Dota 2 Super League Semi Finals Preview

Ro6/Ro6 Super Recap By TheEmulator

iG vs LGD.int - The Dark Knight Rises

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

LGD Gaming vs Orange - Walking On Walls

Game 1

Game 2

Orange vs LGD.int - Hulk See, Hulk Smash

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Super Semi-Finals Preview By riptide

DK vs LGD.cn



DK look unstoppable. Will they BurN through the playoffs as well? DK look unstoppable. Will they BurN through the playoffs as well?



LGD can play right-side-up, as well as upside down. LGD can play right-side-up, as well as upside down.

Tongfu vs Orange



Tongfu are soaring, but can they keep the pieces together as they head to the last battle? Tongfu are soaring, but can they keep the pieces together as they head to the last battle?



Will Orange be able to channel a farmed Mushi towards the good, or will he lose it and destroy everything they hold dear? Will Orange be able to channel a farmed Mushi towards the good, or will he lose it and destroy everything they hold dear?

Alternate Semi-Finals Preview By Kupon3ss

Looks

LGD.cn vs DK

There is nobody who plays DOTA well that is more handsome than me, those who are more handsome than me aren't as good as I am at Dota



- LGD.Xiao8 (aka the Andy Lau of Esports), captain of LGD.cn.

TongFu vs Orange

Killer Instinct

LGD.cn vs DK

TongFu vs Orange

TieBreaker: Condition and Results

LGD.cn vs DK

TongFu vs Orange

Super Polls



Gfx: Hawaiianpig, Shiroiusagi

Editors: riptide, TheEmulator

Banner via

Writers: riptide, Kupon3ss, TheEmulatorGfx: Hawaiianpig, ShiroiusagiEditors: riptide, TheEmulatorBanner via Gamefy

The Dota 2 Super League heads into the Semi-Finals, and in this update from TL Dota 2 Coverage, we're going to focus on the Super in the DSL! As Dota fans, we've had the privilege of watching Chinese LAN after Chinese LAN this year, and throughout these past few weeks the DSL has well and truly established itself as the third major offline event on the mainland, after G-League and G-1.As Perfect World and Gamefy's first major tournament, this event is also indicative of the shape of things to come. In short, we have a great year ahead of us, with three different large-scale LANs to look forward to. But like we said, this update is all about the super in DSL. If your favourite team were a superhero, who would they be? Would they save the Dota world as we know it, or destroy it?Our recaps and previews in this DSL update are all flavoured by your favourite superheroes. We hope you enjoy reading this piece, because we sure had fun writing it!This was one of the most anticipated matches of the Dota 2 Super League playoffs. iG was once the most feared team in all of Dota 2, but as of late we have seen that level of fear decline to the point of iG becoming just mere mortals among the top talent in the scene. They are like the Dark Knight of the DSL, shining their bat signal to the fans with the hope of rising once again. However, this feat would prove to be tough as LGD.int, the only non-Asian team in the DSL, were ready with shields in hand to deflect any strategies the Dark Knight could throw at them. Let us take a look at this mighty bout between Captain America, the great foreign hope, and the Dark Knight of the DSL.iG picked up Treant Protector, which is quickly becoming one of the top bans in Dota 2, even seeing some action in the first phase. Indeed, he brought an Alfred-like style to the composition of iG; an old wisdom and global presence that truly supported the Dragon Knight and the Gyrocopter. They ran him in a defensive dual lane top with Gyro, against the Wonder Woman of the Dota 2 world, Windrunner. The game quickly swayed in the favour of LGD.int as they got early kills on the solo lane Clockwerk, and were able to catch iG out of position in a fight top. After realizing LGD.int would block every move they made with their trusty old shield, iG decided to sneak a rosh attempt, which ended up being successful thanks to their Batman-like stealth. The Aegis was put on none other than the Gyrocopter. But in the end his Batmobile was not quick enough as he got caught out of position more than once, allowing LGD.int to push for the win. Then, Treant could not heal the towers quick enough with the powerful split push from Anti-Mage and it was time to gg.In game 2 we got to see LGD.int pick up Alchemist, which has been seeing a lot more play as of late in Chinese DotA. LGD.int were over-confident early game after picking off a few heroes in the trilane vs trilane, and even picking off the Templar Assassin mid. With this confidence they dived headfirst right into iG's batcave over and over, without being successful at all. Further, the shield of Captain America was apparently weak to towers this day. After turtling in the Lair, iG emerged stronger than ever, sporting major items like a BKB on TA, and a Mek on KotL. With some covert ops they were able to take down a few towers completely uncontested. Eventually they pushed to victory and LGD.int could do nothing but tap out.At this point the series was getting intense, with both teams beating each other into oblivion during the previous games. iG started the game off with some quick aggression, picking off the Sand King who was camping the rune spot before the game even started. LGD.int were able to farm well in the bottom lane against Clockwerk, but iG saw this happening and quickly sent some backup. After this the lane went a little bit in favour of iG, though a few kills were secured on each side. Though iG took out the Gyrocopter of LGD.int, after a failed gank in LGD.int's jungle, they were quickly falling behind again. Then, with constant ganks from Slark, LGD.int were soon pulling away. They never looked back. At this point both teams started farming up, but eventually LGD.int were too far ahead and were able to push for the victory. The Dark Knight did not rise this time around.The swift and agile LGD Gaming vs the powerhouse's of Orange was another series that could go either way. LGD Gaming, kind of like the Spiderman of the DSL, can spin up a web suitable for any situation given to them. They have quick and agile decision making, and even when things are turned upside down they still know what to do. Orange is like the Hulk of DSL, extremely aggressive and somtimes out of control. Will they be able to smash their way to victory or will they get caught in a web too big from LGD.cn.The story of this game was Sylar's Spectre. This is a hero that has been getting more attention as of late, specifically in the DSL matches in the past few weeks. This game was fairly even throughout, even though LGD.cn won both the mid lane, and with ganks they also secured bottom. The problem was that Ky.xY was free farming the entire time top with Anti-Mage. After a few failed fight attempts from Orange, Sylar got fairly fed on Spectre, and after obtaining his Radiance they were miles ahead. Orange didn't seem provoked enough yet during this game. They would have to channel their full powers in the next game or LGD.cn would swing too far out of their grasp to comeback.This time LGD picked up the Anti-Mage, except they ran him in a defensive trilane setup. This proved to be weak as Orange were able to consistently pick off the supports of LGD, forcing the Nyx to gank the lane multiple times. Sylar had an extremely slow BF as a result of the aggressive Orange lineup, however his team was able to create space for him with constant ganks, and smart teamfights. Eventually with some incredible turtle play he was farmed enough to split push Orange to their demise. And teamfights were very one-sided towards LGD.cn. Orange were caught in the web, and couldn't get out, this was GG.After their impressive win over iG, LGD.int were set to take on Orange in the final series of round 5. This match would prove to be tough for teams, but in the end would the almighty Hulk smash be too strong for the shield of Captain America.The drafts from both teams were fairly solid, but LGD.int had a clear advantage in the laning stage. Especially bottom, with their pseudo trilane of AM, Enchantress, and Skywrath Mage, against the Undying and Rubick of Orange. Mid lane was fairly even, although with early ganks from the LGD supports, Nyx was able to pick up a kill on Mushi. net quickly counter tped but it was too late and he also fell to his death. The mid-game was fairly slow paced, with both teams trading around even. Anti-Mage got a decent BF timing, while Mushi was also doing decent on his own farm. Everything changed for LGD.int after they decided to smoke gank Orange as they were attempting to take Roshan 39 minutes in. This resulted in a triple kill for Mushi, and four kills overall for Orange. The OD ult was like a massive Hulk smash that obliterated everyone on LGD.int. After this they were able to quickly pull ahead, and eventually force the GG.Game 2 started off great for LGD.int. They were able to pick off Shadow Fiend 1 minute in, and once again a few minutes later. He eventually abandoned the lane and moved mid. Orange couldn't find any good fights in this game, and with late core items they weren't able to fully engage into LGD. An interesting note is the pickup of Alchemist from LGD.int, which is a carry that has been seeing action again as of late. Pajkatt was able to get up considerable farm on Alchemist, and not too long after they were able to finish the game with ease.The final battle between the giant and the mortal was set to take place. Orange took a very unique draft this game, opting for the Razor pick which hasn't been seen too much lately. LGD.int came out to a great start, getting a double kill with Gyrocopter in one of their early skirmishes. However, this didn't last long as they were caught completely out of position and fed a triple kill to Mushi on the Razor. This was hard to recover from, and after the 20 minute Roshan from Orange it was downhill from there. Orange were able to successfully smash the almighty shield of LGD.int once and for all, advancing to the Round of four. It was GG.All is not well with the world. Superpowers are on the move this week in China, and the ominous sounds of full-on war are already heard from beyond the Great Firewall. This week's first matchup brings face to face the unbridled power of Superman and the incredible dexterity of Spiderman. In the second clash, Iron Man, a fully functional and increasingly powerful Ironman will go head to head against the sheer in your face violence of The Incredible Hulk.Who will fight, and who will fall?Team DK tore through group play like Superman moving through a bevy of bad guys on a boat leaving town. Supremely comfortable in a world in conflict, DK is a team that has played just under their potential for the past year. However, now with TI3 on the horizon they have perhaps decided to up the ante and take to the skies once more. The question is, will LGD.cn's adaptable play be their kryptonite in these semi finals? If there's one thing the group stage showed us, it's that BurNing can farm. In fact, he can farm enough to make sure his team flies right above the riff-raff and lands straight in the semis. Whether he can carry them through a multi-talented LGD.cn, however, yet remains to be seen.Though perhaps a little less impressive than DK's 4-0, LGD's 3-1 run through their group is still pretty terrifying. LGD is a true five man team, much in the vein of what iG was in the first few months of 2013, and their strength lies in their adaptability. The Spiderman of the proscene, LGD is an agile team that reacts quickly to situations and is able to play an array of different games from draft to throne. They can pick, they can lane and they can fight. In fact, give them a chance and they will spin their web around you, drawing you in and shutting you down with grim precision. While stopping a farmed BurNing may be nigh impossible, LGD is perfectly poised to be the team that doesn't let him gain the momentum that makes him and his team move.Though this is perhaps the less glamorous semi final, the battle that is brewing in this part of the bracket is no less fearsome than the one we just reviewed. Tongfu are a Chinese team on the rise, and what a time to rise indeed! The Chinese Dota throne remains open following the fall of iG, and Tongfu are quickly becoming one of the top contenders for it. Tying with LGD in terms of group stage score, Tongfu on a good day are on par with them, and even DK. Though fans would point out that they had potential all along, it is the arrival of new spare parts in the form of Banana and Kingj that really brought this outfit together, giving it the mettle it needed to become one of the country's top teams. Now, with TI3 on the horizon, Tongfu is a well oiled machine, upgraded and ready to perform as intended.Though a little more subdued than some of their SEA brethren, Orange continue to play their trademark out there Dota, a volatile mix of intense farming and aggressive team fights. Their play is best embodied by their captain and now dedicated carry, Mushi, the perennial snowball player. Give Mushi an inch and he will take a mile, quickly growing to unbelievable proportions if given the farming space. However, this same beast, Mushi, and by extension his team, can as easily give away a game that they well and truly control. Orange Dota is out of control Dota, and only one thing is certain: they will either go big, or go home. Ultimately, this matchup will be decided by how Tongfu react to a six slotted Mushi. Will they break him, and break his team along with him, or will they be trampled under the beast as he stomps his way to their throne?In this translation from SGamer.com , we look at the upcoming DSL Semi Finals through two different lenses: Looks and Killer Instinct. How does your favourite team stack up in these departments? Read on to find out!In terms of looks LGD.cn, has a crushing advantage. With infinite female fans and the looks of Yao, the playboy, LGD.cn is indeed the most handsome team in Dota2.Let's look at DK. Burning is an amazing Dota player and his looks aren't bad. While his visage won't sweep anyone off their feet, he is still a tall, straight faced looker. Meanwhile the silly, boyish MMY has likewise captured the hearts of many girls who cannot help themselves.Winner:Sansheng has an aura of introverted melancholy, which causes heartaches much like a prickly rose. Of course, this shy vulnerability juxtaposes well with Mu's cool and wild image. Throw in Hao's elegant hairstyle and the team looks like the cast of a Korean Drama.How about Orange? Maybe there's a difference in tastes, but in terms of "looks," SEA teams always give off a weird vibe. If you had to find someone who sticks out on Orange, only Ohaiyo stands tall, going the route of the manly, athletic man.Winner:The team rides upon the shoulders of Xiao8, a man who's even gone onto dating shows and walked the red carpet of popular culture. A stigma like that, once attached, is difficult to remove. No matter how cold and fearsome his teammates are, as soon as Xiao8 speaks, the atmosphere immediately becomes more comic.Killer Instinct: DK laughs scornfully at the very mention of the phrase. RotK has been famed for his battlecry for a long time, and despite recent nerfs to it in the form of soundproof booths, his voice is still a great tool for encouraging his team and striking fear into his enemies. The worn face of the veteran 357 is filled with experience, wit, and stratagems just beneath the surface. Together, they just about manage to keep his will to kill in check. In terms of killing intent, if DK is second, it'd be hard to find a first.Winner:The good looks befitting of a K-Drama obviously detracts from the killer instinct of the team. Even the cold and serious Mu cannot properly display an aura of invincibility when next to the likes of Sansheng or Hao.What Mushi lacks in the looks department he more than makes up for in killer instinct. It is rare to see a smile on his expressionless face, a veritable mask that hides his true thoughts and feelings. Like a veteran triad boss, he is always contemplating his next move with death hidden at every corner.Winner:Aside from their unexpected loss in the opener, LGD.cn performance has been almost perfect with a strong win over TongFu, easily beating iG and completely dominating Orange. If they can get past DK it doesn't seem like anybody will be able to challenge them. Thus, for LGD.cn, the semis might be harder than the finals.DK, on the other hand, is on the path to absolute victory! Passing through their group without being threatened once, DK has sailed smoothly through the DSL. The match against their old opponent LGD.cn is another clash between two prongs of the historical triumvirate, as well as a clash between the honor of the Radiant and the Dire. After all, the top team in China is not a title that is passed around lightly.Advantage:Finishing at the top of Group A despite losing to LGD.cn in a close series, they are matched with Orange in the Semis. In comparison to the battle between DK and LGD.cn this is probably the better draw. It remains to be seen if they can continue their hot streak and leave no doubts as to their membership in the top echelon of Chinese Dota 2.Orange bumbled through the Ro4 and seemed to lack consistency against the top Chinese teams. Even though their agressive play in lane will often gain them an advantage, this same advantage is often reversed by their questionable roams and ganks in the midgame. While Mushi is a player filled with the instinct to kill, is he good enough of a leader to bring the team into the finals? Of course, they would much rather play Tongfu in the semis than LGD or DK.Advantage: