As The International 2023 reaches its final weekend, there are only nine heroes that have yet to be picked or banned in any of the 100 matches played. However, there is still a chance for some of these heroes to make an appearance.
In our original meta report for The International, we highlighted twelve heroes that had not been used at all. But after the first leg of the main event, only three heroes managed to escape obscurity: Phantom Lancer, Magnus, and Leshrac.
It seems that the current meta does not prioritize the numbers, as these unused heroes have struggled to find a place. However, there are some heroes on the list that could potentially shine in specific lineups.
Shadow Shaman and Slardar, for example, could counter the trend of tanky heroes with their abilities. But the problem lies in the core items these heroes require, which can delay their timing for purchasing key items like Heart of Tarrasque and Harpoon. These items have become essential in the offlane, causing heroes that cannot farm them quickly to fall out of favor.
With week-long breaks between phases at TI 2023, teams have the opportunity to study each other and come up with new strategies. This could potentially include utilizing one of the unused heroes during the finals week, adding an element of surprise to their gameplay.
While skill plays a significant role in Dota 2, the element of surprise can give teams an unexpected edge and lead to crucial victories.
The top eight action of TI 2023 will resume at 12pm CT on October 27th.
Remaining Unused Heroes at The International 2023
| Hero | Matches Played |
|---|---|
| Abaddon | 0 |
| Dragon Knight | 0 |
| Leshrac | 0 |
| Lion | 0 |
| Magnus | 0 |
| Meepo | 0 |
| Phantom Lancer | 0 |
| Shadow Shaman | 0 |
| Slardar | 0 |
| Timbersaw | 0 |
| Tinker | 0 |
| Winter Wyvern | 0 |
Source: DOTESPORTS
