33: “I have good ideas but when it comes to the execution… That sometimes can be my weakness”Exclusive

Neta “33” Shapira provided exclusive insights to Escorenews journalist Polina Mashina during the ESL One Stockholm Major 2022 upper bracket finals. The Tundra Esports offlaner discussed current game balance, competitive rivalries, and team development strategies that have propelled his success.

— You were among the minority of players who liked the patch without drastic changes. Are you still satisfied with the patch and meta?

— Absolutely, this current patch offers excellent balance and playability. Many players anticipated massive game-altering updates that would require completely relearning mechanics, but I found the continuity refreshing. While I appreciate hero diversity shifts, my primary concern arises when core gameplay elements like map structure undergo radical transformation, creating unpredictable environments. The stability allows for deeper strategic development rather than constant adaptation to new systems.

— What would you like to change in the next patch? Maybe buff some heroes you miss?

— Dark Seer stands out as a hero I’d love to see return to viability. Having extensively played him in previous patches, his current underwhelming performance puzzles me. The Wraith Pact, BKB, and Refresher Orb combination creates problematic power dynamics that need addressing. While these items individually serve important roles, their synergy creates situations where timing windows become excessively narrow.

Valve faces the challenge of balancing defensive itemization without making heroes vulnerable. I advocate returning BKB to its previous scaling duration from 10 to 5 seconds. The current 6-second duration provides excessive protection, with minimal perceived difference between 9 and 6 seconds in actual gameplay. Beyond these concerns, the current meta offers remarkable hero flexibility that benefits creative players.

— This patch some might call “a patch of 33”: your best heroes are in meta, you and your team are having great results. It seems like all offlaners are watching your replays. Are you bored with having no competition on your role?

— Competition remains fierce across all top-tier offlane positions. Every elite player possesses unique strengths I can learn from. My viewing habits haven’t changed—I continue analyzing the same top performers to understand their decision-making processes and strategic innovations.

— Whose replays are you watching among the offlaners?

— Collapse remains my primary study subject due to his innovative item builds and creative approaches. My core discussion group for build theorycrafting includes Collapse, Nightfall, and DM. Regional competitive dynamics limit my collaboration with Western offlaners during DPC seasons.

Naturally, I consistently monitor Faith_bian’s gameplay for strategic insights. Beyond professional matches, I extensively study public games across all skill levels—from rank 1000 players to top-50 performers. Valuable insights can emerge from unexpected sources when you maintain an open learning mindset.

— You mentioned some CIS offlaners you talk to the most. Wherein are they better than you?

— Collapse demonstrates superior spell execution and ability timing precision. My primary limitation involves translating strategic concepts into flawless mechanical execution. While I excel at lane strategy and hero understanding, the transition from planning to implementation presents ongoing challenges. Younger players consistently display exceptional mechanical talent that pushes me to continually refine my technical skills.

— How important is it for you to be considered the best on your role overall? Or is the only thing that’s important is team results?

— Collective team achievement completely overshadows individual recognition. External opinions hold minimal weight compared to my self-assessment standards. I maintain clear awareness of both my capabilities and limitations compared to other tier-1 offlaners. Personal growth and team success form interconnected objectives that drive my professional development.

— Speaking about team results, what is the secret of your stability as a team?

— Our current tournament performance represents significant progress in addressing historical consistency issues. While we demonstrated stability throughout this Major, we previously struggled in the Gamers Without Borders 2022 qualifier finals against Team Liquid. Current results don’t indicate permanent dominance—we continue developing as a unit. The key breakthrough involves maintaining composure under pressure and avoiding result-oriented anxiety.

We’ve successfully maintained focus on gameplay quality rather than tournament outcomes. This approach naturally produces positive results when combined with self-improvement focus and optimal performance mindset.

— You are the only favorites left in the tournament. BOOM, EG, and Spirit are eliminated. Is it a disadvantage being a favorite?

— Favorite status presents both challenges and advantages. Opposing teams intensively study your strategies while simultaneously fearing your capabilities. The psychological impact matters less than maintaining perspective—we avoid internalizing favorite narratives and concentrate on incremental progress.

— From your side, what were the problems of these teams?

— These eliminations surprised me considerably. I anticipated strong performances from BOOM Esports and Team Spirit as tournament contenders. Evil Geniuses showed substantial improvement that suggested decent placement potential. Once teams encounter initial losses, confidence erosion can create snowball effects that impact subsequent matches.

Some commentators suggested BOOM might be overrated for Major competition, but I disagreed based on their demonstrated skill. Against Spirit, we experienced extreme difficulty closing games despite significant advantages—they concede nothing easily. Matchup disadvantages and performance dips likely contributed to their unexpected elimination.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » 33: “I have good ideas but when it comes to the execution… That sometimes can be my weakness”Exclusive Professional Dota 2 offlaner 33 reveals patch insights, competitive mindset, and improvement strategies for aspiring players