Esports World Cup: The unconventional picks of Dota 2

After wrapping up the Esports World Cup for Dota 2, let’s rewind and highlight some unexpected choices that stunned and triumphed.

During a span of ten days, the Esports World Cup for Dota 2 featured quite a few unexpected hero selections. From the elite teams competing in the playoffs right down to the group and elimination stages, every team showcased their versatility. Some teams took an intriguing approach with their hero choices and ultimately prevailed. As we delve into the uncommon Dota 2 picks that made waves at the Esports World Cup, let’s examine which teams opted for these unusual heroes and ponder if we can expect more of them in the future.

Unconventional Dota 2 hero picks at the Esports World Cup

In the competitive Dota 2 landscape, there are frequently intriguing hero selections and role assignments that catch our attention. One example that stands out lately is the support role played by Pudge from PARIVSION. But even more unusual Dota 2 character choices were seen during the Esports World Cup, starting right from the initial group matches.

Natus Vincere’s Undying mid

Na’Vi was anticipated to create a splash at the Electronic Sports World Cup, but their premature elimination was regrettable. At the onset of the group phase, against Xtreme Gaming, the team opted for Undying. While not an unusual hero selection, playing the hero in the mid-lane presented an intriguing strategy. Artem “Niku” Bachkur delivered an exceptional performance, transforming into a virtually indestructible beast.

At the Dota 2 Esports World Cup, an unexpected choice – Undying in the mid lane – secured its initial victory in the professional scene, marking a first for this hero in this specific role.

BetBoom’s brave Hoodwink

Although Hoodwink had a relatively low win rate of approximately 46%, many didn’t anticipate its frequent use in the EWC. However, BetBoom Team surprised everyone with Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko’s skillful position 1 play on Hoodwink, causing quite a stir within the community. Instead of witnessing an escalation in the hero’s popularity in the carry role as expected, it was fortunate that this didn’t occur.

However, it was indeed Pure’s extraordinary abilities that took center stage, leading to an insurmountable challenge for Team Falcons with no viable solution. This unforeseen hero selection, rarely seen in the Esports World Cup, became one of the most astonishing unconventional picks.

Techies blows up for GG

As a Dota 2 gamer, there’s no denying that everyone appreciates Techies… except when they show up in our games! But at the EWC event, the Gaimin Gladiators decided to serve us a dose of Techies chaos, and it wasn’t the main attraction, but Erik “tOfu” Engel demonstrated that the bomb-loving Goblin squad is still a solid pick.

But we are still hoping that we never have Techies in our games.

Meepo backs up PARIVISION

Parivision is recognized for their unusual choices, and this was further demonstrated during the Esports World Cup. As expected, Volodymyr “No[o]ne-“ Minenko brought out Pudge, but it was interesting to see Team Parivision play Ringmaster on four different instances. What truly set them apart was their exclusive use of Meepo, a character that no other team employed during the tournament. Notably, Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov led both Meepo instances, resulting in significant victories for the team.

Although most teams were sticking to conventional pick strategies, PV consistently explored unconventional options with promising results. Regrettably, their efforts landed them in third place this time around. However, we anticipate an abundance of unusual picks at the upcoming Clavision Masters Snow-Ruyi and The International 2025.

At the EWC, an array of captivating and distinctive choices emerged from the Dota 2 teams. These ranged from a Dragon Knight that was once formidable, all the way to a Nyx Assassin. As these teams gear up for their TI 2025 quest, we can anticipate even more unconventional selections in future matches.

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2025-07-23 18:41