The Helm of the Dominator heavily influenced the shifting game meta during the Group Stage and Elimination Round of The International 2025.

The Road to The International (TI) 2025 had a familiar yet unique metagame. We saw conventional picks paired with out-of-pocket drafts. Then came the elephant in the room—the reign of Helm of the Dominator. Touted as the modern “Wraith Pact,” it’s an obnoxious item that became the centerpiece of TI 2022’s meta, though it was later removed.

The meta that has developed didn’t just showcase new and interesting hero relevance—the overall game pace also shifted, resulting in numerous ultra-late matches. Teamfights became more tense, more committed, more risqué. As a result, we’ve witnessed frequent net worth swings—or in gamer lingo, “throws”—in nearly every match.

This chaotic but entertaining state of the meta stems from a few key factors. The International 2025 is being played on the relatively new 7.39d patch, which dropped about a month ago. We previously saw it featured in one tournament, FISSURE Universe Ep. 6, but judging by the stark differences in hero picks between the two tournaments, the meta has clearly evolved further here at TI.

For the Group Stage, Valve implemented a Swiss format, followed by an Elimination Round. This is a sharp departure from the traditional TI group structure. It’s designed to be intense, with every round directly impacting a team’s trajectory—forcing teams to treat every match with high importance.

Helm of the Dominator defines the meta

In the first phases of TI 2025, Helm of the Dominator has skyrocketed in popularity, even being itemized by unlikely heroes like Anti-Mage and Invoker. And its domination is for solid reasons. On top of its decent stats—bonus attributes and armor—the item allows you to dominate a creep and gain full gold and XP from it. It essentially gives you a 1000+ HP bodyguard that also accelerates your farm.

With Helm, core heroes can participate in fights while maintaining farming efficiency. It’s a strong and cost-effective alternative to pricier items like Battle Fury or Radiance. These are just a few of the perks that make Helm feel overtuned—so much so that it’s now dictating most hero picks and bans in the tournament.

New heroes rise at TI 2025

It’s been a while since Valve released a major patch, and as a result, many popular heroes have remained staples throughout the year. We’ve continued to see the enduring presence of Nature’s Prophet, Templar Assassin, and Doom. Conventional midlaners like Puck, Queen of Pain, and Void Spirit remain go-to options, while supports with strong control, like Bane and Silencer, are still core to the meta.

But what new heroes have emerged across the 108 total matches in the Group Stage and Elimination Round?

The Earthshaker has been the most hotly contested hero–with it being the most constant first pick and first ban in drafts. It has always been a great TI hero, but in this particular iteration, Earthshaker shines as a midlaner. The hero is a great counter for the Helm of the Dominator meta and is a massive crowd controller. Earthshaker has been contested in 84% of all matches, with 30 picks, 61 bans, and a great 60% win rate.

Marci has proven to be a major threat at TI. Already equipped with a powerful spell kit, she synergizes exceptionally well with Helm of the Dominator. She can buff the dominated creep with her Bodyguard boost and use it as a jumping point with Rebound. The hero is designed for early scaling, and Helm is just perfect for her early aggressions. It’s no surprise she’s among the most-banned heroes, with 81 bans. She’s also been picked 17 times with a 53% win rate.

Faceless Void has long fallen out of favor, but he’s recently resurged as a carry pick. Helm of the Dominator enhances Void in several ways. It provides a reliable farming tool, offers a tanky jungle assistant, and even contributes extra damage inside Chronosphere, since the dominated creep can move and attack within it. Faceless Void has been picked 13 times and currently holds a 46% win rate.

Mars has always been a reliable offlane choice, but in the first two phases of TI, he’s become a staple. With Helm dominating the meta, Mars serves as an effective counter—perfect for isolating key targets and soaking up "zoo" damage with Bulwark. He’s been picked 30 times, with a 50% win rate.

Snapfire has spiked in popularity across both support positions. She pairs excellently with Mars in the classic Arena + Mortimer Kisses combo and counters Undying, a frequent offlane pick. She also synergizes with Helm of the Dominator, using the dominated creep for Gobble Up plays.

Other successful hero picks

Some heroes haven’t been picked often, but have performed exceptionally well.

Troll Warlord has only been picked 8 times yet boasts a 100% win rate. His build naturally counters the Helm meta and allows him to scale powerfully into the late game.

Ursa has also made waves. With 14 total picks, he maintains an impressive 71% win rate. Heading into the TI 2025 Playoffs, every remaining carry player who’s used Ursa has won with him—a strong sign that the hero may see more play in the coming days.

Final Thoughts

The foundations of the TI 2025 meta have already been laid—but of course, we can expect further evolution. Still, it’s clear that most picks and bans will revolve around Helm of the Dominator. The situation is almost reminiscent of TI 2022, when Wraith Pact became the focal point of the tournament, powering Tundra Esports to a dominant championship victory. Now, in 2025, we may be watching a similar story unfold—just with a different item at the center of it all.

For more information on the biggest Dota 2 tournament of the year, check out GosuGamers' guide to this year's Dota 2 world championship tournament and TI 2025 tournament tracker.

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