DreamLeague Season 25 is underway, and even though we’re still on the same Dota 2 patch as the past few tournaments, the pros are still putting a new meta on the table. Here are some emerging hero picks you’ll spot throughout the event.
Beastmaster
Now, Beastmaster isn’t a breakout hero in the patch or anything, but the most recent trend is having him played on the Carry role.
The idea of carry Beastmaster is to purchase his Aghanim’s Scepter and farm like a machine. Normally, picking up the Scepter on offlane Beastmaster also helps clear through camps and scale, but this role requires him to make space on the map. However, when playing him as position one, putting presence on the map is no longer your job so that you can pool all your focus into explosive farming.
Though most of the item build for carry is similar to what you’d buy on offlane, Yatoro showed a little bit of deviation by purchasing a Sange and Yasha, which is one of the best items in the patch. The rest of the build is pretty straightforward – Agh’s into Black King Bar, Shiva’s Guard, Refresher Orb, and all that good stuff.
Having the flexibility potential also makes Beastmaster potent in the drafting stage, as the enemy team is forced to account for him on offlane or carry.
Riki
If you haven’t noticed, the Dota 2 map is massive now. On such a large scale, heroes are more keen to split up to make use of the map as efficiently as possible. This is why heroes such as Bounty Hunter or Nyx Assassin are prominent picks. However, the heroes mentioned above are usually banned or picked, making Riki a great substitute as a support hero.
Though he doesn’t really provide a stun, his Smoke Screen is a lethal ability in this meta, and the simple answer is because of his Aghanim’s Shard. You’ve definitely seen teams buying Glimmer Capes. By purchasing Aghanim’s Shard, enemy heroes can no longer point and target their teammates, making it difficult for them to save.
Overall, Riki is a pesky hero who benefits from the enlarged map and counters some meta items.
Lycan
The “new” way of playing Lycan was discovered in previous tournaments already, but more teams have begun running the strategy and item build in DreamLeague Season 25.
In case you missed it, Lycan’s first skill, Summon Wolves, now has up to six levels by taking the Alpha Wolves facet. These critters can now root heroes and deal tons of damage, easily solo-killing Supports in the mid-game.
It’s a good idea to purchase a Hand of Midas to max out the Wolves level as quickly as possible. Lycan can also buy himself time to make the most use of his Midas by simply sending Wolves around the map, allowing him to scale into the late-game with actual Carry items.
Abaddon
A familiar face we haven’t seen in ages has reappeared. Abbadon has become one of the most-picked heroes in DreamLeague Season 25, primarily due to his flex potential. He can be played as a support, carry, or offlane.
There isn’t anything too crazy about Abaddon – he’s just a very solid laner that can go for various item builds depending on the game. When played as carry, Radiance is a great choice to scale into the game. Meanwhile, items such as Echo Sabre and other right-clicking items work well on both core roles.
Of course, picking him as a position five is also an option. He’d work great against popular picks such as Beastmaster and Dragon Knight to dispel stuns.
Bristleback
I’m pretty sure you’re tired of seeing Bristleback, so why am I including him on this list? It’s primarily because multiple teams have started running him on the mid-lane instead of offlane or carry. That means he can now be played in three roles, offering a drafting advantage.
Mid Bristleback just makes a lot of sense. He’s a solid laner, especially alone and can clear through Ancient stacks to propel himself to dominate the early to mid-game. He loves to skirmish in the 10 to 20-minute mark and scales relatively well into the late game. These characteristics check the boxes for a typical mid-laner, so it checks out. I can’t believe we’re only thinking about this now!
In terms of item builds, don’t stray too far away from a Carry-type Bristleback. However, the playstyle is slightly different as you should dive into fights head first. This is where a Glimmer Cape and – you guessed it – Sange and Yasha, come in handy.
