Bun
•
03 Jun 2025
DreamLeague Season 26 is in the books, and the data tells a powerful story. While many heroes were picked, only a few truly defined the meta — standing out based on contest rate, pick performance, and win rate.
Here's your complete breakdown of the top 3 heroes by role, plus a special spotlight on one hero that dominated all metrics: Templar Assassin.
Templar Assassin was far and away the standout core of the event. Whether it was her snowball potential, fast Roshan control, or pure damage output, she checked every box:
81% winrate as a carry in 21 matches
80% winrate across all roles in 25 matches
87.6% contest rate, appearing in 202 matches
Her insane efficiency and impact made her a priority in nearly every draft. Valve responded swiftly with a nerf post-tournament:
🔻 Refraction
Mana Cost: 85 → 95
Bonus Damage: 20/40/60/80 → 15/30/45/60
Despite this, TA remains one of the hottest heroes in the patch — a must-watch pick going forward.
The midlane saw the resurgence of mobility-based playmakers, with the two Spirit Brothers dominating both picks and performance:
Ember Spirit – Consistent presence with high impact across skirmishes and fights
Storm Spirit – Returned to form with key performances, especially in the playoffs
Their ability to pressure early, rotate fast, and scale late made them top-tier picks in the current tempo-heavy meta.
Among all roles, Bristleback stood out with unmatched consistency and priority:
60% winrate
94.1% contest rate – highest of the tournament
Whether it was frontlining, building auras, or soaking up attention, Bristleback delivered in every game he was in. Teams either drafted him early or banned him outright — a testament to how valuable he was.
The surprise of the tournament was none other than Ringmaster, Dota’s latest addition, who made an immediate competitive impact in the soft support role.
Strong pick based on contest rate and game performance
Highly flexible with teamfight control and pickoff potential
Ranked #2 in soft support performance metrics
It’s rare for a brand-new hero to earn the trust of pro captains this fast — Ringmaster is already part of the meta conversation.
Ringmaster wasn’t just a solid pos 4 — he also excelled in the hard support role:
Ranked #1 in pos 5 based on efficiency and winrate impact
Praised for his strong lane presence and utility
Played in a variety of drafts at the highest levels
Having a new hero rank in the top 3 for both support roles is nearly unheard of — a clear sign that Ringmaster is pro-ready and meta-relevant.
DreamLeague Season 26 gave us a clear view of the current meta's direction:
Templar Assassin dominated and earned a nerf
Bristleback was the most contested hero overall
Ringmaster made a shock debut as a top-tier support in both positions
The Spirit Brothers reclaimed control of midlane
As we head into the next patch cycle, these heroes will shape drafts — not just for pros, but for every player chasing the meta.