The recent Riyadh Masters event in Dota 2 showcased the prowess of many heroes, but interestingly, 12 heroes didn't get the chance to make their mark on the competitive stage. Among these unpicked heroes were three that have been shining in public matches: Wraith King, Omniknight, and Sniper. These heroes boast win rates above 50 percent across all ranks, making their absence a surprising revelation.
Wraith King: A Shocking Omission
Wraith King, the formidable carry hero known for his second life granted by his ultimate, has been dominating in public matches with a staggering win rate of 52.46 percent. However, despite his power, he only made a single appearance at the Bali Major, and the trend continued at the Riyadh Masters. The increased cooldown of his Reincarnation ability likely contributed to his lack of popularity, affecting his late-game effectiveness.
Omniknight: A Missing Tanky Frontliner
Omniknight, the tanky frontliner, has been a force to be reckoned with in the current patch, boasting a solid win rate of 52.38 percent. Despite his prowess, he couldn't entice any teams to pick him for the Riyadh Masters, much like Wraith King's case. His playstyle might have fallen short compared to other offlaners, resulting in his absence from the competitive scene.
Sniper: A Long-Ranged Midlaner No-Show
Sniper is renowned for his capabilities across all brackets, yet he surprisingly didn't make an appearance at the Riyadh Masters. With a lukewarm win rate of 50.46 percent in the past month, his static playstyle in the midlane seemed to deter the pros, who opted for more dynamic midlaners like Ember Spirit and Storm Spirit instead.
The Forgotten Nine
The list of unpicked heroes also includes other notable names, each with their unique strengths and weaknesses.
- Abaddon: This tanky support hero had a mediocre win rate of 49 percent, largely due to his lack of stuns.
- Centaur Warrunner: Despite being a burly offlaner with a stun and a fight-turning ultimate, he struggled with a win rate of 48.5 percent, falling behind meta offlaners like Dark Seer.
- Dazzle: The life-saving healer faced challenges with a pick rate of 47.8 percent, likely due to his reliance on key items like Aghanim's Shard to reach full potential.
- Grimstroke: While he had a decent win rate of about 50 percent in public matches, his viability dropped in high-level matches, with win rates as low as 42 and 40 percent in certain roles.
- Phantom Assassin: Despite a 15 percent pick rate, she proved to be less effective as a carry with a win rate of 47 percent, while other carries showcased more survivability.
- Slardar: This decent initiator with a great stun seemed lackluster compared to other offlaners.
- Treant Protector: With a win rate above 50 percent and valuable abilities, his absence at the event was a puzzling aspect.
- Viper: Though not particularly weak or strong, the slow, lumbering midlaner appeared to be out of favor among pros.
- Zeus: Despite his decent performance, Zeus has struggled to secure a spot at events this year, and the Riyadh Masters was no exception.
Ever-Evolving Dota 2 Meta
The Dota 2 meta is ever-changing, with heroes rising and falling in popularity based on strategies and counter-strategies. What works in one tournament might not work in another, leaving certain heroes overlooked and others dominating the battlefield. The Riyadh Masters proved to be no exception to this phenomenon, leaving room for speculation on the reasons behind the unpicked heroes' omission.
