Azure Ray, one of the favorite teams at The International 2023, faced an unexpected setback during their clash against Thunder Awaken. A game glitch left one of their key players, Somnus, completely immobilized, directly affecting the course of the match. Let’s take a closer look at what happened.
The Incident with Earth Spirit
At the 37th minute of the game, fans and players noticed an unusual behavior in one of the game’s most dynamic heroes, Earth Spirit. Lu “Somnus” Yao, controlling this character, tried to execute an offensive maneuver using the Rolling Boulder ability. However, things didn’t go as planned.
The Fatal Combination: Rolling Boulder and Hitch a Ride
The problem arose when Somnus, while using Rolling Boulder, was joined by Centaur Warrunner with the Hitch a Ride ability. This combination, instead of enhancing the attack, resulted in a game error. Somnus’s character lost all ability to move, but, surprisingly, also became invulnerable.
Such errors are uncommon in a tournament of TI12’s magnitude. But what makes this incident even more significant is that this error was known for months.
The Impact on Azure Ray
The glitch did not only affect Somnus’s gameplay, but it left Azure Ray at a numerical disadvantage for precious seconds of the game. In a tournament where every second counts and where coordination and strategy are vital, losing a player, even temporarily, can change the fate of the match.
In the official match video, the exact moment of the error can be clearly seen, causing a stir among the Dota2 esports community.
Constant Errors
Although such errors can be frustrating for both players and fans, it’s essential to remember that no game is free from flaws. It’s crucial for teams to be prepared to adapt to any situation and for developers to take note to ensure a smoother gaming experience in the future. The hope is that errors like the one Azure Ray experienced can be fixed soon to ensure a clean and fair game for all.