It has been almost six years since Dota 2 was released and since then, fans have witnessed some scintillating plays evoking jubilation and excitement.
Here is a selection of some of the most memorable moments the competitive Dota 2 scene has offered.
Comebacks
The million dollar Dream Coils
(Alliance vs Na’Vi, The International 2013)
In arguably the most iconic TI final, Na’Vi faced Alliance for the crown in 2013. In the fifth and final game, things were going Na’Vi’s way and Alliance realized that a different approach in the head-to-head team fights was needed. Doing what they were known best for, the Swedes started to play a split pushing game, forcing their opponents to go back to their base and defend against AdmiralBulldog’s menacing Nature’s Prophet. Na’Vi decided to go for a strong mid push, but had to return as their base was being razed by Nature’s Prophet, Chaos Knight and Io. Na’Vi then attempted to teleport, but s4 interrupted three of them with his Dream Coil. This gave Alliance enough time to destroy two lanes of barracks. The game went on for a while longer and s4 had another chance to execute another perfectly timed Dream Coil, helping Alliance seal a dramatic Hollywood fashion win.
Overcoming Mega Creeps
(EG vs EHOME, The International 2016)
No team had won against Mega Creeps on The International stage prior to TI6, but EG changed that. Facing EHOME in the semifinals of the upper bracket, they found themselves in a tough spot in the first game. In a clash full of action from the off, the Chinese side slowly gained momentum and claimed all of EG’s sets of barracks. This gave them the Mega Creeps. However, EG did not give up and continued fighting with unwavering determination. In an epic six-minute final fight, the North Americans’ resilience was awarded with a win that will surely stick in the memory of fans for years to come.
Out of the box moves
The Ambush
(No Tidehunter Vs EG, Dreamhack 2012)
A game away from losing the championship, the pre-Alliance team No Tidehunter decided to go for an unconventional move. Playing as a Dire, they smoked into the enemy jungle, while AdmiralBulldog went inside the pit and let Roshan kill him. Thinking their opponents were fighting Roshan, EG rushed towards the pit only to find it empty, with the trap being sprung before they realized their error. Coming at them from behind, No Tidehunter managed to kill two to give themselves a strong head start.
The Fountain hooks
(Na’Vi vs TongFu, The International 2013)
Crowd favourites Na’Vi were in a tough spot during the third game in the upper bracket semifinals of TI3 as their opponents had map control and were beating them in team fights. However, having Dendi’s Pudge on your team means that a game is never over until the “gg” is called. Using Chen’s Teleport and taking advantage of the fact that Pudge’s Meat Hook remained latched onto a hero even after Pudge had teleported, Na’Vi made one of the most spectacular, original and efficient moves in Dota 2 history. Needless to say, there was uproar from some teams and Valve fixed the bug after the tournament.
Moments of individual brilliance
Puppey’s Lycan
(Na’Vi vs DK, The International 2012)
The two strongest teams in the tournament faced each other in the first stage of the winners’ bracket of The International in 2012. Getting ganked by three in the mid lane, Super managed to trigger Primal Spirit on his Brewmaster just before the trio from Na’Vi were able to land the final blow. Instead of going home to safety, he decided to hang around and was tempted by a top haste rune, which disappeared right before his eyes. It was not a bug, but Puppey’s invisible wolves that had denied the rune. Realizing that he was still in danger, the now normal form Brewmaster headed towards the Radiant secret shop, but the pesky wolves blocked his way. Super then switched direction towards the top lane, but Dendi was there to finish him off.
Ferrari_430’s Psi Blades
(iG vs DK, BeyondTheSummit World Tour)
The long-standing iG player was one of the key stars behind the team’s success at The International 2012 as he built a reputation as one of the best (if not the best) Templar Assassins in the game. Before triumphing on the stage of The International, however, iG clashed with DK in the group stage of the BeyondTheSummit World Tour. Playing against the other powerhouse at the time, iG were winning and taking down a set of bottom barracks in the second game. DK were relying on the split push and rOtk’s Broodmother was trying to make the most of the situation in the top lane. Ferrari_430 teleported home in order to defend before going after rOtk. The DK man attempted to retreat into his webs to become invisible, but predicting his movement and cleverly using the splash damage of the Psi Blades and the Radiant creep wave, Ferrari landed a mind-blowing kill without seeing his enemy.
Wombo combos
A disaster in Roshan’s pit
(Na’Vi vs TongFu, The International 2012)
In the group stage of TI2 against the Chinese outfit TongFu, Na’Vi were caught fighting Roshan with a Song of the Siren call. With TongFu setting up their spells and ready to annihilate their opponents, as well as claim Roshan, Na’Vi reacted. To put it mildly, things did not go according to TongFu’s plan as Puppey on the Enigma unleashed the Black Hole. LighTofHeaveN played a crucial role as well by vacuuming the enemy team to set up Enigma’s ultimate. This resulted in Na’Vi wiping TongFu, with caster TobiWan’s adding even more to the moment by ecstatically shrieking “It’s a disaster!”
The play
(Na’Vi vs iG, The International 2012)
Na’Vi produced another golden moment on The International stage in 2012. Known as “the play”, it is perhaps the most famous team fight comeback in Dota 2 history. In the winners’ bracket semifinals, the defending champions Na’Vi were playing the formidable iG. Having a lead of one game in the series, the Chinese team decided to go for a smoke gank and surprise their opponents by attacking them from behind in game two. Sneaking into the river, Zhou started the initiation with a Song of the Siren on his Naga in what seemed a perfect set-up. However, iG failed to take into account LighTofHeaveN’s Black King Bar and using it right after the Song had stopped, he managed to draw four members of iG into his Black Hole. In the meantime, Dendi’s inhuman reflexes allowed him to evade the Ravage from the Tidehunter, steal it and use it right after the Black Hole. The result was a jaw-dropping full five-man wipe of iG.
