DreamLeague Season 23 Playoffs: Madness ensues with new Dota 2 Patch 7.36
The DreamLeague Season 23 Playoffs kicked off with a bang on Day 1, as the recently released Patch 7.36 threw a major curveball, bringing a massive change in the meta.
With new mechanics like Innates and Facets, established strategies flew out the window, leading to a day filled with unexpected twists and hilarious moments.
Here’s how the first day of DreamLeague Season 23 Playoffs unfolded:
Europe dominates the new meta. Have they made a deal with IceFrog?
The Europeans have been a step ahead all along, effectively rewriting their playbooks and going bonkers right from the beginning. Known for its long-drawn-out games, DreamLeague Season 23 used to be a difficult task to keep up with, however, now it’s no longer the case.
Games are rather short-lived, with a Dota 2 game averaging about 30 minutes in total.
Team Falcons made quick work of Xtreme Gaming as they bested the Chinese team in two successive games, thus ending the best-of-three series in their favour with a 2:0 score. Both games consumed 35 minutes each, ending the series in less than 80 minutes, including the drafting phase.
If the Falcons soared high, then Gaimin Gladiators roared even more fiercely. They humiliated Tundra Esports in two successive games, ending both games near the 28th-minute mark, and sending the latter to the lower bracket.
The new patch is a blessing in disguise for GG, especially after TI12, who have been trying to come out of their slump for long. They made excellent usage of the new Dota 2 patch 7.36 and gave no opportunity for Tundra to even blink an eyelid, let alone react, to their onslaught. The series got over in less than 70 minutes.
Can other Dota 2 teams catch up?
Many questions arise after Tundra and Xtreme Gaming’s demotion to the lower bracket of the DreamLeague Season 23 Playoffs. To what extent has the patch changed the game’s ecosystem?
How is the meta going to unfold with the arrival of the new Dota 2 Patch 7.36? Will other teams be able to study the new Dota 2 patch in time? Can they catch up to Gaimin Gladiators and Team Falcons’ ultra-fast study of the patch?
Or was it a fluke that both the European teams won? As DreamLeague Season 23 continues to unfold, we’re certain that our prayers will be answered.
A bloody mess – Patch 7.36 reigns supreme
Teams grappled with the new mechanics, experimented with fresh hero picks, and adjusted their strategies on the fly. Innates or Facets, the first day was a mixed bag of emotions. The fast-paced and unpredictable nature of the games kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
All Dota 2 heroes are open to be tried and tested in patch 7.36 with a lot of room for making errors. However, with a million dollars on the line, teams certainly won’t have much room to make mistakes.
A bloody mess is what Patch 7.36 will leave as DreamLeague Season 23 nears its conclusion. Meanwhile, stay tuned for an exciting and highly competitive tournament moving forward.