As the group stage of PGL Wallachia Season 4 in Dota 2 concluded, we witnessed the first significant upset: Team Falcons failed to qualify for the playoffs and were eliminated from the tournament. Most notably, the obstacle for ATF`s star-studded lineup was the young Natus Vincere Junior squad. In their debut tier-1 championship, they managed a remarkable comeback from a 0-2 series deficit to finish 3-2, securing a coveted playoff spot. This raises the question: is a new era truly beginning, albeit not for the main NAVI roster?
NAVI Junior`s drafting strategy significantly contrasts with what many other tournament participants are playing. The team brought their own well-thought-out plans to the championship, which, as demonstrated, proved highly effective:
In the match against Falcons, it would be easy to attribute the result partly to the star team`s potentially suboptimal current form. However, what`s striking is that NAVI Junior outplayed their opponents not just in drafts and mechanical execution, but also in macro-level strategy. Here`s a compelling example:
At the 25-minute mark, Falcons were gathering near the second Tormentor and setting up vision. NAVI Junior, observing this through a Templar Assassin trap, didn`t rush headfirst into a fight. Instead, they seized control of the map, destroying two Tier 2 towers and placing wards in preparation for the upcoming Roshan. This allowed them to spot Falcons` smoke attempts and Skiter`s farming location, enabling them to take a favorable fight and secure the second Roshan afterward.
Furthermore, Zayac`s warding deserves commendation. For instance, in the first game against Nigma, a single well-placed ward allowed his team to secure several crucial pick-offs and catch opponents after they killed the Tormentor. While questions could be raised about Nigma failing to spot the ward, Zayac`s vision placement was key.
In the majority of their won games, NAVI Junior fell behind at some point. Even against a struggling Talon team, NAVI Junior trailed in gold by the 15-minute mark in both games (and were nearly 8k gold down by minute 19 in the second game).
However, the team demonstrated an impressive ability to smartly avoid unnecessary mid-game engagements, preferring to make calculated plays towards specific objectives. The second game against Falcons is a prime example: over 40 minutes, they managed just 18 total kills. This is quite unusual for typical tier-2 teams that often engage in chaotic skirmishes during qualifiers, leading to high kill counts.
Incidentally, it was after a difficult laning phase that NAVI Junior had to mount a comeback in the first game. This was facilitated by a surprisingly well-coordinated defense of a Tier 2 tower against Falcons.
Following that, a prolonged and resource-intensive contest over Roshan ultimately proved fatal for Falcons.
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Certainly, NAVI Junior haven`t instantly become trophy contenders or new superstars (or even guaranteed a top-4 finish). While they defeated strong opponents, it`s true that their adversaries weren`t necessarily in peak form. Nevertheless, it`s clear that this young roster possesses significant potential. Crucially, among all the tier-2 teams that have reached top-tier championships through qualifiers this season, NAVI Junior have showcased arguably the most intelligent and purposeful gameplay.
Finley Holt