DreamLeague Season 22 has ended with Team Falcons as the champs. But before the battles began, Valve tweaked some hero abilities, shaking up strategies. Teams had to adapt fast, leading to surprising upsets and changes in the most contested heroes at this tournament. Now, the trends from DreamLeague are spreading to regular games.

But what’s the hero pick percentage, and what heroes are the most popular at this tournament? Well, since we know that Chen was banned almost every game, it is still not clear which heroes are the most picked.

So, let’s find out together, shall we?

Support Heroes: Highest Pick/Ban Rate

To be honest, the support roles at DreamLeague this year were quite strange. They are surely catching the eyes of many spectators. Support heroes with abilities focused on saving or initiating took center stage. This makes it clear that Valve is putting the accent on support of this patch.

Notably, teams surprised audiences by picking Terrorblade, typically a carry hero, in a support role. Despite this unconventional choice, it proved to be a viable option in drafting. But let’s see other options as the most contested heroes at DreamLeauge.

Mirana: Pos 4

Mirana, the elusive Pos 4 pick, has made a comeback in style. Once deemed unreliable, she’s now back in action thanks to some trendy hero matchups in the meta. Support Miranas are even making Drums to keep up with the fast pace of the game.

With Mirana, it’s all about teamwork and timing, as this is one of the most contested heroes. At DreamLeague Season 22, she was a regular sight, relying on coordinated plays and her knack for long-range attacks to keep opponents always looking for arrows.

Trading blows? Mirana’s got it covered with her Starstorm and a handy Sacred Arrow to slow down enemy pushes. Plus, if things get dicey, she’s got a slick escape plan, jumping around like a rabbit.

And let’s not forget her ultimate, Moonlight Shadow, perfect for sneaky initiations or making a hasty retreat. With a win rate of 57.14% in 77 matches at DreamLeague, Mirana’s proving she’s got what it takes to shine in the current meta.

Bonus: Grubby gets scared of Mirana Arrow, yikes! 

Betrider: Pos 4

Batrider, a long-lost hero in the pro scene, is making a solid return to the meta, despite a few nerfs in the latest patch. While his second ability took a hit, Batrider is a good pick for most top-class supports.

What makes him such an asset? It’s all about Flamebreak. Skipping Sticky Napalm and maxing out Flamebreak and Firefly turns Batrider into a lane-dominating menace. The combination of Flamebreak and Blood Genrade is a nightmare for opposing heroes, making it nearly impossible to escape the fiery onslaught.

Not only does Batrider excel in lane harassment, but he’s also a good hero for disruption. His Firefly allows him to swoop in and steal enemy jungle stacks, crippling their economy.

But the real star of the show is Flaming Lasso. With this ability, Batrider can snatch key targets and drag them into unfavorable positions, turning the tide in his team’s favor.

At the recent tournament, Batrider made a splash with 56 appearances and an impressive 60.71% win rate, proving that he’s back with a vengeance in the competitive scene.

Most Contested Heroes and Core Roles: Offlane and Carry

At DreamLeague, the core roles saw a comeback of heroes with big hits and strong control. Offlaners and carries surely make things change with their burst damage and crowd control. These roles are surely what makes Dota 2 fun right now. Since the lanes are balanced, offlaners are not farming for peanuts right now.

Anyhow, let’s see why Sven and Mars are such good picks in this tournament.

Sven: Pos 1 Damage Dealer

Sven emerged as one of the most contested heroes for safelane damage dealers at DreamLeague Season 22, despite not receiving direct buffs. Instead, it was the buffs to his preferred items that move him forward in the picking phase.

Historically, Sven struggled with being kited in late-game fights, especially during his powerful God Strength. However, recent tweaks to his itemization have addressed this weakness, allowing him to maintain pressure on opponents throughout the match.

What to Build on Sven?

Typically, Sven starts with a Mask of Madness for faster farming and an Echo Sabre for extra damage and mana sustain. But the real game-changer comes with the introduction of Aghanim’s Scepter into his build. This item, acquired before the Black King Bar, grants Sven a significant power spike around the 18-22 minute mark. With Aghs, Sven gains the ability to close the gap on enemies hit by his Storm Hammer, making him a formidable force in early skirmishes.

After securing Aghs and BKB, Sven’s itemization varies. Some opt for Daedalus for increased damage, while others upgrade their Echo Sabre into Halberd, enhancing his ability to catch fleeing opponents.

Sange and Yasha also prove to be a valuable choice for Sven, providing him with status resistance, movement speed, and attack speed, crucial for maximizing the impact of his ultimate ability.

At DreamLeague, Sven was a popular pick, selected 47 times with a commendable win rate of 51.06%, showcasing his prowess as a dominant force on the battlefield.

Mars: Perfect Offlaner These Days

Mars isn’t your everyday offlaner – he’s the hero who’s always ready to steal the spotlight. While he’s not always the first pick, when there’s a need for some serious countering or a skilled player to wield him, Mars is the man for the job.

But at DreamLeague Season 22,  among the most contested heroes, Mars decided it was time to shine. With a fresh approach to itemization, he strutted onto the battlefield with a win rate of 55.26% in 76 appearances, proving he’s not to be underestimated.

What to Get for Mars?

First things first, Mars rushes a Blink Dagger after laning. It’s his ticket to the party, allowing him to dive into skirmishes with his ultimate, Arena of Blood, and wreak havoc among unsuspecting foes.

Now, some Mars aficionados swear by the classic Black King Bar for smooth initiations, while others prefer the suave moves of an Eul’s Scepter of Divinity. Either way, Mars knows how to make an entrance and set up those game-changing plays.

As the game progresses, Mars isn’t content to sit back and relax. Oh no, he’s all about upgrading to the Scythe of Vyse and grabbing a Refresher Orb to keep the enemies on their toes. With these tools in his arsenal, Mars turns team fights into his own personal spectacle, ensuring his team comes out on top.

Most Contested Heroes: Versatility at Mid

Mid lane battles at DreamLeague Season 22 were all about versatility, that’s a fact! Teams strategically opted for heroes with adaptable skill sets, adding a dash of unpredictability to their lineups. These versatile picks weren’t just about dominating the mid lane, nope.

They were about keeping opponents guessing and reacting to every move with precision. With a recent patch update granting heroes the freedom to excel in any role, the mid lane became a playground for innovation and strategic approach.

Here are a couple of heroes that belong to the most contested heroes at mid:

Leshrac: Pos 2 Menace on Mid

Leshrac is back in the spotlight, rocking the midlane role in DreamLeague Season 22. Thanks to some buffs in the latest patch, he’s packing more punch with his Diabolic Edict, making him a serious threat when it comes to taking down objectives and dominating trades in the laning phase.

Plus, with Bloodstone in his arsenal, he’s got the sustain to keep the pressure on in skirmishes. And let’s not forget his revamped Pulse Nova, now cheaper on mana, allowing him to unleash havoc in early-game fights like never before.

Leshrac’s back, and he’s ready to shake up the meta.

Here’s an awesome play Larl made at DreamLeague seasons 22.

Terrorblade: Pos 1 or Pos 5 – Your Choice!

Terrorblade’s mixing things up by stepping into the support role, a surprising move for the hero known for dominating the safelane. Get ready to see more of this in your pub games, yikes!

As a support, Terrorblade relies on his Reflection ability in the laning stage to trade hits with enemies effectively. He can slow foes down and dish out damage throughout the game, especially after boosting Reflection’s power at certain levels.

His Conjure Image skill helps scout the map and manipulate creep waves, while Metamorphosis amps up his damage output early on. Plus, his Sunder ability can save teammates in tight spots.

Support Terrorblade’s item choices differ, with Urn of Shadows and Spirit Vessel providing utility. Hurricane Pike is great for kiting enemies and dealing more damage. Some opt for a stat-focused build with Drums of Endurance, later upgrading to Boots of Bearing.

Conclusion

All in all, the most contested heroes of DreamLeague season 22 show us that there’s hope for Dota 2. Even if there are some favorite heroes picked and some banned, there’s still a lot of room for other heroes to jump on the train.

Most importantly, Dota was never this fun to play and to watch!