We’ve seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t at the top level of Dota 2 play as the Esports World Cup 2025 draws to a close. Although there was some innovation, it mostly took the shape of unorthodox applications of well-known heroes rather than the introduction of completely new meta picks.
By no means is the current situation bad. Only three heroes had an 80%+ contest rate in EWC 2025, and there were only 24 unpicked heroes overall—both of which are healthy by pro-play standards. We run the risk of entering The International 2025 with a polished but possibly predictable meta, though, if we don’t apply a little pre-TI balance patch.
Heroes That Could Use a Buff
Grimstroke
Despite having excellent synergy with well-liked picks like Doom and Batrider, Grimstroke is currently disregarded by pros due to his delicate laning stage. He might be able to withstand early aggression and use his potent kit with a slight baseline stat boost.
The Snapfire
Snapfire isn’t seen in top-tier matches, despite being one of the few supports capable of countering the lethal Tusk + Dawnbreaker combo. She is awkward due to her positioning issues; she is tanky early but depends on long-range ultimates.
Making Mortimer Kisses a charge-based ability would allow her to impact battles more flexibly without always requiring precise placement.
Heroes That Need Nerfs
Nature’s Prophet
Refusing to leave the meta, NP offers too much: lane sustain, global presence, strong nukes, and high scaling. A good starting point? Remove the barrier effect from Teleportation to limit his durability while retaining his mobility.
Shadow Shaman
Not necessarily overpowered, but frustrating to face. His innate ability gives him high survivability on top of strong disables and lane control. Adjusting this innate could make him less oppressive without gutting his identity.
Item Adjustments
Blade Mail
Blade Mail’s passive reflect damage makes it too effective for its price as a fighting and farming tool. Its lane-clear speed could be decreased without compromising its teamfight usefulness by lowering the base reflect damage.
Closing Thoughts
Some people were disappointed by EWC 2025, whether it was because of the meta itself or format and technical problems. A tiny pre-TI patch might provide excitement and diversity, enhancing the viewing experience of The International 2025.
Would you prefer to see hero and item changes before TI, or do you think the current Dota 2 meta is sufficient? Tell us in the comments.
