The Definitive Guide to the Best Dota 2 Streamers

Introduction: Why Should I Watch Streams

tl:dr If you want to be better, watching streams is the way to go.

Let's face it. Everyone wants to be better at what they do. It's primitive, so it's perfectly understandable when one goes to great lengths to improve his or her game. Listen, reading guides, watching broadcasts of competitive games and streams - it's not silly anymore. This is how pros are born.

I started playing DotA - Defense of the Ancients - back when Blueserver was the home of the elite, Battle.net was crowded with passionate players, and Garena was GG Client. Maphackers disturbed the peace and leavers were unpunished. This was around 2005.

How did I improve? I read guides and watched replays attached to them. My favourite authors are Piemonger and Bengal_tigger, both who shaped the pub scene by introducing unique concepts such as skill shots being something to be expected, and building small items to gain early game advantage. In those days, the standard of pubs is extremely low in comparison to what we have now, and achieving a high win rate is easy.

Coming back to 2012. We are drowned in the flood of technology available to those who want to step up their game. In the Dota 2 client, we can view replays or watch live matches from player's perspective. We can view charts, last hit figures, gpm xpm, vision, and even 3D audio. We have websites like Dotafire, recommended item builds, hero counterpicking tools and coaching services. It's so easy to become good that it's ridiculous - the standard of pubs these days are just insane.

But one technology stands out from the rest. Watching streams is unbeatable because of the sheer amount of things you can learn from someone else's point of view. It's like job shadowing programs or internships - you learn from the professionals by watching how they do their job.

Not sure where to start? This guide will show you how to watch, who to watch, and even how to benefit most from watching streams. Read on - if you are new to watching streams, you won't regret what you will learn from this guide.

What Do I Need

A web browser, with the latest Adobe Flash player installed.

That's it really. That's the bare minimum required to enjoy streams.

Okay fine I'm pulling your leg a little. There're two types of streams you can watch: VODs, and live streams. Let me compare these two:

VODs pros
1. You can watch them anytime, even when the stream is offline.
2. You can fast forward boring parts, like when the streamer is finding a game.
3. You can find out the result of the match before watching it.
4. You can replay interesting maneuvers to learn how the streamer does it.
5. You can download them for offline viewing.

Live Streams pros
1. You can access live chat, which allows you to interact with the streamers if you are lucky.
2. You cannot find out the result of the match because it is, well, live.
3. Some streamers don't have VODs, you can only watch them live.



Yeap. This chapter will end here, I will elaborate on how to download VODs or access stream chats further down the guide. For now, let's look at the list of the best streamers.

The List: Who Should You Watch

This is a list of people I recommend watching. If I left out anyone, it is definitely not because their stream is not good to watch, but they lack certain qualities that make them learning-friendly. Streamers have different goals while streaming, but what I'm looking at here is the learning value of their streaming style.

SingSing

Entertainment: 5
Learning: 4
Live Interaction: 2

Sing is probably the most famous streamer, and there's a reason why. He's probably the most entertaining streamer out there. He's funny, he trolls, and above all, he's good.

When he is serious, you learn things. In his early games, he communicates with viewers his mindset, such as when he will engage, and when appropriate to check runes. You learn a ton watching him play and whine.

But what makes him stand out is, he doesn't need to win. Singsing has a win rate of 54.65% as of writing, which reflects how little he thinks of winning every single game that he plays. He values fun above everything else. He parties with people whom he knows isn't good, but he does it anyway because of his friendship with them and the joy they bring to him. When he is losing in his game, he doesn't give up getting out there and picking off opponents when they make mistakes. He laughs hard. He throws games accidentally by picking up Divine Rapiers and dying. He trolls his teammates by standing next to them purposefully in a Chain Frost. There is nothing he won't do to make the game fun.

Above all, he isn't afraid to be himself. He is open about his respect for Dendi and LightOfHeaven, his joking distaste of SexyBamboe and Sheever, and his opinion of good and bad pubs. He doesn't mind stream snipers (what we call players who 'maphacks' by opening his stream when they know they are playing against him). When he is happy, bored or tired, he is visually affected by it. Watching Sing play, you will establish an emotional connection with him.

Merlini

Entertainment: 3
Learning: 5
Live Interaction: 2

Merlini is a legend, and this is reflected in his public matchmaking. His knowledge of spells and acute sense of timing is the best reason why you should learn from this guy. Despite disappearing from the DotA scene for quite some time, he joined the Dota 2 streaming community not long ago and boy, he seemed better. Perhaps he was secretly training, or maybe it's the availability of first player perspective videos, I don't know. All you should know that when this guy is online, there's a treasure trove of knowledge waiting for you.

Merlini doesn't stop talking. When he makes mistakes, he tells you why. When his teammate is good, he tells you how. When he is walking around, he tells you what he is looking for. Before he jumps into a battle, he gives you his rough plan. When he comes out of it, defeated or triumphant, he tells you what happened.

The best thing about Merlini is he never really gets angry at anyone. Yes he blame others sometimes, but when he lose the game ultimately, he always directs the fault at himself not reaching his fullest potential. Merlini has a win rate of 65.3% as of writing, which is one of the best among streamers.

draskyl

Entertainment: 4
Learning: 4
Live Interaction: 1

Draskyl is one of the best commentators out there, and unlike most commentators, he is a virtuoso on the laptop. Draskyll understands the game inside-out. He jukes like a pro, has solid farming skills and a devious strategic mind. Draskyll once sits in the hall of fame for having insane farm with his Alchemist.

Draskyl can play any role, despite having somewhat little success with initiators and tanks. He doesn't teach verbally, but his play reflects the amalgamation of what he's learnt from all the players he's watched while casting. I remember learning almost every aspect of choke point jungling just from watching one of his games with Naix, and gaining an in-depth knowledge of lane controlling from his rare Lich games. Watch him play - you won't expect the surprises that you will stumble upon.

Na`Vi.Puppey

Entertainment: 3
Learning: 3
Live Interaction: 3

Puppey is a fearsome captain, and some say he is the best in the world. What you won't expect, though, is his finesse in non-support roles. In fact I believe that his captain skills stems from his understanding of the timings and capabilities of semi carries and hard carries.

When Puppey streams, he likes to take control of his game. He likes to win, and he does most of the time, having an insane win rate of 70.56% as of writing. He likes to kill, and he often gets an even or good trade from the fights he initiates.

Puppey is the typical perfectionist. He sees mistakes everywhere, even in himself and his teammates. The result of this is an irritatingly high amount of sarcastic whining when he plays, but to most it is actually pretty entertaining.

Listen to him whine when he loses, or taking advantage of mistakes and leveraging on them to get his wins. You will learn how to play solid Dota from this guy.

iceiceice

Entertainment: 4
Learning: 5
Live Interaction: 5

iceiceice is my personal favorite in this list. He is an extremely friendly guy and he communicates with his audience like no other streamers.

For starters, he is a Singaporean who isn't shy of expressing himself with less-than-perfect English. When streamers correct him, he will accept their teachings humbly and learn quickly. iceiceice makes himself very comfortable while streaming, wearing simply and sitting in an odd position that is rather entertaining to watch. He has an interesting accent, but his words are fairly easy to catch.

Back to business, iceiceice is a fearsome magician. He speaks so freely that his words reflects exactly his mindset while playing. Like Singsing, he tends to see his kills way before they happen. He jumps on every single opportunity and he refuses to give any to his opponents. He rarely overkills. He predicts jukes. He jukes. He isn't the best at last hitting, but he builds his heroes in a manner that maximizes his gold and capabilities in his game.

iceiceice communicates with his audience very often. He answers questions in the chat every single opportunity he gets, even when playing his game. Ask him about his decisions or favorite food, he answers all of them.

What makes him the best streamer is his attitude. iceiceice never gives up his game, which explains his 64.59% win rate. He has his dreams and he isn't afraid to proclaim his desire to win The International. He knows that most streamers watch his stream to learn, and therefore he explains everything he does.

Watch iceiceice. You will understand why he is my personal favorite.

Useful Information

If you want to download VODs, here's what you need.

1. Firefox with Downthemall
2. http://savevideo.me/ - for own3D
3. http://bashtech.net/twitch/download.php - for twitch

Contrary to what the websites teach you, once you get the link,
1. Copy it to clipboard using Ctrl+C
2. Open the downthemall Manager (Under Tools -> Manager. If you can't see Tools, tap Alt once)
3. Click on the + symbol. The url will be automatically loaded into the Download field
4. Select the destination file name and renaming mask
5. Download



If you want to access the chat, here's what you need.

1. Don't be lazy, register for a bloody own3D and twitch account.



Last but not least, my favourite tool - knowing who is streaming

1. www.joindota.com. Under "Livestreams" there is a list of players streaming
2. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dota-2-stream-browser/cnhfhjlfbaehncgjfnleejhehimhleip
3. http://streamdota2.com/

Final Words

I hope you've learnt something from this guide. I welcome feedbacks, such as tools to include in my very short list or any other streamers that deserve to be in my list and why. Leave your comments below and rate my guide accordingly!





glhf,
theredflag


Last Edited: 2 Dec 2012