N0tail’s Favorite Heroes

Throughout his illustrious Dota 2 career, Johan “n0tail” Sundstein has mastered numerous heroes across different roles. His ability to adapt and excel with various characters has been fundamental to his success as both a player and a leader. This versatility embodies his famous “Everything Can Work” philosophy that became OG’s mantra during their championship runs.

Signature Heroes

Meepo: Micro Control King

When discussing n0tail’s most iconic heroes, Meepo stands at the forefront of his legacy. During his early career, particularly in the Fnatic days, n0tail’s Meepo was feared by teams worldwide. His exceptional micromanagement skills allowed him to control multiple Meepo clones with surgical precision, often dominating the map through simultaneous farming, ganking, and pushing.

What set n0tail’s Meepo apart was his ability to maintain perfect positioning for each clone during hectic teamfights. He would frequently execute perfectly timed Poof combinations to burst down enemy heroes before they could react. His mastery of this high-skill-ceiling hero earned him recognition as one of the best Meepo players in competitive Dota 2 history.

Notable achievements with Meepo include:

Perfect 14-0-12 performance against Alliance at Dreamhack 2013
Game-winning 22-2-9 scoreline against Natus Vincere in StarLadder
Multiple highlight-reel plays showing simultaneous control of all Meepo clones in different map locations

Io (Wisp): The Perfect Support

No hero better represents n0tail’s selfless playstyle than Io (Wisp). As he transitioned to a support role, his Io became legendary for enabling his carries to reach their full potential. N0tail’s understanding of Tether positioning, timely Relocates, and Overcharge efficiency maximized his core players’ effectiveness while minimizing their vulnerability.

During OG’s championship runs, n0tail’s Io was often a first-phase ban by opposing teams. When he did get his hands on the hero, his Relocate ganks and saves frequently turned losing situations into victories. His communication with teammates while playing Io was particularly noteworthy, allowing for split-second decision-making that other teams struggled to match.

Key moments with Io include:

Perfect Relocate saves during critical moments of TI8 grand finals
Game-winning support performance with 24 assists and only 2 deaths against PSG.LGD
Pioneering support Io builds that were later adopted by other professional players

Chen: Forest Master

Chen represents n0tail’s strategic approach to Dota 2. His mastery of this complex support hero showcases his ability to juggle multiple units while maintaining map awareness and team coordination. N0tail’s Chen is characterized by early game aggression, leveraging jungle creeps to secure lane advantages and execute perfectly timed pushes.

What distinguishes n0tail’s Chen is his creative use of different neutral creep abilities. Rather than following conventional wisdom, he would often prioritize unexpected creeps based on specific match situations. His divine favor timing and positioning during teamfights consistently kept his cores alive through the most challenging encounters.

Memorable Chen performances include:

Perfect early game rotations leading to sub-20-minute victory against Team Secret
Innovative creep combinations that surprised even veteran Chen players
Crucial healing and saves during OG’s lower bracket run at TI8

Roles & Evolution

Support Era (Fnatic/Secret)

N0tail began his Dota 2 career primarily as a mid player, but it was his transition to support during his time with Fnatic and Team Secret that first showcased his versatility. During this period, he mastered traditional position 4 and 5 heroes, developing unique approaches to each:

Position 5 Heroes:

Dazzle: His perfectly timed Shallow Graves repeatedly saved carries in crucial moments
Shadow Demon: Creative use of Disruption both defensively and offensively
Crystal Maiden: Maximizing efficiency through jungle farming while maintaining ward coverage

Position 4 Heroes:

Earthshaker: Unexpected positioning for game-changing Echo Slams
Rubick: Legendary spell steals that turned teamfights, especially against ultimate-dependent teams
Enchantress: Early game pressure and lane dominance through creep control

This era established n0tail as one of the most versatile support players, capable of adapting his playstyle to complement any team composition. His willingness to sacrifice personal glory for team success became a hallmark of his support play.

Carry Era (OG)

When n0tail co-founded OG, he surprised many by transitioning to a carry role. This period revealed his deep hero pool and adaptability as he took on position 1 responsibilities. Rather than playing traditional hard carries, n0tail often selected heroes that created space and enabled his teammates:

Position 1 Heroes:

Brewmaster: Using the hero’s split to create chaos in teamfights while his team secured objectives
Lone Druid: Micromanagement skills from his Meepo days transferred perfectly to bear control
Chaos Knight: Aggressive early game presence with support-oriented builds
Lone Druid: Split-pushing and objective control that created space for his mid player

N0tail’s carry era was characterized by selfless play rather than flashy performances. He often sacrificed his farm priority to ensure his mid player could reach key item timings. This team-first approach eventually evolved into his final role as captain and position 5 support during OG’s championship years.

“Everything Can Work”

Meta Impact

Perhaps n0tail’s greatest contribution to Dota 2 extends beyond his individual hero mastery to his philosophy about the game itself. His famous declaration that “Everything Can Work” revolutionized how teams approach drafting and strategy development. Under his leadership, OG repeatedly defied conventional wisdom with unexpected hero selections and unorthodox lane assignments.

This philosophy was most evident during OG’s TI8 and TI9 championship runs, where they employed strategies that other teams considered suboptimal or even detrimental:

Topson’s unconventional mid heroes like Monkey King and Invoker when these heroes were considered weak
Ana’s carry Io that revolutionized the meta and forced first-phase bans
Ceb’s Axe in situations where the hero was considered countered
JerAx’s Earth Spirit when the hero had been nerfed repeatedly
N0tail’s position 5 Chen despite the hero’s reputation for falling off late game

The “Everything Can Work” approach fundamentally changed how teams viewed the hero pool, encouraging experimentation and adaptability rather than rigid adherence to established meta trends. This flexibility gave OG a significant psychological advantage, as opponents struggled to predict and counter their draft strategies.

N0tail’s willingness to trust his teammates’ hero comfort over meta trends created an environment where creativity flourished. The success of this approach—validated by consecutive TI victories—has influenced team dynamics and drafting philosophy throughout the professional Dota 2 scene, cementing n0tail’s legacy beyond his individual hero performances.

His hero selections always embodied this philosophy, showing that with the right team coordination and strategy, any hero could become viable in the competitive environment. This mindset, combined with his mechanical skill and leadership, made n0tail one of the most influential players in Dota 2 history.