Discover the top-performing, underwhelming, and unexpected heroes that have left their mark on ESL One Birmingham 2024, influencing the current meta.
While Crownfall holds its allure, anticipation for a fresh gameplay patch looms large. As April draws to a close, Valve's silence on the matter leaves us in a state of stagnation, navigating the same competitive landscape. In this prolonged patch era, teams must innovate to maintain dominance or disrupt the status quo. ESL One Birmingham 2024 exemplifies this, providing insights into the tournament's hero meta before the inevitable arrival of patch 7.35d.
Our analysis draws primarily from data gathered until April 26 from Spectral, Dotabuff, and Dota2ProTracker.
Meta Heroes of ESL One Birmingham:
Best Support
Leading the charge in the support role is Enchantress. Primarily thriving as a safelane support, Enchantress boasts an impressive 58% win rate across 24 games. She ranks second in pick rate at ESL One Birmingham, closely following Tiny. However, her complexity makes her a challenging hero to master. Exercise caution when piloting her in public matches, especially considering her 44% win rate outside of the tournament.
Ding "Dy" Cong of Xtreme Gaming demonstrates mastery with Enchantress, securing victories in two out of three games, notably triumphing 2-0 against Tundra Esports.
To optimize Enchantress's performance, prioritize Enchant and Nature's Attendant before investing in Impetus. Recommended itemization includes Hurricane Pike, Boots of Bearing, Glimmer Cape, and Lotus Orb.
Best Offlaner
Enigma emerges as a dominant force in the offlane meta at ESL One Birmingham 2024. Despite featuring in only seven games, Enigma boasts an impressive 86% win rate, largely due to his significant ban rate among other heroes. Similar to Enchantress, Enigma demands a high skill ceiling, making him a challenging pick in public matches. However, he surpasses Enchantress in Immortal ranked pubs with a 53% win rate.
Matvey "MieRo" Vasyunin of the BetBoom Team stands out, securing victories in all four Enigma games played. Notably, BetBoom broke their losing streak against Team Falcons in the second game of their series, with MieRo's Enigma leading the charge.
For optimal performance, prioritize Demonic Summoning and Malefice before investing in Impetus. Recommended itemization includes Vladmir's Offering, Blink Dagger, Black King Bar, and Refresher Orb.
Best Carry
Weaver resurfaces as a formidable carry hero at ESL One Birmingham 2024, boasting an impressive 86% win rate. Recent adjustments have positioned Weaver as a viable carry, enhancing his damage output with tweaks to Germinate Attack and Shukuchi. Unlike Enchantress and Enigma, Weaver offers a relatively straightforward gameplay experience. However, his success in public matches remains modest, with a 49% win rate.
Michael "miCKe" Vu of Team Liquid showcases exemplary performances with Weaver, securing victories against G2.IG and Shopify Rebellion.
Recommended skill progression prioritizes Shukuchi, Germinate Attack, and The Swarm, followed by Gleipnir, Hurricane Pike, Aghanim's Shard, Black King Bar, and Daedalus for itemization.
Best Midlaner
Leshrac retains his status as a top-tier midlaner, boasting a formidable 71% win rate across 14 games at ESL One Birmingham 2024. With recent buffs enhancing Diabolic Edict and reducing Pulse Nova's activation mana cost, Leshrac remains a consistent presence in competitive Dota.
João Gabriel "4nalog" Giannini Santos of Heroic earns accolades for his exceptional Leshrac performances, contributing to victories against Team Spirit in the tiebreakers.
Recommended skill progression prioritizes Lightning Storm and Diabolic Edict before focusing on Split Earth. For itemization, consider Bloodstone, Lotus Orb, Aghanim's Scepter, and Wind Waker.
Losers, Shockers, and Honorable Mentions at ESL One Birmingham:
Biggest Losers:
Despite being one of the most picked heroes, Tiny struggles with a disappointing 43% win rate. Conversely, Monkey King fails to secure a single successful game.
Unexpected Shockers:
Luna defies expectations with a solid 58% win rate, outperforming her performance in Immortal ranked pubs. Disruptor, despite significant buffs, fails to meet anticipated performance levels.
Honorable Mentions:
Doom and Clockwerk shine amidst the tournament, often overlooked heroes with stellar performances.
Upcoming Games at ESL One Birmingham 2024:
As ESL One Birmingham 2024 progresses, the meta continues to evolve. Stay tuned for further developments as we enter the second day of playoffs.