Most Picked Heroes at Esports World Cup 2025: Shadow Shaman Leads the Pack

The Esports World Cup 2025 for Dota 2, currently underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 8 to July 19, has already delivered intense competition and revealing hero stats. With a $3,000,000 prize pool on the line, teams have shown clear preferences in their drafts during the Group Stage and Elimination Phase — and some heroes have stood out more than others.

According to data provided by DOTABUFF, Shadow Shaman was the most picked hero so far, appearing in 29 matches with a 48.28% win rate. Not far behind, Puck claimed the second spot with 24 appearances, though its win rate lagged at 45.83%. Shadow Fiend followed closely in third, picked 22 times and maintaining a solid 50% win rate.

Rounding out the top five were Monkey King and Queen of Pain, each played in 20 matches. Notably, Monkey King impressed with a 60% win rate, while Queen of Pain held even at 50%.

The highest win rate among the most picked heroes, however, belonged to Nature’s Prophet. Despite being selected in only 18 games, the hero dominated with a remarkable 77.78% win rate, making it a high-impact choice. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Axe closed out the top 10 with a disappointing 38.89% win rate.

🔟 Top 10 Most Picked Heroes — Esports World Cup 2025

With the tournament still ongoing, these hero trends offer valuable insight into the evolving meta and team strategies. As the playoffs approach, it will be interesting to see if these picks continue to dominate — or if new contenders rise to the top.