Dota 2’s 2025 season was a showcase of world-class skill and clutch mentality. Household superstars and seasoned veterans continued to set the standard, while fearless prodigies emerged to steal the spotlight, making 2025 a remarkable year for Valve’s MOBA esports title.
While The International 2025 remained the ultimate proving ground, a packed calendar of top-tier tournaments across the season revealed who could truly thrive under pressure and dominate the global stage.
These players aren’t just match winners—they shaped the meta and lifted their teams when it mattered most. Here are the Dota 2 players who truly stood above the rest in 2025.
Table of contents
Top 10 Dota 2 players of 2025
The 2025 Dota 2 season was packed with standout talent, and our top 10 picks are based on a combination of individual skill, consistent high-level performances, and the impact each player had in propelling their team to success.
Players are listed in no particular ranking.
Honorable mentions
- Cr1t-
- Skiter
- No[o]ne-
- Saksa
- Whitemon
- bzm
- Boxi
- dyrachyo
- Pure
- Xm
These players are undeniably elite in their roles and could easily make a case for a top 10 spot. But the following stars are the ones who truly defined the 2025 season, leaving a mark on the game with their dominance, clutch plays, and influence over the meta (unsurprisingly, these players and their teams were also among the favorites on many of the top esports betting sites):
Ammar
Ammar “AMMAR_THE_F” Al-Assaf (also known as ATF) solidifed himself as 2025’s most fearsome offlaner, proving that he can turn into a carry for Team Falcons with a mix of raw skill and clutch decision-making. His mastery of heroes like Mars and Timbersaw proved to be a headache for opposing teams, and powered Falcons to several titles this year, including FISSURE Universe 6, FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2, and most importantly, The International 2025.
Ammar’s defining game came in the TI 2025 grand final against Xtreme Gaming. With Falcons trailing 1-2 in the series, the young star unleashed his offlane Ursa that caught XG off guard. He then sealed the championship series with a magnificent Magnus performance in Game 5. His fearless plays and ability to turn games showed that he’s not just a team player: he’s a true winner.
Malr1ne
If 2024 marked the breakout of Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak, then 2025 was the year he truly rose as one of the top-tier mid laners in the world. Malr1ne consistently delivered high-level performances for Team Falcons, helping them secure the Aegis of Champions and other S-tier trophies, earning him widespread recognition as the best mid laner of the year.
Malr1ne, together with Ammar, was a nightmare for opponents even during the drafting phase, thanks to his mastery of melee mids like Timbersaw, Primal Beast, Pangolier, and especially Sand King. Once the game started, he showed he could dominate his lane or turn the tides from unfavorable matchups with smart rotations and resourcefulness around the map, showcasing why he’s one of the most versatile mids of 2025.
33
You couldn’t ask for more from Neta “33” Shapira. The cerebral offlaner is dominating the game all while serving as captain of Tundra Esports, steering his team to multiple BLAST Slam trophies, along with the first FISSURE PLAYGROUND title. Although Tundra ended up on 7th-8th at TI 2025, it was still a commendable placement considering the absence of their steady hard support Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon due to visa issues.
A two-time TI champion, 33 is widely regarded as one of the greatest offlaners and brightest minds in Dota history. Known for his exceptional micro skills as well as unconventional builds and strategies, he has shaped the meta in the professional level a lot of times. And he continued doing that in 2025 while leading Tundra with precision, proving that he’s as much a master tactician as he is a world-class player.
Yatoro
Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk has been the epitome of a world-class carry since his breakout in 2021 with Team Spirit, wherein he helped secure the highest-paying TI victory in history. Renowned for his impeccable map awareness and highly efficient farming, Yatoro has repeatedly turned games around, leading Spirit to astonishing comeback wins.
Although Spirit’s TI14 run ended unexpectedly in the group stage, Yatoro still dominated the 2025 circuit, claiming tier-one titles like the Esports World Cup (where they swept Falcons in the finals) and DreamLeague Season 2025, along with multiple top-three finishes.His Faceless Void with Helm of the Dominator became a meta for carry players. He also made a statement in TI14 opener, scoring a sensational rampage against Wildcard to mark his fifth career rampage at Dota 2’s grandest stage.
Satanic
Teenage prodigy Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov is undoubtedly the biggest revelation of the 2025 season, shedding comparisons to Yatoro by showcasing a unique playstyle. With cheese picks like Meepo and Tinker up his sleeve, he proved he can redefine the position 1 role on his own terms.
Satanic’s flash farming capabilities and stability as a carry powered PARIVISION to major triumphs, including the ESL One Raleigh 2025 and DreamLeague Season 26. Making his The International debut, the wunderkind didn’t shy away from the bright lights, and instead delivered his usual monstrous games that carried his team to an impressive third-place finish, signaling the arrival of a new prodigy ready to take the Dota 2 scene by storm.
Sneyking
A true Dota veteran, Wu “Sneyking” Jingjun cemented his legacy in 2025 by capturing his second Aegis as the captain and hard support of Team Falcons. Sneyking showed he’s as reliable as they come in high-stakes matches, with his smart rotations and superb micro mechanics on heroes like Enchantress, Naga Siren, and Chen proving to be impactful for Falcons.
His Enchantress was particularly notable, boasting an astonishing 26-game competitive win streak before finally being stopped. And those clutch Naga Siren Song saves in Game 5 of TI14 effectively crushed XG’s hopes of a comeback. But what truly sets Sneyking apart isn’t just mechanics: it’s his leadership. Guiding his team of veterans and rising stars, he elevates his team both on and off the map, making him one of the most respected players in history.
Collapse
Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov has long been a standout offlaner for Team Spirit, and 2025 only reinforced his reputation as one of the world’s most versatile and reliable players. Famous for his signature Magnus, Mars, and Primal Beast, Collapse consistently held his own against elite carry-support duos in the lane, and set the pace for Spirit with his team fighting powers in the latter stages of the game.
His biggest highlight of the year came at the Esports World Cup, where he bagged the Tournament MVP award—which came with a sweet $10,000 incentive—after spearheading Spirit’s near-flawless run. At EWC, Collapse showcased his incredible versatility, playing 13 different heroes across 13 games and proving he can excel in any offlane playstyle his team demands.
gpk
Danil “gpk” Skutin spent previous seasons fighting through inconsistency, but 2025 was a solid year for him. The explosive mid laner delivered elite performances game in and game out, especially on heroes like Dragon Knight and Puck. He finished the season on top of the KDA charts with a staggering 10.15 KDA across 318 games.
More than just the stats, gpk was the engine behind BetBoom Team’s resurgence. With the veteran position-2 leading the charge, BetBoom captured titles at FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 and PGL Wallachia Season 5, then posted a strong fourth-place finish at TI14, a proof that gpk’s impact went far beyond the scoreboard.
9Class
Edgar “9Class” Naltakian isn’t on this list just for the sake of having a position-4 player. He earned his spot here. In 2025, 9Class showed that he belongs to the elite class, helping PARIVISION become a dominant force with his masterful utility support play.
With his signature Monkey King and Slark support picks, 9Class dictated the map like few others, creating crucial pickoffs and opening space for his cores. In a season where map control was more critical than ever due to massive changes, his vision, rotations, and game sense consistently put PARIVISION a step ahead of the opposition.
Ame
Chinese Dota once again faced an uphill battle on the international stage in 2025, but Xtreme Gaming reignited regional pride with a stunning runner-up finish at TI14. At the helm of that fiery run was none other than the legendary carry Wang “Ame” Chunyu, who reminded everyone why his name still commands respect.
XG’s season may have lacked consistency, but when it mattered most, they delivered, particularly Ame. He opened TI14 with a jaw-dropping 46 kills against just one death, setting the tone for a strong campaign. Xtreme tore through the lower bracket before falling short to Falcons in a five-game grand final thriller, continuing Ame’s bittersweet legacy as the “Uncrowned King.” Still, the remarkable run gave Chinese fans renewed hope, with the TI set to return to Shanghai next year.
