Dota 2 TI 2025 Compendium Guide: Fantasy Picks & Team Predictions

The International 2025 (TI 2025) is finally here, and Dota 2 fans couldn’t be more excited. Scheduled from September 4 to 14 in Hamburg, Germany, TI 2025 promises to be one of the biggest esports events of the year. Sixteen elite teams from across the globe will battle for the Aegis of Champions and their share of a multi-million-dollar prize pool.

This year feels particularly special, not only because of the high stakes but also because Valve has introduced a brand-new Compendium system. From fantasy leagues to team predictions and in-game challenges, fans now have more ways than ever to engage with TI 2025.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know:

• How the TI 2025 Fantasy League works
• Team previews and key player picks
• Best strategies for maximizing your Compendium points
• Expert predictions for the eventual winners

What is the TI 2025 Compendium?

The Compendium is Valve’s official in-game event hub for The International. It combines fantasy challenges, predictions, and rewards into one interactive system.

Here’s what the TI 2025 Compendium includes:

• Fantasy League: Draft your dream team from TI players and earn points based on their real in-game performance.
  
• Team Predictions: Predict match outcomes, group winners, and even the grand champion.
  
• Player Predictions: Guess who will rack up the most kills, assists, GPM, or other stats during the tournament.
  
• Event Challenges: Daily and event-long tasks where players earn points and unlock cosmetic rewards.
  

TI 2025 Qualified Teams: Overview & Analysis

The International 2025 will feature 16 elite Dota 2 teams battling for the Aegis of Champions in Hamburg, Germany. This year’s lineup is a mix of seasoned veterans and promising new squads, creating one of the most unpredictable TIs in recent history. Here’s a breakdown of the key contenders and what makes them stand out:

Region	Team	Recent Form	Strengths	Weaknesses	Why They’re a Top Pick
Western Europe	Team Liquid	Consistent top finishes in majors, strong LAN performances.	Experienced roster, versatile drafts, strong team coordination.	Occasionally struggle in high-pressure situations.	Defending TI champions with a proven track record.
Western Europe	OG	Mixed results in recent tournaments; historically strong at TI.	Deep hero pool, strategic depth, experienced leadership.	Inconsistent performances in qualifiers.	Legacy of success at TI events; potential for a deep run.
Western Europe	Tundra Esports	Strong performances in regional leagues; adaptable playstyle.	Exceptional drafting flexibility, strong team synergy.	Can be inconsistent in high-stakes matches.	Known for adaptability and strategic depth.
Western Europe	Gaimin Gladiators	Recent success in regional tournaments; defending champions.	Aggressive playstyle, strong laning phase, high mechanical skill.	Vulnerable to early-game pressure; sometimes overcommit in fights.	Defending champions with a hunger to prove themselves again.
Eastern Europe	BetBoom Team	Dominant in regional qualifiers; strong individual performances.	High skill ceiling, aggressive playstyle, strong laning phase.	Can be inconsistent in team coordination; over-reliance on individual plays.	Rising stars with potential to upset established teams.
Eastern Europe	Team Spirit	Recent victories in major tournaments; strong team cohesion.	Excellent team coordination, strong drafting, experienced leadership.	Sometimes struggle against unconventional strategies.	Defending champions with a strong team dynamic.
China	Azure Ray	Strong performances in regional leagues; consistent results.	Deep hero pool, strategic depth, strong team coordination.	Can be inconsistent in high-pressure situations.	Consistently strong performances in regional leagues.
China	Xtreme Gaming	Recent success in regional tournaments; strong individual performances.	High mechanical skill, aggressive playstyle, strong laning phase.	Vulnerable to early-game pressure; sometimes lack strategic depth.	Rising stars with potential to challenge top teams.
China	LGD Gaming	Historically strong performances; consistent results in major tournaments.	Deep hero pool, strategic depth, experienced leadership.	Can be inconsistent in high-pressure situations.	Legacy of success with a strong roster.
China	Team Aster	Strong performances in regional leagues; consistent results.	Deep hero pool, strategic depth, strong team coordination.	Can be inconsistent in high-pressure situations.	Consistently strong performances in regional leagues.
Southeast Asia	Aurora	Strong performances in regional qualifiers; aggressive playstyle.	High mechanical skill, aggressive playstyle, strong laning phase.	Vulnerable to early-game pressure; sometimes lack strategic depth.	Rising stars with potential to challenge top teams.
Southeast Asia	Talon Esports	Recent success in regional tournaments; strong individual performances.	High mechanical skill, aggressive playstyle, strong laning phase.	Vulnerable to early-game pressure; sometimes lack strategic depth.	Rising stars with potential to challenge top teams.
North America	Shopify Rebellion	Strong performances in regional leagues; consistent results.	Deep hero pool, strategic depth, strong team coordination.	Can be inconsistent in high-pressure situations.	Consistently strong performances in regional leagues.
North America	Nouns	Strong performances in regional qualifiers; aggressive playstyle.	High mechanical skill, aggressive playstyle, strong laning phase.	Vulnerable to early-game pressure; sometimes lack strategic depth.	Rising stars with potential to challenge top teams.
South America	Beastcoast	Strong performances in regional leagues; consistent results.	Deep hero pool, strategic depth, strong team coordination.	Can be inconsistent in high-pressure situations.	Consistently strong performances in regional leagues.
South America	HEROIC	Strong performances in regional qualifiers; aggressive playstyle.	High mechanical skill, aggressive playstyle, strong laning phase.	Vulnerable to early-game pressure; sometimes lack strategic depth.	Rising stars with potential to challenge top teams.

How Fantasy Dota 2 Works

The TI 2025 Compendium allows you to build a fantasy team by selecting real-life players from the participating teams. Your goal is to maximize fantasy points based on their in-game performance during the tournament.

Fantasy points are awarded for metrics like:

• Kills: Each kill earns points. High-risk, high-reward cores often top this category.
  
• Deaths: Losing a life can deduct points, so consistent, survivable players are valuable.
  
• Assists: Supports and offlaners rack up points through teamfights.
  
• GPM & XPM: Gold and XP per minute contribute to points; strong farming cores shine here.
  
• Tower & Roshan kills: Teams that push objectives effectively give bonus points to their fantasy players.
  

Key Fantasy Roles

When building your fantasy team, you’ll need to choose players for three main roles:

Core: Includes carry or offlaner. High kills, GPM, impact.

Mid: Usually solo mid, responsible for big plays & farm.

Support: Positions 4 & 5. Provide assists, vision, and teamfight control.

Drafting Strategy

1. Star Players vs. Consistent Performers
   
   • Star players like Satanic or gpk~ can earn massive points but may be inconsistent.
     
   • Consistent performers like Yatoro or Nisha may give fewer points per game but reliably contribute over multiple matches.
     
2. Budget Management
   
   • Fantasy teams have a salary cap, so balance high-cost stars with budget-friendly sleepers.
     
3. Synergy & Team Form
   
   • Players from the same high-performing team are more likely to score points consistently.
     
   • Track current form and recent LAN performances for better predictions.
     
4. Positional Balance
   
   • Don’t overload cores; a balanced team with strong support picks can win you points via assists and objectives.
     
5. Meta Awareness
   
   • Stay updated on hero picks, patch changes, and team strategies—they impact player performance and fantasy points significantly.

Top Fantasy Picks: Best Players to Choose for TI 2025

Choosing the right players is the key to dominating your TI 2025 fantasy team. Here’s our expert breakdown by role, including best picks, alternate picks, and reasoning.

Core Picks

Best Pick: Satanic

• Consistently on top of leaderboards in kills, last hits, and GPM.
  
• Low death ratio → reliable in clutch games.
  
• A must-pick for fantasy success.
  

Alternate Pick: Yatoro

• Known for consistency, gameplay intelligence, and synergy.
  
• Can single-handedly carry games in tough situations.
  
• Strong deep-run potential at TI14.
  

Mid Picks

Best Pick: gpk~

• Star performer for BetBoom this season.
  
• Stat-heavy mid laner with strong numbers even in losses.
  
• Excellent choice for fantasy point accumulation.
  

Alternate Pick: Nisha

• Versatile, reliable mid-laner.
  
• Not the flashiest, but always delivers what his team needs.
  

Support Picks

Best Pick: Miposhka

• Excels in warding, smoke pops, stacking, and utility.
  
• Perfect position 5 player who consistently helps his team succeed.
  

Alternate Pick: Whitemon

• Great long-term vision and teamfight presence.
  
• Can swing fights with clutch plays.

Team Predictions for TI 2025

While individual fantasy picks are important, understanding team performance and potential match outcomes is critical for maximizing points. Here’s a breakdown of predictions based on form, consistency, and past performances.

4-0 Pick

Team Spirit

• Fresh off their Esports World Cup victory.
  
• Dominant in group stages.
  
• Fast-paced and efficient playstyle.
  

4-1 Picks

• PARIVISION & Tundra Esports
  
• Known as slow starters, but solid when momentum builds.
  
• Unorthodox strategies often surprise opponents.
  

Winner Pick for Elimination Round

• Team Liquid → Strong momentum-based team.
  
• Aurora & Tidebound are also in contention, but Aurora is riskier.
  

Loser Pick for Elimination Round

• Tidebound → Skilled roster, but not consistent.
  
• Heroic & Na’Vi → Capable of upsets, though inconsistent.
  

1-4 Picks

• Wildcard & BOOM
  
• Competitive at times, but struggle against top-tier teams.
  

0-4 Pick

• Nemesis → Earned their spot by defeating Talon Esports.
  
• Lack of LAN experience may hold them back.
  

Compendium Tips & Tricks for Maximizing Fantasy Points

The TI 2025 Compendium isn’t just a fun digital package—it’s a strategic tool for fantasy players. Here’s how to make the most of it:

1. Optimize Your Daily & Weekly Picks

• Check match schedules: Select players from teams playing multiple games that day to maximize points.
  
• Balance risk and reward: Combine star players with consistent performers; avoid putting all your budget into one high-risk core.
  
• Rotate players based on form: Track recent performances and adapt your picks before each matchday.
  

2. Track Predictions & Updates

• Monitor live match stats and fantasy points regularly.
  
• Adjust your roster if a player is underperforming or injured.
  
• Use fantasy leaderboards to gauge which strategies and picks are working for top players.
  

3. Maximize Bonus Points & Challenges

• Participate in daily challenges for extra points.
  
• Complete prediction challenges for additional rewards.
  
• Unlock titles and cosmetic bonuses—these may provide stat enhancements in fantasy scoring.

4. Tips for Beginners vs Experienced Players

Player Type	Strategy Tips
Beginners	Focus on high-performing, well-known teams and players. Don’t overcomplicate picks; consistency wins points.
Experienced Players	Mix star picks with sleepers from underdog teams. Track patch changes, hero metas, and emerging team strategies for maximum advantage.

5. General Advice for Fantasy Success

• Don’t chase hype; rely on stats and recent form.
  
• Pay attention to team synergies—players from the same team often score points together.
  
• Keep an eye on objectives and team strategies—players contributing to Roshan, towers, or teamfight wins get extra points.

Brand-New Rewards & Titles in TI 2025 Compendium

The TI 2025 Compendium comes with exciting rewards for fantasy players. These rewards not only look cool but can also impact your fantasy experience. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Unlocking Titles

• After creating your fantasy roster, you can roll for titles.
  
• Each title grants distinct stat bonuses that enhance fantasy points.
  
• Titles may vary depending on your leaderboard placement—so use them strategically to maximize points.
  

2. Fantasy Challenge Rewards

• The fantasy challenge and leaderboard access this year do not require a purchase, making it free for all players.
  
• To earn rewards, aim for top 85% of the fantasy leaderboard.
  
• Only the top 95% of players will earn a single new immortal item.
  

3. New Immortal Skins

• Five new purple-themed recolored immortals are available, reskinned from last year’s items:
  
  • Phantom Lancer (PL)
    
  • Shadow Shaman
    
  • Lion
    
  • Queen of Pain
    
  • Spirit Breaker
    
• Each immortal comes with unique effects and visual enhancements.
  
• They are bound to accounts, meaning they unlock only by participating in the fantasy challenge.
  

4. Expert Recommendations

• Lion effect is visually impressive and clearly visible in-game—good for showing off achievements.
  
• PL skin has the best model for countering visuals, even if effects are less striking.
  
• Track leaderboard milestones to ensure you unlock the highest-value items.

FAQs: