BetSpider is the best betting tool for e-sports, and if you are into them, you probably heard of MOBA before. The acronym stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. However, sometimes, and in recent years, some refer to them as hero brawlers, or team brawlers as well. They are one of the most popular genres in e-sports, but many people still do not know much about them. Well, it is time to remedy that, so let’s get right to it.
The Characteristics of a MOBA
A MOBA game usually consists of a duel between two teams, a symmetrical map, and characters with different skills and abilities. In this duel, the most popular mode is the 5v5 battle, which aims to destroy the other team’s base. But to do this, as well as taking on their opponents, players also need to eliminate small soldiers and break down the site’s defenses. As the genre wants to give equal spatial conditions to both teams, to make their skills and strategies prevail, the maps are symmetrical; in other words, with the two bases the same. The game map includes routes, defenses, jungle (the environment between routes), and beings. Defeating these beings offers temporary advantages to a character or team.
And speaking of characters, they have unique abilities that fall into categories, which are generally:
- Assassins - they are fast and deal high damage, but have little defense;
- Snipers - they have ranged attacks that deal a good amount of damage, but they are fragile;
- Fighters - have balanced attack and defense and can take on any other character;
- Supporters - support their teammates by being by their side, recovering life, or activating other attributes;
- Tanks - have high defense, acting as a "punching bag", but are slow and don't deal as much damage;
- Mages - class with the greatest variety of skills, and can even fit into another category, such as assassin, fighter, or support.
Something that is also common in most MOBAs is the purchase of items in matches, to improve the character and open up the range of possible strategies even further.
Most popular MOBA Franchises
MOBA is not a style of game with many titles, especially when compared to other genres such as FPS, and adventure. However, one thing is certain: the few MOBA games that exist are very popular worldwide. So, let’s take a good look at some of the most popular ones out there:
League of Legends
League of Legends (LOL) is a free MOBA game developed by Riot Games, available for PC. The game features matches between two teams of five players, with each player controlling a character called a champion. To achieve the game's objectives, players must use each character's unique skills and attributes in coordination with their team members. The main one is to destroy the opposing team's Nexus, an item protected by computer-controlled towers and troops. The title has become extremely popular for its large and active community, as well as for offering a huge variety of champions, game modes, and frequent updates.
DOTA 2
Dota 2 is a PC MOBA developed by Valve Corporation. It is available to play for free on Windows, macOS, and Linux. As in League of Legends, players control a hero and work as a team to destroy the enemy base. The game is famous for its great complexity and difficulty. And also for its wide variety of heroes, items, and strategies available. Each hero has unique abilities and characteristics to consider when choosing a team composition. In addition, Dota 2 has a huge annual world tournament, The International, which offers million-dollar prizes for professional players.
Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor isn't one of the best-known games here in the West, but in the East it is very popular. Named Honor of Kings over there, the game is available on mobile platforms and the Nintendo Switch. Launched in 2015 in China, the Tencent Games game features more than 70 characters, including some DC Comics heroes and villains. With more than 10 million downloads on the Play Store, the Honor of Kings World Champion Cup 2021 was the tenth largest e-sports tournament in terms of prize money, offering 7.7 million dollars to participants, 3 of which to the winning team.
Smite
SMITE is a free game developed by Hi-Rez Studios. It is available for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. In it, players control gods and goddesses from different mythologies, working as a team to destroy the enemy base. However, the game stands out from the rest due to its gameplay style, which is different from others in the segment, with a third-person view and a greater focus on action. SMITE also has several game modes, such as Conquest, Joust, and Arena. Each one offers different challenges and strategies, increasing the variety of experiences throughout the gameplay.
MOBA - The Final Verdict
Now you know what MOBAs are, where they came from, and some of the most popular games in the market. This knowledge should be enough for you to take your first steps into the world of e-sports betting on MOBAs. The next step? Open a BetSpider account and join our web of success! Best of luck and enjoy the thrill of e-sports betting!
