Dota: Dragon's Blood has tried to stick the landing by staying true to some of its source material. While the incredible amount of lore present in Dota 2 couldn't make it to the Netflix adaptation, the show has tried to take some inspiration from the game. Dota 2 fans were thrilled to see some of the most celebrated heroes of the game in action. Dota: Dragon's Blood features a dozen of the game's heroes throughout the three parts and even pays homage to their ultimate moves.
Whether it was Luna's famous Lucent Beam or Lina's Light Strike Array, it was thrilling to see the action befitting so well in anime form. Fans expected more appearances after a great lack of heroes in Book One and Two. Nonetheless, here are the Dota 2 who got their long and brief time in the spotlight.
Mirana
Known as the Princess and the Moon, as well as the center of most of the show's attention, Mirana's adaptation in Dragon's Blood is quite accurate. From her abilities to her attire, everything is appreciable. Even though loads of changes have been made to accommodate her animated counterpart, she doesn't look half bad even when she's received the "Goddess of the Sun" title.
Dragon Knight
Davion, or Dragon Knight, is one of the main characters of the show and a fairly over-powered hero in Dota 2. Davion's transformation from the game is evident, and apart from his armor, there's nothing that the show has adapted from the game's lore. In the game, Dragon Knight turns into an actual dragon as part of his ultimate power, but Davion only goes into a hybrid form that's part dragon, part human.
Marci
Princess Mirana's mute yet loyal comrade happens to be one of the few characters who made their debut in the animated adaptation before the game. Marci was released as a playable hero in Dota 2 after the release of the Netflix series.
Her powers featured in the series are akin to her playable abilities in the game, which is a huge plus. Marci has been a wonderful supporting character throughout the show, and adds a unique charm to the story.
Invoker
The Invoker is considered a very complex and difficult hero to play in the game. He is not recommended for beginners, and his complexity is reflected well in his animated counterpart. His outfit, aura, and mysteriousness match that of what players consider Invoker to be. Though not all of his moves, most of his abilities are portrayed in the episodes.
Lina
The Slayer's elemental affinity is uncontrollable according to the general population, but even they know that nobody can match Lina's Fiery Soul. From her signature moves to her outfit, everything is perfect when it comes to comparing the playable hero to her appearance in the anime. She is powerful, beautiful, and feisty. Dota: Dragon's Blood does an incredible job of keeping her arc in the series quite relevant. Dota: Dragon's Blood even pays tribute to her "arcana" form.
Luna
Luna is known as the Scourge of the Plains, a relentless warrior who would do anything to please her goddess. She rides her loyal lion named Nova, and is as unforgiving as she is in the game. Her outfit, powers, and even the accent are perfectly captured in the series, and the fans finally get to witness her signature move Lucent Beam in Book Three.
Crystal Maidan
Crystal Maiden or Rylai is Lina's younger sister who has ice-based powers in the game but a very brief journey in the series. She comes as a helping hand to the Dragon Knights, but her powers and background are incredibly downplayed in the show.
Winter Wyvern
Unlike other dragons, Winter Wyvern is a beast of the cold in the game, but the creature happens to transform into a beautiful woman. Winter Wyvern, or Auroth, is one of the few dragons who can speak, and she is extremely charming in her human form. The changes in the series for the character were rather welcomed than criticized.
Terrorblade
Terrorblade, the big bad of the show, is the king of a dark realm known as Foulfell. He wants to recreate the universe in his image, and it seems like his appearance in the show does justice to his playable character in the game. Terrorblade is kind of a "dark" character in Dota 2, so it was a good choice to cast him as a villain. Book Three was gracious enough to feature some of his signature moves like Conjure Image, Reflection, and Metamorphosis.
The Oracle
The Oracle is the first Dota hero who appears in the series, and without giving him much credit, the show moves on to the main heroes. The Oracle is again introduced in Book Three, but this time he has a decent scene and a bit of his resemblance to the playable character to offer to the audience.
Arc Warden
The Arc Warden has a brief role in Dota: Dragon's Blood Book Three Episode 4. The Arc Warden or Zet is Invoker's prisoner on the Mad Moon who is tasked with unifying the Radiant and the Dire fragments of the moon. Dota 2 fans were quick to notice the hero's abilities, Tempest Double and Magnetic Field getting a nod in the episode but not long after, Arc Warden meets his demise.
Phantom Lancer, Axe, Tiny, and Windranger
Book Three did a tad bit of a better job at giving some popular Dota 2 heroes noteworthy cameos. Even though they were only there for a few seconds, famous heroes like Windranger, Phantom Lancer, Axe, and Tiny got their time in the spotlight and looked amazing.
It almost seems like a lost opportunity not to use them in the series, but perhaps they will make an appearance in Book Four. The audience sees a montage of these heroes during Filomena's speech, stating that these heroes have been empowered by the broken shards of the Mad Moon.
Pangolier
There are hardly any similarities between Dota's Pangolier and Dragon's Blood Niko Hieronimo. The character takes only the pangolin-like body from the game and is introduced as Luna's cellmate. He has an interesting arc, but it's cut short rather abruptly.
Sand King
Giving fans a brief appearance, Sand King's cameo held lots of potential with the way he was portrayed as a notorious gigantic monster who led an army against the Imperium. The lore of Dota: Dragon's Blood describes Sand King as the desert itself and a powerful entity.