TeamLiquid Dota 2 Power Rank - May 2013 May 2nd, 2013 19:03 GMT Text by Heyoka Graphics by shiroiusagi TeamLiquid Dota 2 Power Rank May 2013



With the coming of another month means it's time for another edition of the TeamLiquid Dota 2 Power Rank. Once again we have called the counsel to action, and assemble a squad of the finest minds around. Hailing from near and far corners of the internet, represented here are expert opinions from every viewpoint and angle.



This month we see a lot of shaking up, as LGDint no longer looks dominant and Alliance has crushed everyone in western Dota, leaving no question as to their place on the rankings. Before we move to the rank, let's meet the people who made this possible.



LD is someone everyone probably knows from his work on Beyond The Summit, casting any game he can get his hands on, from G-1 and G-League to StarLadder (when time permits). He has an intimate familiarity with Dota 2 from all sides of the world.



Kipsate is a staff writer at TeamLiquid who not only plays Dota well, but manages to watch every game for most of the leagues out there. His knowledge of team tendencies and play styles is unparalleled.



Kupon3ss is our Chinese correspondent at TeamLiquid, and he knows the Chinese scene better than anyone and firmly believes in the study of the game in pursuit of an ever-deepening understanding.



Flamewheel is not only our original Chinese Dota reporter, but the man who led our



Purge is a superstar on



Finally, I am Heyoka, TeamLiquid's director of Dota 2, and a man of such fortitude I wear shorts and sandals in January. Every month, I will poll community figures and compile a Power Rank so we can argue about it until next time.



China/SEA Power Rank





1. Invictus Gaming





Kipsate: Unquestionably they are the strongest team, dominant as ever. Well on track to winning the G-1 League and even the International 3.



Kupon3ss: The King of Kings, despite having played literally no games in April, there is no reason to believe that iG does not sit firmly atop their throne, looking forward to collecting their check for a million dollars. Outside of official games, iG played a single showmatch vs LGD.cn in Pudge vs Pudge mid in which iG 5-0 wiped LGD.cn 2 minutes into the game



Flamewheel: The eastern teams don't play as many games as the western teams, but when iG plays they do it in style. They convincingly won the last G-League against LGD.int, and qualified quite easily for the upcoming G-1 LAN in Shanghai. As last year's champions, iG received the first invitations to TI3, and at this point I cannot think of somebody who can take them down.



Purge: iG dominated their Group in the G-1 League Asian qualifiers and are showing no signs of weakness in their play as they continue to be the best team globally. They are still the favorites of the teams going into TI3.



2. LGD.cn





Kipsate: Although they fell to Orange in the group stage of G-1, they clawed themselves back with solid play and qualified successfully for the G-1 league LAN, where they will defend their title as G-1 league champions.



Kupon3ss: Chugging along nicely during the off time before DSL and G-1 finals means LongDD's integration into the lineup is proceeding as planned, adding an additional degree of flexibility to a team known for meticulous preparation. Having gone 1-1 in Pudge vs Pudge mid over the month, LGD remains a team second only to iG on the world stage.



Flamewheel: Were I limited to a single word to describe LGD, it would be 'solid'. LongDD's arrival seems to have bolstered the team, and the Chinese squad has shown increasing versatility in drafting and laning. Definitely looking forward to LGD's play in G-1.



3. DK





Kipsate: After having a mediocre performance in the group stages, they too claimed a spot for the G-1 league final. With a historically strong LAN performance they are one of the only teams that shook iG.



Kupon3ss: Surging forward to beat LGD.int and Zenith in quick succession on the online stage that had been their Achilles' heel, DK seems to have shrugged off the doubts surrounding the team since their G-League elimination during the group stages. The key to DK's success will be how well they master styles outside of the 4-1 that has become their calling card, especially the hyper-aggressive 3 core lineup that forms the 1-2 punch so effective in the last stages of the G-1 East Qualifiers.



Flamewheel: DK was faltering for a while, but with convincing wins over Zenith and LGD.int the third of the Chinese big 3 punches their ticket to G-1. DK has shown us that they no longer are totally reliant upon 4-protect-burning. In fact, one game even featured Burning as an off lane solo Weaver. Of course, he ended the game as the most farmed hero on the team, but sometimes it's the thought that counts.





4. Orange





Kipsate: They were the first to qualify for the G-1 finals and they did it well, showcasing the power of a well played Tinker. As of late however they have been dropping games to MUFC and VG, games where Mushi's instability showed once again. With a history of being strong online and relatively weaker on LAN, the G-1 League is an excellent opportunity to show their true strength.



Kupon3ss: Making it once again to the G-1 finals in China with wins over both LGDs showed they are certainly capable of playing some of the best Dota in the world. Yet despite their apparent strength and shows of overwhelming power, Mushi's domineering personality and questions over team cohesion, especially on LAN, continue to plague the team and prevent it from emerging as a consistent top contender. Losses to teams like Rattlesnake, MUFC, and VG appear to lead credence to the team's uncertain and inconsistent status.



Flamewheel: Slammed through both LGD teams to make it to G-1 LAN and is looking quite strong. Orange's ability to create advantages lets them steamroll through the mid game, but they've shown that they can still take the game late if needed. Yet the true proving grounds for the squad will be in Shanghai; LAN has always given Orange trouble, and there they will be up against China's finest on their home turf as well as the best of the west.



5. Zenith



Kipsate: Put in the hardest group at G-1 League, they fought well but were beaten by iG in the end. In the bracket stages they were knocked out by a strong DK and lost their spot at the G-1 LAN. However most of this happened with a standin as -xy was unable to play. They are strong, volatile and unpredictable as IceIceIce's box of tricks never seems to run out.



Flamewheel: iG has lost two games this year, one to LGD.int and one to Zenith. At TI2 last year, Zenith was considered one of the best teams in the world. Since then they have lost Loda, and turned mostly quiet. The practice they've been putting in shows at times in the form of wild strategies and gambits, but other times Zenith falls apart. Despite taking a game off iG in the G-1 qualifiers, they weren't able to make it to Shanghai. There's still the new Super league and TI3 to look forward to, and I'm sure Zenith's Dagons will be zapping in full force.



Purge: Zenith has been picking a lot of weird heroes and doing some strange strats in official matches including a farming Mirana, and the Axe-Warlock-Chen trilane that gave them a strong midgame teamfight (surprisingly). I think their offbeat picks and strategies have some merit against the more predictable and safe Chinese style, but their unconventional drafting can leave some weaknesses in lanes, experience or gold gain.



6. LGD.int



Kipsate: After an amazing performance at the G-League LAN finals the team did not perform as expected and did not secure a spot for the G-1 League, being defeated by a strong team DK. However, the team has shown that when at its best, they can fight toe to toe with the best of the world.



Kupon3ss: Dropping out of G-1 and losing in Pudge vs Pudge is all we've seen of the team in the last month outside of their stream. It definitely seems like the team has hit a rough patch and the role changes certainly won't solve their problems overnight. However, their commitment does not seem to have wavered and all the ingredients are there for more variety to their play to emerge.



Flamewheel: There's no hiding that LGD.int has been having some difficulties. After being eliminated from G-1, int has swapped up their roles a bit, putting Misery on carry. We haven't seen any games from the international squad after the swap, but there's no doubt in my mind (or Valve's, considering that int has an invitation to Seattle) that LGD.int can take games off of anybody if in top form.



Purge: LGD.int looks a lot weaker now than they did around 3 months ago for G League finals, but I see a lot of promise in their play and executions. If they had kept up their results from before I would place them at 2 or 3.



7. MUFC



Kipsate: In the shadows of Zenith and Orange, MUFC lives as always. With Winter at the helm they are by no means a slouch as they beat Orange 2-0 and secured themselves a spot in the finals of the Netolic League East. Look for strong traditional Anti-Mage and Faceless Void play by Hontrashplayer.



Kupon3ss: They have performed well as of late and are solidly the 3rd best team in SEA. Defeating Orange multiple times online with sharp, calculated play is definitely impressive. The lack of star power and a feel of "realized potential" are the main weaknesses of the team, leaving it just ever so slightly away from the top echelons of the East.



Flamewheel: The Malaysian stars took GEST April without dropping a game, and are looking quite strong. They've clinched the last invite for Seattle, and it's a well-deserved one. I still don't think they're able to challenge the Chinese elite, but perhaps upcoming events and TI3 will prove me wrong.



8. Vici Gaming



Kipsate: Wild, aggressive, pubs; all these words describe Vici Gaming. Composed of the best pub players of China plus ZSMJ, this team has risen, beating their way through the lower bracket with heavy use of Dragon Knight. They face MUFC in the finals of the Netolic League East.



Flamewheel: With ZSMJ on primary carry, VG has one of China's legendary captain-carries on their squad. Despite having no notable results, VG is steadily improving and growing stronger as a team. ZSMJ still isn't the player he used to be, and only time will tell if he can bring that former spark of glory to his new team.



Close But No Cigar









Kipsate: The TI3 Eastern Qualifiers will be a slaughter fest. Tongfu has been underperforming heavily while Rattlesnake was knocked out in the G-1 qualifiers. Out of these two Rattlesnake seems to look the strongest with the veteran LaNm leading the charge. Tongfu looks mediocre at best; however, with KingJ joining the roster and the core of Hao and Mu intact, The International qualifier is their chance to show that they are still alive and kicking. Wild, aggressive, pubs; all these words describe Vici Gaming. Composed of the best pub players of China plus ZSMJ, this team has risen, beating their way through the lower bracket with heavy use of Dragon Knight. They face MUFC in the finals of the Netolic League East.With ZSMJ on primary carry, VG has one of China's legendary captain-carries on their squad. Despite having no notable results, VG is steadily improving and growing stronger as a team. ZSMJ still isn't the player he used to be, and only time will tell if he can bring that former spark of glory to his new team.The TI3 Eastern Qualifiers will be a slaughter fest. Tongfu has been underperforming heavily while Rattlesnake was knocked out in the G-1 qualifiers. Out of these two Rattlesnake seems to look the strongest with the veteran LaNm leading the charge. Tongfu looks mediocre at best; however, with KingJ joining the roster and the core of Hao and Mu intact, The International qualifier is their chance to show that they are still alive and kicking.



Individual Ranks LD Kipsate Kupon3ss Purge flamewheel









European/North American Power Rank







1. Alliance



Kipsate: The strongest team in the West right now, the first out of the Western teams to qualify for G-1 League, the winner of The Premier League, the winner of StarLadder season 5. They did fluke out at Raidcall EMS but their overall play looks solid.



Kupon3ss: Apart from stumbling in EMS, alliance has more or less dominated the scene, winning the G-1 western qualifiers and TPL in dominating fashion. Here lies a team running on all cylinders with each member playing fantastically. More importantly, Alliance is a team that innovates while having concrete lineups, game plans, and drafting patterns each and every game.



Flamewheel: Among other reasons, Loda stopped throwing, s4 has too many heroes that need banning, and EGM is 'pretty good'. Absolutely inarguable to say that any other team deserves this top slot in the Power Rank. Alliance has won Dreamhack, G-1 western qualifiers, TPL4, and probably some other stuff. Oh and they're going to TI3. Looking forward to Alliance, heralded by many as 'the most Chinese western team', taking on the likes of LGD and iG.



Purge: Alliance is fresh off a really great month. Their addition of EGM to support has made their roster incredibly strong in all areas. They had a disappointing showing in the EMS One LAN, but ended up taking first place in TPL (3-0 vs Liquid!) and winning through the G-1 Western Qualifiers. The won 2-0 versus Mouz, 2-1 vs Na`Vi, and an impressive 2-0 vs Fnatic.EU, who is one of the best teams currently. Alliance is without a doubt the most consistent and strongest team in the Western scene currently.



2. Liquid



Kipsate: One of the harder ones to place, first they lose to EG and then they proceed to destroy everyone and secure themselves a spot for the G-1 League finals and taking second in the Premier League. An important thing to keep in mind is that they do not have any LAN results to speak of, as they have yet to go to one together.



Kupon3ss: Performing admirably in nearly every major online event and learning from every battle, the team is quickly assuming its full potential. In addition to his consistent, top-notch play, TC has gained that aura and spirit of a carry able to shoulder the weight of the world in times of crisis that had been somewhat lacking before. With both its 4-1 and standard 3-core play coming along nicely, TL just needs experience on LAN and against Asian teams before its ready for that final dash towards the International; two things its very likely to pick up in China.



Flamewheel: Taking second place in TPL4 (including a nail-biting third losers' final game against VP) and clinching the second qualifier spot for G-1 western proves that Liquid is a force to be reckoned with. The players are continually becoming more acclimated with one another and they're bringing in results as well. Despite being swept by Alliance in the TPL4 final, Liquid played quite evenly throughout the series.



Purge: Liquid has had some ups and downs (namely losing two bo3's to EG), but they fought through the loser's bracket, 2-0'ing Na`Vi, Fnatic.EU and a redemption 2-0 against EG. They recently lost to Alliance in the TPL finals, so it's quite clear that Alliance is the better team at the moment, but Liquid's execution in the last days of G-1 League qualifiers have been phenomenal and I can't wait to watch them play at TI3.



3. Natus Vincere



Kipsate: Their position with Liquid is interchangeable if you value LAN performance as the largest indicator, they did after all crush the Raidcall EMS. Their online performance is not that strong or consistent as they lost to Alliance in a strong bo3 while losing to Liquid in a weak bo3.



Kupon3ss: Na`Vi's overall play during the month has been rather varied. While winning EMS one was nice and all, not being a part of most online competitions and losing in the one tournament that no excuse of "not being taken seriously" could be made leaves doubts about the team's state. It seems as though after the period of integration, it might be time to work on flexibility and adaptability, as the Na'`Vi in the second half of the month has played rather predictable Dota.



Flamewheel: On LAN, I'd still say Natus Vincere is one of the best teams, and this is supported by them winning Raidcall EMS. Yet their performance in recent online tournaments has been sometimes below my expectations. Na`Vi seems to be performing more like 5 individuals than a team at times, evidenced by irregular map movement and odd engagements. I'm still looking for something reminiscent of The Play from TI2, but then again, that was on LAN. Until Na`Vi loses something big on LAN, I still can't doubt them too much.





4. Fnatic.EU



Kipsate: It has been a rough few weeks for Fnatic fans as they have been beaten by the three teams that are above them in the list. The greedy play and sometimes questionable drafting has led to this. With Fnatic getting an invite to TI3 it is to hope that they can stabilize, because when they are on their game they are the most feared Hontrash of Dota 2.



Kupon3ss: The most inconsistent team in the west is also one that's got a slew of decent finishes in the last month. Their play varies wildly from one day to another, bouncing between orchestrated chaos one day and discordant cacophony the next. Its precisely this unpredictable style of play that edges them out against other teams of similar skill levels; after all, nobody's standard game is likely to cut it against the Eastern teams.



Purge: Fnatic.EU has been towards the top of the Western Scene for a few months now, being one of the most consistent in the top 5. They had some problems at the EMS One LAN, but I'm sure they can bounce back and keep their practice up for TI3.



5. Virtus Pro



Kipsate: Despite their victory in the Defense 3 they have not been the strongest out there. losing to Fnatic in Starladder. They seem to have trouble dealing with the splitpush that teams put out and favor the teamfight and the early aggression.



Kupon3ss: Having hit a rough patch as of late, the team's twin weaknesses of picking heroes as opposed to lineups and overaggressive nature have been revealed and readily exploited by the other teams. Nonetheless the team's core dynamic remains intact and the international invite is sure to push them to new heights.



6. Dignitas



Kipsate: The forgotten one among the more popular Western teams, they are not to be underestimated. While they hover between good and questionably play they did manage to get 2nd at the Dreamhack Invitational.



Flamewheel: Like Fnatic, Dignitas likes picking very greedy lineups and will often get away with it. Off the backs of their multi-core lineups, Dignitas has the most comeback victories. Yet at the same time, they are vulnerable to just being run over by snowballing teams. While they barely lost both DHI and Raidcall to Alliance and Liquid respectively, their play in the last two weeks has been somewhat suspect. They do, however, have an invitation to TI3, so I'm looking forward to them on LAN.



Purge: Dignitas has had trouble against some of the top teams, but has been consistently beating out the B tier pro teams, with the exception of EG, who made an impressive run in the G-1 League Western qualifiers. I think Dignitas was on the cusp of being invited to TI3, yet they have the potential to perform well there. They have had some roster switches, but the additions of Universe and bringing back Sneyking has made them stronger than ever. Their team has some really high individual skill.



7. Evil Geniuses



Kipsate: Demondoto, Feardoto and now, Bamboe Doto. While EG has been off the radar for quite a while, they had a really good run in the G-1 league qualifiers, proving that even in their most unpracticed form they are able to take games off people. With Maelk going to the coaching role, they retain the expertise of Maelk while adding some fresh Bamboe to the fray. With Fear on a more controlling role it seems that EG will be one of the stronger teams going into the qualifiers. Evil always finds a way.



Flamewheel: It's somewhat hard to rank EG because SexyBamboe has been standing in for bdiz for quite some time now, and with the roster change I haven't seen bdiz or Bamboe play a game together yet. EG did have a very good run (partly due to AL's generosity) in G-1 western qualifiers, but that was without bdiz. Can't really comment on the strength of the full EG roster without seeing it, however, EG is showing quite a bit of versatility in drafts and player roles. Fear and Jeyo have been surprising me quite a bit, though Jeyo needs to remember to tether somebody when he relocates. EG's lineup looks stronger after the swaps, and they should be dangerous going into qualifiers.



Purge: EG made a very deep and unexpected run in the G-1 League qualifiers, which again shows that they have a lot of potential. They won two out of three bo3's against Liquid, though Liquid eliminated them from the G-1 League qualifiers, and 2-0'd Dignitas. The did lose 0-2 to Fnatic EU as well, so their results have been kind of all over the place. They seem like they have really big potential but a bit too much inconsistency.



8. Mousesports



Flamewheel: Has moments of brilliance, such as beating Alliance on LAN in EMS, but hasn't had results in a while. Black^ is still an exceptional carry, but mouz seems to be having trouble creating space for him to farm. Synderen to the team has probably increased the power of their lineup.



Purge: Mouz is hitting around 50% in their series lately, including a 2-1 vs Alliance to eliminate them from the EMS One LAN. They are having a roster switch (presumably in preparation for the TI3 qualifiers), so we'll see if their consistency continues.



Kipsate: Jokingly called the Western DK it is in Black that Mouz fans trust as his Phantom Lancer is the most feared one in the West. With the addition of Synderen it is unsure as to how they will perform, we will see it for ourselves as the International qualifiers won't be easy.



Close But No Cigar









Kipsate: Rox.KiS - Dreadisback's new team he has been performing reasonably well, even managing to land themselves a spot at the Raidcall EMS finals. They are one of the stronger contenders for a TI3 qualifier spot. Has moments of brilliance, such as beating Alliance on LAN in EMS, but hasn't had results in a while. Black^ is still an exceptional carry, but mouz seems to be having trouble creating space for him to farm. Synderen to the team has probably increased the power of their lineup.Mouz is hitting around 50% in their series lately, including a 2-1 vs Alliance to eliminate them from the EMS One LAN. They are having a roster switch (presumably in preparation for the TI3 qualifiers), so we'll see if their consistency continues.Jokingly called the Western DK it is in Black that Mouz fans trust as his Phantom Lancer is the most feared one in the West. With the addition of Synderen it is unsure as to how they will perform, we will see it for ourselves as the International qualifiers won't be easy.Rox.KiS - Dreadisback's new team he has been performing reasonably well, even managing to land themselves a spot at the Raidcall EMS finals. They are one of the stronger contenders for a TI3 qualifier spot.





Individual Ranks LD Kipsate Kupon3ss Purge flamewheel



With the coming of another month means it's time for another edition of the. Once again we have called the counsel to action, and assemble a squad of the finest minds around. Hailing from near and far corners of the internet, represented here are expert opinions from every viewpoint and angle.This month we see a lot of shaking up, as LGDint no longer looks dominant and Alliance has crushed everyone in western Dota, leaving no question as to their place on the rankings. Before we move to the rank, let's meet the people who made this possible.is someone everyone probably knows from his work on Beyond The Summit, casting any game he can get his hands on, from G-1 and G-League to StarLadder (when time permits). He has an intimate familiarity with Dota 2 from all sides of the world.is a staff writer at TeamLiquid who not only plays Dota well, but manages to watch every game for most of the leagues out there. His knowledge of team tendencies and play styles is unparalleled.is our Chinese correspondent at TeamLiquid, and he knows the Chinese scene better than anyone and firmly believes in the study of the game in pursuit of an ever-deepening understanding.is not only our original Chinese Dota reporter, but the man who led our Brood War Power Rank until the leagues were no more. He comes to us with both incredible knowledge of Dota as well as power ranks in general.is a superstar on youtube where he is known for making insightful videos that give tips on the finer points of Dota. A man able to distinguish individual play at a glance, he brings a new level of analysis to the rank.Finally, I am, TeamLiquid's director of Dota 2, and a man of such fortitude I wear shorts and sandals in January. Every month, I will poll community figures and compile a Power Rank so we can argue about it until next time. @RealHeyoka | DreamHack StarCrafty Man