Fishman: “ATF doesn’t have enough keys on Legacy to play zoo, but he has a taunt button, and he says it’s important. That’s Ammar for you”Exclusive

Dzmitry “Fishman” Palishchuk provided exclusive insights into his career journey and the formation of legendary squad Creepwave, featuring now-famous teammates Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf and Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak. The veteran player disclosed his revolutionary approach to roster construction, consistently selecting lower-ranked individuals based on personality compatibility rather than pure mechanical ability. This groundbreaking interview occurred following 1win Series Dota 2 Spring tournament.

Our scouting methodology centered around matchmaking observations with emphasis on player demeanor. Collaborating with Crystallis, we evaluated potential recruits holistically. Among prospects were SabeRLight- and ATF, where the former held rank 15 while ATF positioned at 100. We recognized ATF’s infectious personality immediately – his constant ‘GG WP’ banter and all-chat engagement created memorable interactions. His selection became imperative despite numerical rankings. We extended invitations to SabeRLight- as well, though he declined participation. Fortunately, ATF embraced the opportunity enthusiastically.

For Malr1ne’s position, we considered three or four alternatives. His ranking wasn’t exceptional and his midlane capabilities required development, primarily specializing in Timbersaw. I advocated strongly for his inclusion because he demonstrated genuine eagerness to join our project. When assembling teams, I value commitment and drive above technical proficiency. Other candidates possessed superior skills but exhibited hesitation, stating they needed deliberation time. Though details escape memory, I championed Malr1ne’s recruitment persistently.

My coaching focused less on Dota mechanics and more on professional conduct development. Conversely, ATF exhibited natural leadership qualities from inception, requiring minimal guidance. At merely sixteen years old, he commanded Discord channels with authoritative presence that belied his age.

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Fishman acknowledges partial alignment with Ceb’s perspective regarding ATF’s gameplay constraints. However, he maintains confidence in the offlaner’s capacity to adjust to evolving metagames. The singular absolute restriction involves heroes commanding summoned units or controllable creeps.

Ammar possesses a distinctive hero selection, making meta compatibility crucial for his effectiveness. I’m convinced he’ll identify appropriate picks regardless of meta shifts. ATF demonstrates exceptional laning proficiency and raw talent. While Ceb’s assessment contains elements of truth, though the applicability remains limited.

As a developing competitor, ATF actively attempts to incorporate meta-relevant picks. This season featured Dragon Knight and Doom selections. As strategies evolve, he continuously learns new heroes and approaches. The only categorical exclusions involve unit-control champions. Broodmother represents an exception, but Beastmaster and Lycan receive zero consideration. Should Helm of the Dominator become meta-defining, he would avoid purchasing the item entirely. His hotkey configuration presents significant limitations. Despite seeming illogical – how can professional players function without proper hotkeys? He utilizes Legacy keybindings and claims insufficient available slots. I repeatedly advise configuring additional hotkeys properly. He maintains inadequate key availability while preserving taunt functionality. He insists taunt buttons serve vital purposes. That encapsulates Ammar’s distinctive approach – I lack additional commentary.

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Fishman confirms ongoing communication among former Creepwave members. While physical gatherings occur infrequently, they maintain active chat channels and periodically assemble virtually through Discord.

We continue conducting team meetings regularly, primarily driven by ATF’s initiative and persistence. These interactions occur exclusively through Discord platforms. What about in-person meetings? Creepwave represented a collective of dedicated Dota enthusiasts. During LAN event travels, we reunite physically. Our most recent face-to-face interaction happened approximately one week prior, though preceding that encounter, four months elapsed without physical contact.

Our group chat remains continuously active, though Discord gatherings had diminished recently. We recently planned Counter-Strike 2 sessions together. Ultimately, participation proved limited, resulting in three attendees: myself, ATF and Crystallis. This core trio typically constitutes our gathering foundation, supplemented by occasional additional participants when available.

Creepwave formation commenced early 2021, with Entity organization acquiring the squad later that year. They competed in DPC lower division brackets alongside various online tournaments. Numerous players from that original lineup attained remarkable professional accomplishments in subsequent seasons, including ATF, Crystallis, Malr1ne, and bzm.

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No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » Fishman: “ATF doesn’t have enough keys on Legacy to play zoo, but he has a taunt button, and he says it’s important. That’s Ammar for you”Exclusive Discover how Fishman built Creepwave by prioritizing personality over MMR and ATF's unique gaming preferences