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Strafe Recommends: Ceb Dissects
Part of being a Dota 2 player is finding as many good sources of in-game knowledge as possible — and to help with that, we’re starting a new series of articles called Strafe Recommends. Our goal is to highlight interesting content creators, series, and channels you might not yet know about.
To kick things off, we bring you none other than two-time TI champion Sébastien Debs, better known as Ceb. He launched a video series earlier this year, called “Ceb Dissects”, where he breaks down the finer details of heroes when played by top-tier pro players. It’s a great opportunity to learn new concepts and insights straight from a champion’s perspective.
Strafe Recommends: Dota 2 by Ceb's POV
This series already has plenty of content organized into a playlist on Ceb’s YouTube channel. There are 18 videos so far, and we’ll briefly discuss the most recent additions. One of the highlights is a deeper look at how Neta "33" Shapira used Helm of the Dominator during TI 2025.
Ceb provides clear, straightforward explanations about why this item became so popular. For example, he notes how gaining 4 armor and 4 HP regeneration helps players stay in lane longer. This sustain give you time to farm safely and build your game up.
Beyond the item’s stats, Ceb also explains how the dominated creep opens new possibilities — from tanking neutral camps and lane creeps to assisting with last hits or tower pressure. Around the 03:53 mark, he emphasizes a key point: it’s not about which creep you pick, but how efficiently you use it. This mirrors the old mindset behind Hand of Midas efficiency.
Ame's Juggernaut on TI 2025
Another episode focuses on Wang "Ame" Chunyu and his Juggernaut in the TI 2025 Grand Finals. Around 02:52, Ceb comments on the criticism Ame received for his item build. He explains that the build itself wasn’t wrong — but it might have been more effective with a few adjustments, such as choosing Diffusal Blade or Aghanim’s Scepter.
Shortly after, Ceb elaborates on why Diffusal Blade would’ve offered far more value against Medusa. By burning her mana, Juggernaut essentially doubles or triples his effective damage output. Ceb even runs quick calculations to illustrate how impactful that small itemization decision could have been.
Malr1ne and the Sand King Domination
In this next video, Ceb highlights Stanislav "Malr1ne" Potorak and his stellar performance on Sand King. At 01:40, he breaks down one of Team Falcons’ most powerful combos at The International: Sand King plus Hoodwink.
With Aghanim’s Shard and Scepter amplifying SK’s magical burst and Hoodwink’s Boomerang shard adding 25% more damage (20% after patch 7.39e), the pair became a deadly nuke combo.
Ceb also drops an interesting piece of trivia: Malr1ne picked nearly every rune possible up until the 20-minute mark. While rune control is fundamental for any midlaner, this is a perfect reminder of just how big an impact efficient rune play can have at the highest levels.
Wisper: An Old Friend Plays Like an Older Friend
The most recent episode features Adrián "Wisper" Dobles on midlane Queen of Pain, with Ceb drawing comparisons to Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen. Around 2:25, he discusses the well-known synergy between QoP’s innate ability, her Bondage facet and Blademail, which reflects massive amounts of damage while simultaneously sustaining the hero through lifesteal.
About five minutes later, Ceb talks about the importance of lane pressure. By constantly pushing waves, Wisper keeps enemy towers under pressure, farms efficiently, and — crucially — secures rune control for his team. There’s even an on-screen note during the clip pointing out Wisper’s lane discipline while Ceb elaborates on its significance.
Finally, at 11:57, Ceb wraps up by praising Wisper’s aggressive midlane style and its resemblance to Topson’s unique approach. It is also important to note how Elvis "Scofield" Peña, Wisper’s former lane partner, was a key enabler during the early game.
Closing Thoughts
Ceb first won The International 2018 with OG, and many people called it a fluke. A year later, OG returned to prove them wrong. Today, even though Ceb no longer plays on the main stage, his experience and insight remain invaluable to the Dota 2 community.
If you want to dive deeper into his thought process and improve your own gameplay, check out Ceb’s official YouTube channel. And if you’re looking for more recommendations like this, stay tuned for the next installment of Strafe Recommends in our Dota 2 news section — where we highlight even more high-quality content that can help elevate your play!
Featured Image Source: YouTube (@cebdota)
