With the regional league for Winter 2023 heating up, the Dota 2 #DPC is back up and running. Every area competing in this series has experienced some breakthrough moments, with the majority coming from Western European teams using their surprise strategies throughout many series. The most recent surprise was the unusual draft used by Gaimin Gladiators earlier today while they were playing Nigma Galaxy.
While Gaimin Gladiators chose a slightly unconventional draft with #Sumail and #ATF playing their go-to heroes in #Kunkka and #Sven, Nigma Galaxy opted for a more traditional approach. Ace, the offlane player for Gaimin Gladiators, is known for experimenting with odd builds and tactics, but this time he took things to the next level by picking the unexpected Witch Doctor offlane in game one.
The basic Witch Doctor build had been tried and proven in challenging pub games, but it had never been used in a competitive setting, which added something fresh to the mix. Nigma Galaxy and the spectators weren’t ready for that, either.
The Match Recap
While analysts and commentators disputed the efficacy of the offlane Witch Doctor pick, Seleri’s Io was continuously supporting him as he dominated Kuroky’s Mirana and ATF’s Sven. They were successful in winning the lane without having to purchase any additional regen either thanks to the regen combination of Witch Doctor’s Voodoo Restoration and Io’s amplification with Tether and Overcharge.
The Relocates made sure Witch Doctor was a force to be reckoned with by equipping her with 12-minute Guardian Greaves and a Pipe of Insight shortly after. The damage from his Maledict and Voodoo Restoration chipped away at Nigma Galaxy over time, while Quinn’s Batrider and dyrachyo’s Terrorblade kept him alive. This helped the Gaimin Gladiators win game one by a wide margin.
The Final Moments
Gaimin Gladiators’ second game, however, did not go as they had anticipated. As mc’s Magnus enabled Sven of the ATF to completely destroy the Gaimin Gladiators. Gaimin’s heroes may have been more flimsy in game two, but the God’s Strength-Empower combo quickly took them out. Nigma Galaxy’s performance in this game appeared to be a turning point for the team because they won handily and appeared to be in top form once more.
Once the dust settled, game three took place. In the last game of the series, Gaimin Gladiators continued where they left off in game one. As Quinn’s Batrider and Ace’s Tidehunter managed the fights and dyrachyo’s Lina dispatched Nigma Galaxy, they gained renewed vigor.
The Gaimin Gladiators’ decisive victory over Nigma Galaxy in the series finale only strengthened Gaimin’s eventual victory as the game went on, until there was nothing left to do for them but watch the final moments of the match with utter dissapointment.
