Tobi

Tobias "Tobi" Buchner is an Austrian professional Dota 2 player and one of the most experienced figures in the European scene. Originally a well-regarded offlaner, Tobi has spent recent seasons reinventing himself as a position 5 hard support—a rare and demanding mid-career role switch.

A trailblazer for Austrian Dota, he made history as the first player from his country to reach a DPC Major LAN and The International, and he's since become a trusted, adaptable veteran that top teams turn to when they need a proven pair of hands.

Early Career

Tobi broke into the competitive scene in 2019, with his first real success coming at ViKin.gg, where he racked up a string of tier-2 and tier-3 tournament wins through 2020. He was replaced by Khezu in early 2021 and spent time on Division II DPC sides before landing the role that would define his prime.

In November 2021 he signed for Entity, the team where he'd go from promising offlaner to genuine LAN-level competitor.

Rise to Prominence

Tobi's Entity era put him on the map—and into the history books. In July 2022, by qualifying for the Arlington Major, he became the first Austrian player ever to reach a DPC LAN tournament. He followed it up by qualifying for The International 2022, becoming the first Austrian to attend Dota's biggest event, where Entity finished 9th.

His time with Entity ended in mid-2023 when he was dropped ahead of Riyadh Masters, kicking off a stretch of roster instability. But rather than fade out, Tobi turned into one of the most reliable stand-ins in the region—substituting for Team Liquid at PGL Wallachia Season 5 (3rd) and FISSURE Universe: Episode 5 (1st), and filling in for Tundra Esports at The International 2025 for a top-8 finish.

The Switch to Support

Tobi's most defining chapter is his transition from position 3 offlaner to position 5 hard support—a role change few established cores ever attempt at the top level.

The move crystallized in October 2025, when Nigma Galaxy brought him in on trial to fill the enormous shoes of legendary support Maroun "GH" Merhej, who had stepped away for a break. Taking over the hard support role for one of the game's most iconic position 5 players was a statement of Tobi's versatility and game knowledge.

The trial ultimately didn't pan out—Nigma struggled through the early season and parted ways with him in December 2025 when GH returned—but the stint cemented his identity as a career offlaner willing to completely rebuild his role to keep competing at the highest level.

Playstyle and Reputation

Tobi is defined by adaptability and Dota IQ rather than raw mechanical flash—exactly the profile that lets a player make a position 3 to position 5 switch work.

Key strengths include:

– Deep game knowledge and macro understanding

– Versatility across offlane and hard support roles

– Reliability and professionalism as a stand-in

– Strong drafting sense and team-fight positioning

Analysts view him as a smart, veteran presence — a player whose value comes from consistency, flexibility, and the willingness to serve whatever role his team needs.

Fun Facts

– Tobi is a genuine pioneer for Austrian Dota 2, holding multiple "first Austrian" milestones.

– He's one of relatively few players to successfully compete at both position 3 and position 5 in tier-1 Dota.