The Battle Begins! Teams lock horns for supremacy at BLAST Slam II

BLAST Slam II is just around the corner and teams are preparing to wage a war to reign supreme and claim bragging rights. Ten elite Dota 2 teams will compete for a mammoth $1,000,000 prize pool and cement their legacy.

Here’s a brief preview of what we can expect heading into the second season of BLAST Slam:

European supremacy to prevail at BLAST Slam II, again?

The inaugural season of BLAST Slam was heavily dominated by the European teams to the tea. The ultimate battle raged between these two regions in the grand final, West Europe (WEU) and East Europe (EEU), with the latter emerging as the winner.

To the uninitiated, the undefeated Tundra Esports suffered a heartbreaking loss against BetBoom Team in the grand final of BLAST Slam I as the latter lifted their first-ever Dota 2 title, breaking away from the rhetoric of “almost there, but not quite there just yet.”

Once again BetBoom enters the battlefield against formidable foes, including the runners-up of the previous season, Tundra Esports, and others, especially from the European contingent. BetBoom will field TORONTOTOKYO instead of Kataomi for the event while Tundra looks set to make a statement with the addition of dryachyo and bzm, thus adding more firepower to its roster.

Having their wings clipped in the inaugural season, Team Falcons are ready to unleash their full power and go back to winning ways. The team has stuck together after The International 2024 and are eager to get their hands on the trophy.

Team Liquid's inconsistency continues to plague them. Despite Saberlight's addition, the reigning TI champions are struggling to adapt to the meta, raising questions about the dynamics and whether or not they can push through.

Parivision is also looking consistent and scary, having performed fairly well at Fissure Playground #1 just prior to BLAST Slam II. Despite benching Crystallis and getting Team Spirit’s former carry Satanic on board, Parivision’s rise to prominence cannot be denied.

Amid all the chaos, Gaimin Gladiators and Nigma Galaxy will try to align themselves on an equal footing and shut down the critics. Gaimin Gladiators' search for momentum continues to be fruitless, marked by disappointing tournament results. Meanwhile, Nigma Galaxy strives to make its presence felt – befitting for a team filled with legendary names.

The Dark Horses of BLAST Slam II

While Europe continues its tug-of-war of supremacy, China and Southeast Asia (SEA) are looking to step up to the plate. Talon Esports is looking to reestablish itself as a force to be reckoned with and has been on a high, given their admirable performance at Fissure Playground #1, eliminating Team Liquid and bowing out shortly after.

Their capability of standing toe-to-toe against the best teams on a good day can be a deterrent to anyone and act as a surprise element. However, to truly rise to the occasion, they need to be consistent which the team currently lacks.

Then there’s Yakult Brothers and Xtreme Gaming, the two pillars of Chinese Dota, carrying the weight of an entire country on its shoulders. XG has been consistent and YB has been on the rise but the road ahead is still long and difficult.

To stage an upset, or reclaim China’s position in the upper echelons, both teams need to go above and beyond their capacity, and push through the barrier. It’s easier said than done but counting them out will be a grave mistake.

Can either of these three teams become the dark horse and win BLAST Slam II or will Europe lift the trophy once again?

BLAST Slam II begins on February 4, 2025. Keep an eye out for the latest updates. In the meantime, head over to the BLAST Fantasy page and create your own fantasy team.