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AVULUS Dota 2 Team Review

A very young roster with mysterious origins, a wild logo with a terrifying monster… Those who follow Dota 2 news will recognize the name of Avulus, a young esports team from the Western European region. Having demonstrated impressive results on the regional stage, they are now earning a place in the sun at the top echelon. In the new MelBet Pick’em report, we analyze the Avulus Dota 2 team’s chances of securing a place in the global top 10 and whether they will become as threatening to their opponents as the demon on their logo.

AVULUS History

The Dota 2 Avulus team has a relatively short history – it was founded in the summer of 2024. Their official registration location remains unknown, and they are also inactive in other games. The initial roster was formed by acquiring the newly formed Team Tea during the PGL Wallachia Season 2 qualifiers.

During their first year, the team underwent two major updates, in the spring and fall of 2025. Currently, AVULUS is a strong team regionally, taking their first steps on the international stage, and competing for a spot in the global top 10.

AVULUS Founders

The origins of the Avulus Dota 2 team are a mystery. According to the roster members, the project isn’t a self-organized effort by esports players, but rather has a well-established management structure. However, virtually nothing is disclosed about this. The large number of players from the CIS (more than half of the roster) often hints that the club’s owners are also from these countries—however, this is mere speculation.

Only the identity of the managers is known for certain—they are from Russia. The current manager is Aldar “Jamba” Dzhambinov, the former manager of 9Pandas, which is also a team of CIS players.

AVULUS Initial Roster

The team’s initial roster hails entirely from Team Tea, a group that formed several months before AVULUS itself and apparently ceased operations shortly thereafter. However, the principles by which Team Tea itself was formed are unclear. One thing is certain: it includes experienced, skilled players:

For example, “Ekki” is a former Team Secret player, and “SoNNeikO” is a former member of BetBoom, NaVi, and NiP. Andriy “Mag” Chipenko took over the coaching chair at the start. Mag, who is incredibly experienced both in the game and as a coach, previously worked with NaVi and, as a player, was a part of the original DotA.

Overall, the Avulus Dota 2 roster had everything going for them from the very beginning. However, it can’t be said that the team managed to achieve anything truly remarkable — they did crush many Dota 2 teams in regional Tier 3 events, but never made it any higher. Apparently, this was the reason for a complete roster reboot in 2025, eight months after the team’s founding.

AVULUS Current Roster

By early fall 2025, only Belarusian player Smiling Knight remained from the original team roster, following Xibbe’s removal in August 2025. However, in late September, team management unexpectedly decided to bring back Ekki, who hadn’t settled into MOUZ. Now, in October 2025, the Avulus Dota 2 roster looks like this:

The missing position is being filled by Czech pro Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek, who was temporarily loaned from Team Liquid. The captain’s role, following the departure of former IGL Tal “Fly” Aizik, also appears to remain unfilled. As part of the transition, the team also let go of coach “Mag~.”

How this new Avulus Dota 2 roster will perform remains to be seen. So far, the team has performed well against serious Tier 2 opponents like Virtus.pro and MOUZ. However, whether the players can build lasting synergy over the long run is something only time will tell.

AVULUS Tournament Achievements

In its first year, the Avulus Dota team has participated in a dozen Tier 1 events, though they have yet to secure a prize. As of October 2025, their list of key achievements includes:

Avulus Dota 2 team’s attempt to qualify for The International 2025 ended unsuccessfully – the team failed to pass the closed qualifiers for Western Europe, finishing in 7th-8th place.

AVULUS Legends

Given the management’s apparently high expectations of AVULUS players, it’s impossible not to mention the only player who remained on the team after all the replacements – Aliaksei “Smiling Knight” Svirydau. This 24-year-old carry player from Belarus joined the team after playing for several teams, including Team Empire, the legend of the previous decade.

A master of Wraith King and Troll Warlord, he is also a skilled analyst and isn’t afraid of the truth. In his interviews, he always reveals his cards honestly, discussing both the team’s problems and his own personal shortcomings. Smiling Knight’s critical approach and willingness to change are key factors in the Avulus Dota 2 team’s rapid improvement.

AVULUS Upcoming Tournaments

Over the past year, AVULUS has raised their bar and is no longer focusing as much on the Tier 3 scene as they did in 2024. Their new goal is the global top, so they’ll most often be competing for spots in Tier 1 and the qualifiers that precede them. Of all the upcoming Dota 2 tournaments, the best place to see Avulus in action will be at DreamLeague Season 27. In the last three seasons, the Avulus Dota 2 team has placed 11th-16th — so now the team is facing another re-examination and an opportunity to showcase their progress to fans.

FAQ

When was AVULUS founded?

The team’s initial roster was assembled in June 2024, initially under the tagline “Team Tea.” A few months later, in August 2024, the branding changed to “AVULUS.” This is considered the starting point of the team’s history.

What is the current AVULUS Dota 2 roster?

As of October 2025, team Avulus Dota 2 roster includes CIS players Aliaksei “Smiling Knight” Svirydau, Artem “lorenof” Melnick, and Dmitry “JANTER” Nikulin, as well as Marcel “Ekki” Hołowienko from Poland. The team is rounded out by Team Liquid’s Czech player Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek, who is playing on a temporary contract.

What is AVULUS’s position in the global Dota 2 ranking?

The Avulus Dota 2 roster is ranked 11th in the ESL rankings and 14th in the Escore News rankings—a respectable result for a Tier 2 team. However, in the Ensigame standings, the team barely managed to break into the top 30, with only 1,518 points and a 29th-place finish.

Who is the captain of AVULUS?

The current IGL position at Avulus remains unfilled as of early October 2025. The role was last held by Israeli player Tal “Fly” Aizik, who left for Virtus.pro in late summer 2025.

Who is the coach of AVULUS?

Team Avulus hasn’t announced a coach since spring 2025, when new manager “Jamba” arrived and active roster changes began. The last coaching position was held by Ukrainian Andrij “Mag” Chipenko, who previously coached NaVi and BetBoom.

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