Manila Major Team Preview: MVP Phoenix

MVP are the only top tier Dota 2 Korean team but they are one of the strongest in the SEA region.

Alongside MVP Hot6ix, MVP Phoenix originated as part of the MVP professional eSports organization in 2013. The team had a long way to go before becoming internationally relevant, particularly given the relatively low popularity of Dota 2 in the South Korean eSports scene.

Apart from several exceptions, the team has been composed predominantly of South Korean players throughout the years. The current line-up has been together since 2015 although QO joined in 2014.

Branded as a team with significant potential last year, the Koreans finally realized this during the Shanghai Major earlier in 2016 by finishing 4^th. They then went on to enjoy more success on the International Dota 2 scene by winning two Premier events.

 

Roster:

Pyo “MP” No-a – position 1/2
Kim “QO” Seon-yeob – position 1/2
Lee “Forev” Sang-don – position 3
Kim “Febby” Yong-min – position 4
Kim “DuBu” Doo-young (c) – position 5

 

2016 achievements:

WePlay Dota 2 League Season 3 – 1^st

Dota Pit League Season 4 – 1^st

The Shanghai Major 2016 – 4^th

 

Current form:

May – 57.1% win rate (8 wins, 6 losses)

 

Top 5 most picked heroes (patch 6.87c)

 

Top 5 most banned heroes (patch 6.87c)

 

MVP made some impressive plays in 2016 and won two Premier tournaments by overcoming top level opposition. They failed to qualify for Epicenter in Moscow though, but did receive a deserved invitation for Manila.

MVP are a team whose hallmark has become early aggression ganking, characterized by diving deep into enemy territory and initiating from long range. They manage to control the tempo in the early game and catch enemy teams unprepared for the rotations that they make. While this strategy was enough to secure them 4^th place in Shanghai, the team demonstrated resilience in the later stages of the game during WePlay Dota2 League Season 3 and managed to secure victories by taking advantage of the lack of awareness from their opponents with good initiation and well executed team fights. Making MVP taste their own medicine has worked for some of their opponents though, particularly if the opposing team manages to get the better early aggression line-up and applies pressure from the start.

Carries that perform in the early game – such as Juggernaut and Ember Spirit – are often used by MVP. The team also have two flexible Carry players in the shape of QO and MP, who occasionally swap the mid and the hard Carry roles. Witch Doctor is one of their favourite Supports to use as he provides sustainability and good team fight skills as well being very useful during the laning phase.

The team’s drafter DuBu picks according to the team’s playstyle, but the hero picks are always suitable for early aggression. MVP have almost perfected early game aggression, but can also perform well in the later stages of the game. Alongside their playstyle, their recent wins are proof enough that they are champion material and one of the stronger contenders for a top spot in Manila.

Dafabet will be providing competitive odds on The Manila Major.