The International 2025 aka TI 25 delivered unforgettable matches and crowned Team Falcons as champions, but it left a noticeable void for the community. For the first time in eight years, the event concluded without the reveal of a new hero, breaking a tradition that had become a cornerstone of the Dota 2 calendar.

Since 2018, each edition of The International had introduced a new hero, creating moments that extended the hype well beyond the grand finals. Mars and Grimstroke’s dual reveal in 2018, followed by Snapfire and Void Spirit in 2019, set a precedent.

After the pandemic-delayed TI10 in 2020, the tradition returned with Marci in 2021, Muerta in 2022, Ringmaster in 2023, and Kez in 2024. Each announcement was not just a game update but a spectacle that defined the tournament’s closing moments.

So we get absolutely nothing?
byu/Glum-Command6142 inDotA2

This year’s silence came as a shock. Fans eagerly waited through the finals for a glimpse of the next hero, only to be met with nothing. Social media reactions reflected disappointment, as the community had grown accustomed to speculating about new abilities, lore, and the impact on future strategies once the confetti had fallen.

The absence highlighted how much the tradition had become part of The International’s identity. It transformed the event from a competitive showcase into a cultural celebration of Dota 2’s growing game-verse. Without the expected reveal, the focus shifted entirely to gameplay, which while thrilling, lacked the symbolic closure fans had come to expect.

As eyes turn to TI 2026 in Shanghai, uncertainty lingers. Valve has yet to clarify whether this was a one-time break similar to TI 2017, or if it signals a shift in how future heroes will be introduced. For a game built on tradition and spectacle, the question remains whether the magic of these reveals will return.

The International 2025 will be remembered both for its high-level competition and for reminding the community how traditions shape expectations. While Team Falcons’ victory is now etched in history, fans are left hoping that future tournaments will once again provide the hero moments that have defined Dota 2’s biggest stage.

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