Maelk: "In due time, the pecking-order will be back"

EG.Maelk: Yes, definitely. As soon as all the European top players started changing over, the competitive scene started looking very similar to what it was in regular DotA. I think in due time, the pecking-order will be back to what you would expect it to be in regular DotA. Including the Chinese, should they choose to pick up the game.

Gredival: Could you give any advice to players who look up to you on how to get better? How would you recommend improving and learning when you don’t have a static team to play with?

EG.Maelk: I’m blessed enough to have three younger brothers who are all eager to learn and wants to break into competitive play as well, although they’re not focused on Dota 2 right now, and what I usually tell them, is that they need to find like-minded people that they enjoy playing with who has the same goals for the game as they do themselves. It is by no means an easy task, and a lot of players might have to look outside of their own nationality, but it’s simply the best approach to take. Once you put aside the mindless public play and actual start playing together with four others, regardless of what level of skill the team starts out at, is the best way to really develop yourself as a player. If you can’t seem to find a team, since these things takes patience, try to find places to play where players seems to have the same level of dedication as yourself and socialize. If you only focus on playing matchmaking, then focus on making friends. The bigger the network, the better your chances. In the grand scheme of things, gaming really isn’t any different from how you should treat your professional life, if you want to approach it with a serious attitude.

If you just want to improve as a public-player, and are perfectly fine with playing on your own, find out which roles you are most motivated to play. Find replays of some of the top-players playing these same roles and heroes and pick up on their builds, their timing and how they utilize their hero. Always try to look ahead and constantly consider what your next move should be in order for you to make the most out of your hero in terms of winning the game with your team. Should you farm or should you gank? Do you need to help your team out when defending a tower? If you are trying to help out your allies from a gank, will you make a difference? Can you save them, kill anyone or will you just die as well? Understanding the game and its outcome its very important. Another thing is map awareness. If every enemy on the map is missing, you’re probably not safe trying to farm on your own in a lane nor is it smart to gank a hero on your own if you saw four of his allies in the surrounding area a short while earlier. I could write a book on things that players needs to focus on in order for them to improve, and truthfully there’s a lot of the top players in the competitive scene who to this date still lacks some very basic fundamentals yet still get by because some of their other qualities. That is how diverse the game is.

Gredival: Fear has been serving as the Captain of EG, but you’re no stranger to sitting in Kirk’s chair yourself. How do you bring the benefits of your vast leadership experience to the table without pulling the team in two directions?

EG.Maelk: Fear and I have played together in the past, and initially I was skeptical about teaming up with another alpha-dog again, but I soon learned that he and I were on the same page on how we wanted to approach the game and what our goals were. We are both some of the most experienced players in the world, and together with our invaluable expertise in strategy, I hope will create a really strong playstyle once we get to know each other again and reach a mutual understanding of how we think and play.