The world of Dota 2 has always been known for its exceptional talents in the off-lane position. Two prominent players, Artem Fng Barshak and Roman Resolut1on Fominok, have shared their thoughts on the greatest off-laners of both the past and present.
Fng on Off-lane Geniuses
During a personal stream, Fng hailed 33 (Neta Shapira, Israel) as the best off-laner in terms of intelligence and influence on the game. According to him, 33 brings innovative ideas, showcases unconventional strategies, and truly earns the title of a Dota 2 “genius.” However, when it comes to execution, Barshak believes no one can rival Collapse (Magomed Khalilov, Russia):
“33 is a wild intellectual who introduces so many new things to the game. But in terms of execution, it's Collapse, and no one even comes close. Winning two Internationals with two different teams is simply an extraordinary achievement.”
Fng also shared a reserved opinion on Ammar ATF (Ammar Al-Assaf, Jordan), acknowledging his unique playstyle but highlighting his lack of significant victories in major tournaments:
“Ammar is a grinder with his heroes and displays a unique gameplay style, but until he has Riyadh Masters or The International under his belt, it doesn’t count for much.”
Resolut1on on Yoky’s Career
Roman Resolut1on Fominok reflected on his former teammate, Maxim Yoky Kim. According to him, Yoky had talent comparable to Collapse in his prime but failed to realise his potential due to his ambitions:
“He came from a wealthy family, so he didn’t have a strong drive. He was an excellent off-laner, but he didn’t enjoy the role — he wanted to play mid. I even gave up my position for him, but as a mid-player, he was mediocre at best.”
After leaving professional Dota 2, Yoky largely disappeared from the esports scene. His career began with HellRaisers, followed by Team Empire, but his most notable performances were with Virtus.pro in 2016. Following the dissolution of the roster, Kim struggled to find his place in major teams.