Recent statements from professional players and analysts have highlighted two key issues within the Dota 2 community: the challenges of drafting in matchmaking and the impact of toxic behaviour among players.
Watson: "I no longer want to draft in matchmaking"
The carry for the Western European team Gaimin Gladiators, Alimzhan "watson" Islambekov, explained why he has grown disenchanted with drafting in matchmaking:
"I just want to drop to the hundredth rank so I can queue games, accept matches, and not have to think about drafting or checking pings. I want to play stress-free, without endless messages like, ‘Why didn’t you pick me? I’m going to grief now.’ It’s better if someone else drafts. If we lose, you can just say, ‘You drafted clowns, we lost because of you,’ and that’s it."
According to watson, the issue is not just the quality of games but also the constant pressure from other players, particularly in high-level matchmaking.
SVG: "Some players are the embodiment of toxicity"
American analyst and former professional player Avery "SVG" Silverman voiced his thoughts on toxicity within the community, citing former HEROIC carry David "Parker" Nicho Flores as an example:
"When I see conflicts between a player and their team, it doesn’t always mean the one versus four dynamic automatically makes one side right. It could just as easily be the opposite—or even that neither side is on the right. We’ve seen this repeatedly in Dota 2’s history."
However, in Parker's case, SVG was unequivocal:
"This guy is an absolutely toxic player. He even has a ‘*** you’ tattoo on his knuckles. I’ve played with him in pubs for years. Everyone on the server hates him. He’s constantly arguing, intentionally ruining games, and has terrorised the server for the past five years."
SVG’s remarks underscore how individual toxicity can disrupt team dynamics and damage the overall environment of the game.
The statements from Watson and SVG shed light on two interconnected issues in Dota 2. On one hand, there is frustration with the responsibilities and pressures of drafting in matchmaking; on the other, there is the enduring problem of toxic behaviour that erodes team cohesion and community morale. Addressing these concerns requires attention from both the game’s developers and its players.