Shadow Shaman steals the Dota 2 meta spotlight – Nature’s Prophet protests

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The Shadow Shaman now dominates the strategy (meta) in Dota 2, as evidenced by its impressive performances at events such as the Esports World Cup and numerous other tournaments, demonstrating its power and effectiveness.

Despite the conclusion of the Esports World Cup Dota 2 tournament, Shadow Shaman remains dominant in the meta. At past events like PGL Wallachia, this hero started to outshine others. Unsurprisingly, it’s still the most selected character at the ongoing Clavision Masters Snow-Ruyi.

Considering this, let’s examine Shadow Shaman’s role in the Dota 2 competitive landscape during the Esports World Cup, as well as some other frequently selected heroes by professionals.

Shadow Shaman continues to control the Dota 2 meta

The Dota 2 update 7.39 brought about major changes, particularly reshaping the game’s strategy (meta). Among all characters, Shadow Shaman seems to have benefited the most, becoming the most frequently chosen hero. Despite a minor nerf in version 7.39c, professional players continue to pick him due to his newfound strength.

In the PGL Wallachia Season 5 prior to the Esports World Cup, up until the ongoing Clavision Masters Snow-Ruyi tournament, Shadow Shaman has consistently outperformed. Yet, it’s not just an endless stream of ether shocks and Serpent Wards (essentially, sunshine and rainbows) for this hero. Despite his persistent presence in the Dota 2 meta, Shadow Shaman’s win rate is fairly even.

Wallachia’s PGL saw the hero drop below a 50% win rate, but the EWC boosted it close to 52%. Currently ongoing, the Clavision Masters has witnessed an impressive 59% win rate for Shadow Shaman in the game meta. However, this trend is expected to change as the tournament is in its Group Stage at the moment of writing.

Shadow Shaman, with its dual crowd control abilities, a powerful nuke, and the potency of Serpent Wards, has become a formidable force in the Dota 2 gameplay. Given the upcoming pre-TI adjustments, this hero is poised to remain prominent for an extended period.

Puck them all

In recent Dota 2 professional play, Puck has been getting a lot of game time, even if it’s not as much as Shadow Shaman. Despite no significant updates for quite some time, Puck continues to be a valuable choice for the mid-lane. The Curveball ability on Illusional Orb is opening up some creative strategies. Like Shaman, Puck’s abilities include a damaging spell and the potential for a wide-area stun ultimate.

Once more, the distribution of top choices appears well-balanced, ensuring no hero dominates excessively. Even popular picks such as Shadow Shaman in Dota 2 can be countered by teams. Puck continues to show a moderate win rate across tournaments.

Nature’s Prophet breaks the Dota 2 meta

Currently, Shadow Shaman is causing trouble as the top pick in the Dota 2 meta, but another character is truly disrupting things. Known as Nature’s Prophet (or Furion for Warcraft 3 DotA players), this hero is performing exceptionally well. Boasting a 75% win rate across both the EWC and PGL Wallachia, it’s clear that this character is powerful. Although there isn’t an exact explanation for Nature’s Prophet’s high win rate, its strength has been undeniable.

Revising slightly, and with some adjustments along with a fresh Facet, NP has potential to be a dominant choice in TI. Yet, there’s a significant possibility that it may end up on the list of frequently banned heroes.

As a dedicated Dota 2 fan, I must admit that Shadow Shaman is currently quite a meta pick in our game, but it’s not an uncontrollably overpowered hero. The journey towards The International 2025 is gathering momentum, and more heroes are proving to be equally formidable as we progress. With the Clarvision Masters ongoing and another tournament ahead of TI, Valve could release their next patch at any moment, potentially balancing things out.

While we all wish for a Battle Pass, some changes to heroes would be welcome to shake up the meta.

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2025-07-30 15:41