The Helm of Dominator dominated The International 2025 meta

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Everyone seems to be raving about this particular item, and it’s causing quite a headache for support players. Thus, you can expect to find the Helm of Dominator in every match of TI 2025!

As a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to be part of the excitement as The International 2025 kicks off! It’s not just about the overused hero everyone’s been spamming – there are definitely others making their mark. However, what has truly captivated the Dota 2 community is an item that had rarely been seen in consistent builds until this tournament: the Helm of Dominator.

What stands out even more is the impact this particular item had on bringing some previously underused heroes back into the spotlight. Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk discovered its potential while using Faceless Void, and later in the day, Wang “Ame” Chunyu took things a step further by incorporating it for Anti-mage.

In an unexpected twist, given that the character typically opts for Battle Fury for farming purposes, this occurrence was particularly noteworthy. As highlighted by renowned statsman Ben Noxville, this unique event occurred only on the thirteenth occasion in history. Post this match, it seemed to set a new norm for those playing the hero.

What made Helm of Dominator the most important item of The International 2025 meta?

Although it may appear as an innovation from TI2025, this item actually addressed the excessive use of Silencer in high MMR competitions. Following its popularized use in professional-tier games, the hero’s popularity has been noticeably declining.

In simpler terms, characters like Silencer, Dazzle, Disruptor, and those primarily offering support often struggle against Helm of Dominator due to their reliance on staying at the back lines. The controlled creep can successfully keep these heroes at bay, disable their Blink Dagger, or even compel them to use their Force Staff in uncomfortable scenarios.

Furthermore, many support characters lack the necessary spells to remove controlled units from play. This only amplifies the terror associated with the upcoming artifact, Helm of the Overlord. However, it’s not just a tool for specific heroes. The controlled creep gains at least 1,000 Health Points, enabling it to prolong lanes, safeguard towers, or push while the hero focuses on farming or team battles. This makes it an excellent tool for exploiting larger maps and significantly enhances the early-gank potential of any hero.

Trending heroes at The International

However, it’s important to note that The International 2025’s metagame isn’t solely centered around the Helm of Dominator. Following the Road to TI tournaments, there’s a growing preference for support heroes who can engage in early fights and counteract high-mobility champions. Heroes like Pugna and Disruptor are effective at controlling teamfights, while Snapfire shines in defending towers and highground.

It’s worth mentioning that the tactics involving heroes like Shadow Demon, Tusk, and Undying – often referred to as counter-initiations – are growing in significance.

Due to the Helm of Dominator, the meta for The International 2025 is characterized by popular picks such as Ursa, Anti-mage, Faceless Void, Lycan, and Beastmaster. Interestingly, heroes like Earth Shaker, Doom, and Alchemist thrive in teamfights with multiple units, making them appear both frequently picked and successful heroes in game visualizations.

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2025-09-11 16:45