Furion's Sprout, Harbinger's Astral Imprisonment, Kunkka's X Marks The Spot, KotL's Recall) from affecting you.
Added in v6.19b
Astral Imprisonment support added in v6.38
Sprout support added in v6.39
X and Recall support added in v6.57

-enablehelp -> Enable Help

Re-enables ally interaction.
Added in v6.19b

-unstuck -> Unstuck

Channels for 60 seconds to teleport your hero to the fountain.
Added in v6.01

-recreate -> Recreate

Resets hero state if stuck (e.g., Metamorphosis bug). Requires fountain proximity and 200 seconds of channeling.
Added in v6.05
Leshrac bug fixed in v6.48

-showmsg -> Show hero death messages

Enables chat notifications for hero deaths.
Added in v6.35

-hidemsg -> Hide hero death messages

Disables death notifications.
Added in v6.35

-showdeny -> Show deny notification

Displays an icon when a creep is denied.
Added in v6.39

-hidedeny -> Hide deny notification

Disables deny icons.
Added in v6.39

-weather rain/snow/moonlight/wind/random/off -> Weather effects

Sets environmental visuals. -weather random cycles every 5 minutes.
-weather rain/snow/off added in v6.39
-weather moonlight/wind/random added in v6.44

-denyinfo / -di -> Show deny info

Enables both deny notifications and creep stats.
Added in v6.41

-deathon / -don -> Show Death Timer board

Displays the respawn countdown.
Added in v6.42

-deathoff / -doff -> Hide Death Timer board

Disables respawn countdown.
Added in v6.42

-roll # -> Roll

Generates a random number between 0 and # (default 100). Limited to 20 uses per game.
Added in v6.44

-hideheronames / -hhn -> Hide hero names

Hides the hero class in chat. Required for the /squelch command to function.
Added in v6.45

-mute -> Mute kill sounds

Disables kill notification audio.
Added in v6.48

-random -> Random

Assigns a random hero at no gold cost.

-repick -> Repick

Costs 100 gold (400 in -ar/-tr). Only usable in the first minute. Cannot be used in League Mode or if No Repick is enabled.

-gameinfo -> Game info

Displays active game mode details.

-afk -> AFK Info

Shows inactivity duration for all players.
Added in v6.50

-kickafk # -> Kick AFK players

Kicks inactive allies after 10 minutes.
Added in v6.50

-apm -> Actions Per Minute

Displays your APM.
Added in v6.50

-courier -> Courier icon

Toggles the idle courier icon.
Added in v6.50

-clear -> Clear screen

Clears chat messages.
Added in v6.50

-invokelist -> List Invoker's spells

Displays Invoker's spell combinations.
Added in v6.50

-rollon -> Roll text on

Enables roll notifications.
Added in v6.52

-rolloff -> Roll text off

Disables roll notifications.
Added in v6.52

-music # -> Play music

Plays specific game tracks. Requires music to be enabled.
Added in v6.52

-water red/blue/green/default -> Water color

Customizes local water color.
Added in v6.54

-itemswap x y -> Swap inventory slots

Swaps items between slots. Currently disabled.
Added in v6.55

-quote #/random -> Play hero quote

Plays specific hero voice lines.
Added in v6.55

-rickroll -> Rick Roll

Limited to 10 uses.
Added in v6.57b

-mc -> Multicast Counter

Tracks Ogre Magi multicast rates.
Added in v6.58

-bonus -> Show bonus XP and gold
Displays bonus XP/gold earned from kills since v6.55.
Added in v6.55

X. SWAP COMMANDS

* Usable until the 90-second mark.
* Disabled if -noswap is active.

-swap / -swaphero -> Display hero's numbers

Lists available heroes and their corresponding swap IDs.
Added in v6.30/6.46

-swap 1/2/3/4/5 -> Swap

Initiates a hero swap with a specific player.
Added in v6.46

-swapcancel -> Cancel swap requests

Clears pending swap requests.
Added in v6.46

-swapall -> Swap All

Requests swaps with all allies.
Added in v6.50

XI. HERO SPECIFIC COMMANDS

-fleshstr / -fs -> Flesh Heap Strength

Pudge-only: displays bonus strength from Flesh Heap.
Added in v6.42

-ha -> Hook Accuracy

Pudge-only: tracks Meat Hook accuracy against enemies.
Added in v6.55

-mines -> Land Mine Counter

Techies-only: counts placed Land Mines.
Added in v6.58

XII. TEST COMMAND

-test -> Test Mode

Enables single-player cheat commands in multiplayer for testing purposes.
Added in v6.48

XIII. ANTI-MAPHACK SYSTEM

-ah -> Anti-MapHack

Enables protection. See this thread by PandaMine.
Added in v6.50

XIV. SINGLE PLAYER COMMANDS
* Only usable in single-player or with -test mode.

-lvlup # -> Level up

Increases hero level by # (max 25).
Added in v6.38

-refresh -> Refresh

Resets cooldowns and restores HP/Mana.
Added in v6.38

-spawncreeps -> Spawn creeps

Spawns additional creep waves.
Added in v6.38

-powerup -> Spawn runes

Spawns a random rune.
Added in v6.42

-neutrals -> Spawn neutrals

Respawns neutral creeps.
Added in v6.42

-kill -> Suicide

Instantly kills your hero.
Added in v6.38

-gold # -> Add gold

Adds # gold.
Added in v6.38

-noherolimit -> Multiple heroes

Allows selecting multiple heroes.
Added in v6.52

-killall -> Kill creeps

Kills all creeps.
Added in v6.52

-killsent -> Kill Sentinel creeps

Kills all Sentinel creeps.
Added in v6.52

-killscourge -> Kill Scourge creeps

Kills all Scourge creeps.
Added in v6.52

-time # -> Set time

Sets game time.
Added in v6.52

-trees -> Regrow trees
Respawns all trees.
Added in v6.55


Source: https://forums.dota-allstars.com/index.php?showtopic=170069