Game Night episode 6 recap: UP Eng Cup Astral DotA2 Finals

Game 1

Status: 1-0, in favor of Pooh and Friends

Smile settles for a poorly coordinated draft with almost zero points for synergy except for Smile.Aergia-Centaur Warrunner’s Stampede’s mobility grant. Pooh and Friends (PnF), on the other hand, will not let their one game advantage to be spent for naught and drafts very carefully. With Storm Spirit and Brewmaster set up for strong mid game dominance, PnF is prepped to snowball the moment these two heroes hits level 11.

Twelve seconds after the two minute mark, Smile claims the first blood and slays PnF.Piglet-Bristleback who may have been a little too eager wandering outside the safety of his tower. Both teams make sure never to overextend their engagements, keeping the kill counts low and disengaging after a couple of blows.

Lacking bursts to swiftly eliminate their opponents from the battlefield and the durability to survive the continuous onslaught of their meatier adversaries, Smile inevitably folds to PnF before the 40 minute mark could set in.

Game 2

Status: 2-0, in favor of Pooh and Friends

Right from the get go, Pooh and Friends (PnF) secures their early game presence with a Zeus mid and an aggressive trilane. With two disables and a painful slow ability on a hard hitting Phantom Lancer, there is no way a defensive trilane from Smile could recover immediately from PnF’s aggression. However, Smile banks on Drow Ranger’s aura to stack well with Windranger’s Focus Fire for easy tower take downs.

PnF’s clever lineup pays off. PnF.Kanga’s presence wards off any attempt coming in from Smile. This forces Smile to be on the defensive during standoffs. While it is possible that this is exactly how Smile wants the match to play out considering they have a Dazzle pick on Smile.Aergia but the lack of tactical capabilities on their draft is costing them precious map control and potential push advantage.

Just as the first game of the night resolved before the 40-minute mark, Smile finds themselves on the backfoot and losing their ancient by minute 37.