Want to know more information about the Dota 2 Diretide event? The Halloween event is one of the most anticipated by the community each year since its introduction in 2012.

The event has been on and off for these past few years, with fans expecting it to make a grand return for 2025. In this guide, we’ll break down every bit of information we know about a potential Diretide 2025, including rewards, release date, gameplay, and more.

This article was last updated on November 1st and will be continuously updated moving forward.

What Is Diretide in Dota 2?

Diretide is a long-standing Dota 2 Halloween-themed event. First introduced back in 2012, Diretide returned in 2013, 2020, and 2022.

The last edition, which was over three years ago, started in November. So while it’s usually deemed a Halloween event, it sometimes kicks off a few days after October ends.

Diretide 2022 introduced a new game mode in which two teams had to take down Greevils, earn taffy (an exclusive Diretide currency), and score it in enemy wells while trying to move past Roshan. If a 2025 Diretide is bound to happen, expect it to work in a similar fashion.

Of course, there were exclusive rewards up for grabs, which is the main incentive to play Diretide events for Dota 2 players. 

History of Diretide Events In Dota 2

Despite being a rare event, Diretide is still highly anticipated by Dota 2 fans each time October and November come around. 

Over the last 13 years, the event has only been available in four of them. This makes the Diretide history a fun one, as its elusiveness makes it an enticing event that players really want to experience at least one more time. 

In the table below, you’ll be able to see the differences between past Diretide events, including when each started and modes introduced during all of them.

Year	Start & End Date	Mode
2022	November 3-January 12, 2023	One main mode: Two teams compete to collect the most taffy by the end of each round. Win three rounds to win the match.
2020	October 29-December 22	One main mode: Two teams compete to collect the most taffy by the end of each round. Win three rounds to win the match.
2013	November 13-November 28	Three main modes: Candy Chaos, The Trickster Awakens, Sugar Rush
2012	October 30-November 14	Three main modes: Candy Chaos, The Trickster Awakens, Sugar Rush

Dota 2 Diretide 2025 Release Date & Duration

As previously stated, there is no official confirmation that a potential Diretide 2025 event is scheduled to take place. That being said, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Valve surprises fans in the coming weeks.

So, when does the Diretide start in Dota 2? That really depends. There’s never been a date set in stone for Diretide events to be released. We’ve seen some kick off as late as November 13, so if you’re eagerly anticipating a 2025 edition, there’s still a slim chance it can happen.

In any case, always keep your eyes peeled for upcoming Dota 2 patches; maybe Valve will surprise fans with a Diretide shadowdrop.

How To Play Diretide in Dota 2

If a Diretide event is to take place in 2025, I highly expect it to play very similarly to recent versions, so I’ll do a quick breakdown of the Diretide 2022 rules as a template: 

• Two teams compete to collect the most taffy (dropped by creeps and Scarecrow Stashes) by the end of each round. Win three rounds to win the match.
• Killing an enemy hero causes them to drop all their taffy (you get a Taffy Bag per elimination)
• If both teams have the same amount of taffy at the end of a round, the round enters overtime for 30 seconds.
• Creep kills grant XP and gold to the entire team. Dead players continue to gain XP, but not gold.
• Taffy must be channeled into the Home Bucket to count towards a team’s score. The channeling can be interrupted.

Diretide Rewards System Explained

In order to redeem Diretide rewards, players usually have two currencies to manage: Diretide Points and Candy. They work slightly differently.

First, Diretide Points: Players can earn these by playing either the limited-time Diretide mode or regular Dota 2 matches. Getting 100 points grants one of “Roshan’s Rewards.” You don’t get to pick which reward you want; instead, it’s a random drop from a pool of over 75 seasonal items. These can include couriers, shader effects, chat lines, MMR Double-Down Tokens, and treasures, which are purchasable boxes that contain cosmetic items.

Candy, on the other hand, is tied to the Battle Pass. You can collect different types of Candy from playing matches and recycling treasures. The Candy is used in the Candyworks Shop to purchase specific cosmetic rewards, including expensive items like Arcana sets, Immortal cosmetics, and Diretide-exclusive items. 

Best Heroes & Strategies for Diretide

If the event does return, these are the best heroes for Diretide depending on role:

Damage dealers:

• Spectre (Tanky, good all-rounder)
• Drow Ranger (Easy AoE farming)
• Lifestealer (Sustain and BKB immunity)

Support:

• Shadow Shaman (Strong disable/hex)
• Undying (Can protect allies carrying high amounts of taffy).

Utility/Mobility:

• Storm Spirit or Queen of Pain (High mobility for quick taffy deposits)
• Underlord (AoE wave clear).

Depending on how aggro your teams want to play, a good strategy to win is to simply not let the enemy team deposit taffy consistently by using stuns and other tools at your disposal. Spreading taffy across multiple heroes can also be key in case they start targeting a member of your squad

Differences Between Past Diretide Events 

Here are the major differences between past Diretide events:

• 2012 and 2013 were on the shorter side and featured a Halloween-themed version of the regular Dota 2 map. It consisted of two gameplay phases, where players stole Greevil Taffy from the enemy, dodged a roaming Roshan, and teamed up for a time-trial Sugar Rush to take him down.
• The 2020/2022 were longer seasonal modes played on a custom map. The updated candy mechanic is a round-based objective where teams collect taffy to deposit into a Home Bucket and defend Taffy Wells. As for rewards, players had to interact with the “Candyworks Shop,” allowing them to trade a currency earned over the entire season for a specific cosmetic item or treasure.

FAQs

When does Diretide 2025 start in Dota 2?

There is no official Diretide 2025 start date.

How long does Diretide last?

It depends, as it can roughly last between two weeks and three months, give or take.

How do you earn Diretide points?

You earn Diretide Points by completing regular Dota 2 games or playing the seasonal event.

What rewards can you get from Diretide 2025?

Since Diretide 2025 has not been confirmed, there are no confirmed rewards as of October 30.

Why is Diretide important in Dota 2?

Diretide is an iconic limited-time event that adds unique cosmetics to the game.