BetBoom Bounces Back at Bali Major with Unique Hero Picks and Item Builds
BetBoom is making a strong comeback at the Bali Major after a disappointing finish at the Dota 2 Berlin Major in May. Despite the departure of star player Resolut1on, BetBoom is proving their versatility through their hero picks and item builds.
Currently sitting at 8-4 in the Bali Major group stage, BetBoom is just one 2-0 win away from securing a spot in the upper bracket for the playoffs. The Russian squad has only lost one map in their series so far, against ladder-leaders Quest Esports.
What sets BetBoom apart is their ability to adapt to their opponents during the game. They make unique hero picks and item builds, sometimes even having supports buy items typically reserved for carries.
In a recent interview with Escorenews, BetBoom’s player gpk explained their strategy after a 2-0 victory over 9Pandas. He emphasized the importance of finding the right balance between meta picks and comfort picks, especially in the mid lane.
In their match against 9Pandas, gpk played Templar Assassin in the mid lane against Kiyotaka’s Sniper. Despite the perceived disadvantage, gpk revealed that they were prepared for the matchup. He opted for a different build, prioritizing attack range with Hurricane Pike before focusing on burst damage with Silver Edge.
Related: Dota 2 Bali Major live updates: Full schedule, scores, and standings
While Nightfall dominated with Morphling, gpk’s build proved to be a tankier version of the traditional Templar Assassin. The team’s strategy focused on utilizing Refraction for durability and later on, Linken’s Sphere for added survivability.
In the second game against 9Pandas, BetBoom surprised everyone with a never-before-seen Skull Basher build on Keeper of the Light. With only seven picks in Bali compared to 81 picks in Berlin, KotL hadn’t found success in Indonesia yet.
Instead of the typical Tranquil Boots and utility items like Force Staff or Spirit Vessel, Save from BetBoom opted for a Skull Basher on KotL. This unorthodox item choice paid off when the stun effect cancelled an Enigma ultimate during a crucial teamfight.
BetBoom capitalized on the turn of events and secured a victory in just over 45 minutes. Gpk credited Save for the decision to purchase Skull Basher and acknowledged his experience playing against Enigma. However, he advised against trying the same in pub matches.
The Bali Major group stage is ongoing, and while BetBoom hasn’t secured an upper bracket spot in the playoffs yet, their unique strategies and item builds give them a strong chance of going far in Indonesia.
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