It’s no secret that Dota 2 has the best casters in the esports scene, but who are these linguistic legends?Just like players, everyone has their favorite caster. We’ve compiled a list of the best casters and panelists in Dota 2 (according to The Game Haus). We’re pretty certain your favorites will be in here too.
So, come with us as we give a shout out to the people normally responsible for the shouting out.
Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden
Sheever began her career at an amateur level in 2012 when she cast her first Dota 2 tournament. While only a small gig, it helped propel her into the world of mainstream casting. She continued to increase in popularity over the years, becoming a fan favorite caster and host.
Despite her incredibly brave and well-documented battle with breast cancer, Sheever remains one of the queens of the sport. She is loved by fans and colleagues alike and few Dota tournaments feel complete without Sheever as a host.
Ted “Pyrion Flax” Forsyth
Stone-faced Pyrion Flax is a well-known English YouTuber and Dota 2 caster and analyst. Over the years, he has displayed excellent knowledge of the game, even going so far as to create guides to many of the heroes. It should be said that these guides were created with a tongue in cheek attitude and…well…you’d probably best check them out yourself.
Aside from Dota 2, Pyrion is a member of Bristol-based YouTube giants, the Yogscast. Pyrion joined the Yogscast in 2014 and has brought his Dota 2 analytical skills to some of their higher presentation value content. This includes their excellent Poker Nights series, where he switches between rage and amazement at the ineptitude of his Yogscast colleagues. If you are a fan of Poker and/or Pyrion Flax, it’s definitely worth a watch.
While not the most prolific, Flax is up there as one of the best casters and panelists in Dota 2.
William “Blitz” Lee
Blitz is an ex-professional Dota 2 player, turned caster and coach. After a moderately successful career as a player, Blitz made the move to full-time coaching in 2015. Since then he has switched between managing and analyst/caster positions in the Dota 2 pro scene. This includes a coaching spell at Dota giants Team Liquid.
Blitz was among the professional casters chosen to take on OpenAI during its recent annihilation of the Dota 2 pro scene. Just like almost every other pro team, Blitz’s team of casters and high-ranking casual players lost to OpenAI.
Austin “Capitalist” Walsh
Cap has been a central figure in the Dota 2 mainstream casting world since The International 2014. The suave American is not only an experienced caster but an ex-US Marine.
Capitalist also has experience as a semi-professional Dota 2 player. He has competed in various minor tournaments with a fairly respectable success level.
With that said, his calling was definitely in the world of casting/analysis. In 2016 Cap became a full-time independent broadcaster and has been a feature of most major Dota tournaments ever since.
Kevin “Purge” Godec
Everyone’s favorite monotonal analyst, Purge has been a major figure in the Dota 2 pro scene since 2012. He has a wealth of experience as both an ex-professional Dota 2 player and YouTube content creator. His YouTube channel offers fantastic guides for players of all levels, including his Learn Dota series which is focused on teaching players the basics of the game.
As an analyst, Purge brings his knowledge of the game to the mainstage by giving fans a play-by-play rundown of game-changing moments in competitive matches. This segment, featured after every match at the recent International tournaments, is one of the most popular features. It offers great insight into a player’s decision making and has helped raise Purge’s profile as an authority of the game.
Owen “ODPixel” Davies
UK-based Owen “ODPixel” Davies is among the upper echelon of Dota 2 casters. His ability to follow the breakneck pace of Dota 2 professional games with speed and clarity has earned him praise among fans of the game. This ability has led to the creation of some popular YouTube content, including his Eminem style game casting.
ODPixel brings excitable energy to his casting that has proved to be incredibly popular. He has enjoyed success as a top-level caster in almost all major tournaments since The International 2015.
With the International 2019 just a few weeks away, we look forward to hearing ODPixel’s fast-paced casting as he lights up the main stage.
Toby “TobiWan” Dawson
TobiWan is perhaps the most recognizable Dota 2 professional caster in the scene today. His excitable Australian accent lends itself perfectly to the fast-paced action of Dota 2. As a professional caster with over a decade of experience, TobiWan has been responsible for some of the most memorable casting moments in the sport’s history. This includes his immortal commentary on the $6,000,000 Echoslam.
TobiWan first began casting back in 2003. His first experience came from Call of Duty, before transitioning into the original Warcraft III Dota mod in 2006. He was invited by Valve to cast their first-ever International tournament and has continued to enjoy success ever since. TobiWan is also the only English casting talent to have attended every International in a professional capacity.
Any match cast by the Australian feels like a final. His energy, incredible changes of pitch and pace and his decade-long commitment to esports mark him out as one of the best casters and panelists in Dota 2.
It’s a Disastah!!!
While we’ve done our best to include all of the big names, there may be some we’ve missed out. Shout out to legends of the sport like Kaci “Kaci” Aitchison and Jake “SirActionSlacks” Kanner.
Didn’t see your favorite caster or analyst on our list? Do you have a favorite chat wheel line you think should have made it into the Battle Pass? Let us know in the comments below.
Follow us
Featured image courtesy of Sheever Gaming.
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports content.
Follow Matt on Twitter @MattyMead2006.
From Our Haus to Yours.