NatTea at BLAST Slam 4: “A lot of people view Dota, like drafting or the gameplay, as like an equation to be solved”

Over the last few years, Natalie “NatTea” Mahoney has become one of the most regonizable faces in Dota 2, becoming a mainstage at events including The International, Esports World Cup and now, BLAST Slam’s first live LAN in Singapore. I got the chance to sit down with her during the day 2 of the playoffs about working as Dota 2 talent and SEA esports.

So how you doing?

NatTea: I’m doing good. Yesterday was like crazy. Our first Blast arena event so it’s like you never know what to expect, how it’s going to go, and it feels like, yeah, just every day is kind of outdoing itself right now.

Patrick: Bonifacio: Yeah, I’d say so. I mean, we got off to a like a raucous start in the first series.

NatTea: 8 Minute rampage or whatever it was. I was like, okay, well, I guess every day from here on out it’s gonna be worse, but. Nope.

Patrick: Well, we asked MidOne about that, like right here yesterday, and he was like, “that rampage was pretty random but I’ll take it.”

NatTea: Was so good because we had like a content piece earlier where he’s like, “yeah, I was thinking about not continuing Dota anymore and fading away”. And then, you know, he’s like, actually, I’m kind of pretty good. And then he rocks up to stage and an SEA crowd and he’s like, “yeah, rampage, it is what it is”.

Patrick: And not only that, he’s playing right now in the semi-final, so good for him.

So I’d assume this isn’t your first time in Southeast Asia doing events?

NatTea: It actually is. It is my first personal event in SEA. I mean, unless you count Australia as SEA, because we’re not really our own region.

Patrick: SEA/ANZ, right.

NatTea: Right. Okay, then I’ve done a couple. But no, for Singapore TI, I did group stages, but that was over in Sweden. And then I ended up coming to Singapore and just like watching as an audience member. So I got to experience the crowd, I got to experience TI, but otherwise I have not actually done work in front of an SEA crowd before. It’s my first time.

Have you seen previous SEA tournaments in any esports title?

NatTea: Yeah, I mean, mostly Dota because obviously that’s what I follow a lot of. But yeah, I’ve also watched some of the mobile games that you guys have had in SEA. I like Mobile Legends. Yeah, Mobile Legends. And even though it’s like, you know, kind of similar in a MOBA way, I’m just like, okay, very.. just different atmosphere completely. So they still go crazy.

Patrick: This is the OG. Dota is the OG for SEA.

You’re a multi esport kind of talent, but what’s your favourite thing about the Dota community in particular?

NatTea: My favourite thing about the Dota community, I don’t know. There’s a lot of fun content that comes out. Which is funny because I think a lot of people say, oh, we lack content from pros or, like, enjoyable Dota things. But it’s like everything that I’ve seen in other esports feels like it’s kind of originated from Dota. Whether it’s like, memes or video ideas, it feels like it has kind of originated with us. And then maybe someone takes it somewhere else and, like, does it better. But it’s like, we feel like we’re at the forefront of a lot of things.

Patrick:  So, yeah, I’d agree. And you’ve probably, you know, worked content pieces with Slacks and Sheever.

Is there anything special that they bring to the table? Something you would say is exclusive to Dota?

NatTea: That’s exclusive? I mean, that one’s tough because I haven’t really done content with a lot of other esports or other people. But I think the energy when you’re creating content is really fun, and it’s very rewarding. When you come to Slack and Sheever with the content idea, you’re like, “hey, I was thinking maybe we could do something like this”. And when it hits and their reaction that it’s good, you’re just like, yeah, that’s pretty much like crack and that’s good stuff.

Patrick: You know, it’s like, this was definitely a Slacks idea.

NatTea: Well, I mean, they’re definitely more unhinged than most people.

Patrick: Oh, yeah.

NatTea:  They love the cringe. That’s unique. That is very unique.

Patrick: You can see it in the crowd.

NatTea: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

So I’ve read that you are an electrical engineer. Is that true?

NatTea:  It is very much true, yes.

Patrick:  That’s amazing. Is there anything you would say that a lesson or a habit that you formed going through university and working as an electrical engineer that you’ve brought over to your esports career?

NatTea: I definitely think for university, so it isn’t so much related to being an engineer or studying engineering, but university for sure. Doing different esports titles, there’s a lot of history, a lot of heritage that you have to try and learn in what feels like a short time. Also staying on top of things, like refreshing your mind about what’s happened in previous tournaments with players with heroes. There’s, like, so much. So I think the studying techniques, which is so funny to say, but the studying techniques of university definitely helped me with, like, Dota and coming into the scene.

Patrick: Yeah. I mean, I’d say it shows in your work because the way you’re always prepared. Like, you really know your stuff.

NatTea: Thank you.

Patrick: Yeah. So have you ever encountered any situation in your esports career where you’re degree actually came in handy?

NatTea:  Oh, my gosh. My actual degree. Not really. I wish I could say, like, knowing long form maths equations and like the general rules of electricity would help me in every day, but unfortunately not. I think problem solving has helped me a lot. Like, if there’s ever really an issue, I think, “yeah, problem solving has helped me a lot in my job or like everyday life”. So maybe that I feel like that’s a critical thing of an engineer and that’s probably something that I bring in.

When it comes to like solving problems in esports from your perspective, what kind of problems do you think you encounter?

NatTea: I actually think it helps in my hosting in a way because a lot of people view Dota, like drafting or the gameplay as like an equation to be solved. It’s an ever changing equation, of course. But I think that that’s where like my questions come from. Where it’s like, oh, if this is the final answer, we’re trying to get to what other elements need to be added to it. And so like, if you think about it and that changes, then it’s just like, “okay, how do we complete the equation at the end of the day with the same number of components but with different components”. So maybe in that way. That’s a long, long form answer of it.

Patrick: But yeah, I appreciate it. I mean, it’s like, yeah, you can look at it as a math problem and some people look at it as a chess match, especially in the..

NatTea:  So many people do that. Actually, I have had a number of players kind of refer to it in that way.

Patrick:  Okay, last question.

Is there any particular talent, whether in Dota or just in esports in general, that it’s your dream to work with them?

NatTea: Oh, my gosh. There’s actually almost too many.

Patrick: Three. Three.

NatTea: Three of them. Okay, that’s hard. I will give you one quick story though, before I name three of them.

Patrick: Go ahead.

NatTea: We were so, you know, I’ve been doing Blast Dota and Blast also do CS and they work with Freya [Spiers] a lot. She does hosting for the Blast CS and I remember we had kind of just missed each other by like a week or something. So a CS event had come, she had already left. And then I came in for Dota and I was like a little bit gutted and Dreamleague came around and we were in the Sweden studio for Dreamleague. And at the same time, CS was happening and Freya was working the CS event in same studio, and she ended up walking through our green room.

And I remember just being so starstruck. I immediately, like, stood up and I was like, “Freya”. And I was like, “oh, my God, what am I doing?” I’m like, “I just want to say I’m a massive fan”. I was literally just fangirling in the green room over Freya, just, like walking through. So I think she’s. I don’t know if she’s top of my list, but she’s definitely in the top three. I would love to work with her. I’d love to work with Sjokz over League of Legends. That would be amazing. Because they do editorial meetings and things like that to plan what content they want to bring to the table.

Just even to be a fly on the wall to listen to what they do, soak it in pretty much. I think there is just so much to learn. And Machine, I think, is my third. Yes.

Patrick: He’s a huge favourite of mine too.

NatTea: Yes. I think everyone in the Dota community, whether they actively know it or not, has a small spot in their heart for Machine to come back and just, like, surprise everyone. Like, please, please, bro. Just been too long, right? Come on, man. You love CS too much. Please show a little bit of love to Dota. Yeah, he’s someone that I would love to. So that’s probably my tough thing. Three in some order.

Patrick: Well, hopefully we can bring him back. I mean, it’s been way too long.

NatTea: How long has it been now? Like eight?

Patrick: Oh, my God. Probably eight years.

NatTea: I actually don’t want to count. I think I don’t want it to happen.

Patrick: Definitely before the pandemic. Yeah. It’s cool to see that even you get starstruck just with talents walking past you. But, yeah, that’s all I have for you. Such a pleasure to speak to you.

NatTea :Thank you so much, Patrick.