Players from 1win Team, Egor 'RESPECT' Prokurat, Alexander 'Cloud' Zakharov, and Nikita 'Munkushi~' Chepurnykh, discussed which heroes are likely to be underused and which ones will be most popular at The International 2024.
Regarding the least favoured heroes, RESPECT mentioned Warlock as a top candidate. He described Warlock as a weak support hero with poor mobility, long cooldowns, and generally not fitting into the current meta. Arc Warden was also noted as unlikely to see much play, being considered only occasionally viable. Silencer was another hero expected to be rarely picked, as changes made to him were deemed ineffective in bringing him back into the meta.
Cloud identified Pudge as a hero unlikely to be picked, though he admitted he couldn't provide a specific reason. He also predicted that Shadow Shaman would be less popular due to its perceived weaknesses and mentioned Bounty Hunter as a third underused hero, noting its unreliability and lack of teamfight presence.
Munkushi~ concurred, naming Lone Druid, Shadow Shaman, and Pudge as heroes he expected to see less frequently.
As for the most popular heroes, RESPECT highlighted Viper as a top pick, frequently banned, and strong due to its Whirlwind aspect and the shift away from Focus Fire. Sand King was another hero constantly appearing in bans and picks due to its farming capability and strong spells, making it versatile across lanes. Dragon Knight was also mentioned as a flexible pick, equally strong in multiple positions.
Cloud anticipated that Naga, Lina, and Shadow Demon would be prominent choices. Munkushi~ agreed, listing Naga, Viper, and Omniknight as the heroes most likely to be popular.
The International 2024 is being held from 4 to 15 September in Copenhagen, Denmark. The tournament’s prize pool currently stands at $2.4 million, which continues to grow through compendium sales, with a quarter of each transaction contributing to the total prize fund.