Navi kicks current Dota 2 team, here’s why

Navi’s Dota 2 team is about to undergo their latest reorganization attempt to try and remain competitive in the game.

Natus Vincere, or Navi, is a highly well-known and regarded esports team with formidable presences in several different games. Their CS2 team, for instance, has taken home the trophy at two international major events. However, other teams have failed to find the same success or even qualify for major tournaments. The Dota 2 team, for instance, often makes it to The International but will place poorly once they begin competing.

Despite recent respectable performances, it seems that Navi officials want to try something new with their Dota 2 team.

Navi suspending entire Dota 2 team

Navi has confirmed the suspension of its entire current Dota 2 team due to a lack of consistent performance.

The official website announced on October 24, 2024, that despite recent performances, the team roster was being suspended. Navi’s Dota 2 team placed fourth in several tournaments throughout 2024, including the Eastern Europe qualifier for The International 2024 and PGL Wallachia. However, the squad had to rely on stand-ins in order to compete. Three of the five members had to be replaced for PGL Wallachia S2, for instance.

None of the current Navi Dota 2 players have been on the team for more than two years, with the oldest member joining in February 2023. The suspended players are as follows.

• Bakyt “Zayac” Emilzhanov
• Artem “Yuragi” Golubiev
• Sukhbat “sanctity-” Otgondavaa
• Dmitry “nefrit” Tarasich
• Arman “Malady” Orazbayev

This from from the first time that Natus Vincere has decided to rebuild its Dota 2 roster. The team has had over 50 players rotate through their doors since the original roster debuted in 2010, with major shake-ups reportedly occurring every year between 2015 and 2018.

The report did clarify that Navi Junior, the youth Dota team, would continue to compete. For their main team, Navi could bring back former players as it has done before or try and buy out another team’s roster. The team could also start completely from scratch. The official report says the company has “assessed alternative available options,” though what those are isn’t clear. Hopefully, Navi will get the Dota 2 team it wants and all the former players will find new homes.