Diretide 2020

Diretide 2020 was a Halloween event that ran from October 29, 2020 to December 22, 2020. It featured a special game mode where two teams must collect the most taffy while avoiding the wrath of Roshan. Players could earn many unique event cosmetics by playing matches and earning Diretide Points.

Game Mode



 * Two teams compete to collect the most taffy by the end of each round. Win three rounds to win the match.
 * If both teams have the same amount of taffies at the end of a round, the round enters overtime for 30 seconds.
 * Three shops are found on the map, other than the one in each team's spawn area.
 * Creep kills grant the XP and gold to the entire team. Dead players continue to gain XP, but not gold.

Taffy

 * Taffy is dropped by creeps and Scarecrow Stashes, and picked up by heroes.
 * Last hitting a creep or destroying a Scarecrow Stash will automatically launch the taffy towards the killing hero.
 * A hero can pick up taffy by being within ?? range and clicking on it, or by walking over it.
 * Killing an enemy hero causes them to drop all their taffy.
 * Taffy Bags can be found by killing a hero with five or more taffies. They contain 5 taffies.
 * Taffy can be transferred between allied heroes and given to Roshan without channeling.
 * Taffy must be channeled into the Home Bucket to count towards a team's score. The channeling can be interrupted.
 * Every stack of taffy reduces the holder's maximum health by 2%, with a floor of 10% (up to 90% maximum health reduced).

Rounds

 * A total of 5 rounds are available. Each round lasts 6 minutes, and comes with unique lane creeps.
 * Each team can use Glyph of Fortification once per round.
 * Each player can buyback once per round.
 * s are restocked at the end of each round, and every 60 seconds during a round.
 * Ability cooldowns are refreshed at the end of each round.

Strategy

 * Only candy in your home bucket counts as score, so it is important to deposit it before the round ends. Use to hurry home as the countdown begins.
 * Sometimes it is better to starve Roshan, especially if he demands a large amount of candy or the round is about to end and the scores are close. The curse doesn't affect your score, only your ability to fight over the taffy.
 * Roshan can be used as a tool, since his stomping will damage and knock back all players. Consider luring him through enemies if you are targeted.
 * Passing your candy to a lane partner can be beneficial as they can transport it back to your home bucket while you remain in lane to fight and collect more candy. This is also handy after a fight in which your team steals a lot of candy as you can press the advantage without risking your gains.
 * Heroes with high AoE abilities are efficient at clearing all rounds except for round 3.
 * Heroes with permanent buffs like, , , and  can build up a lot of stats throughout the game.
 * can use to great effect due to the large amount of lane creeps present, especially during the spider round.
 * 's is a great way to efficiently transport taffy around the map.
 * 's can transport taffy back to base almost immediately.
 * 's is good for attacking buildings during the last seconds of each round, causing the other team to drop their taffy.
 * 's is great for attacking the enemy's Home Bucket. Use  to prevent being disabled while teleporting out.
 * 's can help to deliver teammate back to base safely after attacking the enemy's Home Bucket.
 * Tips needed.
 * Tips needed.

Diretide Points

 * Earn Diretide Points by playing the event game mode or normal matchmaking.
 * Bonus points can be earned by completing in-game feats such as killing the first tower, Roshan, Scarecrow Stash, etc.

Rewards

 * For every 100 Diretide Points earned, players are given a random award from the following list.
 * During this season, the Diretide Bucket at main menu will change visual according to total candy collected from 500 (techies mine), 1000 (green broodmother), 2000 (purple broodmother) and 5000 (Roshan`s head).

Lore
''In the Woods... It Awakens.''

''The slivers of the Mad Moon hang low in the night sky. From spring comes summer, from summer comes fall; the shift of the seasons march onward, droned out by the unceasing clash of Radiant and Dire. Long forgotten are the brief moments in which we stopped to turn our attention towards the woods. Where is the season of Diretide? We howled at the woods, begging it to bring forth its candy-mad beast. But nothing came. And we moved on.''

''But now the trees shake. The taffy in our bowls jostles as the ground shakes under foot. Could it be?''

''Brace yourself for a special Dota 2 event. Roshan stomps from his cave, lumbering down the river, hungry for candy and blood. Round after round of an an all-new frenetic, five-on-five game-mode awaits. Lo, the season returns. It’s Diretide.''