The second day of The International 2025 playoffs in Dota 2 delivered a seismic shockwave through the esports community. In an outcome few predicted, Nigma Galaxy, often considered the underdog, decisively eliminated the formidable Team Tidebound. While the upset itself was noteworthy, the true headline belonged to Nigma`s mid-lane maestro, Said Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan. In both maps of the series, SumaiL piloted an unexpected hero to devastating effect: Muerta, played from the mid lane.
Muerta`s Unconventional Path to the Mid Lane
For a considerable period, Muerta has been confined predominantly to the support role in competitive Dota 2. Occasionally, she might appear as a carry, but such instances are rare exceptions. Her presence in the central lane, however, has been virtually nonexistent. Compounding this, Muerta`s current standing in the meta is far from dominant, having fallen from her Tier-S support glory days of The International 2023. Her win rates across high-ranked matchmaking and the general player base reflect a hero that is currently struggling.
What makes SumaiL`s pick even more audacious is his own history with the hero. Professional statistics reveal he had scarcely touched Muerta on the big stage, and his public matchmaking games on the character could be counted on two hands. Yet, in a do-or-die elimination match, Nigma Galaxy not only picked Muerta twice but even opened with her as a first-phase pick in the second game, displaying an almost defiant confidence against potential counters.
The Architect: Topson`s Mid Muerta Innovation
While SumaiL unveiled this strategy to a global audience at TI2025, the true genesis – or at least its popularization – can be attributed to Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen. The two-time International champion began experimenting with mid Muerta on his streams several months ago, unveiling a blueprint that few had considered viable.
Topson`s rationale was elegantly simple: Muerta possesses the inherent tools to be a formidable mid-laner, capable of out-pressuring most opponents. This effectiveness stems largely from her passive ability, Gunslinger, and the consistent spam of Dead Shot. In a head-to-head mid-lane confrontation, the double shot from Gunslinger provides a constant drain on enemy resources. Furthermore, well-placed Dead Shots not only inflict damage but can repeatedly deny enemy magic creeps and other crucial last hits, forcing the opponent to retreat and lose valuable gold and experience.
The Blueprint for Destruction: How Mid Muerta Works
Topson`s mid Muerta wasn`t just about the lane; it also featured a distinct item build. Unlike traditional carry or support Muerta, his strategy often began with Witch Blade. This artifact significantly amplifies Muerta`s damage output while also addressing her perceived lack of mobility. One might question how Witch Blade aids mobility, but here lies the subtle brilliance: Muerta with Witch Blade becomes an inescapable threat in the mid-game. To catch an enemy, one doesn`t necessarily need to be fast; it`s often sufficient for the enemy to be significantly slower. This “reverse mobility” allowed Topson`s Muerta to relentlessly chase down and dispatch targets.
Beyond the lane, mid Muerta evolves into a map-dominating force in the mid-game, thanks to her potent combination of damage and control. With such a strong mid-laner, securing Roshan becomes less of a gamble, and pushing high ground (especially with an Aghanim`s Scepter) becomes a terrifying prospect for the enemy. Muerta`s ultimate, Pierce the Veil, allows her to disrupt any enemy initiation, cancelling crucial Blink Dagger charges and preventing full ability rotations with its silence. While a support Muerta can offer similar utility, the timings are vastly different. A mid Muerta reaches this intermediate power spike precisely when enemies are least equipped to deal with her, often before they`ve acquired essential Black King Bars or other counters to her ultimate ability.
SumaiL`s Masterclass: Nigma Galaxy`s Execution
In the high-stakes series against Team Tidebound, SumaiL executed this strategy flawlessly. He utterly dismantled Chen “NothingToSay” Jin Xiang`s mid-lane presence, twice. NothingToSay found himself constantly on the back foot, losing crucial timings and effectively being neutralized from the match, depriving Tidebound of a key playmaking core.
SumaiL consistently pressured NothingToSay, landing solo kills through the very scheme Topson popularized: relentless double attacks from Gunslinger and continuous Dead Shot harassment. Nigma`s support duo, OmaR and GH, further amplified this pressure by dedicating early-game rotations to the central lane. While Muerta isn`t the most resilient hero, preventing enemy supports from punishing SumaiL`s aggression proved crucial. With OmaR and GH vigilantly patrolling the mid lane, any attempt by Tidebound`s supports to intervene was met with immediate resistance.
The strategy also synergized effectively with Helm of the Dominator, an item that enhanced Muerta`s survivability and accelerated her farming pace. In essence, Nigma gained a potent mid-laner who not only offset their Medusa carry`s slower tempo but also enabled the team to maintain an incredibly high pace throughout the mid-game. Coach KuroKy`s strategic foresight in this draft deserves immense credit. He successfully surprised not only the audience but, more importantly, Team Tidebound and particularly NothingToSay, who will undoubtedly remember his encounter with SumaiL`s spectral gunslinger for quite some time.
Finley Holt