3 best animes to watch while you wait for Dota 2’s The International

Updated on October 5, 5:00 p.m. (GMT+8): Added images.

The International is still some time away, and Dota 2 fans might already be feeling anxious. Don’t worry though, anime is here slay.

Since playing ranked and turbo games might not even cut it anymore, we’re here with some of the best anime to watch before the International. Hold your Pablo Escobar waiting memes — we came up with a list of shows that you can binge on while waiting for The International to start.

Credit: Funko

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The 3 best anime to watch before The International

3. The International is just like the Fate series anime

Credit: Ufotable

Animation studios: Deen, Lerche, A-1 Pictures, Ufotable

The International is all about the contrasting styles and epic plays by all the qualified teams that will soon compete on one stage. When you think about it, The International and the battle for the Aegis of the Champions is very similar to the Fate series’ Holy Grail war.

The Fate series pits seven Masters and their Servants in the quest for the Holy Grail, a relic that can apparently grant any wish to its beholder.

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Fate series’ most popular Masters are Shirou Emiya and Tohsaka Rin. As for the Servants, fans love Artoria Pendragon (Saber), Archer, Berserker, and Gilgamesh.

The very first Fate adapted into an anime was Studio Deen’s Fate/stay night. Since then, the series has branched out into different titles like Fate/Unlimited Blade Works and Fate/Zero.

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2. If you love Dota 2 lore, you’ll definitely enjoy watching Durarara!!

Credit: Brain’s Base

Episodes: 60 + 5 OVA
Animation studios: Brain’s Base, Shuka

Are you a huge fan of the Dota 2 lore? Do you keep track of The International’s player and team storylines? If your answer is yes, then we’ve found the perfect anime for you.

Durarara!! is all about the weird and wonderful characters living in the city of Ikebukuro, Japan, and how they’re all interconnected by a series of mysterious events. The anime stars a modern-day Dullahan named Celty Sturluson, who goes up against a gang of anonymous forum users called Dollars.

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The Durarara!! series will challenge your ability to remember stories and character personalities, especially since there’s always a lot going on in each episode.

Durarara!!’s charm lies in its unique storytelling and colorful characters, just like Dota 2’s lore and heroes.

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1. Obviously, you’ve got to watch Dota: Dragon’s Blood before The International

Credit: Netflix

Episodes: 8
Animation studio: Studio Mir

What better show to watch than Dota 2’s very own anime, Dota: Dragon’s Blood?

Dragon’s Blood Book 1 follows the origins of Davion the Dragon Knight and how he came to summon a mysterious, ancient power. The series also features other Dota 2 heroes like Mirana, Luna, Invoker, and Terrorblade.

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Read our honest, spoiler-free review of Dragon’s Blood if you’re still not convinced about picking up this anime.

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When does this year’s The International start?

Credit: Valve

The much-awaited TI12 competition starts on Thursday, October 12, and will continue until a champion is crowned on October 29. Fans can watch the tournament on Dota 2’s Twitch channel.

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