The International 2025 may have concluded with Team Falcons’ unforgettable grand final comeback, but the aftershocks of that thrilling series are still being felt across the Dota 2 community.
The spotlight has shifted to Ame, Xtreme Gaming’s star carry, who has found himself at the center of criticism for his itemization in the deciding game against Falcons. Among the most vocal critics was Team Spirit’s carry Yatoro, a two-TI champion, who suggested that Ame’s item choices on Juggernaut in the final game might have tipped the scales against his chances of finally claiming the Aegis of Champions.
During a Dota 2 pub game with Spirit’s team manager Korb3n, Yatoro was asked about Ame’s performance in the fifth and final game of the title series. While acknowledging that Juggernaut is capable of taking on Medusa, he argued that Ame’s build didn’t provide the tools needed to swing the momentum in XG’s favor.
Ame’s original build included a 13-minute Battle Fury, 19-minute Manta Style, 26-minute Butterfly, 32-minute Monkey King Bar, 35-minute Swift Blink, and a 42-minute Black King Bar. One of the main items missing from this build is the Diffusal Blade.
Although a situational item for Juggernaut, the Diffusal Build is a very strong pick against Medusa’s Mana Shield. Even an upgraded Disperser could have been extremely valuable for dispels against the various disables that Team Falcons’ draft featured, including those from ATF’s Magnus and Malr1ne’s Pangolier.
Yatoro laid out an alternative build that, in his view, would have been far more effective against Team Falcons’ late-game Medusa-centered composition. His suggestion focused on items like Manta Style, Diffusal, Aghanim’s Scepter, MKB, Blink Dagger, and Disperser, before transitioning into situational options such as BKB or Silver Edge.
He emphasized that this item path would have maximized pressure and given Juggernaut stronger tools to directly contest Medusa. The Butterfly pickup, in particular, drew his strongest criticism, with Yatoro flatly stating that it wasn’t a practical answer against Dusa in that matchup.
For Ame, the criticism adds weight to what was already a crushing defeat. A three-time grand finalist, his chase for the elusive TI championship remains unfinished, and moments like these will undoubtedly be scrutinized as analysts search for explanations behind XG’s collapse. It underscores how the smallest decisions on the biggest stage can alter the course of esports history, and how harsh the spotlight can be when those decisions don’t pan out.
Meanwhile, Yatoro openly voicing such analysis reflects the mindset that helped him secure his own place in Dota 2 history. It’s also a reminder that professional players, even legends, are subject to post-game breakdowns that leave no room for sugarcoating.
TI 2025 will be remembered for its breathtaking finale, and it will also stand as a case study in how every item, draft, and moment of execution can spell the difference between raising the Aegis or walking away with heartbreak.
