Darkhorse Heroes

Sometimes I think that the word "Allstars" in DOTA Allstars is really a lie. Not all the hero there are stars. In fact, if you follow the tournament scene enough, you'll see the repeat of heroes like Medusa, Sven, Centaur, Lina, Luna... the usual bunch. Don't you think it's boring? Is it because DOTA players have no creativity? Or because the game is unbalanced?

Well, for every overated star around, there's always someone outside of the spotlight that is just as good, or even better. Let's go through the list:

TideHunter

Wow, I don't understand the DOTA community. We are looking at one of the best borderline imbalanced support heroes. His upkeep is low; you just need to get him an oblivion staff at the start then he can start harrassing anyone on his lane with his non-stop Gushomatic. His kraken shell means people like Rhasta, Lion or those pesky poison dart throwers will be ineffective, and his swing is great for farming.

In major battles his ultimate is serious business. Don't forget to include the time taken for you to bounce up in the air and land as being stunned. That's enough time for the team to set up a nice attack position while your team is still stunned. Imagine if he had a refresher. And a Crystal Maiden. Being a strength hero (with Kraken too) means he can take quite alot of beating so he'll make a great tank as well.

Heck, I'd go with this guy in my team over the other stunners like Slardar or Centaur any day.

Naga Siren

Hmmm, I sense some racial discrimination here. Maybe the DOTA community has something against merfolk? I bet if it wasn't because the enemy has a Centaur, no self respectable team would want to be seen with a Slardar either.

But to pass up the naga... is nuts. Her Net ability is one of the best early game disablers around. The fact that it goes through Black King Bar is enough reason to keep her in your team; especially against pesky pumped Svens who like to charge into battle after taking their God Strength serum.

Put her with a Rhasta and you've got one of the most vicious team ups since Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior. No hero will ever escape the both of you... alive.

Everyone should know by now how painful Mirror Images with x3 Criticals are but if you don't, you only need to get netted by a Naga Siren to find out. The best spell here is of course her ultimate, which is great for full scale rax pushing. Get her a refresher in late game and no one will be able to bother you while you happily beat their raxes into rubble. 18 seconds (14 for heroes) of sleep is no joke!

DOOMbringer

Ah, this is a hero after my own heart. Since everyone is lame and plays 5.84c, I can't express how IMBA scorched earth is, but you don't really need Scorched Earth to win your games if you have this hero. Just a Refresher Orb will do.

Sometime back, I was in a kopitiam having a nice quiet cup of tea when I overheard this argument between a bunch of schoolkids at the table behind me about which hero is the best disabler in the game. One guy kept saying Rhasta and the other two were determined that it was Lion.

Finally I could take no more and put my teacup on their table as I sat down and said, "Screw you all, Doombringer is the best disabler."

Their eyes stare in disbelief. WTF is this old fool talking about. DOOMbringer where got disable spell?

"Read his name carefully," I told them. "DOOMbringer."

The fact that they named a hero after his ultimate should say alot. Doom straight away puts any one hero of your liking out of any battle. If you don't like Sven, fine, DOOM him. If you think Medusa is pissy, or that irritating Omniknight is going to cast Guardian Angel at a crucial moment, DOOM his sorry behind back to his base while the rest of your team deal with the other 4 heroes. Now, what if he's got a refresher... no major battle will be the same again.

Also, the lame 5.84 versions Rain of Chaos deals damage to buildings so that's quite an added plus. Let him buy a Dagger of Escape and he can hide behind trees while pouring his hot love over the enemy towers. It's not hard to see why you shouldn't not have a DOOMbringer on your team anymore eh?

Trust me, once 6.12b takes foot, this guy is going to shine more than your pesky Svens and Medusas.

Venomancer

This has got to be the ugliest hero model next to the Timestopper, but unlike the Timestopper who gets the 'Best Competition Support Hero' award, the Venom is stuck in the 'Nobody Gives A Shit'-list of heroes and that is aggravating because this hero, is actually another major battle decided. Armed with a Lothars or Dagger of Escape, you can smack poison at your opponents lowering their health to practically nothing, making it a walk in the park.

His only setback is piss poor health and his ultimate needs some clever positioning to actually work. Nevertheless, he farms better than a Timestopper early game and late game his ultimate recharges so quickly you can clear creep pileups easily with it.

Lifestealer (Naix)

If Naix had feelings he'd probably be the most bitter hero around. Heralded as one of the Public Game Stars, come competitions, he's never picked. Not even in the Reserved lists. It's not hard to see why though. His petty health and poor farming skills at the start make him the brunt of any joke whenever it comes to competitions. If I were Naix, I'd dig a deep hole and hide myself in shame.

Well, not anymore though, because Naix is the best hero when your opopnents decide to go All Times Win and pick a star like Medusa or Sven. The key to winning with a Naix is to keep him a level or two above everyone else. Once he's fat enough to farm on his own, you can sit back and start pushing lanes while he starts picking pieces out of the enemy heroes. You know those Pubbie myths where a lone Naix can easily take apart 5 heroes without batting an eyelid?

They're true.