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I was rewatching some of the International 2 games of Navi and noticed that AA is so clutch in just about every game. Game 3 against LGD, in winner's bracket, for example, just shows how clutch he is. Zoning out DS and allowing XBOCT free farm all day, along with the kill in mid with the haste rune + the double kill at Dire T2 tower. But one of the biggest plays of AA from that specific game, in particular, is the fight in the Dire jungle around 28 minutes.
In that fight, XBOCT leaps in and uses chronosphere to catch 3 LGD members. Dendi activates evasive maneuvers to set-up for the Ravage steal, but without AA it wouldn't have been possible. While watching the video I noticed that Tidehunter, despite not touching the Chronosphere, had been stunned by something which allowed Dendi to successfully steal the Ravage and not Anchor Smash. I rewound the video several times over and saw that AA managed to fire off the stun animation mere moments before the Ravage went off. Despite being stunned, by the Ravage, the split earth struck Tidehunter and allowed Dendi to steal the Ravage and blink into the chronosphere to let loose the tentacles.
Sure, LGD probably would have lost that fight either way. XBOCT had BKB on (to prevent Siren Song from stopping him) and probably would have perma-locked Siren with right clicks, but AA surely played a crucial role in that entire game. In fact, he probably played the best 5 position in the entire tournament.
Fuck yeah, Sergey Revin
 
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His entire career is basically underrated teamfight support ballerness that's gone mostly underrated.
On a legendary team of Jolie, NS, Vigoss, and Admir he was pretty much the #1 most solid player all around that allowed for them to go apeshit on teams. Jolie, NS, Smile core was like the first superteam that was defined by its supports more than its carry/gank/solo mids.
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This is a recurring theme in Dota. A supoort player is playing top notch, warding like a boss, and setting everything up for his team. In the end, though, no one notices because the hard carry right clicks their way to a dominating streak and everyone that watches goes "OMFG dem killz!!!11!" and not a single fuck is given about the brilliant play of the support that allowed the carry get all that farm. The other Na'Vi guys are great too but it's not all about Dendi and his pudge hooks and solo mid bossery. AA plays an equal/greater in their victories. But no one gives a fuck.
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On January 03 2013 10:17 shizaep wrote:
This is a recurring theme in Dota. A supoort player is playing top notch, warding like a boss, and setting everything up for his team. In the end, though, no one notices because the hard carry right clicks their way to a dominating streak and everyone that watches goes "OMFG dem killz!!!11!" and not a single fuck is given about the brilliant play of the support that allowed the carry get all that farm. The other Na'Vi guys are great too but it's not all about Dendi and his pudge hooks and solo mid bossery. AA plays an equal/greater in their victories. But no one gives a fuck.
I'd have to say that the order of clutchness on Navi goes AA, Lightofheaven, Puppey, Dendi, XBOCT.
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Right after every big lan event that Navi doesn't win, I see a plethora of threads (not this one ofc) demanding that Navi replace AA or Xboct. It always agrevates me because everyone on Navi is amazing, especially Ars-Art. In the international (and many many many tournaments) he plays superb, and doesn't get the credit he deserves. The man is a boss and definitely deserves some respect. While I do think he is one of the best supports in the world, you can't forget that Navi's support player isn't the only one that is going unnoticed (Faith, Goblak, etc.).
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Right now when 5 man dota is supreme, the supports are probably the most important players. I agree AA is a top player, and definitely most underrated in Na`Vi. But there are some equally as good supports in China (Dai, Faith, and even Misery on his Chen), so wouldn't say he is outright the best.
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I think lightofheaven is their best support, but AA is definitely up there. Also every player in Na`Vi is amazingly good, its their teamwork though that makes them shine IMO, not the individual players themselves. Individually they may not be as good as the chinese, but Na`Vi's team fights are just executed so well.
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Chuan is still the best. You could argue he's more 4 but he's still the best support. AA is good though.
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Netherlands45349 Posts
Faith is the best
AA is definitely the best support of atleast the Western scene and he can compete with the best of the Asian supports too.
Supports need more love.
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konadora
Singapore66063 Posts
don't forget the DK wardtrap (AA does a lot of sick, important ward traps on that shadow shaman :> ) in game 2 at the battle at the dire tier 1 tower.
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Bearded Elder29902 Posts
Well obvious thing that support players or 4/5th position are underrated by general meaning. But still, Chuan for the win.
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To me it boils down again and again to AA & LoH allowing Dendi/XBOCT to get away with lots of stupid/weird/cool plays, those two guys provide the solid backline for the rest of the team to get fancy on.
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EPT
