Dota 2 replay guides
How to get a replay, watch it, and learn something from it. Written against the current client and checked with real matches in the ReplayDojo viewer.
ReplaysHow to watch a Dota 2 replayThree ways to watch a Dota 2 replay: download it in the client, play a saved .dem from the console, or open the match ID in a browser with no install.
ReplaysWhere Dota 2 saves replays, and how long you can download themThe folder Dota 2 writes .dem replay files to, why the Download button disappears after a week or two, and how to keep a match before it expires.
ReplaysHow to find a Dota 2 match IDFind the match ID of any Dota 2 game: in the client's match details, in a Dotabuff, OpenDota or STRATZ link, or by searching a player's recent games.
ImproveHow to review your own Dota 2 replayA 20-minute routine for reviewing a Dota 2 game you lost: where to start on the timeline, which fights to rewatch, and what to write down.
ImproveReading the Dota 2 broadcast HUDWhat every number on a Dota 2 broadcast-style HUD means: team net worth and the lead, respawn timers, the ultimate and buyback markers, and the timeline.
For developersWhat is inside a Dota 2 replay fileA developer's look at the Dota 2 .dem format: how replays are downloaded and compressed, what entities and the combat log contain, and which parsers read them.- TroubleshootingDota 2 replay unavailable: what to check before trying againTroubleshoot a missing Dota 2 replay: distinguish pending requests, OpenDota outages, failed downloads and parser errors, then try a saved file.
- CoachingHow to share a Dota 2 replay for coachingShare a working Dota 2 replay page with your hero, role and timestamps. Includes a coaching request template and checks for a replay that will not open.
- Replay reviewMore kills but less net worth? How to review a Dota 2 economy gapReview a Dota 2 kill lead alongside net worth: compare the same timestamps, check farming and objectives, and turn an economy gap into a useful question.