Yesterday marked the last day of the Dota 2 Summer Regional League, and the last match for Fnatic. Standing at third place with five wins and two losses, they seem to be in a good spot. While technically they are listed in third place, they are really in second place, as the first and second spots are tied.
But how did Fnatic get here, and what might be able to take them to the top? For starters, one of Fnatic’s greatest strengths is in what they don’t do. While other teams often pick popular heroes like Visage, Terrorblade, and Mars, Fnatic varies their lineup more. This helps to keep their strategies from becoming predictable, instead keeping their opponents guessing about what they might do. It also keeps them flexible so that they can build around their opponents’ strategies, setting them up for success.
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If there’s one thing that Fnatic can be predicted to do, it’s dominate the early game. Though they sometimes found themselves outclassed in teamfights, they almost always carved out an early lead for themselves. This coincidentally helps in playing off-meta heroes. While Visage, Terrorblade, and Mars may be popular, most of their power comes in the mid to late game. While they shine in teamfights, they suffer in lane, which is Fnatic’s best spot. Thus, little is lost by not playing these heroes, as they don’t generally play to Fnatic’s strengths.
Of course, Fnatic also have weaknesses, as shown by their two losses. Interestingly, both of these were 0-2 losses, suggesting a key weakness their opponents were able to exploit. The two teams able to beat Fnatic were Team SMG and Boom Esports. While Boom Esports is tied for first place, Team SMG is tied for fourth, being listed in sixth. Both teams used a similar pool of heroes to beat Fnatic at their own game. They went all-in on the early game with heroes like Batrider, Enigma, and Enchantress. This allowed them to survive Fnatic’s explosive early game and secure a lead. While Team SMG secured their games early, Boom Esports took longer. This could be worrying for Fnatic, as other teams finding their weakness could keep them from the Aegis.
However, they still managed to finish high in the rankings, showing their impressive consistency. If all eyes were on them, they might be in trouble, but they are just one of many competitors. It’s unlikely that the other teams will focus on exploiting this strategy. If they do though, Fnatic will have to come up with a countermeasure fast.
The Dota 2 Summer Regional League has concluded, and with it most of the DPC. But with the International 2022 coming this October, Fnatic will have another chance to show what they’re made of. While the organization has been around since the early days of Dota, this roster is new to the scene. Though they show great promise, they face stiff competition and will have to give it their all. Hopefully, in the time from now until October, they will be honing their skills and scoping out the competition.
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