The goal of the Esports World Cup 2025 in Dota 2 clearly highlighted the heroes most frequently appearing in drafts. Some picks showed consistent results, while others only created an illusion of effectiveness. Based on the number of matches played and the win percentage, we have prepared a list of the ten most popular heroes from the first part of the tournament.

Shadow Shaman: most picked — average performance
Shadow Shaman topped the popularity list, being selected in 39 matches. Despite this, the win rate was 51.28%, indicating some instability. His presence in drafts is explained by his powerful disable and ability to quickly demolish towers, but the effectiveness didn't always meet expectations.

Puck: often picked — rarely wins
Puck appeared in 32 matches but had the lowest win rate among the top picks at 40.63%. This popularity reflects trust in the hero's flexibility and potential in team fights; however, the excessive complexity of execution sometimes works against teams.

Other heroes in the top 10:
Tusk — 26 picks, 53.85% win rate
Queen of Pain — 26 picks, 50.00% win rate
Shadow Fiend — 25 picks, 52.00% win rate
Nature’s Prophet — 24 picks, 75.00% win rate
Monkey King — 24 picks, 62.50% win rate
Dark Willow — 23 picks, 52.17% win rate
Dawnbreaker — 22 picks, 54.55% win rate
Marci — 22 picks, 54.55% win rate

This statistic emphasizes once again: the number of picks does not always guarantee success. Puck, despite active presence in drafts, shows the worst win percentage among top heroes, while Nature’s Prophet is an example of maximum efficiency even with less frequent appearances.

The Esports World Cup 2025 in Dota 2 took place from July 8 to 19 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia . Teams compete for a prize pool of $3,000,000.