The International 2024 (TI13) saw 123 games played throughout the duration of the tournament.
Long tournaments like The International often leave behind a trail of clues about the Dota 2 meta.
In the same way, TI13 revealed of how professional teams view Dota 2 patch 7.37c.
Whichever one they dont choose, the opponents get to choose.
Here is how the selection process happened at The International 2024.
Best of Three
Coin Toss.
Best of Five
Now, how does this impact the results?
This can be determined by looking at the win rates for a side and a choice of pick.
Just at first glance, a staggering difference can be seen!
What could possibly be the reason for this?
Now, the first thing that may strike the mind is thatDireis better thanRadiant.
That is not really the case.
When a team choosesfirst pick, the opponent team more often than not choosesRadiant.
SoRadiantis more often than not stuck winsecond pick.
First Pick Advantage
But why isfirst pickso strong in the professional meta?
This is balanced in the second ban phase, wherefirst pickgets two bans andsecond pickonly has one.
Lets see what could makefirst pickso strong.Greenrepresentsfirst pickandRedrepresentssecond pick.
Going ahead, that is how the teams will be addressed.
First Phase
The first phase bans typically focus on the strongest heroes of the meta.
Seven of the strongest heroes of the game get banned.
The first big boost for theGreenteam is the actualfirst pickof the game.
They get to choose the strongest of the remaining heroes, which often dictates the rest of the draft.
TheRedteam usually ends up playing catchup.
Second Phase
In the second phase,Greengets two bans.
Now heres what happens in thesecond pickphase theGreenteam does not want its mid hero to get countered right away.
Third Phase
The third phase for theGreenteam will always be protecting their mid hero.
Because theRedteam will not pick their mid hero till the third phase.
In all three games of the TI13 grand final, theRedteam picked their mid hero at 24.
So theGreenteam gets to narrow the field further, knowing who their mid hero would not like to face.
Theres no fear of 24 countering 23; at least not in the laning stage.
In Game 2, Team Liquid pulled off a great strategy to counter Gaimin Gladiators when they hadfirst pick.
A part of this analysis is speculation, because each team looks at drafting differently.
Players and coaches spend hours working on drafts.
For more match results and updates on the go don’t forget to check out ourTelegram channel.
