Heroes of the Storm: It's different in the Blizzard MOBA

With the strategy game "Heroes of the Storm" by Blizzard, a new wind is blowing in the MOBA scene. In this practical tip, we explain what is different in this MOBA than in the previous MOBAs.

Heroes of the Storm: MOBA innovation or just a duplicate?

The strategy game "Heroes of the Storm", similar to "League of Legends" or "Defense of the Ancients", is a so-called multiplayer online battle arena game (MOBA for short), in which you play with Defeat your ally the opposing team by destroying the enemy base.

• "Heroes of the Storm", like its competition, is a free-to-play computer game. As a player, however, you can unlock game content such as new characters, character designs and other content without gaining an in-game advantage.
• According to Blizzard, "Heroes of the Storm" was inspired by the in-house "Defense of the Ancients: All-Stars" modification for the computer game "WarCraft III".
• In battle, two teams face each other, each consisting of five players with different heroes. As in "League of Legends" or "Defense of the Ancients", you and your team must destroy the opposing base in order to win.
• In Heroes of the Storm, your abilities also have a cooldown that begins when you activate an ability. If your hero dies, he will be reborn in the base after the regeneration period.

Heroes of the Storm: Differences to other MOBAs

The computer game developer "Blizzard Entertainment" wants to stand out from other MOBAs with "Heroes of the Storm". They do not describe their game as MOBA, but as "Hero Brawler", that is, as a "hero fight". Many of the playable characters are known from the WarCraft, StarCraft and Diabolo universes. As a player, you should create a close relationship with your hero. Blizzard says: "Those who know our games also know the heroes of Heroes of the Storm."

• The playing time of a match is relatively short compared to other MOBA games at around 20 minutes per game. This is mainly due to the small and simple playing cards on which the fights are fought.
• In "Heroes of the Storm" you can choose between three game modes. You can play Practice, Cooperative, and Versus modes. Depending on the mode, you compete with either computer-controlled or real players against computer-controlled or real characters.
• Unlike in "League of Legends" or "Defense of the Ancients", not only one player, but the entire team is rewarded when an enemy hero is eliminated. In addition, you cannot buy items. Instead, all of the actions you take benefit your own team, which should encourage teamwork.
• You are playing on one of four cards so far, which have different characteristics and offer you different ways of eliminating the enemy base. For example, you can attack and defeat so-called "mercenary camps" on some maps, which then support you in battle.
• On the way to the enemy base, you and your companions can expect numerous defense towers, which you have to knock out to get into the enemy base. In League of Legends, you attack the defense towers as soon as you attack a champion. In "Heroes of the Storm" you are only attacked by the towers if there are no vassals in the area.
• In "Heroes of the Storm" there are also so-called "hero quests" and "daily quests". Once you complete these quests, unlock more game content.

"Heroes of the Storm" is not yet open to the public. However, you can register for the beta phase and test the computer game in advance. We have summarized new details in another CHIP contribution.