[2:0]
fnatic.Shy fnatic.FoCuS		WE.LiKe WE.TED

I have said it before and I will probably say it again in the future: 2v2 is not 2 1v1 games. Powerful solo players are often completely destroyed in team matches against players to whom they would otherwise never lose to. Axslav/strifecro’s winning streak is an example.

I also tend to believe that ever combination of teams can be made to work; some combinations are simply less obvious than others. So it is with undead/orc. It often turns into what is basically two solo armies that don’t really do much to complement each other.

And not surprisingly the victories of orc/undead teams are few and far between. Can Like/TeD change this sad state of matters?

Game 1 (GW):  Elf/orc is a rather straightforward combo. Powerful agility heroes provide early game power while its late game army is a wonder of power and longevity.

Although the units are standard fare Like adds a slight variety by building his shop before his barracks, allowing for a stronger harass. Since the DH and BM will be defending against any early assaults rather than grunts and archers it makes sense for fnatic to buy circlets for both.

Fnatic creeps for items, TeD creeps for experience and Like harasses. Although he does take down FoCuS’ voodoo lounge it can’t really be counted as any great damage since they aren’t otherwise forcing any fights.

TeD borrows Like’s grunts for creeping while his BM creeps and hunts on its own. FoCuS runs into TeD’s base and clobbers his acos. He is forced to tp, but consider that as long as he doesn’t replace his tp TeD’s economy is wounded while his remains unchanged.

It is common for orcs to buy a invulpot instead, which will help during battle rather than an expensive tp, made even more expensive by not letting his hero heal or do damage.

While Like’s army is a solo-game orc army, FoCuS skips over a spirit lodge while Shy builds 3 (!) AoLs. Not being quite ready to fight fnatic focus-fires heroes, trying to force WE away when they move in to attack Shy's base, and it works. fnatic storms the middle and even lucks out, getting a xp tome from the dragon. They manage to separate WE’s armies which of course makes them easy prey.

United we stand, divided we fall... so divide those guys into tiny pieces!

Game 1 goes to fnatic!

Game 2 (TM): Once again Like places down the shop before the barracks, albeit with a shorter gap between them this time around. Like harasses, but doesn’t manage to do much damage. Instead, FoCuS almost manages to take down TeD’s DK.

TeD saves it by healing with salves at Like’s base. This is just one thing that should be exploited more in team games. Undead lacks early health- and mana restorative items, but if your orcish ally can provide you with an item shop then you’re suddenly a lot more efficient at creeping and fighting early game battles. WE tandem-creeps for a bit.

Shy runs into Like’s base as his tech finishes and cancels his tech buildings while FoCuS continues to creep.

This I would like to see more often, teams actually combining their advantages to achieve victory!

During the previous game FoCuS merely needed to confirm that the opponents were on another part of the map before he attacked the undead base. In this case Shy is working as bait, harassing the enemy armies as they try to decide what to do.

The timing is excellent as the orc doesn’t have ensnare yet and thus cannot get the elf off his back easily. Remember, if he ports and you have to port you’ve lost nothing and probably killed a aco or two as well. If he doesn’t, well...

Ork boyz, ork boyz, ork boyz, watcha gonna do when they come for you?

In both games FoCuS builds his shop outside his base between his and the elf base so both can get use of it. While this is often useful it’s still a bit risky to not have one in your main. A push can hit you at any time...

At this point Shy is making dryads en masse, once again from three AoLs, although production stops now and then from in the third one. WE makes a joint attack on FoCuS’ base. Fnatic has the supply advantage, but many of FoCuS’ grunts are banged up pretty badly.

Instead he runs back to the base. Shy however, cleverly portals in to a safe spot, even though his army is quite small. This prompts WE to speed-scroll away and stop attacking FoCuS’ burrows. It works most of the time, since your enemy can never he 100% sure of how many units will suddenly appear in his face.

WE backs off and creeps. Fnatic follows, but does the same, gaining another crucial level (lvl 3 on the DH). An intentional orc/ud combo occurs in this battle: frost armor on the BM. The longer he can stand, the better of course, and melee isn’t nearly as dangerous when protected by it. Fnatics army is larger, but the dryads drop quickly against TeD’s fiends.

It almost looks like the battle could turn around, but then Like’s SH gets surrounded and killed. Soon thereafter TeD’s spider army is trashed by grunts and agility heroes. It becomes rather clear that they lack the punch needed when faced with DH/BM.

2-0 to fnatic in this round!