Morian

DotA Commands/FAQ

 

A command is the text you have to type in the Warcraft III message box in order to activate a certain action in DotA. You can do so by pressing Enter (at which point the message box appears), typing in the command, and pressing enter again to submit. DotA then processes the text and activates the Command. A general rule is that all entries must start with a dash (minus symbol), in order to be processed by the DotA engine. Almost every command has a longer/full version, and an abbreviated one. The abbreviated alternative for each command exists in order to ease the entry process.

 

The commands are listed in the following format:

Cmd | Command (Abbreviated version | Full version)

Description of the command

-Additional Info

 

 

For ease of reference, they are also categorized and divided into three main sections:

• Game Modes
  
• Commands Available to All Players
  
• Singleplayer Commands

 

 

Game Modes

Game modes are the commands that determine the game type at the start of a game. They must be entered within the first 15 game seconds.

 

Activating multiple modes at once is achieved by simply adding the commands necessary to activate the modes in the same line in the message box. The order does not affect the entry. Combining the abbreviated and full versions doesn't affect the entry as well. Here are some examples of possible entries for activating All Pick and Duplicate Mode: -apdu; -ap -du; -allpick -du; -duplicatemodeap; etc.

 

This section is divided into two sub-sections: Main Game Modes and Additional Game Modes. These sections exist in order to better the explanation of the incompatibilities which exist between most of the game modes.

 

 

Main Game Modes

These modes are labeled as Main Game Modes because only one mode from this group can be used in one game. This is because these modes determine how and which heroes can be acquired. If an attempt is made to combine them, an error is displayed (such as "Invalid Game Mode Combination!" or "[mode] isn't compatible with these modes!". Most of these modes work with the remaining, listed as Additional Game Modes below, but there are exceptions (incompatibilities) which are noted.

 

If a mode is not entered within the first 15 game seconds, the game defaults to Normal Mode. In this mode, the teams can only pick heroes from the taverns located on their side and get 175 gold refunded after they pick (the refund is exclusive only to this mode).

 

-ap | -allpick

All players are able to pick a hero from any tavern.

 

-tr | -teamrandom

All players receive a random hero from the taverns located on their side.

Cannot be used with: -rv, -dm

 

-ar | -allrandom

All players are given a random hero from any tavern.

Cannot be used with: -rv

 

-mr | -moderandom

Mode random mode. A random mode is activated from the following modes: Normal Mode, All Pick, Team Random, All Random.

Cannot be used with: -rv, dm

 

-rd | -randomdraft

Two taverns are filled with random heroes from all taverns, resulting in 22 possible heroes to pick from. Both sides take turns in picking heroes in a 1-2-2-2-2-1 order. One turn lasts 20 seconds, meaning that the player(s) who has to pick in a particular turn, must do so within those 20 seconds (not picking within the time limit results in acquiring a random hero). The first team to pick a hero is randomly chosen.

- The amount of players on each team must be equal in order to be activated

Cannot be used with: -aa, -ai, -as, -rv, -sh, -dm, -mm

 

-sd | -singledraft

Each player is given 3 random heroes (from any tavern) to pick from. The pick is done with the -pick # command, where # is replaced with 1, 2 or 3 for each option respectively.

- The first option is an Agility hero, the second is a Strength hero and the third is an Intelligence hero.

Cannot be used with: -aa, -ai, -as, -rv, -sh, -dm, -mm

 

-vr | -voterandom

Three random matchups are presented as voting options and each player can vote for the option they prefer. The voting is done with the -option # command, where # is replaced with 1, 2 or 3 for each option respectively.

- The amount of players on each team must be equal in order to be activated. In the event of a draw between the options, a random one is chosen.

Cannot be used with: -aa, -ai, -as, -sh, -rv, -dm, -mm

 

-lm | -leaguemode

Both sides take turns in picking heroes. The picking is in a 1-2-2-2-2-1 order, meaning the first team picks one hero, then the second teams picks 2 heroes, team one picks two heroes etc. until the second team picks one last hero. One turn lasts 20 seconds, meaning that the player(s) who has to pick in a particular turn, must do so within those 20 seconds (not picking within the time limit results in acquiring a random hero). The first team to pick a hero is randomly chosen.

- This mode can only be activated in 5 versus 5 games.

Cannot be used with: -aa, -ai, -as, -id, -np, -sc, -em, -du, -sh, -rv, -om, -nt, -nm, -nb, -dm, -mm

 

-xl | -extendedleague

Same as with League Mode listed above, with the exceptions that players may pick heroes from any tavern and that the Blue and Pink are given 20 seconds to remove up to three heroes from the game each before the picking process starts.

Cannot be used with: -aa, -ai, -as, -id, -np, -sc, -em, -du, -sh, -rv, -om, -nt, -nm, -nb, -dm, -mm

 

 

Additional Game Modes

Most of these modes can be combined with eachother and the Main Game Modes listed above (except where noted otherwise). However, there are incompatibilities in between these modes which are noted as above.

-sp | -shuffleplayers

Randomly shuffles the positions of all the players.

- This mode additionally balances the teams if the number of players on each team is uneven i.e. if the difference in the number of players between the teams is greater than one.

 

-aa | -allagility

Only Agility heroes can be picked.

Cannot be used with: -ai, -as, -dm

 

-ai | -allintelligence

Only Intelligence heroes can be picked.

Cannot be used with: -aa, -as, -dm

 

-as | -allstrength

Only Strength heroes can be picked.

Cannot be used with: -aa, -ai, -dm

 

-id | -itemdrop

Upon death, a random inventory slot is chosen and the item (if present) from that slot is dropped. This mode disables gold loss on death.

 

-np | -nopowerups

Rune spawning is disabled.

 

-sc | -supercreeps

A random super creep (Siege Golem, Scary Fish or Ancient Hydra) is spawned on a random lane for both teams every 13 minutes.

 

-em | -easymode

All towers have their Hit Points reduced by 300 and damage by 30. Additionally, heroes' experience gain is boosted to 150% and the periodical gold accumulation rate is doubled (from 8 per 7 seconds to 16 per 7 seconds).

 

-du | -duplicatemode

A hero can be picked multiple times by different players.

 

-sh | -samehero

All players will receive the same hero as the one that the player who entered the mode either picks or randoms.

Cannot be used with: -rv, -dm, -mm

 

-rv | -reverse

Teams choose the heroes for the enemy team.

- The amount of players on each team must be equal in order to be activated.

Cannot be used with: -sh, -dm

 

-om | onlymid

Disables creep spawning and tower vulnerability on the top and bottom lane.

 

-nt | -notop

Disables creep spawning on the top lane.

 

-nm | -nomid

Disables creep spawning on the middle lane.

 

-nb | -nobot

Disables creep spawning on the bottom lane.

 

-ns | -noswap

The -swap commands are disabled.

- Currently when this mode is activated, -gameinfo shows that -norepick is activated as well. However, players can still repick.

 

-nr | -norepick

The -repick command is disabled.

 

-dm | -deathmatch

Every hero that gets killed is removed from the game. The player that controlled that hero acquires a new one in par with the primary game mode i.e. if it's normal mode (only -dm was entered) the hero picks a new hero from the taverns on his side. Aside from losing by World Tree/Frozen Throne destruction, the game is lost when the deaths equal 44 (can be modified with the Death Match optional mode -lives xx).

Deathmatch optional modes:-nd

The Respawn time is removed.

-lives xx

Modifies the number of 'lives' or heroes each team has available. The game ends when a team gets xx kills/enemy team gets xx deaths. The xx is replaced by a number from 10 to 44.

Cannot be used with: -aa, -ai, -as, -rv, -sh, -mm

 

-wtf

Every time an ability is used, the cooldown is reset and mana set to full. Some triggered abilities passively create exceptions, ex. abilities that drain mana over time when activated, still drain your mana.

- This mode must be entered separately from other game modes, but still within the first 15 game seconds.

 

-mm | -mirrormatch

After a period of time, one of the heroes controlled by the corresponding players from each team (first player in both teams, second player in both teams, etc.) is randomly chosen to be played by both the players. The result is an identical matchup on both teams.

- The amount of players on each team must be equal in order to be activated.

Cannot be used with: -sh, -dm

 

-test

Enables the Single Player commands for all players in the game.

- This mode must be entered separately from other game modes, but still within the first 15 game seconds.

 

-ts | -terrainsnow

Activates an experimental mode that partially turns the terrain to a snowy one.

 

-ah

Turns on an experimental Anti Hack system. The player that enters the mode is presented with two options, -mode1 which only affects the minimap and -mode2 which deals with more possibilities and is labeled as the recommended mode.

- Must be entered separately, between 15 and 60 game seconds.

 

 

 

Commands available to all players

These commands can be used to their effect by any player in the game.

 

-random

Player is given a random hero from the pool of heroes available to pick from.

- Bypasses the 250 hero gold cost. Must be entered when the heroes become available for picking, which is after the first 15 game seconds have elapsed.

 

-repick

Removes the current player controlled hero. The player is then presented with another hero which is either picked again (in pick modes) or randomed (in random modes).

- Can only repick once, within the first game minute, must be at full Health and Mana and have 350/400 gold for pick/random modes respectively.

 

-gameinfo

Displays the activated game modes accompanied by brief explanations.

 

-swap | -swaphero

The -swap/-swaphero command lists the teammates' heroes as swapping options, labeled with numbers from 1 to 5.

 

-swap #

The # is a number (range is from 1 to 5) from the options presented when the -swap | -swaphero command is typed. Entering this command prompts the player which controls the hero (option number) that an offer for swapping has been made. In order for two heroes to get swapped, both players have to type -swap #(entering eachother's option number).

 

- The options are generated by the player number, and are easily remembered by their color: Sentinel are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and scourge: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Example: The Blue player has to type -swap 4 and the Yellow player has to type -swap 1 in order to swap their heroes. Items and control over the hero will be switched. This command cannot be typed after the first wave of creep commences.

-swapcancel is activated after a successful swap.

 

-swapcancel

All swap requests from and to the player are canceled.

 

-swapall

Requests -swap/-swaphero with all players.

- -swapcancel is activated before the requests are made.

 

-recreate

This command is meant for some heroes that have the ability to undergo a metamorphosis (Dragon Knight, Lycanthrope and Soul Keeper) where there are rare problems with losing control of the unit. The command can be used when the hero is near team's Fountain area. There is a 200 game seconds channeling time, to prevent abuses.

 

-unstuck

Pauses your hero (cannot move or use skills) for 60 game seconds, after which he's transported to your fountain. This command is meant for use when your hero is stuck in an impassable part of terrain/blocked between trees.

This command is currently disabled.

 

-ma | -matchup

Displays a list of the enemy players, the heroes that they control and their levels and optionally if they left the game, the game time when they left.

 

-ms

Displays the player's hero current movement speed.

 

-disablehelp / -enablehelp

These two commands are designed to prevent abuses of spells that can be cast on allies. Spells currently affected by this commands are: Chen's Test of Faith, Obsidian Destroyer's Astral Imprisonment and Furion's Sprout. If you type -disablehelp, allied casts of Test of Faith, Sprout and Astral Imprisonment will not work on you. If you type -enablehelp later on, the spells can be cast on you once again.

- -enablehelp is on by default.

 

-cs | -creepstats

Displays the number of killed enemy creeps, killed allied creeps (denies) and the number of killed neutral creeps.

 

-cson / -csoff

Shows / Hides the current creep kills and denies in the game scoreboard title.

- -csoff is in effect by default.

 

-showdeny / -hidedeny

Show / Hide signalization whenever a creep or a building is killed by its allied player (denied). The signal is an exclamation mark that appears at the denied target's location and it's color is the one of the player that has denied it.

 

-di | -denyinfo

Activates both -cson and -showdeny.

 

-hidemsg / -showmsg

Disables / Enables all triggered in-game messages.

- -showmsg is in effect by default.

 

-weather moonlight / -weather wind / -weather rain / -weather snow

Each command activates a weather effect.

- The effects cannot be seen if Particles is set to Low in the Warcraft III Options > Video settings.

 

-weather random

Enables a random weather effect that changes automatically every 5 minutes.

 

-weather off

Turns off weather effects, if activated.

- This is in effect by default.

 

-don | -deathon / -doff | -deathoff

Enables / Disables a timer board that shows up when your hero dies, and presents the remaining respawn time.

- -deathon is in effect by default

 

-hhn | -hideheronames

Removes the hero names that are added after the players' names in DotA.

 

-mute

Disables the kill sounds.

 

-afk

Shows how much time a player hasn't issued a command. If a player doesn't issue any commands in 10 game minutes, a -kickafk command is displayed to all players, which if typed by anyone it removes the afk player from the game.

 

-apm

Displays current player's actions per minute.

 

-clear

Clears the screen of all triggered game messages.

 

-courier

Toggles an idle courier icon (same as with an idle worker unit in ladder).

 

-roll #(1-2000)

Gives a random number from 0 to the number you typed, up to 2000. For example, if you type -roll 2000, you will get a random number from 0-2000.

- This command serves for anything you want it to serve for.

 

-invokelist

Lists all of Invoker's spells, the combinations of Quas, Wex and Exort needed to invoke them and their hotkeys.

 

-fs | -fleshstr

Shows how much Strength is gained from the Flesh Heap ability.

- Only in effect when the hero played is Pudge.

 

 

 

Single Player commands

These commands are meant for easier testing of certain mechanics. They are on by default when a game is started in Single Player, and can be activated by the host in multiplayer with the -test command.

 

-spawncreeps

Spawns a creep wave (both Sentinel and Scourge, all lanes)

 

-neutrals

Triggers the neutral creeps respawn code.

 

-kill

Kills the current hero.

 

-powerup

Activates the rune respawn code.

 

-gold xxxx

Adds xxxx gold.

 

-lvlup

Raises the current hero's level by 1.

 

-refresh

Resets all skill/item cooldowns and sets the hero's Hit Points and mana to full.