OG: The Best Dota 2 Team of All Time
If I had to choose one Dota 2 team that stands at the pinnacle of competitive achievement and influence, it would be OG – back-to-back champions of The International 2018 and 2019.
Spearheaded by legendary captain Johan "N0tail" Sundstein, OG has proven to be one of the most dominant as well as creative teams in Dota history. Their unique playstyle and drafting caught even the best teams off guard.
Behind multi-TI winner N0tail, superstars ana, Topson, JerAx and Ceb established an incredible trust and coordination that allowed them to claim victory from the jaws of defeat in iconic base race and comeback moments.
But The Competition Is Fierce
With many teams showing greatness over the years in Dota 2, OG has no shortage of all-time great rivals and contenders:
| Team | Achievements | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|
| Team Liquid | Longest #1 DPC streak (1100+ days) TI7 Champions 2017 | Consistency, stability, versatility |
| Virtus.pro | Most Dota Major wins (4) 964 days at #1 DPC | Explosive talent leading to utter dominance for periods of time |
| Vici Gaming | TI4 and TI8 Runners-Up 956 days at #1 DPC | Learning and leveling up from losses Strong teamfight and laning |
| Team Spirit | TI10 Champions 2021 as underdogs | Cinderella story, ability to surprise and build momentum |
| Evil Geniuses | TI5 Champions 2015 946 days at #1 DPC | Elite individual talent Ruthless aggression and pressure |
| PSG.LGD | TI7, TI8, TI9 Runners-Up Current top contender | International pedigree and experience Methodical and disciplined |
The Greatest Players of All Time
Just like the depth of teams, individual Dota 2 talent over the years could fill a hall of fame. But a few GOAT candidates stand out for their skills, achievements and influence on how the game is played:
- Johan "N0tail" Sundstein: 2 x TI champion as captain of OG, highest overall earnings
- Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barkawi: Pioneering hyper-efficient farming playstyle, consistency at top level
- Lu "Maybe" Yao: Arguably the most mechanically complete mid, China‘s crown jewel
- Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan: Youngest TI winner (age 16), supremely skilled, clutchest player
- Jesse "JerAx" Vainikka: Pos 4 innovations, 2 x TI Champion with OG
- Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen: Unique mid heroes, 2 x TI winner with OG
Despite being released way back in 2013, Dota 2 still sees over 500,000 concurrent players daily as of 2023. The International retains its status as the esport with the largest prize pool, crossing $30 million in 2022. This is a testament to the game‘s dedicated fanbase and competitive depth that keeps players striving to improve.
The future looks bright as seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers continue to shake up the scene. With gameplay and hero reworks, surprises like Team Spirit‘s TI10 run capture the imagination of fans worldwide.
As patches and young superstars reshape the meta, I‘m excited to see new heirs stake their claim amongst Dota 2‘s pantheon of all-time great teams and players. But for now, OG and the two-time TI champions remain the team to beat.
