Best Dota 2 Support Players in 2025

In Dota 2, support players are often the unsung heroes. They don’t often get the same appreciation as the best mid players in Dota but some perform their roles so well that they become the stars of the show. Let’s take a look at the best support players of 2025.

Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen

• Team: Team Falcons
• Age: 28
• Nationality: Danish

Cr1t- has long been considered one of the best support players in Dota 2 who has never won The International – a rare distinction for someone of his calibre. Though his form has dipped slightly in recent years, Cr1t- remains one of the most stable and impactful supports in the game.

His slight decline is attributed to his current role with Team Falcons, where he has to adjust to a more supportive role, focusing on enabling his greedier cores rather than a more active, playmaking style. Despite this shift, he remains one of the highest-impact players on the team, always finding ways to make an impact with whatever items he has. 

Known for his exceptional laning, Cr1t- has always been in the right place at the right time. His positional awareness and decision-making allow him to control the flow of the game. With his veteran experience, Cr1t- has consistently been a key player capable of shifting the momentum in crucial moments with his ability to stay calm under pressure and make game-winning plays in high-stress situations – he remains ice cold in the most intense situations. 

His wealth of experience and stone-cold demeanor in tight matches make him a reliable player that any team would be lucky to have. While a TI title still eludes him, Cr1t-’s legacy as one of the best supports in Dota 2 is undeniable. 

Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon

• Team: Tundra Esports
• Age: 24
• Nationality: Indonesian

Whitemon stands tall in a list full of position four players for one major reason: he defies the usual expectations for his position five role. While position five supports are typically known for having weaker mechanics compared to other positions, Whitemon is easily the most mechanically skilled support in his class.

His laning stage is nothing short of remarkable, with the ability to dominate the lane and set up his carry for success. He consistently outplays his opponents in the early game, and understands most laning matchups to perfection. 

However, what really sets Whitemon apart is his high skill ceiling, allowing him to have illegal impact in the game – meaning it feels almost unfair for a position five to be this good. He doesn’t need the best items in Dota, he could make magic happen with only a Glimmer Cape and Force Staff.

Whitemon’s mechanical precision is on full display when he plays high-skill heroes like Windranger and Ringmaster. He’s always hitting two-man Shackleshots or landing all of his spells when playing the latter. Still, he isn’t just flashy – he’s also incredibly stable on more straightforward heroes like Ancient Apparition or Warlock. His precise positioning brings out the maximum impact possible, making him a consistent threat in team fights no matter how much farm he has. 

Despite successes playing in Southeast Asian teams like T1, Whitemon is still relatively new to playing under a well-developed European team. He hasn’t reached his peak, and under the right guidance, has all the potential in the world to become one of the best position five players of all time. 

Edgar “9Class” Naltakian

• Team: PARIVISION
• Age: 21
• Nationality: Russian

9Class is one of the breakout support players in recent time, quickly establishing himself in the Tier 1 scene with a unique and highly frustrating play style. Known for his “ratty” approach to Dota 2, 9Class thrives by picking heroes that are difficult to kill, and then spending most of the game cutting waves and darting deep into enemy territory.

He forces the enemy team to waste precious time chasing him, often leaving them disorganized and out of position while he creates massive amounts of space and pressure. His unconventional hero pool is a big part of why his play style succeeds. He regularly takes on the position four role with heroes like Terrorblade, Slark, and even Templar Assassin – unconventional picks that work perfectly into his disruptive style.

While it sometimes seems like he’s forcing his team to play 4v5, the constant map pressure and stress he puts on his opponents are invaluable. It’s not the kind of impact you see on stream, but it’s incredibly frustrating for enemies trying to respond to his movements. After doing all of his antics, he’ll buy items like a Eul’s Scepter and still find decent impact in team fights. 

Despite his unorthodox approach, 9Class is still a very mechanically capable player, as seen when he’s on more traditional heroes like Dark Willow and Ringmaster. His ability to play both ratty and regular heroes with ease shows his versatility as a support. 

Even when he makes the occasional goofy play, his contributions to PARIVISION’s rise in 2025 cannot be overstated. He may not follow the rules, but he’s still one of the most valuable assets on this team. 

Martin “Saksa” Sazdov

• Team: Tundra Esports
• Age: 29
• Nationality: North Macedonian

Saksa is undeniably one of the most accomplished support players in Dota 2 history. After a near miss at The International 2016, Saksa finally claimed his well-deserved Aegis at The International 2022 with Tundra Esports.

In September 2023, Saksa took time off the competitive scene. A year later, Saksa was called in to stand in for Tundra Esports at The International 2024. Despite the rust from his time away, Saksa came back like he never left, helping Tundra secure a third-place finish with his impeccable support impact. His performance at TI landed him a spot on the main roster afterward.

Saksa is always making impactful plays, whether it’s saving his teammates from certain death or finding the perfect opening that turns a skirmish into a teamfight win. His ability to read the game and make those clutch plays is what separates him from many other supports. His playmaking potential is off the roof, and he consistently finds himself at the heart of every successful engagement.  

Another aspect that increases his stock price is his versatility. Saksa is incredibly difficult to draft against because of his ability to adapt and shift roles. He can take countered core heroes in the draft and turn them into effective position four picks. For example, his trademarked position four Medusa – he always makes these unorthodox picks work, pushing heroes to their absolute limits.

Only a seasoned veteran with years of experience can pull off such unconventional and game-winning plays, and Saksa is one of the select few. 

Samuel “Boxi” Svahn

• Team: Team Liquid
• Age: 27
• Nationality: Swedish

Switching from offlane to position four was arguably the best decision of Boxi’s career. Though it took some time for him to fully settle into the role, he has quickly established himself as one of the most consistent supports in the business. In fact, many now consider him the best position four player around, thanks to his incredible efficiency and high-impact plays in every game. 

Boxi particular shines on melee heroes like Marci and Tusk, where his playmaking potential is through the roof. He can initiate fights, create space, and make some clutch saves that can turn a fight around. His map rotations in the early game are nearly flawless, helping his mid-laner, Nisha, get off to a good start in most matches. In fights, he’s rarely out of position and is always in the right place at the right time – a hallmark of his consistency throughout the years. 

It’s undeniable Boxi was the main reason why Team Liquid could lift the Aegis at The International 2024, and he continues making big plays in 2025, helping the team claim more tournament wins. His reliability and sheer experience make him a cornerstone of the squad, with him being able to adapt to any situation. Most importantly, Boxi is ice cold – he can make game-winning plays at the biggest stages without letting pressure get to him.