Win.gg
Dota 2
Here is why off-laners need to stop buying starting items Here is why off-laners need to stop buying starting items
Helm of the Dominator is one of the least-bought items in Dota 2, but Tundra Esports off-laner Neta “33” Shapira loves rushing it.
According to
Dotabuff, Helm of the Dominator has been purchased in only 0.06% of public matches over the past month. It has a bottom-tier 46.86% win rate, but a new off-lane build centers around the item’s solid stats and infinitely useful active.
33’s Tidehunter build notably rushes Helm of the Dominator as the very first item. Boots, Magic Stick, and Bracers are all postponed. The optimal inventory at six minutes is just a Quelling Blade and Helm of the Dominator. Tundra’s off-laner rushed the item in three out of five games against OG in the Western Europe qualifier for The International 2021.
The most striking part of this spicy off-lane build is the starting item kit, or rather the lack thereof. Tundra’s Neta “33” Shapira starts with no items at all. Anchor Smash and 740 starting health is enough for Tidehunter to save 925 gold for Helm of Iron Will. He repeated the strategy with Brewmaster in game four against OG. Other tanky off-lane heroes like Mars, Slardar, and Underlord could try rushing Helm of Iron Will. Five armor and health regeneration are enough to sustain the early laning phase.
18 stat points, six health regeneration, and six armor is nice, but the ability to control a neutral creep is the real draw of the item. A similar sentiment drove double-TI champions OG to
draft Chen multiple times
in the WEU qualifier. Helm of the Dominator makes creeps just as tanky as level-four Holy Persuasion. There are several powerful auras available in the jungle, including 30% bonus damage from an Alpha Wolf or six health regeneration from a Satyr Banisher. The extra unit also offers a new method of scouting the map and scaring enemies away from disputed territory.
The dominated creep’s usefulness is limited only by the controller’s creativity. Tundra off-laner 33 accelerated Oliver “skiter” Lepko’s farm on Anti-Mage in game two by dragging enemy creep waves into skiter’s farming pattern. He even parked a ranged creep near OG’s base to snipe couriers. Creative players can find tons of clever uses for Helm of the Dominator.
Read Also
Dota 2
TI15’s opening ceremony weaves a tapestry of emotion for Valve’s storied title
Michael Hassall
The main stage of The International 2026, TI15, kicked off today with the traditional opening ceremony heralding the start of the biggest celebration of Dota 2 on the calendar. On Aug. 20 fans in Shanghai, China, and at home, were treated to a rousing 11-minute series of performances and video packages, introducing TI15’s main stage show. Here’s how the magic unfolded: The ceremony began with a graphic which quite literally ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Playoffs preview and predictions
Michael Hassall
The Group Stage of The International 2026, TI15, is in the books and we’ve whittled down 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to just eight finalists. One of these talented lineups will be the ones lifting the Aegis of Champions come Sunday, Aug. 23, but until then, there’s plenty of playoff shenanigans that could go on. Below we’ve put together a preview of the upcoming Playoff Games, along ...
News
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027
Ben Boland
The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs Iron Wing at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
The playoffs for TI15 starts off with an absolute banger of a match between Team Spirit and Iron Wing, and the betting odds could not be any closer. Here are our TI15 Team Spirit vs Iron Wing predictions. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Playoffs Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: This is the closest series we have at the first round of the TI15 playoffs, as ...
Dota 2
Who Will Win The International 2026 (TI15)? These Are Our Best Picks
Owen Harsono
The TI15 group stage is over, and we’re down to the top eight teams. We’ve now got a pretty good idea of which teams are the favorites heading into the playoffs based on recent performance and season results, so here are the teams we think have the best shot at winning TI15 and claiming some of The International prize pool. The TI15 group stage saw eight teams exit the event ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Elimination Stage Preview and Predictions
Owen Harsono
The TI15 Group Stage is almost over, and all that’s left is the very deadly Elimination Stage, which will eliminate five teams and allow the five survivors to advance to the playoffs. Below, we’ll walk you through how the Elimination Stage works, the matchups, and our best picks. The Elimination Stage is the final phase of the TI15 Group Stage. The modified Swiss format promotes the top three teams directly ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs TEAM VISION at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
We’re two days into TI15, and we have our first significant match of the tournament. Team Spirit will take on TEAM VISION (PARIVISION) for the first playoff spot. Here are our predictions for the big match. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Group Stage Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: TEAM VISION enter TI15 as the tournament favorites, but Team Spirit are playing under zero pressure at ...
