skiter: "I yield farm to the young — they want to shine"

Player Team Falcons Oliver "Skiter" Lepko shared his thoughts on the current meta, item build choices, and team dynamics. In an interview at BLAST Slam V, he explained why he often chooses Mjolnir over Desolator and how his role has changed with the arrival of young stars. On December 6, Falcons will play in the semifinals against Team Yandex.

Why Mjolnir is better than Desolator

Skiter explained that item choices largely depend on the current map and farm distribution.

I've tried both builds, and most of the time I go for Mjolnir because the map in Dota is very large now, with too many farming spots. Mjolnir allows you to clear an extra wave—the shield kills creeps, and you scale better in the game.

 

He added that Desolator feels less useful in the current conditions.

Every time I pick Desolator, it just doesn't feel as effective as Mjolnir. You spend a lot of time farming and don't have time to do anything else.

 

How team dynamics have changed

Oliver admitted that with the arrival of young teammates, he has taken on a less farm-dependent role.

I have two very young players on my team—Malr1ne and ATF. They want to be stars, have the highest farm, and be key figures.

 

He emphasizes that age and experience allow him to consciously play for the team.

I'm a bit older, so I understand that they want to shine. It's easy for me to be more active and give them farm so they can show what they're capable of.

 

The BLAST Slam V playoffs are taking place from December 5 to 7 in Chengdu, China. Teams are competing for $1,000,000, with $750,000 distributed as prize money and another $250,000 as team bonuses. You can follow the results and schedule of the tournament via this link.