Dota 2’s biggest event, The International 2023, has come to an end, but it left fans disappointed as seven heroes were completely ignored throughout the tournament. These heroes, namely Abaddon, Lion, Meepo, Shadow Shaman, Slardar, Timbersaw, and Winter Wyvern, did not see a single minute of playtime.
In our previous report, we highlighted that nine heroes were yet to make an appearance at TI 2023. However, Tinker and Dragon Knight managed to break the streak in the final days of the event.
Tinker was finally picked by LGD Gaming in their match against Team Spirit in the upper bracket finals. Despite putting up a strong fight, Tinker couldn’t keep up with Spirit’s catch potential, resulting in LGD’s loss after a grueling 76-minute game.
Dragon Knight, on the other hand, made a grand entrance in an elimination match between BetBoom Team and Azure Ray. BetBoom chose Dragon Knight for the mid lane, and the hero delivered an impeccable performance, playing a crucial role in BetBoom’s victory and tying the series.
Among the remaining seven heroes, Meepo is the one fans have been secretly hoping to see. Known for his association with smurfs, Meepo’s unique abilities make him a joy to watch in professional matches. However, due to his potential to dominate ranked matches when overpowered, Meepo has been largely ignored in recent patches.
Another surprising absence is Lion, a staple hero in TI tournaments due to his disabling spells. While Lion’s kit remains the same, his spells now require more mana and have longer cooldowns compared to other heroes, making him weaker in the laning stage.
With TI 2023 concluded, Dota 2’s TI Compendium is expected to be rotated out of the game with a gameplay update. This update may breathe new life into the neglected heroes from this year’s tournament, giving them a chance to shine once again.
Source: DOTESPORTS
