Casters Shannon "SUNSfan" Scotten and Troels "syndereN" Nielsen shared their perspectives on recent developments in Dota 2 during the We Say Things podcast. They discussed the nerf to Khanda, changes to Dragon Knight's mechanics, and the removal of David "Parker" Nicho Flores from HEROIC's roster.
Khanda Nerf in Patch 7.37e
According to syndereN, the adjustment to Khanda was necessary:
"This item was niche and overpowered on heroes like Tiny, Luna, and Morphling. While its price has been reduced by 100 gold, its bonus attack damage has been lowered from 75% to 60%. That’s a significant nerf, making it less dominant while opening up its usability to other heroes."
Dragon Knight's New Aspects: A Divisive Change
SUNSfan criticised the overhaul of Dragon Knight’s mechanics, stating:
"I think aspects ruined this hero. The previous system made him much more engaging to play. Now he feels dull."
SyndereN echoed these sentiments, lamenting the loss of key power spikes:
"Before, reaching level two or three of his ultimate felt game-changing. Now, players universally opt for the Fire Form because it’s the most efficient for farming. Even in pro matches, the other forms are barely used."
HEROIC's Decline After PGL Wallachia Victory
After their triumph at PGL Wallachia Season 2, HEROIC struggled at DreamLeague Season 24, finishing second to last with a 3-11 record. SyndereN commented:
"Following a championship win, such a performance is abysmal. Even with strong competition, this is a massive disappointment."
Parker's Removal from HEROIC
The demotion of David "Parker" Nicho Flores has been widely debated. SyndereN suggested the issue lies in the player’s temperament:
"Throughout Dota 2 history, we’ve seen incredibly skilled players unable to function in a team environment. Parker seems to fit that mould. Based on statements from the organisation, his behaviour has been consistently unprofessional, making this outcome inevitable."
Fans of South American Dota had long predicted issues with Parker. Moving forward, HEROIC will compete in BLAST Slam I with Yuma "Yuma" Langlet as his replacement.