BLAST Slam VIII Dota 2 — Pick & Ban Stats & Results

BLAST Slam VIII Dota 2 pick & ban stats — most picked and banned heroes, contest and win rates — plus results, format and the Malta playoffs.

BLAST Slam VIII runs September 29 – October 11, 2026 for $750,000. Through October 3, 2026 (60 games), Bounty Hunter was the most contested hero (93.3% of drafts), Hoodwink the most picked (33) and Bounty Hunter the most banned (52). The six-team playoffs are October 8–11 at BLAST Arena Studios in Malta.

Dates

Sep 29 – Oct 11, 2026

Playoffs

BLAST Arena Studios, Malta (Oct 8–11)

Teams

16 (6 reach the LAN)

Prize pool

$750,000

BLAST Slam VIII pick & ban stats

Updated from every finished game while the event runs — most picked, most banned, contest rates, and each hero's actual record when picked. Win rate here is tournament results, not a model output.

Games analyzed

Heroes contested

93 of 127

First-pick win rate

56.7%

Radiant win rate

50%

#
1	Bounty Hunter	4	52	56	93.3%	4–0	100%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing BETBOOM TEAM×6 GamerLegion×6 Team Nemesis×6 Aurora Gaming×5 OG×5
2	Dark Willow	32	23	55	91.7%	17–15	53.1%
	Picked most by Aurora Gaming×5 3–2 BETBOOM TEAM×4 1–3 Team Nemesis×4 1–3 1win×3 2–1 GamerLegion×3 2–1 Banned when facing LGD Gaming×6 GamerLegion×3 Level UP esports×3 PARIVISION×3 Team Liquid×2
3	Enigma	4	49	53	88.3%	4–0	100%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing Team Nemesis×8 Xtreme Gaming×8 Aurora Gaming×6 GamerLegion×6 BETBOOM TEAM×4
4	Hoodwink	33	17	50	83.3%	14–19	42.4%
	Picked most by 1win×4 3–1 BETBOOM TEAM×4 3–1 Team Liquid×4 1–3 Yakult Brothers×4 1–3 Team Spirit×3 3–0 Banned when facing Team Spirit×4 MOUZ×3 Aurora Gaming×2 LGD Gaming×2 Natus Vincere×2
5	Nature's Prophet	20	30	50	83.3%	10–10	50%
	Picked most by 1win×5 2–3 LGD Gaming×3 2–1 Xtreme Gaming×3 1–2 Team Spirit×2 2–0 Aurora Gaming×2 1–1 Banned when facing OG×6 Team Liquid×6 Team Nemesis×5 GamerLegion×3 MOUZ×3
6	Brewmaster	17	33	50	83.3%	9–8	52.9%
	Picked most by OG×4 2–2 PARIVISION×3 3–0 Yakult Brothers×2 1–1 Level UP esports×2 0–2 Banned when facing 1win×7 GamerLegion×7 Xtreme Gaming×6 OG×3 Team Liquid×3
7	Lone Druid	10	39	49	81.7%	6–4	60%
	Picked most by Team Yandex×2 2–0 BETBOOM TEAM×2 0–2 Banned when facing LGD Gaming×8 1win×7 Aurora Gaming×5 Natus Vincere×5 PARIVISION×3
8	Doom	14	32	46	76.7%	5–9	35.7%
	Picked most by LGD Gaming×2 1–1 Natus Vincere×2 1–1 Xtreme Gaming×2 1–1 1win×2 0–2 Banned when facing LGD Gaming×6 1win×4 Yakult Brothers×4 Aurora Gaming×3 OG×3
9	Ember Spirit	19	25	44	73.3%	6–13	31.6%
	Picked most by Team Liquid×3 1–2 1win×2 1–1 Aurora Gaming×2 1–1 Level UP esports×2 0–2 MOUZ×2 0–2 Banned when facing 1win×4 Team Liquid×3 Xtreme Gaming×3 Yakult Brothers×3 LGD Gaming×2
10	Earth Spirit	16	23	39	65%	10–6	62.5%
	Picked most by Team Spirit×2 2–0 GamerLegion×2 1–1 Team Liquid×2 1–1 Xtreme Gaming×2 1–1 Banned when facing Team Liquid×4 GamerLegion×3 LGD Gaming×3 Team Nemesis×3 Team Yandex×2
11	Necrophos	13	24	37	61.7%	5–8	38.5%
	Picked most by LGD Gaming×5 2–3 Team Yandex×2 1–1 Banned when facing Aurora Gaming×6 LGD Gaming×4 Team Yandex×4 OG×3 1win×2
12	Timbersaw	13	22	35	58.3%	4–9	30.8%
	Picked most by Team Nemesis×5 2–3 Xtreme Gaming×2 0–2 Banned when facing Yakult Brothers×5 Team Liquid×3 Xtreme Gaming×3 LGD Gaming×2 Team Nemesis×2
13	Lifestealer	8	27	35	58.3%	4–4	50%
	Picked most by Aurora Gaming×2 1–1 Natus Vincere×2 1–1 Banned when facing 1win×5 BETBOOM TEAM×4 LGD Gaming×4 Team Spirit×3 Yakult Brothers×3
14	Techies	21	11	32	53.3%	10–11	47.6%
	Picked most by OG×6 3–3 Level UP esports×4 0–4 PARIVISION×3 3–0 Team Spirit×2 2–0 Team Nemesis×2 1–1 Banned when facing OG×3 Team Spirit×3
15	Winter Wyvern	15	17	32	53.3%	5–10	33.3%
	Picked most by LGD Gaming×4 1–3 GamerLegion×3 1–2 Team Spirit×2 1–1 Yakult Brothers×2 0–2 Banned when facing BETBOOM TEAM×4 Team Yandex×4 Level UP esports×3 LGD Gaming×2 Team Spirit×2
16	Largo	9	23	32	53.3%	6–3	66.7%
	Picked most by 1win×3 3–0 GamerLegion×2 1–1 Team Liquid×2 1–1 Banned when facing Team Liquid×6 1win×5 Xtreme Gaming×3 Aurora Gaming×2 Level UP esports×2
17	Pangolier	19	11	30	50%	10–9	52.6%
	Picked most by LGD Gaming×3 2–1 Team Spirit×3 2–1 OG×3 1–2 PARIVISION×2 2–0 Natus Vincere×2 1–1 Banned when facing LGD Gaming×5
18	Windranger	16	13	29	48.3%	8–8	50%
	Picked most by 1win×3 2–1 GamerLegion×3 2–1 Team Liquid×2 2–0 Team Yandex×2 2–0 LGD Gaming×2 0–2 Banned when facing LGD Gaming×4 Team Liquid×3 Aurora Gaming×2 Team Spirit×2
19	Terrorblade	8	21	29	48.3%	3–5	37.5%
	Picked most by Natus Vincere×2 1–1 Banned when facing Natus Vincere×4 Team Spirit×4 1win×2 LGD Gaming×2 Xtreme Gaming×2
20	Tiny	15	12	27	45%	7–8	46.7%
	Picked most by Team Nemesis×3 2–1 BETBOOM TEAM×2 1–1 OG×2 1–1 Team Liquid×2 1–1 Banned when facing Team Nemesis×5 OG×2
21	Witch Doctor	14	13	27	45%	8–6	57.1%
	Picked most by BETBOOM TEAM×2 1–1 Team Liquid×2 1–1 Team Nemesis×2 1–1 Team Yandex×2 1–1 Banned when facing Natus Vincere×4 Team Yandex×4
22	Bane	13	13	26	43.3%	6–7	46.2%
	Picked most by Natus Vincere×3 2–1 BETBOOM TEAM×2 1–1 MOUZ×2 0–2 Banned when facing Team Spirit×4 BETBOOM TEAM×3 PARIVISION×2 Xtreme Gaming×2
23	Sven	11	15	26	43.3%	7–4	63.6%
	Picked most by OG×3 3–0 GamerLegion×3 2–1 Banned when facing GamerLegion×4 Aurora Gaming×2 LGD Gaming×2 Team Nemesis×2
24	Dark Seer	8	17	25	41.7%	5–3	62.5%
	Picked most by Team Spirit×2 2–0 Banned when facing Xtreme Gaming×7 OG×2 Team Nemesis×2
25	Centaur Warrunner	10	14	24	40%	5–5	50%
	Picked most by LGD Gaming×2 1–1 OG×2 1–1 1win×2 0–2 Banned when facing LGD Gaming×2 MOUZ×2 Team Spirit×2 Xtreme Gaming×2
26	Dragon Knight	5	19	24	40%	3–2	60%
	Picked most by Team Liquid×3 1–2 Banned when facing OG×11 Team Nemesis×3 Team Spirit×2
27	Mirana	14	9	23	38.3%	5–9	35.7%
	Picked most by GamerLegion×5 3–2 Xtreme Gaming×2 1–1 Natus Vincere×2 0–2 Banned when facing Xtreme Gaming×3 Yakult Brothers×3
28	Invoker	9	14	23	38.3%	6–3	66.7%
	Picked most by GamerLegion×3 2–1 OG×2 2–0 Team Yandex×2 1–1 Banned when facing 1win×6 OG×3 Natus Vincere×2
29	Kez	4	19	23	38.3%	2–2	50%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing Natus Vincere×6 Team Yandex×3 Team Liquid×2 Team Spirit×2
30	Outworld Destroyer	7	15	22	36.7%	4–3	57.1%
	Picked most by Aurora Gaming×2 2–0 GamerLegion×2 1–1 Banned when facing OG×9 GamerLegion×5
31	Dazzle	9	12	21	35%	6–3	66.7%
	Picked most by LGD Gaming×3 2–1 1win×2 1–1 Banned when facing 1win×3 Team Yandex×3 GamerLegion×2
32	Slark	5	16	21	35%	4–1	80%
	Picked most by Team Spirit×2 2–0 Banned when facing 1win×3 Aurora Gaming×3 LGD Gaming×2 Team Nemesis×2
33	Keeper of the Light	3	18	21	35%	3–0	100%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing BETBOOM TEAM×8 OG×3 PARIVISION×3 1win×2 Xtreme Gaming×2
34	Io	2	15	17	28.3%	2–0	100%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing BETBOOM TEAM×6 PARIVISION×6
35	Rubick	15	1	16	26.7%	7–8	46.7%
	Picked most by PARIVISION×4 4–0 Team Yandex×2 1–1 Xtreme Gaming×2 1–1 Level UP esports×2 0–2 Banned when facing No repeat bans against one team.
36	Lycan	8	7	15	25%	4–4	50%
	Picked most by Team Spirit×2 2–0 Aurora Gaming×2 1–1 BETBOOM TEAM×2 1–1 Banned when facing BETBOOM TEAM×2
37	Ursa	6	9	15	25%	2–4	33.3%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing Natus Vincere×4
38	Lina	8	6	14	23.3%	4–4	50%
	Picked most by Team Nemesis×3 2–1 Natus Vincere×2 1–1 Banned when facing BETBOOM TEAM×3 Natus Vincere×3
39	Dawnbreaker	6	7	13	21.7%	2–4	33.3%
	Picked most by Team Spirit×3 1–2 Banned when facing Team Spirit×2 Yakult Brothers×2
40	Storm Spirit	9	2	11	18.3%	3–6	33.3%
	Picked most by LGD Gaming×4 3–1 Yakult Brothers×2 0–2 Banned when facing No repeat bans against one team.
41	Nyx Assassin	5	6	11	18.3%	4–1	80%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing Team Spirit×3
42	Huskar	3	8	11	18.3%	2–1	66.7%
	Picked most by Team Yandex×3 2–1 Banned when facing Team Yandex×4
43	Monkey King	7	3	10	16.7%	5–2	71.4%
	Picked most by Team Yandex×3 2–1 Xtreme Gaming×2 2–0 Banned when facing OG×2
44	Puck	5	5	10	16.7%	2–3	40%
	Picked most by Yakult Brothers×2 0–2 Banned when facing Team Liquid×2 Xtreme Gaming×2
45	Clinkz	4	5	9	15%	0–4	0%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing Team Spirit×2
46	Axe	4	4	8	13.3%	1–3	25%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing LGD Gaming×2
47	Phantom Lancer	4	4	8	13.3%	2–2	50%
	Picked most by No team picked it twice. Banned when facing Xtreme Gaming×2
48	Clockwerk	5	2	7	11.7%	4–1	80%
49	Void Spirit	5	2	7	11.7%	1–4	20%
50	Enchantress	4	3	7	11.7%	3–1	75%
51	Gyrocopter	4	3	7	11.7%	3–1	75%
52	Lion	4	3	7	11.7%	2–2	50%
53	Viper	3	4	7	11.7%	2–1	66.7%
54	Jakiro	5	1	6	10%	2–3	40%
55	Luna	4	2	6	10%	3–1	75%
56	Underlord	2	4	6	10%	1–1	50%
57	Beastmaster	1	5	6	10%	0–1	0%
58	Naga Siren	0	6	6	10%	0–0	—
59	Undying	2	3	5	8.3%	0–2	0%
60	Phoenix	4	0	4	6.7%	2–2	50%
61	Templar Assassin	3	1	4	6.7%	2–1	66.7%
62	Batrider	2	2	4	6.7%	1–1	50%
63	Pudge	2	2	4	6.7%	1–1	50%
64	Muerta	3	0	3	5%	1–2	33.3%
65	Ringmaster	3	0	3	5%	2–1	66.7%
66	Slardar	3	0	3	5%	2–1	66.7%
67	Tusk	3	0	3	5%	0–3	0%
68	Anti-Mage	2	1	3	5%	2–0	100%
69	Disruptor	2	1	3	5%	0–2	0%
70	Earthshaker	2	1	3	5%	1–1	50%
71	Shadow Fiend	2	1	3	5%	1–1	50%
72	Tidehunter	2	1	3	5%	2–0	100%
73	Crystal Maiden	1	2	3	5%	0–1	0%
74	Snapfire	1	2	3	5%	1–0	100%
75	Spirit Breaker	1	2	3	5%	0–1	0%
76	Death Prophet	2	0	2	3.3%	1–1	50%
77	Grimstroke	2	0	2	3.3%	0–2	0%
78	Lich	2	0	2	3.3%	1–1	50%
79	Sand King	2	0	2	3.3%	2–0	100%
80	Silencer	2	0	2	3.3%	1–1	50%
81	Skywrath Mage	2	0	2	3.3%	2–0	100%
82	Bristleback	1	1	2	3.3%	0–1	0%
83	Meepo	1	1	2	3.3%	1–0	100%
84	Night Stalker	0	2	2	3.3%	0–0	—
85	Alchemist	1	0	1	1.7%	0–1	0%
86	Ancient Apparition	1	0	1	1.7%	1–0	100%
87	Bloodseeker	1	0	1	1.7%	0–1	0%
88	Chaos Knight	1	0	1	1.7%	0–1	0%
89	Troll Warlord	1	0	1	1.7%	0–1	0%
90	Warlock	1	0	1	1.7%	0–1	0%
91	Zeus	1	0	1	1.7%	1–0	100%
92	Sniper	0	1	1	1.7%	0–0	—
93	Weaver	0	1	1	1.7%	0–0	—

Computed from the official drafts of all 60 recorded games (via the OpenDota API). Contest rate = (picks + bans) / games. Win rate is the hero's record when picked, not a model output. Click a hero row (chevron) for its per-team pick and ban-faced splits.

Most respected heroes — repeat bans against one team

How often opponents banned a hero specifically in games against one team. Whether a ban is targeted or just a meta ban is for you to judge — these are the raw repeat cases.

Dragon Knightvs OG logo

OG×11

Outworld Destroyervs OG logo

OG×9

Enigmavs

Xtreme Gaming×8

Enigmavs

Team Nemesis×8

Keeper of the Lightvs BETBOOM TEAM logo

BETBOOM TEAM×8

Lone Druidvs LGD Gaming logo

LGD Gaming×8

Brewmastervs GamerLegion logo

GamerLegion×7

Brewmastervs 1win logo

1win×7

Dark Seervs Xtreme Gaming logo

Xtreme Gaming×7

Lone Druidvs 1win logo

1win×7

Most-picked heroes per team at BLAST Slam VIII

LGD Gaming

Necrophos×5 2–3
Storm Spirit×4 3–1
Winter Wyvern×4 1–3
Dazzle×3 2–1
Nature's Prophet×3 2–1

Techies×6 3–3
Gyrocopter×4 3–1
Brewmaster×4 2–2
Sven×3 3–0
Dark Willow×3 2–1

1win

Nature's Prophet×5 2–3
Hoodwink×4 3–1
Largo×3 3–0
Dark Willow×3 2–1
Windranger×3 2–1

GamerLegion

Mirana×5 3–2
Dark Willow×3 2–1
Invoker×3 2–1
Sven×3 2–1
Windranger×3 2–1

BETBOOM TEAM

Hoodwink×4 3–1
Dark Willow×4 1–3
Muerta×3 1–2
Bane×2 1–1
Lycan×2 1–1

Team Liquid

Hoodwink×4 1–3
Dragon Knight×3 1–2
Ember Spirit×3 1–2
Windranger×2 2–0
Batrider×2 1–1

Team Nemesis

Timbersaw×5 2–3
Dark Willow×4 1–3
Clockwerk×3 2–1
Lina×3 2–1
Tiny×3 2–1

Team Spirit

Hoodwink×3 3–0
Pangolier×3 2–1
Dawnbreaker×3 1–2
Dark Seer×2 2–0
Earth Spirit×2 2–0

Xtreme Gaming

Nature's Prophet×3 1–2
Enchantress×2 2–0
Monkey King×2 2–0
Doom×2 1–1
Earth Spirit×2 1–1

Aurora Gaming

Dark Willow×5 3–2
Phoenix×4 2–2
Jakiro×2 2–0
Outworld Destroyer×2 2–0
Ember Spirit×2 1–1

Team Yandex

Huskar×3 2–1
Monkey King×3 2–1
Lone Druid×2 2–0
Windranger×2 2–0
Invoker×2 1–1

Natus Vincere

Bane×3 2–1
Dark Willow×2 2–0
Doom×2 1–1
Lifestealer×2 1–1
Lina×2 1–1

PARIVISION

Rubick×4 4–0
Brewmaster×3 3–0
Techies×3 3–0
Pangolier×2 2–0
Anti-Mage×1 1–0

Yakult Brothers

Hoodwink×4 1–3
Brewmaster×2 1–1
Puck×2 0–2
Storm Spirit×2 0–2
Winter Wyvern×2 0–2

Level UP esports

Techies×4 0–4
Brewmaster×2 0–2
Ember Spirit×2 0–2
Hoodwink×2 0–2
Rubick×2 0–2

MOUZ

Bane×2 0–2
Dark Willow×2 0–2
Ember Spirit×2 0–2
Brewmaster×1 0–1
Clinkz×1 0–1

Results & standings

Group stage series records (September 29 – October 2)

#	Team	Series W–L
1	PARIVISION	2–0
2	Team Yandex	2–0
3	Aurora Gaming	2–0
4	Team Spirit	2–0
5	GamerLegion	2–1
6	OG	2–1
7	1win	2–1
8	LGD Gaming	2–1
9	Xtreme Gaming	1–2
10	BETBOOM TEAM	1–2
11	Team Liquid	1–2
12	Team Nemesis	1–2
13	Natus Vincere	0–2
14	Yakult Brothers	0–2
15	Level UP esports	0–2
16	MOUZ	0–2

Series records across the four GSL groups of four (all best-of-three), combined into one table. Group winners played the Seeding matches; group runners-up played Last Chance; the remaining eight teams were eliminated.

Series results

2026-10-03 · Seeding & Last Chance

LGD Gaming2–1GamerLegion

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

Aurora Gaming0–2PARIVISION

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

OG1–21win

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

Team Spirit2–1Team Yandex

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

2026-10-02 · Group stage

LGD Gaming2–1Xtreme Gaming

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

Team Nemesis0–21win

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

Team Liquid0–2GamerLegion

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

OG2–1BETBOOM TEAM

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

2026-10-01 · Group stage

BETBOOM TEAM0–2Team Yandex

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

OG2–0MOUZ

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

Yakult Brothers0–2GamerLegion

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

Team Liquid1–2Aurora Gaming

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

2026-09-30 · Group stage

OG1–2BETBOOM TEAM

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

MOUZ0–2Team Yandex

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

Team Spirit2–01win

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

Natus Vincere1–2Team Nemesis

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

LGD Gaming0–2PARIVISION

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

Xtreme Gaming2–0Level UP esports

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

2026-09-29 · Group stage

Team Spirit2–1Team Nemesis

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

Level UP esports0–2PARIVISION

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

Natus Vincere1–21win

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

LGD Gaming2–1Xtreme Gaming

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

Aurora Gaming2–0GamerLegion

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2

Team Liquid2–1Yakult Brothers

Predict matchup →·Replay draft:G1 G2 G3

Bracket and standings are computed from official match data via the OpenDota API. Latest result: 2026-10-03.

Tournament format

Group stage (September 29 – October 2, online): 16 teams in four GSL groups of four, every series best-of-three. Group winners advanced to the Seeding matches, runners-up to Last Chance, and the bottom two of each group were eliminated.

Seeding & Last Chance (October 3, online): PARIVISION and Team Spirit won their Seeding matches and went straight to the upper-bracket semifinals; Aurora Gaming and Team Yandex dropped to the quarterfinals. LGD Gaming and 1w Team won Last Chance to claim the final two playoff spots.

Playoffs (October 8–11, LAN): a six-team double-elimination bracket at BLAST Arena Studios in Malta. Every series is best-of-three except the best-of-five grand final on October 11.

The prize pool is $750,000 ($550,000 in prize money plus $200,000 in team earnings), with $270,000 for the winner. Patch 7.41f.

Before VIII: the BLAST Slam VII meta

The previous edition (Copenhagen, May 26 – June 7, 2026) was won by Team Yandex, 3–1 over LGD Gaming in the grand final. These were its most contested heroes — played on patch 7.41c/7.41d, so compare with the live table above to see what the new patch moved.

#	Hero	Contest rate	Picks	Bans	W–L
1	Lone Druid	96.1%	8	90	5–3
2	Clockwerk	95.1%	34	63	23–11
3	Puck	84.3%	23	63	14–9
4	Snapfire	79.4%	28	53	14–14
5	Kez	79.4%	26	55	13–13
6	Keeper of the Light	77.5%	29	50	17–12
7	Doom	69.6%	20	51	13–7
8	Shadow Fiend	68.6%	25	45	12–13
9	Timbersaw	66.7%	19	49	6–13
10	Bane	64.7%	32	34	20–12

Top 10 of 104 contested heroes across 102 games (BLAST Slam VII; official match data via the OpenDota API). Contest rate = (picks + bans) / games; W–L is the hero's actual record when picked, not a model output.

The data angle

Every number on this page is the tournament's actual record, rebuilt from official match data as games finish. Each series above links its real drafts into our Captains Mode simulator, so you can step through the exact pick/ban order game by game.

BLAST Slam IX (November)Captains Mode BP simulator Divine & Immortal tier list The International 2026 hub Esports events calendar

Move this data into a draft

Take the draft further

Replay any of these drafts step by step, or put two lineups into our predictors to see how the heroes match up.

Practice a Captains Mode draft

More predictors:Win Predictor Plus · role-aware Pro · team matchups Scout the enemy team

BLAST Slam VIII FAQ

When and where is BLAST Slam VIII?

September 29 – October 11, 2026. The group stage, Seeding and Last Chance matches were played online (September 29 – October 3); the six-team playoffs run October 8–11 at BLAST Arena Studios in Malta, with a best-of-five grand final on October 11.

What is the most picked hero at BLAST Slam VIII?

Hoodwink, with 33 picks in 60 games (14–19 when picked), as of October 3, 2026.

What is the most banned hero at BLAST Slam VIII?

Bounty Hunter, banned 52 times. Bounty Hunter is the most contested hero overall, picked or banned in 93.3% of drafts.

What is the BLAST Slam VIII prize pool?

$750,000: $550,000 in prize money and $200,000 in team earnings. The champion receives $270,000, second place $135,000 and third place $95,000.

What is the BLAST Slam VIII format?

Four GSL groups of four (best-of-three) feed Seeding and Last Chance matches, which set a six-team double-elimination playoff in Malta. All playoff series are best-of-three except the best-of-five grand final.

Which teams play the BLAST Slam VIII playoffs?

PARIVISION and Team Spirit (seeded into the upper-bracket semifinals), plus Aurora Gaming, Team Yandex, LGD Gaming and 1w Team (quarterfinals).

When is the next BLAST Slam?

BLAST Slam IX runs November 20–29, 2026 (online, 16 teams, $750,000). Batru tracks it with the same live pick/ban stats.

Batru is an independent data site and is not affiliated with BLAST or Valve. Results and pick/ban statistics are computed from official match data via the OpenDota API (latest game: October 3, 2026); event details per BLAST and Liquipedia.