Strafe Recommends: KheZu

We are back with the Strafe Recommends series, and 2026 starts with Maurice “KheZu” Gutmann and his excellent YouTube channel, also called KheZu. He began his professional career as a Heroes of Newerth (HoN) player. His first notable team was DmSn/KD, where he played alongside another well-known Dota 2 name: Aydin “iNSaNiA” Sarkohi.

KheZu is the second highest-earning HoN player of all time, only behind iNSaNiA. When HoN lost official support, he transitioned to Dota 2. He was soon revealed as a promising offlaner by Troels Lyngholt “syndereN” Nielsen while playing for No Diggity. Later in his career, KheZu also had two brief coaching stints: one with Quincy Crew in 2021 and another with OG in 2024 and 2025.

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KheZu and the Xtreme Gaming Supports

One of KheZu’s most memorable recent videos, at least for me, is a short 1:51 breakdown where he explains a base defense that allowed Xtreme Gaming to turn a game against Team Falcons. Maurice goes into detail on how both XG supports played their roles perfectly to keep Wang “Ame” Chunyu alive.

Despite its short length, this video is packed with information that many viewers completely missed while watching it live. When I finished watching it for the first time, I honestly felt like a kid playing with legos rather than a Dota 2 player. Yap “xNova” Jian Wei saves Ame repeatedly within a matter of seconds, completely turning the fight and the game against Falcons.

Dota Unspoken: Talking to Legends of Past and Present

Another great reason to watch KheZu’s YouTube channel is the Dota Unspoken series. In this format KheZu interviews legendary Dota 2 players and talks about their past, their present and most importantly, the hardest moments of their careers.

So far, the series has eight episodes featuring Faith_bian, Aui_2000, Collapse, xNova, Topson, MATUMBAMAN, Cr1t and a special two-part interview with Puppey. Each episode uncovers a new behind-the-scenes story from professional Dota 2 and lets you get to know some of the most famous players on the planet on a deeper level.

5 Pro Plays That You Missed

Another series worth your time is "5 Pro Plays That You Missed", which currently has two episodes. KheZu knows that attention to detail is one of his greatest strengths, and this series fully leans into it. He compiles short clips into quick videos where he explains high-level decisions and teaches valuable lessons that are easy to overlook.

In the second episode, he shows in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds how 33 uses Iron Branches in a smart way, how Whitemon smokes to save bzm at the last possible moment, how Boxi uses Blood Grenade to manipulate creep aggro, how Yatoro uses Psionic Traps to bypass Pugna’s Decrepify, and how Miposhka secures a free core kill using just a smoke and controlled units.

Macro Knowledge: Skills That Apply to Any Role

While individual mechanical skill and micro-management are important, Dota 2 macro knowledge is just as crucial. Several of KheZu’s videos focus on how teams and players can use timings, map movement and positioning to gain an advantage.

In a six-minute video, Maurice summarizes how to effectively use:

• Outposts
• Twin Gates
• Wards
• Bluffing
• Smoke
• Pincer movements

He covers all of these concepts in quick succession, using professional matches as examples. Sometimes, he even combines multiple concepts in a single scenario. These tools allow teams to expand map control and pressure the enemy without necessarily getting kills. Watching through his eyes, it almost feels magical to see how far ahead top teams are thinking.

Offlane Tips: Learn From Them All

Finally, KheZu offers several offlane-focused videos filled with insights from an experienced offlaner. These tips help you improve directly in the offlane role, but they are also valuable for carries, supports and mid players. Understanding what an offlaner should be doing makes it much easier to play against one.

In the video below, KheZu explains laning concepts that may seem simple at first glance. Many players either do not fully understand them or copy what pros do without knowing why it works. He breaks down each concept in detail and explains the reasoning behind it, helping you level up your game in the process.

Closing Thoughts

Even though KheZu never made it into the exclusive group of professional players who reached The International main stage as a competitor, his deep understanding of Dota 2 is undeniable. He has an exceptional grasp of the game’s smaller details, explains complex concepts in an easy-to-understand way, and offers what feels like free coaching through his YouTube channel.

KheZu’s knowledge is a rare talent, and fortunately for us, it is available at the click of a few buttons. If you want to stay up to date with the latest hero builds, tournament coverage, roster changes, and more, make sure to check the news section on the Strafe website!

Featured Image Source: Twitter (@KheZu)