Positions in Dota 2 - What do they mean?

Solution 1:

These are called farming positions. In a nutshell, they rank how much farm (gold and XP) each player needs. Position 1 needs the most, so they usually play in the safelane (that's bottom for Radiant and top for Dire). Position 2 and 3 usually correspond to midlane carries and offlaners respectively, while 4 and 5 are supports.

Solution 2:

Building on quartata's answer:

• Position 1 is safelane carry and could be seen as a LoL ADC
• Position 2 is usually mid and is the LoL mid
• Position 3 is the offlaner and is the LoL top laner, usually more tanky to handle the safelaner and support harass
• Position 4 and 5 are supports (for the safelaner) or roamer

You will sometimes have a jungler that will take position 4 and usually will try to roam and gank, but it is not a set position like in LoL.

Also, contrary to LoL, you don't have the two "tops" facing each other, you have the safelane carry facing the opposing offlaner.

You can have more information there:

• http://wiki.teamliquid.net/dota2/Farm_Dependency
• https://purgegamers.true.io/purge/hero-roles/