TL;DR
- A Chinese resurgence in 2026 may be a real possibility, with the reassembled Xtreme Gaming set to include the return of a couple of fan-favourite veterans.
- Europe is looking as strong as ever, with a reshuffled Tundra Esports making waves in WEU and the updated BetBoom Team looking to prove themselves in EEU.
- One of the more surprising roster shuffles was OG’s entire overhaul from a WEU team to a SEA team, complete with unproven yet talented players.
- Similarly, Virtus.pro swapped out its EEU roster for a roster consisting of veterans from the once-acclaimed NA server.
The 2025 Dota 2 season treated us with some of the best games of all time. After an exciting TI 2025, the post-season saw several roster moves, with the most sought-after rookies trading places with experienced players. With all the major roster shuffles taking place in the Dota 2 offseason, 2026 is looking to be a promising year.
From all the major teams that are currently making waves in the scene, the player trades made by these five Dota 2 teams are going to create significant waves in the 2026 season.
The 5 biggest roster moves of the Dota 2 offseason
Roster shuffles are the norm during every Dota 2 offseason. Doing so keeps the game fresh, offering new player synergies for others to work with, leading to magic or disaster. However, we believe these Dota 2 roster moves will lead to some exciting games in the months to come.
NothingToSay, fy, and xNova join Xtreme Gaming
China has not been the same since the region’s major losses to OG and Team Spirit at TI8 and TI10. The disbanding of several Chinese teams left Xtreme Gaming as the last hope for the Chinese region. After failing to meet expectations again at TI 2025, the Dota 2 team saw another major roster move, shuffling out Xm and XinQ.
This left the door open for the return of several fan-favourites, including the star midlaner NothingToSay, and the support duo of fy and xNova, who took OG to the limit during TI8. With such strong competitors joining Ame once again, Xtreme Gaming is set to bring glory to China.
Pure and Ari join Tundra Esports
Tundra Esports has been the pride of WEU since its TI11 championship run in 2022. Since then, the team has consistently delivered strong results, including four consecutive BLAST Slam tournament wins, despite several roster shuffles and temporary stand-ins. The current iteration of Tundra includes BetBoom’s old carry, Pure, and upcoming position four star, Ari.
Pure returned to Tundra after a less-than-successful run in BetBoom Team, replacing Crystallis, while Ari took over Saksa’s role as position four. These Dota 2 player trades and the team’s strong showing towards the end of 2025 hint at a successful 2026 season to come.
OG gets a complete roster overhaul
Two-time TI champions OG Esports has been on a downward trajectory since its glory days at TI8 and TI9. After a minor resurgence in 2022, the team has showcased less-than-optimal results for several years, often failing to qualify for major tournaments. However, towards the end of 2025, OG dropped its entire EU roster in favor of a fresh SEA lineup.
The current OG lineup consists of SEA veterans, Yopaj-, TIMS, and skem, joined by the promising young players Natsumi and Nikko. This Dota 2 roster move could be the one that OG needs to recapture the big one in 2026.
Kiritych joins BetBoom Team
BetBoom Team has been a mainstay in the Dota 2 pro scene since 2022. Throughout its lifespan, the team’s roster has featured several top EU names, including TORONTOTOKYO, Pure, and Nightfall. After Pure jumped ship to Tundra Esports, the rising EEU star carry player, Kiritych, joined the team towards the end of 2025, marking a new era for the team.
After showing extreme proficiency in the carry role on several EEU teams, Kiritych’s Dota 2 roster move to BetBoom Team might just be what the team needs to finally establish itself as a serious contender for TI 2026.
Fly, Abed, Saberlight, and Timado join Virtus.pro
Virtus.pro, or VP, is one of the oldest esports teams in Dota 2 history, with origins dating back to 2003. The team has captured multiple Dota 2 titles over its 20+ year history, fielding a variety of rosters across Europe. The post-TI 2025 roster shuffle saw Fly, Abed, and Saberlight, key members of the old EG roster, join the Russian organization in a major Dota 2 roster move.
With the addition of Timado and coach BuLba joining the only remaining player, Hellscream, the new VP roster is off to a strong start in 2026, already making waves during the DreamLeague Season 28 qualifiers. Will the ex-NA roster achieve its goal of winning TI in 2026?
Honourable mention: NAVI
Apart from these five major roster shakeups, one notable Dota 2 roster move could also surprise us going forward: the original TI-winning organization, NAVI. The team’s devastating loss to Alliance at TI3 eventually led to a decline in performance, culminating in the organization’s final withdrawal from major tournaments.
After a minor resurgence in 2024, the organization finally struck gold with its NAVI Junior roster. The entire squad was promoted to the main NAVI roster in 2025 and has thrived under Zayac’s leadership. The team has scored upset victories over strong teams like MOUZ and Yakult Brothers towards the end of 2025. The young squad is only getting better over time.
FAQs
When did the 2026 Dota 2 transfer window open and close?
Dota 2 does not have a traditional transfer window like other esports. Players are subject to their team contracts and may be traded or released at any time during the year.
What regions had the biggest roster shakeups?
Europe has seen the largest roster shakeups towards the end of 2025, with teams shuffling in players from other regions.
Why do roster moves matter so much in Dota 2?
Roster moves matter a lot in Dota 2 because teams have to learn how to adapt to each player’s individual strength, which can be difficult when players move from team to team.
Did any superteams form for the 2026 Dota 2 season?
China’s Xtreme Gaming is as close to a superteam as possible, comprising four multiple TI grand finalists.
The post 5 major Dota 2 roster moves that will impact the 2026 season appeared first on Esports Insider.
