Dark Moon

Dark Moon is an event that ran from January 26 to February 6, 2017. Players defended Selemene's temple from waves of invaders, and earned special event points that could be traded for rewards.

Game mode

 * The game mode features a horde based PvE system, where waves of enemies sequentially spawn to destroy the player's Ancient. Each round gets progressively more difficult, with unique enemies and mechanics.

Gameplay

 * Five players are put against waves of enemies which come out from four lanes.
 * These waves get progressively harder, with bosses and unique units with special abilities.
 * Experience is gained normally but gold must be picked up on the ground, and are used to buy items and level up.
 * Experience can be gained while dead.
 * The game ends if the Ancient is destroyed, or if all five players die.

Buildings

 * Seven Towers defend the Ancient, four external ones and three internal ones.
 * All Towers respawn at the end of a round.
 * Towers that survive until the end of a round will earn the team extra gold.
 * Three Shrines are found on the map, each with a 180 second cooldown.
 * Two shops are located on the map. One in the middle, and one near the top, next to the Ancient.

Reviving

 * On death, a tombstone is left where the player died. Living teammates can right click on the tombstone to revive the player. This takes a channel time of six seconds.
 * The more players that channel on the same tombstone, the quicker it will go.
 * Buyback can be used, but it has a cooldown.
 * All players are revived with full health and mana at the end of each round.

Available heroes

 * Only a few heroes can be picked for this event.
 * Some heroes have altered abilities made specifically for this event.

Rounds

 * Each round has a 30 second break between them.
 * For the details of the units and their abilities, see here.

Drops

 * Several items are dropped upon killing enemies. All can be picked up by walking over them, except for the Town Portal Scroll, which must be right clicked.

Heroes

 * is very strong at dealing with early level mobs. Simply kiting enemies around its AoE will be able to deal with massive groups in the early game.
 * 's damage reduction can be very useful, and helps you and your team soak up more damage.
 * is particularly useful on Underlord, as well as a later on in the game.
 * is useful in taking out big enemies from a distance. It also have the ability to scatter its damage to the enemies behind targeted enemy.
 * -upgraded will work like usual -upgraded.
 * can be used to block off choke points, and help aggro enemies away from buildings.
 * deals a great amount of damage to the Bonus Chicken in Round 5, especially when it is cornered.
 * can be used on Bonus Chicken in Round 5
 * holds large groups of enemies together for effective nuking. Also effective against Bonus Chicken in Round 5, Baby Roshans in Round 10.
 * Taking cooldown reduction talent and purchasing can allow  to almost permanently hold enemies in place.
 * works as a on the enemies it hits.
 * Medusa synergizes with, as and  increase Gyrocopter's nuke damage output.
 * work multiple times depending on level.
 * has counterattack if a physical attack is evaded, either with a physical attack against melee enemies, or a dagger against ranged enemies.
 * is useful in taking out large number or enemies in an area. While its damage diminishes its deadliness overtime, it can still apply slow debuffs to large crowds of enemies, and its range can let the player lure the enemies away from an area while using to safely navigate through terrain if the player gets cornered.
 * can help your team last longer from larger creep waves. Note however that this will render the target immobile, leaving them helpless from magical damage or skills done by the enemy hero creeps and siege tanks.
 * can be cast on your teammates and can help them get out any creep waves that have trapped them from every side. The spell also increases the attack range of any ranged hero as well as letting them apply frost burn.
 * is a great crowd control skill that can help kill any special enemies of the player's choice. This spell's stun however does not work on the chicken of Round 5.
 * None of Gyro's abilities have been modified for this mode making him a very weak pick.
 * Techies' high defensive ability can often carry the team through a round.
 * Lay down mines as early as possible to keep Towers defended.
 * Easily clears wave of high HP creeps with his passive, as well with.
 * The Dark Magus has 0% Magic Resistance, so can be useful.
 * Can unleash huge AoE DPS, as well heal his teammates.
 * does take damage from the creeps, but takes much more attacks to get destroyed. Therefore, it needs some planning to cast, as a mob of creeps can easily take it out.
 * Consider getting a to take an ally with you.
 * The attack speed reduction from greatly diminishes their damage dealt.
 * has 25% Spell Lifesteal.
 * is perfect choice for in combination with.
 * now is active ability, it gives bonus movement speed and ability to stun enemies that Tiny move through.
 * can be useful in Round 6 against Warlocks.
 * can be used on buildings.
 * The Dark Magus has 0% Magic Resistance, so can be useful.
 * Can unleash huge AoE DPS, as well heal his teammates.
 * does take damage from the creeps, but takes much more attacks to get destroyed. Therefore, it needs some planning to cast, as a mob of creeps can easily take it out.
 * Consider getting a to take an ally with you.
 * The attack speed reduction from greatly diminishes their damage dealt.
 * has 25% Spell Lifesteal.
 * is perfect choice for in combination with.
 * now is active ability, it gives bonus movement speed and ability to stun enemies that Tiny move through.
 * can be useful in Round 6 against Warlocks.
 * can be used on buildings.
 * now is active ability, it gives bonus movement speed and ability to stun enemies that Tiny move through.
 * can be useful in Round 6 against Warlocks.
 * can be used on buildings.
 * can be used on buildings.
 * can be used on buildings.

Items

 * An early can help keep heroes alive, as many charges are gained from enemy abilities.
 * and are highly beneficial in early levels when you urge life or mana during the fight.
 * Aura based items such as, , , and  will benefit your team a lot more than single target / burst items.
 * is the best single target item against wave bosses. The crit is distributed to the whole team and grants true strike.
 * and are good for clearing large waves on physical attack heroes which lack area damage otherwise.
 * Mobility items such as, and  play only a minor role. Nonetheless they can be useful to regroup and help out at other fighting fronts.

Others

 * Sacrificing Towers may be acceptable, as all Towers respawn at the end of each round.
 * This also means that whenever an outer tower is destroyed, it refreshes glyph.
 * Regeneration and Lifesteal items are crucial in sustaining your team.
 * Remember to use to quickly intercept oncoming waves across the map. Buy extra scrolls if necessary.
 * charges cannot be refilled.
 * All enemies are considered creeps.
 * This means regeneration items like and  will not be interrupted.
 * Subsequently, items such as and  do not gain any charges.

Points

 * Points are acquired by playing.
 * Daily bonuses are given for the first game played each day. Every daily bonus gives players 35,000 points plus 6 times the points they earned in the game.

Rewards

 * A special Dark Moon Emoticon is awarded to players who beat all rounds of the event.
 * 35,000 points can be spent to spin the reward wheel once.
 * A random cosmetic item is rewarded from the wheel.
 * For a full list of possible rewards, see the Dark Moon drop list.
 * The Dark Moon Baby Roshan is unique to this event, and can be obtained from the wheel at a very low chance.

Recycling

 * Treasures can be recycled in the Armory for 20,000 Dark Moon points.
 * Items received from opened chests cannot be recycled.

Lore
''For millennia, the warriors of the Nightsilver Woods have stood vigilant against vile forces intent on the advent of a Dark Moon, earning both title and divine charge in sacred defense of the Goddess Selemene. But now, as the night of the new moon falls, Selemene’s chosen lie helpless behind her temple walls, victims of an arcane slumber that has left the temple grounds undefended.'' ''With Selemene’s influence at its weakest, and twisted shades of the familiar creeping across her domain, the Moon Goddess beckons five new protectors to stand in the stead of her champions against the corruption of the Dark Moon Horde. Will you be one to answer the hallowed call?''

Trivia

 * This event is categorized as New Bloom 2017 in the game files.