S4, Alliance’s captain, expressed his feelings on the removal of the Necronomicon item from the game in patch 7.29. After the series win over Team Liquid in the EU 2021 DPC Season 2: Upper Division, Gustav “s4” Magnusson stated that he was quite happy with the exit of Necronomicon from the game talking about how it used to be too strong to handle whenever it was off cooldown. This was quite intriguing to hear, considering he purchased the item frequently as an offlaner. In addition, S4 also mentioned the lessons Alliance learned after their disappointing defeat at the Singapore Major and what they intend on achieving at the ongoing Regional League.
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S4 talks about Necronomicon’s removal, Singapore Major defeat, and DPC S2 goals
Necronomicon was removed from the game in patch 7.29 after being one of the most formidable items for a long time. While most community members and professional players were elated with this change, some offlane players did not enjoy it. It was interesting to hear s4, who himself is an offlaner, expressing his delight with the removal of the item.
“I am actually pretty happy. It’s not fun even when you are playing with Necro (Necronomicon). It’s not really fun, you know. It’s kind of abusing. You are strong every cooldown and then you have to wait, and then you are strong. Like nobody can touch you. In a way, it was breaking the game, like you were too strong for people to handle. You have to wait for like 15 minutes so that you can actually fight these small minions. I am kind of happy. It’s more fun to play without it.”
S4 then answered a question in the post-match winners’ interview about the team’s loss at the Singapore Major. There was nothing to do besides just improving, S4 mentioned.
“I think it was our first LAN together, and it was a great start (chuckles). I think we took it kind of harsh, we got the last place, but for us, it is like a test going forward. Like if we can handle that, we can just move forward and improve. From the bottom, what else are we going to do? Just improve.
Of course, that part is pretty good. We got second in the qualifiers (the EU Regional League). It feels a bit unfair since some teams that did really well at the Major probably didn’t. I mean, it is what it is. We take it.”
Alliance had gone into the Major as one of the toughest EU teams to beat but had a disastrous group stage. They became the only team that got knocked out of the tournament in the group stage.
S4 feels that Alliance perform best when they play from their bootcamp. Now, for the second Regional League, S4 and Alliance aim to replicate their performance from the initial season and perhaps look to beat the EU Raidboss, Team Secret.
“The plan (bootcamp plans) is the last qualifier was kind of the best Dota that we have been playing. So, we are just going to go back and do this. I mean, do the same, maybe go for the top one slot this time around. Beat Secret, I know it’s going to be tough. I feel like we play the best when we are here (in bootcamp). The next Major, we are going to have to improve, you know.”
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Alliance’s next matchup against a resurgent OG squad in the EU 2021 DPC Season 2: Upper Division is scheduled for April 21, 2021.