MoonMeander: “I just write everything on a piece of paper, and then I let 33 decide what to do from there”

David “MoonMeander” Tan is one of the OGs (pun intended) of the professional Dota 2 scene, and one of the best players who eventually transitioned from being an active player to coaching a full roster. I got the chance to sit down with him ahead of BLAST Slam 4 in Singapore to talk about his experiences as a Dota head coach.

Patrick Bonifacio: It’s been nearly three full years since you transitioned to your current role as coach. First with TSM, then Undying, and now with Tundra Esports.

Do you miss being an active player at all?

MoonMeander: Yes and no. Being a coach is a lot more chill, and I do enjoy guiding the next generation [of Dota players]. There’s something fulfilling about that. And now that I’m a dad too, it feels kind of like having more kids now.

Patrick: Like you’re the dad of the team?

MoonMeander: Yeah, sort of.

Patrick: You mentioned that it’s a lot more chill, but I’d imagine that the preparation that goes into it is different. 

Is there anything you need to do differently as a coach [as opposed to playing]?

MoonMeander: For me, it’s about the same, because back when I was playing, drafting, and captaining, I would do the same prep that I’m doing now. So I would study my own team, know what I want to first ban and first pick… the only difference I would say now is that I just write everything on a piece of paper, and then I let 33 decide what to do from there.

Patrick: Yeah, and it’s like, since you’re not actively playing on the team, it’s all in their hands after the draft, right?

MoonMeander: Yeah.

What are the qualities that a player turned coach such as yourself should possess in order to be as effective as you at the job, or just effective in general?

MoonMeander: If I had to give one quality to every coach out there, the most important quality… patience. Patience. Because you’re dealing with these “kids”, and they will not see it your way a lot of the time. You just have to wait or let them do their thing. So it’s a waiting game, actually.

Patrick: So with your voice as the coach of the team, and the fact that you have five players to be talking to in the draft and in formulating your strategy, how do you guys put all of that together without getting in each other’s way?

MoonMeander: I let the players voice their opinions, and if I disagree, I’ll say it. And they can then either choose to do it their way, or you know, my idea. That’s how we function. And there’s no hard feelings, we just go with it and whatever works, works. After the game ends, we get a better feel of it like “what happened there”, and then we just fix it together [as a unit]. We don’t go, “Haha, I told you I was right!” We just want to win, because my success is their success.

Patrick: That’s true. And personally, I think coaching is probably the one part of playing at the professional level that fans aren’t always privy to, like with the details and stuff. Would you agree?

MoonMeander: Yeah, because it’s the strategic part of the game. Fans, they love the big plays, the flashy teamfights, the high net worth cores, and the guy who gets the rampage, because everybody wants to be the superstar. So, it’s the same thing as when you watch football: you watch the players instead of the coach. You see Messi and Ronaldo, and it’s a similar [thing with Dota coaching].

Patrick: You and the rest of the Tundra roster were one of the heavy favorites going into TI14, but we now know that it didn’t quite go according to plan for you guys in Hamburg. 

Aside from Whitemon not being there because of visa issues, what would you say prevented you from going the distance? Was it more of a mental thing, or was it more of execution or strategy?

MoonMeander: It was a mental thing for sure. We arrived at boot camp late, like it was very last minute because we tried to accommodate Whitemon’s visa. But when we realized after a couple of days that I’m already missing boot camp, which was already like three days before TI14, that Whitemon wasn’t coming, everything became so last minute and communicated so poorly. So we had to find a last minute stand-in and everything. It just seemed very scuffed.

Patrick: So it was the preparation stage where you stumbled.

MoonMeander: Yeah. We had to fly Tobi in, and then like two days later we’re flying to TI14, and I don’t even know what Tobi plays. Also, Whitemon fills a very big role on this team, because of all the people on it, I watch replays. So losing him is like losing the voice, and my voice in the game as well.

Patrick: Yeah, and losing the best position 5 player in the world, I’d say that’s a pretty big deal.

Since you’re the head coach, you know what it takes to motivate the squad after a disappointing tournament result, or one that fell below your expectations. What’s your preferred style in that regard?

MoonMeander: I usually let them cool off if they’re very angry, whoever wants to come outside, go hang out, get some food, enjoy the city that we’re in, get some fresh air. There’s always another tournament.

Patrick: Touch some grass, am I right?

MoonMeander: Yeah, touch some grass. There’s always another game of Dota to be played, and you can’t win them all.

Patrick: Talk to me about Ari’s incredible start as the newest player on the roster. I’ll admit: I didn’t think he would fit so seamlessly right off the bat. 

But what would you say are the qualities that he possesses that have allowed him to integrate himself so quickly?

MoonMeander: He has become a lot more receptive now compared to how he was before in TSM. He has lost a lot of his stubbornness, he’s always willing to learn, adapt, and listen. And that has been a huge help.