Sixteen days are left until the second Dota major will kick off in Shanghai, China with sixteen teams battling for the $3,000,000 prize pool and the Winter season trophy.
Today we start our teams presentation series with LGD Gaming, the Chinese giant known for their drafting stubbornness that placed them outside of any meta played across the seasons.
There is no doubt that LGD’s line-up is comprised of some of the most talented players the Chinese region has to offer. It has always been like that for them and despite losing Zhang "xiao8" Ning and Yao "Yao" Zhengzheng from their main roster in the post TI5 shuffle, LGD still benefits from one of the most experienced Chinese captains in the scene, Bai "rOtk" Fan.
However, LGD hasn’t been themselves since The International 5 and that showed the most at the Frankfurt Major where they came as favorites and finished only on the 7/8th position. Despite keeping an intact roster since the Fall Major, LGD have been struggling to come up with proper drafts to stand a chance against other regions playing styles in both 6.85 and 6.86 patches.
LGD Gaming roster:
Liu "Sylar" Jiajun
Lu "Maybe" Yao
Bai "rOtk" Fan
Liang "DDC" Faming
Lei "MMY" Zengrong
LGD’s games are reeling on Liu "Sylar" Jiajun's capability to outfarm any carry he is put against and to outmaneuver his enemies with incredible split push tactics.
rOtK’s draft pattern for LGD in the current 6.86 hasn’t changed much from the glorious four protect one Chinese Dota days. LGD is still building for that one big team fight that wins the game with the possibility of going for a super late game where Sylar’s Morphlling or Terrorblade split push power will eventually bring the victory.
As powerful as it looks theoritcally, this game tactic didn’t yield any title for LGD who seem unable to survive the five man 20 minutes high ground push of the current meta.
LGD Gaming achievements since Frankfurt Major:
7th/8th place: Frankfurt Major
2nd place: World Cyber Arena 2015
5th/6th place: Dota 2 Radiant & Dire Cup 2015
3rd/4th place: SL i-League StarSeries
4th place: MarsTV Dota 2 League Winter
Top hero picks in the 6.86 patch
Sylar:
Terrorblade: win rate 69%
Morphling: win rate 63%
Gyrocopter: win rate 63%
Maybe:
Lina: win rate 72%
Invoker: win rate 50%
Shadow Fiend: win rate 71%
rOtK:
Dark Seer: win rate 87%
Tidehunter: win rate 50%
Clockwerk: win rate 50%
DDC:
Nigh Stalker: win rate 68%
Witch Doctor: win rate 75%
Dazzle: win rate 75%
MMY:
Earth Spirit: win rate 70%
Vengeful Spirit: win rate 66%
Lion: win rate 66%
Looking at these first pick options of LGD, it is clear that they are going with an odd mix of comfortable heroes spiced with a few meta highlights to enhance their teamfight capability. Their current drafting behavior is far from what other tier one teams brought to the table in the last few months and this might cost them again a top place finish at the Shanghai Major.
