Elite League tournaments are more than just exciting matches – they’re windows into the current professional meta of Dota 2. After BetBoom Tournament in Dubai, Xtreme Gaming’s victory wasn’t just about individual skill; it was a testament to their understanding of the current patch and the heroes that define it.
This Elite League showcased an intriguing mix of resurging classics, dominant mainstays, and even a few curveballs. Let’s break down the key trends that dictated hero picks and ultimately shaped the outcome of the tournament.
Elite League: Carries with Staying Power
Morphling’s adaptability remains a potent force in the Elite League. The Khanda build continues to be highly effective, providing both early-game strength and late-game potential. Similarly, Lifestealer’s ability to dominate the mid-game and snowball into a late-game threat remains significant.
Teams also demonstrated a renewed faith in traditional scaling carries like Luna and Faceless Void, prized for their ability to take over the game if given enough time to farm.
Teamfight Domination: Disables and Area Control
The Elite League saw a heavy emphasis on supports with strong lane presence and the potential to dictate the outcome of team fights.
Disruptor’s potent mix of early harass with Thunder Strike and team fight-shifting abilities like Static Storm and Kinetic Field made him a top pick (and a highly banned hero).
Rubick, a perennial favorite among pro players, topped the pick charts thanks to his ability to steal key enemy spells, adding an element of chaos and counterplay to every match.
Chen, despite recent nerfs, was a highly banned hero. His ability to disrupt enemy plans early on with Penitence and extend teamfights with the Hand of God clearly made him a hero that pro teams preferred to avoid facing.
The Unexpected Factors
Pangolier’s dominance as a midlaner remains unchallenged. His mobility, laning strength, and ability to threaten any part of the map with Rolling Thunder make him a versatile and consistent choice in the meta.
While Timbersaw received nerfs, he was still highly valued for his tankiness, damage, and ability to scale well throughout the game – proving his effectiveness even outside of his traditional offlane role.
And then there’s Kunkka. While undeniably strong, particularly with the Aghanim’s Scepter Torrent Storm upgrade, Kunkka’s appearance in both mid and offlane roles indicates that pro teams are still experimenting with this hero. Tehy are still seeking the most effective ways to utilize his unique abilities.
Meta Lessons from the Elite League
The Elite League offered clear insights into the current Dota 2 pro scene. Scaling carries are making a comeback, potentially signaling a shift toward slightly longer, more strategic games. Additionally, the value of strong team fight control cannot be overstated.
Finally, even in a world of highly defined metas, there’s always room for experimentation. And the chance that a surprise pick will shake things up is real.
These trends will extend beyond the Elite League remains to be seen. But players across all skill levels will benefit from understanding and adapting their play around these core strategic concepts.
