How to Change Terrain in Dota 2

Dota 2 is one of the most played games on Steam. This modern multiplayer masterpiece, apart from announcer packs and skins, also offers you a rich set of graphical landscape options. Terrain items may not seem important at first, but they can greatly enhance your mood, that’s why you need to know change terrain in Dota 2

In Dota 2, you always play on the same map. Every ranked and unranked match takes place on it, so it’s important to study it in detail and learn how to use it to your advantage. 

Another thing that you can do to improve your ability to play the game is to choose a terrain that suits your visual preferences. This guide will teach you how to do that.

What Is Dota 2 Terrain

Dota 2 terrain is the visual aspect of the map. By default, the map looks very simple and its features are well-known by anyone who has ever played the game. But you can also choose to compete using desert terrain or other types of terrain. The advantage can be significant.

Change Terrain in Dota 2
Change Terrain in Dota 2

You should think of terrain the same way you think of skins. In effect, the terrain you use in Dota 2 is the skin of the map on which you play your games. 

Here are some of the best terrain options that you can use:

  • Desert Terrain
  • Seasonal Terrain – Spring
  • Seasonal Terrain – Summer
  • Seasonal Terrain – Autumn
  • Seasonal Terrain – Winter
  • Immortal Gardens
  • Emerald Abyss
  • The King’s New Journey
  • Sanctums of the Divine
  • Reef’s Edge
  • Overgrown Empire

All of these skins will greatly modify the look and feel of the map. However, they will keep everything where it is. So don’t expect to get a huge advantage from using different terrain. You can expect, however, to gain a small advantage in some cases. 

That advantage comes not only from the fact that by using something that’s visually appealing to you you will play more relaxed, but also from the way in which the trees are depicted. In some cases, using a map with less sophisticated trees might help you to locate your target a bit easier. In other words, people won’t be able to juke as easily as they want.

Dota 2 Terrain Prices

The price of Dota 2 terrain usually costs around $20. In some cases, you may have to pay more. In others, it will be cheaper. It all depends on what terrain you’re interested in.

If you’re interested in other Dota 2 cosmetic items, on Tradeit.gg you can find thousands of them.

Pairing The Terrain With Your Preferred Dota Heroes

Change Terrain in Dota 2
Change Terrain in Dota 2

Some players like to play a small number of Dota 2 heroes over and over. If you’re one of them, one thing that you might want to do is to select your terrain based on that hero pool. Some combinations work much better than others.

For example, if you play heroes that are naturally green, picking the Winter terrain will give you excellent contrast. This means that during intense fights, you’ll be less likely to lose track of your hero and where you are clicking.

Most heroes are easy to spot and keep track of on every type of terrain, but some may require you to choose something specific.

The Psychological Impact of Using Good Terrain

Change Terrain in Dota 2
Change Terrain in Dota 2

Think of Spring or Autumn. There is something about these seasons that gives you a unique feeling. One person might feel better in Winter while another might prefer Summer. The fact that you can play on a terrain that features your preferred season shouldn’t be overlooked.

If nothing else, good terrain will give you a feeling that you’re starting anew. After a while, the game may feel stressful or even stale. But if you make important visual changes to it, you’ll enjoy it a lot more.

Spend a few minutes and think about your own psychology: when do you feel the most excited? In Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter? Another question worth asking is this: when do you feel the calmest?

Dota 2 can make you really angry sometimes. But if you use a terrain that naturally puts you in a good mood, that will greatly enhance your experience.

Just like with everything else in esports, the best thing that you can do is to experiment with the possibilities. Don’t be afraid to try multiple options until you’ve found the right one. Each time you sit down and play, adjust your terrain based on your mood and other factors that you consider important.

The end goal is to put yourself in a mental state that enhances your ability to win games. If you notice that you focus better when it’s winter, use that as your main option. But if you’re a Spring person, go with Spring.

How to Change Terrain in Dota 2

Dota 2 terrain can be changed by going to your in-game menu and selecting your Armory. Once you’ve done that, you will find your terrain items by searching for them. You can utilize the filters on the left side of the screen to do it faster.

Posted by
William Westerlund

William is an author, editor, and an avid gamer with over 10.000 hours in CS:GO (Counter-Strike 2). He also enjoys playing Rust, Dota 2, and TF2 but never became a top 1% player in any of those games.