A role is the job you do for your team: start fights, protect teammates, gather information, control space or heal. Every team game splits its characters into roles, but the names and rules differ. This hub explains the roles in Valorant, League of Legends, Dota 2, Overwatch, Marvel Rivals and Deadlock, with the roster current as of October 2026.
Which role guide do you need?
Each guide explains what every role does, which characters belong to it, how to build a balanced team and how to pick a main. Facts are checked against publisher pages first, as described in our editorial policy.
Valorant Agent Roles Explained: Every Role and Agent
A plain guide to Valorant's four agent roles: what Duelists, Initiators, Controllers and Sentinels do, which of the 29 current agents belong to each…
Read the guide: Valorant Agent Roles Explained: Every Role and AgentLeague of Legends Roles Explained: Top, Jungle, Mid, Bot
A plain guide to the five League of Legends roles: what Top, Jungle, Mid, Bot and Support do, early priorities, typical champion classes, 2026 role…
Read the guide: League of Legends Roles Explained: Top, Jungle, Mid, BotDota 2 Positions Explained: Roles 1 to 5 and Role Queue
What each Dota 2 position from 1 to 5 does in 2026, including lanes, farm priority, main jobs and classic hero types, plus how ranked Role Queue…
Read the guide: Dota 2 Positions Explained: Roles 1 to 5 and Role QueueOverwatch Role Queue vs Open Queue: Which to Play
Role Queue is 5v5 with one tank, two damage and two supports and a rank per role, while Open Queue is 6v6 with any heroes and one rank. Here is how…
Read the guide: Overwatch Role Queue vs Open Queue: Which to PlayMarvel Rivals Roles Explained: Vanguard, Duelist, Strategist
A clear guide to the three Marvel Rivals roles, how to build a 6v6 team comp, how Team-Up abilities work, and the full hero list by role as of Season…
Read the guide: Marvel Rivals Roles Explained: Vanguard, Duelist, StrategistBest Deadlock Heroes for Beginners: Easy Picks to Learn
Abrams, Seven, McGinnis, Infernus, Kelvin and Grey Talon are the most forgiving Deadlock heroes to learn first; here is why their kits work and which…
Read the guide: Best Deadlock Heroes for Beginners: Easy Picks to LearnHow do roles compare across games?
The table lines up each game's role system as of October 2026. Role names that sound alike can mean different jobs: a Duelist in Valorant and a Duelist in Marvel Rivals are both damage dealers, but they work inside different team shapes.
| Game | Roles | Team shape | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valorant | Duelist, Initiator, Controller, Sentinel | 5 players; no locked roles, most teams run one of each plus a flex | Agent roles |
| League of Legends | Top, Jungle, Mid, Bot, Support | 5 players; you choose roles before ranked queue | Roles explained |
| Dota 2 | Positions 1 to 5 (carry to hard support) | 5 players; Role Queue is the ranked mode since patch 7.41e | Positions explained |
| Overwatch | Tank, Damage, Support | Role Queue 5v5 (1 tank, 2 damage, 2 support); Open Queue 6v6, any heroes | Role vs Open Queue |
| Marvel Rivals | Vanguard, Duelist, Strategist | 6v6; no locked roles | Roles explained |
How do you choose a main role?
- You like taking fights: try a damage role, such as Duelist, carry, mid or Damage.
- You like protecting the team: try a frontline role, such as Tank, Vanguard, Top or offlane.
- You like planning and setup: try Initiator, Controller, Jungle or a support position.
- You like helping others shine: try Support or Strategist.
Whatever you pick, keep a small pool of two or three characters. Our climbing guides show how a narrow pool helps you rank up in every game, and how to stop tilting in ranked covers the habits that keep a session on track.
How do roles affect your stats?
Stats only make sense next to your role. A support with few kills can still have the biggest impact on the game, and a carry with high damage can still lose if it never hits objectives. Compare yourself with players in the same role, not the whole lobby. The stats explained hub covers which numbers matter for each role, and you can line yourself up against a friend with AI Profile Pick.
Find your role, then track it. Look up Dota 2, Deadlock, CS2 or Destiny 2 players on the Player Lookup, or browse every guide in the guide library.
Frequently asked questions
What is a role in a competitive game?
A role is the job a player does for the team, such as dealing damage, protecting teammates, gathering information or healing. Most team games group characters into roles so a team can cover every job. Some games lock roles in matchmaking, like Overwatch Role Queue and Dota 2 Role Queue, while others let you pick freely and leave it to the team to balance. Knowing your role tells you what to focus on each game.
How many roles does each game have?
It depends on the game. As of October 2026, Valorant has four agent roles: Duelist, Initiator, Controller and Sentinel. League of Legends has five positions: Top, Jungle, Mid, Bot and Support. Dota 2 numbers its five positions from 1, the carry, to 5, the hard support. Overwatch Role Queue uses one tank, two damage and two supports. Marvel Rivals has three roles: Vanguard, Duelist and Strategist.
Which role is best for climbing ranked?
The best role is the one you will play most consistently. Ranked rewards your average performance over many games, so depth in one role beats being average at several. Pick the role that matches how you like to play, learn two or three characters for it, and keep one backup role for when your main is taken. Our climbing guides for each game explain the habits that win more games in every role.
Should I play more than one role?
Learn one main role first, then add a backup. A single main role lets you master matchups, timings and positioning, which raises your floor. A backup role helps when your team already has your main covered or when matchmaking fills you. In games with role queue, like Overwatch and Dota 2, your role is set before the match, so a second comfortable role mainly helps you queue faster.
Does RankSurge show stats by role?
Where the data allows it. Dota 2 and Deadlock lookups on RankSurge show hero and match stats you can compare by the heroes you play, and CS2 lookups cover Premier and FACEIT. Valorant, League of Legends, Overwatch 2 and Marvel Rivals lookups are not live yet, so for those games we offer role guides, rank explainers and stat explainers until official data access allows lookups.
Do roles change between seasons?
Yes, sometimes. Publishers move characters between roles, add new characters and change team formats. For example, Blizzard moved Sombra from Damage to Support in Overwatch's Season 5 patch in October 2026. Each role guide on RankSurge lists the roster as of its last review date, and we update the guides when a publisher announces a change.
