Thunder Predator picked every Spirit hero in a pro Dota 2 game

Steven Rondina Published 01/08/2020

When Thunder Predator and Vira-Lata Caramelo faced off in the Great American Rivalry, Thunder Predator decided to make things interesting with their draft.

As one of the final matches of the group stage, Thunder Predator had already secured a spot in the upper bracket while Vira-Lata Caramelo was mathematically guaranteed an elimination. Because of that, Thunder Predator decided to have a bit of fun in one of the games by picking a meme team composed of Void Spirit, Ember Spirit, Earth Spirit, Storm Spirit, and Vengeful Spirit.

The four spirits are linked both in Dota 2’s lore and in its events, with the included quartet being forces of nature made corporeal. Vengeful Spirit isn’t technically a part of that group, with her only direct lore connection to another hero being to Skywrath Mage, but she has long been regarded by fans as the fifth spirit based simply on her name.

In a hilarious but perhaps unwise turn of events, Vira-Lata Caramelo actually dedicated its last ban to Spirit Breaker, a hero that serves as a hard counter to the entire roster of spirit heroes. At least, according to his name.

Thunder Predator and Matthew win with spirit hero draft at Great American Rivalry

Though Thunder Predator drafted a lineup for form rather than function, the team made it look like a very viable strategy by securing a 22-minute win. 

Thunder Predator’s Farith “Matthew” Puente made the surprising decision to build Void Spirit as a Meteor Hammer-wielding support hero, but the move paid off as he racked up a number of early kills. Off laner Frank “Frank” Arias took Vengeful Spirit and also built Meteor Hammer, giving the team strong pushing potential in the mid-game alongside some wacky stun combinations. This allowed mid laner Leonardo “LeoStyle-” Sifuentes to really take over as Storm Spirit.

In just 22 minutes, Predator had scored 38 kills to Vira-Lata Caramelo’s eight, sealing a 2-0 series victory.

Though Thunder Predator was playing for fun here, they’ll be much more serious moving forward. The team is set to begin the playoffs with a series against CR4ZY.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

View full profile

Read Also

Esports Betting

Heroic Exits Dota 2, and It’s Bad News for the Scene Owen Harsono Norwegian esports organization Heroic has officially called it quits in Dota 2, dropping its roster after two years in the scene. Despite finding relative success, the organization cited financial constraints as the primarily reason for their departure. If a budget-savvy team like Heroic couldn’t make it work, the Dota 2 scene is in big trouble. On May 4, Heroic suddenly announced they’d be pulling the plug on their Dota 2 ...

League of Legends

Playing League of Legends can improve brain function, study finds Khizar Mundia If you have ever found yourself having to defend the countless you spend gaming online then you may now have a ready-made excuse — researchers have just revealed that video games can improve brain function. A team from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China conducted a study comparing League of Legends with Legends of the Three Kingdoms. The study found both improved brain function, with League of ...

Dota 2

Is Dota 2 dying in 2026? Here’s what the numbers really say Ben Boland The question “Is Dota 2 dead?” has been asked by many people over the last couple of years. Since the game’s player base fluctuates and other MOBAs rise in popularity, it’s understandable that some people feel like Dota 2 is dying and its best days are behind it. However, is this really the case? Let’s find out. Once you start looking for some of the best Dota 2 teams or ...

Dota 2

Every Dota 2 International Champion in History: The Complete Winners List Ben Boland If you know a thing or two about esports, “The International” should ring a bell. TI is Dota 2’s yearly tournament and is one of the most prestigious tournament series in all of esports. It’s best known for its million-dollar prize pools, and every edition tells a different story. Below, we list all the winners of Dota 2’s The International. Every year, Valve hosts an iteration of The International, with ...

Kick

ESL FACEIT Group announces Kick partnership, here’s what we know Khizar Mundia ESL FACEIT Group and Kick have signed a partnership that will allow the platform to distribute and broadcast select official CS2 and Dota 2 tournaments. Esports broadcasting rights are an important element for major streaming platforms, as popular tournaments draw millions of viewers. The esports broadcasting network is substantially fragmented as no one platform holds exclusive rights for major tournaments. Kick has been trying to get into the esports scene ...

Dota 2

Best Dota 2 Players in 2026 Owen Harsono In 2026, pro Dota 2 players are on another level, with a bunch of them even passing 17,000 MMR. However, not all of them can prove themselves on the big stage. Below we have ranked the top 10 best Dota 2 players in 2026 who have championship qualities. We have ranked the top 10 Dota 2 players in the world right now. We primarily considered individual skill and overall contribution ...

Dota 2

Best Dota 2 Teams in 2026 Owen Harsono We're currently in one of the most competitive eras in Dota 2, as many teams have the potential to win an event. But, even though the playing field is very even right now, some squads still manage to win out more often than others. Below are the top 10 best Dota 2 teams this year, including details on their recent successes and any question marks that remain. NAVI went for ...