Issue 13: Tour 3 of the DPC begins
7.31d drops to shake up the meta, 24/7 Dota is back on the menu
Here’s your 30-second summary for this issue of Ancient Tidings:
7.31d dropped, bringing with it a host of underrated changes
ESL One Genting is back, fresh after the Arlington Major
Upsets already in this 1st week of the Tour
Safelane Pudge is a welcome addition to the meta
Personal picks (they’re back!)
Game of the week: Team Liquid vs GoonSquad, Game 2. 60+ minute game, pos 1 Pudge vs pos 1 Medusa. Yes.
Player of the week: Limmp, for his performance as Puck vs Team Liquid.
Play of the week: Check out this clip of Ame trying to avoid an Aether remnant like the plague.
The 7.31d Dota Plus Gameplay update
In the wee hours of the night, after the freshly revamped Quincy Crew made quick work of 5RATFORCESTAFF… the janitor at Valve HQ decided it was time to push ahead with the patch, to press the green button to finally put a stop to the cries of “stale patch ded game”.
The update dropped, bringing with it seemingly minor hero changes across the board while also, at long last, introducing Marci to Captains Mode. Expect to see her played across both core and support roles. Primal Beast enjoyers will have to wait a bit.
Apart from the above and the changes to individual heroes, the update brought about a few changes that fans and professionals alike had been clamouring for:
Supports salving their cores will now be half as effective. Pos 1 BabyRage.
Null Talismans no longer provide manacost reduction. Instead, they now increase max mana. Move over 6 null Storms, we got 6 null
Obsidian Destroyer Outhouse Devourer Outworld DevourerOD in the house.Shadow Shaman’s ability to solo Rosh has been… rendered void as Roshan now one-shots ward-units, while also automatically attack them if no other units are in melee range.
BKB CD increased. The refresher-BKB meta was becoming obnoxious late game, so it is refreshing (heh) to see it receive some form of tuning.
Wraith Pact nerfed? Well, if making it easier and more lucrative to hit while not actually changing what it does is considered a nerf… then yes, it was nerfed.
For the full list of changes definitely check out the official update page. (I didn’t mention Dota Plus because I personally am not a user, check out the significant additions on the official update page)
What’d you think of the update? How do you think pro-Dota will evolve seeing this? Let me (and other readers) know in the comments below!
ESL One Genting (again)
A surprise to be sure… but a welcome one. A third-party LAN by ESL to fill up the drought left after the conclusion of the Arlington Major. What’s not to love about this?
A precursor to the eventual SEA TI this October.
A new org enters the WEU arena
The team earlier known as CHILLAX, a constant in Div 2 of the WEU DPC, recently got picked up by DGG Esports. As a stack they came really close to qualifying to Div 1 last Tour… perhaps having an org behind them will give them the push they needed.
Week 1, Tour 3 of the DPC
Western Europe
Division 1
Team Secret vs OG
OG vs Secret has always been a storied matchup, the addition of Crystallis to Secret made this even more so. If you recall, Crystallis, BZM, as well as ATF (even OG’s current coach, Chu) used to be teammates on the former Creepwave roster. With 2 of those 3 winning a major, who knows, maybe the 3rd one will find success on the international stage as well.
While not quite as incredible as their previous series in the last Tour, this was nonetheless a fun watch. Game 1 especially.
Team Liquid vs GoonSquad
The only team to go unbeaten in any division of the DPC, versus a team that consistently features at the top of EU after the addition of Matu and Zai. A fantastic 3-game series, with the 2nd game especially being a standout, featuring a rather unconventional safelaner in the form of a Pudge… versus the stereotypical lategame raidboss, Medusa. Ask people who’d win a 60+ minute game with the above 2 safelaners and chances are they’d lean towards the Snake Lady.
GoonS may have been a promoted team, but don’t let that fool you. The core of this team is the core of the Alliance squad that dominated the WEU DPC prior to TI10.
Division 2
Nigma Galaxy vs Ivy
Ah yes. The debut of the roster that resulted in more TI winners participating in Div 2 of the WEU DPC than in Div 1 of the same.
Nigma Galaxy are understandably expected to roll through the lower division, but that doesn’t mean their opponents won’t be putting up a fight. As Ivy just did.
China
Division 1
EHOME vs PSG.LGD
EHOME got fed up of PSG.LGD being called the best team in the world despite them having barely played any international Dota recently.
After the advent of Team Tickles (now, of course, Gaimin Gladiators), I was of the opinion that EHOME were dark horses of the same level, from another region across the world. Of course, only one of them has made waves internationally so far… but I have faith in this EHOME team.
Southeast Asia
Division 1
BOOM vs SMG
Hear that? That’s the sound of many, many people booing SMG for their controversial roster change.
In all seriousness though, this was a great series that perhaps wasn’t as one-sided as people would’ve expected it to be. Well worth checking out.
NGX.Sea vs Fnatic
The first Marci pick of the DPC… against the gatekeepers of the SEA region. How’d Marci’s first showing go? Only one way to find out.
North America
Division 1
Nouns vs Evil Geniuses
Nobody would blame you if you expected EG to reign over NA once again now that Fly is back. After all, he’s one of the most accomplished non-aegis winning captains… ever. Under his leadership the previous EG squad had reached back to back Major grand finals.
The boys in blue were up against Nouns, the team formerly known as 4Zoomers, perpetually cursed to never break into the top 3 of NA… or were they?
Manta-aghs Dragon Knights do work, you guys.
That’s it for this issue of Ancient Tidings! To keep up with stuff you may have missed from each week of the current DPC Tour, consider subscribing, it’s free!
The new seasonal report from Dota Plus was actually pretty cool. idk if it's any knowledge that you couldn't already get form a third party website, but I'm a sucker for some medals and getting a bunch of them for my play last season was very satisfying.