Welcome to this week's Battle Report, your concise roundup of the biggest developments in the Dota 2 competitive scene. This edition covers roster shakeups at Parivision that sparked community debate, legendary player career transitions, and organizational departures that mark the end of an era. From benched veterans to surprising team announcements, here's everything you need to know about the week that was in professional Dota 2.

Parivision Benches DM, Adds SSS to Roster

Parivision made waves this week by benching veteran offlaner Dmitry "DM" Dorokhin, a founding member of the organization's Dota 2 roster. The team announced DM's benching with appreciation for his contributions, stating that "his nickname will forever remain in the history of our tag" and expressing confidence he would "continue to shine" with new opportunities.

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The following day, Parivision revealed Valery "SSS" Lazarev as DM's replacement. The announcement emphasized SSS's talent and potential, noting that "his hero pool will add variety to our game." The quick turnaround between benching DM and announcing SSS suggested the move had been planned for some time, though the official statements provided no specific reasoning for the roster change.

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Community Figures Weigh In on DM Situation

The DM roster change prompted responses from prominent community figures, with former professional player Alexey "Solo" Berezin offering his perspective on the situation. Solo suggested that internal conflict likely drove the decision, stating:

"I think DM did a good job on the team. It was a mistake to remove him. There must have been some kind of internal conflict within the team."

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Solo acknowledged DM performed multiple duties within Parivision, making his removal puzzling from an outside perspective. However, he also conceded that "they know better anyway," respecting the team's internal decision-making process while expressing reservations about the choice.

Content creator Alexander "Nix" Levin provided a contrasting viewpoint, suggesting performance issues and interpersonal conflicts played a role.

"No offense, but Diman is not the strongest player," Nix stated. "I am sure that there were conflicts and misunderstandings with DM. He probably didn't do what was required of him."

The differing perspectives from Solo and Nix highlight how roster changes often involve complex factors that aren't immediately visible to outside observers. Both acknowledged the likelihood of internal team dynamics influencing the decision, though they disagreed on whether removing DM was the right call.

Crystallis Reflects on Parivision Departure

Former Parivision carry Remko "Crystallis" Arets shared his thoughts on being kicked from the roster earlier in the season, describing the decision as unfair and expressing frustration with his career trajectory.

"I think my kick from Parivision was unfair. Maybe I'm being selfish, but I've been unlucky compared to other players."

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The Dutch player highlighted communication barriers that affected his integration with the team.

"I was on a team where four teammates argued in a language I didn't understand," he revealed.

This language gap left him feeling disconnected from team affairs, primarily interacting with Filipe "Astini" Astini while other teammates conversed in their native language.

Crystallis noted the timing of his removal added to the disappointment, coming just a week after the holiday season. The prediction that Astini would be next to leave, which later proved accurate, demonstrated that roster instability within Parivision extended beyond a single change.

"It's unpleasant when you get kicked out in the middle of the season, it makes everything seem even worse, but there's nothing you can do about it, that's life."

His comments provide rare insight into the challenges international rosters face when language barriers prevent full team cohesion, an issue that continues to affect team dynamics in European Dota 2.

JerAx Seeks Esports Return in New Role

Two-time The International champion Jesse "JerAx" Vainikka announced he's actively seeking employment opportunities in esports, but not as a player. The Finnish legend posted on social media that he's looking for positions in People Operations, HR coordination, or team management roles within the industry.

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JerAx's career transition represents a growing trend of retired professional players seeking to remain in esports through operational or management positions. His championship pedigree and years of experience at the highest level of competition could provide valuable perspective in player-facing organizational roles.

The announcement reflects how esports continues to mature as an industry, creating career paths for former players beyond coaching or content creation. JerAx's success as a player and reputation within the community could make him an attractive candidate for organizations looking to strengthen their player support infrastructure.

Team Secret Officially Exits Dota 2 Scene

Team Secret confirmed their departure from competitive Dota 2, formally ending one of the scene's most storied organizations. The announcement stated that while they "remain interested in compelling opportunities," they are currently "passive in seeking a return to the scene."

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This exit follows captain Clement "Puppey" Ivanov's transition to coaching Parivision, a move covered in one of our previous issues. Puppey's departure marked the end of an extraordinary tenure with Secret, where he spent over 10 years with the organization, the longest continuous tenure with a single team in professional Dota 2 history.

Team Secret's withdrawal represents a significant moment for the competitive scene. Founded in 2014, Secret became synonymous with elite Dota 2, consistently fielding top-tier rosters and achieving numerous tournament victories. Their absence leaves a notable gap in the organizational landscape, though their statement suggests they haven't completely closed the door on a potential return if the right opportunity emerges.

The timing of their exit, shortly after losing their legendary captain, underscores how central Puppey was to the organization's Dota 2 identity. Without him at the helm, Secret evidently decided to step back rather than attempt to rebuild with a new core.

Ready to put your Dota 2 knowledge to work?

Head over to our Pick'ems section and lock in your predictions for upcoming matches. With roster changes shaking up team dynamics across the scene, now's the perfect time to test your analytical skills. Stay tuned for our detailed match predictions and expert analysis to help guide your picks as the competitive season continues.

TL;DR

• Parivision benched founding member DM and added SSS to their offlane position
• Community figures Solo and Nix offered contrasting views on the DM roster change
• Crystallis shared his perspective on being kicked from Parivision, citing language barriers
• JerAx announced he's seeking esports work in operations or management roles
• Team Secret officially departed the Dota 2 scene after Puppey's move to Parivision coaching