The International 11 (TI11) concluded with Tundra Esports’ overwhelming success. As Tundra’s namesake gets immortalized as TI11 Champions, fans rushed to credit the heroes Tundra picked.

Yet, it turns out Tundra played different heroes in every match of the grand finals, yet they had a recurring item purchase across all matches.

Wraith Pact was a must-have in every TI11 match!

Turns out the Wraith Pact item, often purchased by a team’s offlane player is the key to every successful Tundra Esports match. Stats-wise, the Wraith Pact features the passive aura from Vladmir’s Offering, which grants 24% lifesteal, 18% bonus damage, 2 mana regen, and 3 armor to nearby allies.

While these are already great benefits to have, the gamechanger is its active skill, called Wraith’s Reprisal, which summons a totem. The totem provides aura buffs, such as reducing ALL enemy damage by 30%, and deals 30 damage per second.

Damage mitigation at its finest

The damage mitigation mechanic in Dota 2 isn’t exactly new. Traditionally, we have Pipe of Insight to mitigate magic damage or Crimson Witness for physical damage.

Then, there’s Wraith Pact, which does both, at only 4050 gold, and still provides more than the two former items combined. Sure, Tundra practically rushed this fantastic item every match, but it’s hysterical to watch both teams purchase the same item to nullify one another.

Not to mention that Wraith’s Reprisal’s damage mitigation effects stacks with other forms of damage mitigation. Top it up with Pipe of Insight, which blocks 400 magic damage, and Leshrac is not dealing any damage. Given how much of a glass cannon Leshrac is and requires lifesteal for survival, this makes these typically strong AOE-damage heroes, obsolete.

Coupled with the totem’s durability, which lasts 25 seconds, only 60 seconds cooldown and requires 4 hero attacks to destroy, the Wraith Pact totem is not an easy target to get rid off during a full-blown team fight.

Why Team Secret picked Leshrac thrice?

Looking back at TI11 Grand Finals, Team Secret’s draft decision to pick Leshrac every match just seemed unreasonable. Well, at least before Purge explained the math. In hindsight, it was more on Wraith Pact’s impact on the game than it was Leshrac’s fault. After all, Leshrac is still packs heavy damage output, alongside Bloodstone’s juicy lifesteal.

Perhaps it was Tundra’s wise and deceiving drafts that diverged the attention off Wraith Pact as a game-winning item. If there’s a similarity to call out about Tundra’s drafts, it is that they pick offlane heroes with efficient farming skills, such as Tidehunter, Beastmaster, and even Visage. These heroes farm generally quick in early game to rush Vladmir’s Offering first to sweep the jungle stacks.

Additionally, Wraith Pact’s indirect impact is that it favors the winning team by providing sustainability in team fights. The opposing team will not have enough damage output to turn around a clash or high-ground push in most scenarios. Especially when there’s a counter-initiator on the opposing team, like Tidehunter and Beastmaster.

The Wraith Pact Nerf is coming!

We did predict the nerf on Wraith Pact will come shortly, but Icefrog would rather celebrate Diretide first. The patch will likely come before the next DPC season, so don’t expect it before Christmas.

Until then, enjoy winning MMR by purchasing this handy all-in-one item every match while it lasts.