How to surrender in Dota 2: detailed guide
Author: Hawk Live LLC
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Dota 2 is a team game—you can be trapped in an endless battle if you’re not careful. When all hope seems lost, some players might want to surrender and save themselves the trouble of a dragged-out fight. But unless your group decides on it, waving your white flag won’t end the game. This option in Valve’s MOBA is not available in regular matches.
Mind you, these features aren’t exactly common knowledge in the game. They’ve been added by developers after they got tired of hearing people complain on message boards. And while I have no qualms about them being there in the first place, even I’ll admit that this guide was hard to figure out.
Сan you surrender in Dota 2?

It is worth noting that there is simply no surrender button in Dota 2. However, the option to surrender was still added by the developers. To surrender in Dota 2, players need to type GG or GGWP in all chat.
In public lobbies, all five players must agree to surrender by typing the surrender message. If all players agree, the match ends; otherwise, it continues as usual.
How to surrender in Dota 2
There are certain conditions for surrendering, such as sending the message in all chat and passing the 30-minute mark in the match. Additionally, only players in a full party can initiate a surrender vote, and players in solo queue cannot start the surrender process.
If the surrender is initiated, players have 10 seconds to cancel it before the match is surrendered, resulting in an immediate loss for the surrendering team, potentially losing Elo in ranked matches.

The surrender button in Dota 2
It is worth noting that there is still no surrender button in Dota 2, and it is unlikely to appear in the near future. It is also worth noting that until 2022, only professional esports players during official matches had the option to surrender.
However, Valve listened to players' complaints, and while they did not add a corresponding button to the interface, they did add the ability to surrender a match, rather than enduring a lost battle until its completion.
Why do people want to surrender in Dota 2?
Just because Valve allowed players to suggest giving up doesn’t mean doing so is always a good idea. As much as you’d like an early exit, other people on your team might disagree for perfectly valid reasons.
Advantages of ending a match early in Dota 2:
Tournaments are all about speed—for both viewers and participants—so quitting lets competitors jump into their next game faster
It’s seen as respectful sportsmanship towards opponents who played better than your group did
A loss can cloud any player’s judgment; stopping allows teams to rest and approach their next fight with clear heads
Lobby owners enjoy having the ability to quickly exit practice matches just as much as anyone else—if not more
Everyone wants the option of forfeiting in non-private games, but sometimes we have to respect what we’re given until something better comes along (if ever)
However, the present of the "GG" option in closed lobbies is really showing how well Valve understands that we need certain things for this game to be as dynamic and fun as it is. They made a well rounded game that can cater to both casual players and professional gamers. This just shows how flexible they were when designing Dota 2, and that was definitely a good thing.
However, the presence of the "GG" option in closed lobbies demonstrates Valve's understanding of the diverse needs of the game, catering to both casual players and the professional esports scene. This reflects the game's adaptability and the developers' efforts to provide a comprehensive gaming experience.
Conclusion
Even though this debate about the surrender button has been going on for quite some time, people are still passionate about it. The real beauty of Dota 2 is this spirit: resilience, strategy, and unpredictability in gameplay. If you're ever on the side that wants to throw in the towel early on in a match, or if you’re against that mindset entirely- remember that you’re probably playing one of the most versatile gaming experiences out there. That’s something special






