Who better to make Dota 2 patch 7.31 requests than the champions of The International 10 Team Spirit?
In a promotional video for the Team Spirit esports organization, the five champions of The International 10 shared their hopes for the future of Dota 2. Opinions varied on map and item changes, but all five Spirit players wanted a big shakeup in 7.31. In the process, Team Spirit also revealed some of their thoughts on the current state of Dota 2. While most grand champions tend to fall victim to the “TI curse,” the Russian superstars have remained strong in the 2022 Dota Pro Circuit season, showing their clear continued understanding of the game.
The video starts out with offlaner Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov’s take. The initiator wants double ancient camps back and the return of shrines. He explains that if shrines do return, there should be some way for the opposing team to interact with them. He and Spirit captain Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov agree that the enemy team should have some way to interact with shrines in the future. The pair propose that shrines become deactivated when enemy heroes are nearby.
Team Spirit’s Miposhka offered the most extreme 7.31 map change. If he were in charge, Miposhka would add new spots above the current high ground area. These small areas would work like ward spots, except with heroes. He also proposes an innovative fix for river runes. Instead of appearing randomly, there could be some kind of marker that shows which type of rune will appear next and where it will be. This would allow mids and supports to play around the info rather than relying on pure luck. Many Team Spirit members also agreed that Roshan’s Pit needs to move, though they didn’t offer any helpful suggestions as to where.
Team Spirit agrees that OD and Weaver needs nerfs
As for the most overpowered hero in 7.30, Team Spirit’s Collapse believes it is Weaver. He proposes that The Swarm should have less health at lower levels and Shukuchi should be nerfed in some way. Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk claims that Outworld Destroyer is the true terror in the current Dota 2 meta. Team Spirit’s carry thinks that Arcane Orb should be reverted to magic damage and Astral Imprisonment needs a damage nerf. Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek wants Broodmother and Techies effectively removed from the game, which is less likely to happen.
When it comes to items, Team Spirit thinks that Mage Slayer should get a substantial buff in Dota 2 patch 7.31. The suggestion was that the current 10 intelligence bonus should be changed to agility. This would make it substantially more powerful on illusion heroes such as Naga Siren and Phantom Lancer, who are currently out of the meta. As a carry player, Yatoro believes that Ring of Aquila should return as a normal item. He values the item for its mana regeneration abilities above all else.
Are Team Spirit victims of the TI curse?
Dota 2 is one of the most superstitious esports today. One of the most popular theories is that teams that win The International often fall into a slump shortly after their victory. While very common throughout Dota 2 history, Team Spirit seems to have broken away from the TI curse.
After winning $18,208,300 3-2 over PSG.LGD in the TI10 grand finals, the Russian squad has avoided the TI curse as a top CIS team. The team earned second place at OGA Dota PIT Season 5 in December 2021, losing to Tundra in a heated 3-1 final. Team Spirit also earned the top rank in the Eastern European Winter Dota Pro Circuit. The youngsters rocked a perfect 7-0 match record losing only a single game to Natus Vincere. The EEU Regional Finals before 7.31 starting February 18 will be the final test for Team Spirit’s TI curse.
This is a stark contrast to previous The International champions. OG plummeted down the rankings after both TI8 and TI9, earning mediocre placements at several events. TI6 champion Wings dissolved after their victory, though the squad’s core now powers PSG.LGD. The only champion other than Spirit to truly remain at the top of the game is Team Liquid after TI7. Still, the European squad roster flunked out of some regional events in the following year.
There are several reasons why the TI curse is so prevalent. It’s possible that some players’ motivations drop after such a large payday as what is offered at The International. OG begs to differ, and there could be other factors at play too. Tournaments shortly after TI sometimes run on the same patch, so teams know what to expect from the reigning champions. Winning The International also puts a target on a team’s back. Perhaps Team Spirit’s success means that the TI curse has finally been dispelled.
