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Welcome to the Battle Report, your weekly digest of the biggest stories shaking up the Dota 2 competitive scene. This week brings major organizational changes, roster movements, qualifier controversies, and a legendary item hitting the auction block. From OG's visual rebirth to unexpected disqualifications in BLAST Slam VI qualifiers, here's everything you need to know about what happened in professional Dota 2.

OG Returns to Its Roots With Bold Rebrand

OG Esports has officially unveiled its 2026 branding, marking a return to the green color scheme that defined the organization's most legendary era. The rebrand completely removes Red Bull's visual presence from the team's identity, bringing back the aesthetic OG used during their historic 2016-2019 run.

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The new logo references the design OG carried during The International 2016, with the organization teasing the change on December 31, 2025, before fully revealing it on January 1, 2026, alongside the slogan "green shaped our history. Now, it fuels our future." New gaming jerseys featuring the green color scheme and updated symbolism will be available soon.

While Red Bull remains listed among partners on OG's official website, the energy drink manufacturer's branding has disappeared from the organization's social media presence. The partnership, which began in 2017, significantly influenced OG's visual style over the years.

The rebrand caps a transformative 2025 for OG Esports. Blockchain company Chiliz Group acquired a controlling 51% stake in September, bringing back Xavier Oswald as CEO while founders N0tail and Ceb launched a new strategic project. Following ownership changes, OG disbanded both their trial OG.LATAM roster and European Dota 2 lineup before introducing a fully Filipino roster composed of former Team Aureus players in November. The new squad has shown promise with top-6 finishes at PGL Wallachia Season 6, BLAST Slam V, and DreamLeague Season 27.

Team AVULUS Announces BLAST Slam VI Qualifier Roster

Team AVULUS has revealed their lineup for the BLAST Slam VI qualifiers, featuring the return of veteran player Smiling Knight. The roster includes Smiling Knight, dualrazee, Corrupted, alone, and asdekor_r as they compete for a spot in the main event.

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The announcement signals AVULUS's continued commitment to the competitive circuit after recent roster adjustments. Qualifier matches begin immediately, with teams fighting for limited spots in BLAST Slam VI.

Team Spirit Academy Disqualified From BLAST Slam VI Qualifiers

BLAST Slam VI organizers have disqualified Team Spirit Academy from the tournament qualifiers due to a conflict with Team Spirit's main roster participation. The academy team received a technical loss against L1ga Team when organizers determined that having both the main roster and academy team in the same event violated tournament rules.

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The decision follows tournament regulations preventing organizations from fielding multiple rosters in the same competition. Similar concerns have emerged regarding NAVI Junior's participation, as Natus Vincere's main roster may also compete in BLAST Slam VI. Both Team Spirit Academy and NAVI Junior matches were marked as "The game was completed by an admin" on the Challengermode portal.

The disqualification highlights ongoing questions about academy team participation in premier events and whether organizations should be allowed to field development rosters alongside their primary lineups.

HEROIC Adds Veteran Thiolicor to 2026 Roster

HEROIC has welcomed Brazilian veteran Thiolicor to their 2026 season roster, adding significant South American experience to the team. The announcement came with HEROIC's characteristic humor, stating "Holiday drinks went crazy, so we had to find someone who matched the vibes."

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Thiolicor brings extensive competitive experience spanning nearly a decade across multiple organizations. His career includes stints with paiN Gaming (2016 and 2019), SG e-sports (2017-2018 and 2020-2021), NoPing e-sports (2020 and 2021-2022), Hokori (2022), Alliance.LATAM (2022-2023), D1 Hustlers (2023), Luna Galaxy (2023), D2 Hustlers (2023), and most recently Shopify Rebellion (2023-2024). After a gap from competitive play, Thiolicor rejoins the professional scene with HEROIC starting January 2, 2026.

The addition strengthens HEROIC's roster depth as teams prepare for the 2026 competitive season. Thiolicor's extensive experience across South American organizations provides valuable strategic insights and regional expertise.

AdmiralBulldog Auctions The International 2013 Championship Ring

Henrik "AdmiralBulldog" Ahnberg has listed his The International 2013 championship ring on eBay, with the auction set to close on January 10, 2026. The legendary offlaner, who won TI3 with Alliance, clarified the listing is genuine and not driven by financial desperation.

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"It's just a ring, an awesome ring, I love the ring, but I BELIEVE it's monetary value exceeds the sentimental value to me," AdmiralBulldog explained on social media. The listing opened at $70,000 with no bids recorded at time of writing.

The championship ring represents one of Dota 2's most iconic tournament victories, with Alliance's dominant TI3 run remaining legendary in competitive history. AdmiralBulldog's decision to auction the ring has sparked discussions about esports memorabilia value and how professional players view their championship hardware years after retirement from competitive play.

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