All News

An image of Nisha — Here are all BLAST Slam VI teams and storylines (Image: PGL)

Dota 2

3 hours ago

Sarah "KZ" Zulkiflee

BLAST Slam VI: Teams and key storylines to watch

Here's a close look at all BLAST Slam VI teams and their key storylines.

The next BLAST Slam Dota 2 tournament is just around the corner, with the sixth edition set to take place in Malta from 3 to 15 February. It will be the first major event of the year, featuring a US$1 million prize pool and an intense format that raises the stakes even further, including a full best-of-five (BO5) round during the Playoffs.

BLAST Slam VI features a stacked lineup of elite teams, with nine squads receiving direct invitations and three qualifying through regional qualifiers in Europe, China, and Southeast Asia.

Full lineup of teams attending BLAST Slam VI:

These twelve teams will converge in the Mediterranean nation to battle it out for the prize money as well as valuable merits that could influence future direct invitations. While fans are eager to witness the first major clash of the year unfold on a freshly developed Patch 7.40 meta, the tournament also brings several compelling storylines that’ll keep viewers on their toes.

The biggest storylines to watch at BLAST Slam VI

Early results from the new season have shaken expectations, scrambling the perceived hierarchy of top Dota 2 teams. Former powerhouses no longer appear as dominant, while underdogs and rising squads now have a genuine opportunity to shine.

Tundra Esports could secure another BLAST trophy

Tundra Esports arguably enter BLAST Slam VI as the tournament favourites. They have shown greater consistency than most competitors and appear particularly bolstered for this event series, having won four out of the five BLAST trophies so far. Despite a below-average Top 6 finish at DreamLeague Season 27, patterns suggest this could be yet another BLAST victory for Tundra.

Team Falcons’ declining form raises doubts

Team Falcons enter the event as reigning world champions. However, the team’s form has trended downward following their victory at The International (TI). They claimed 1st place at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2, followed by 2nd at BLAST Slam IV, a 3rd-4th finish at the next BLAST event, and concluded 2025 with a disappointing Top 8 placement at DreamLeague Season 27.

While this may simply be a temporary slump before ramping up for the new season, Falcons have continued to struggle post-holiday, barely qualifying for DreamLeague Season 28 with a 3rd-4th finish. BLAST Slam VI represents a crucial opportunity for them to bounce back.

MOUZ and Team Yandex share parallel paths

MOUZ and Team Yandex mirror each other in several ways. Both teams had recently built their rosters for the new season and fielded promising lineups despite skepticism regarding their potential. MOUZ began the season strongly, claiming their first-ever tournament victory at Wallachia Season 6, which also marked the first major title for most of their players.

A similar narrative unfolded for Team Yandex, who steadily climbed throughout the year before securing an end-of-season triumph at DreamLeague Season 27, defeating Team Spirit 3–1 in the finals. This win was also a first for the organisation and much of its roster.

Together, these teams represent a shift toward a more competitive landscape, where dark horses and underdogs are increasingly capable of challenging the top teams.

Team Liquid faces major issues

The post–TI 2025 period has been turbulent for the two-time TI champions. While there were flashes of stability–such as a 4th-place finish at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2 and 3rd at Wallachia Season 6–Liquid has continued to display inconsistent performances.

The team exited early at DreamLeague Season 27 and most recently failed to qualify for ESL One Birmingham. Although Liquid may improve over the long term, as they usually do, expectations for a standout performance at BLAST Slam VI remain low.

New year, new OG

OG’s return to top-tier competition is one of the season’s most surprising developments. After assembling an all-Filipino roster from Team Aureus amid heavy doubts, OG surged early in the season, securing Top 6 finishes at three consecutive major events: PGL Wallachia Season 6, BLAST Slam V, and DreamLeague Season 27.

With one of the strongest fanbases in the scene, many eyes will be on OG to see whether they can finally break past the Top 6 barrier and claim a long unseen podium finish.

Team Spirit may struggle with synergy

Team Spirit enters BLAST Slam VI amid significant changes that raise concerns about team cohesion. Longtime coach Silent, a cornerstone of Spirit’s success, has departed after five years with the team, while midlaner Denis “Larl” Sigitov is taking an extended personal break, forcing Mirele to step in as a stand-in despite having less top-tier experience. These adjustments could impact Spirit’s overall synergy, making their performance at the event difficult to predict.

HEROIC’s revamped lineup and fresh hopes

South America’s top team have experienced a turbulent start to the season, yielding poor recent results and shockingly failing to qualify for DreamLeague Season 28 after a loss to the Perú Rejects stack.

This setback prompted a roster shuffle, with Adrian “Wisper” Cespedes Dobles returning to his original role–potentially restoring comfort and stability. Additionally, young pubstar TaiLung, previously competing in qualifier stacks, now has a premier platform to showcase his midlane talent.

BLAST Slam VI will be a critical test to determine whether HEROIC’s new lineup can recover from their rough start.

REKONIX ignites new hope for Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia’s scene feels revitalized with the emergence of REKONIX, a newly formed Indonesian lineup that has dominated regional qualifiers with ease. The team secured their BLAST Slam VI berth by defeating established SEA organisations such as Execration and Team Nemesis.

REKONIX features local talent and veterans including Saieful “Fbz” Ilham, known for his time with BOOM Esports and brief stints on Nigma Galaxy and Team Secret. Having also qualified for ESL One Birmingham, the team’s international potential will be closely watched.

Xtreme Gaming remain unpredictable

Chinese teams–and in this instance, Xtreme Gaming in particular–are often a hit or miss. At times they appear far behind the competition, only to surge overnight into title contention. The new season has followed this familiar pattern.

Following a powerful run at TI 2025, Xtreme opened the new season poorly, placing 9th–11th at Wallachia Season 6 and 7th–10th at BLAST Slam V, but rebounded with a Top 4 finish at DreamLeague Season 27. With more time to adjust to their new lineup and develop strategies during the offseason, Xtreme Gaming could once again be a threat at BLAST Slam VI.

Natus Vincere's steady but stagnant progress

Since the roster’s formation nearly two years ago–originally under the NAVI Junior banner–Natus Vincere has consistently shown promise. The organisation evidently prioritised long-term development, remaining one of the few teams untouched by major roster shuffles.

This approach has so far yielded mixed results. NAVI achieved respectable placements, including a Top 8 finish at BLAST Slam IV and a Top 6 run in the following series, but have also suffered early eliminations at events like Wallachia Season 6 and DreamLeague Season 27. While progress has been slow, a breakthrough could happen at any moment.

GamerLegion enters as the biggest underdog

GamerLegion arrive as the sole North American representative and arguably the tournament’s biggest underdog. With the odds rarely in their favor, the team has focused on incremental gains, showing glimpses of progress through small but meaningful victories across recent events.

At Wallachia Season 6, GamerLegion finished above teams such as Team Tidebound and Nigma Galaxy. In DreamLeague Season 27, they notably defeated HEROIC and finished ahead of the South American squad in the standings. While their overall level remains below the top-tier contenders, GamerLegion has proven capable of delivering surprising upsets.

That wraps up the twelve teams, their stories, and form coming into BLAST Slam VI. But before the big showdown begins, we’ll see several of the teams on this list duke it out in the compact FISSURE Universe Episode 8, the first Tier 1 tournament of the year, starting 29 January.