This part is extremely tricky. If you’re a solid fan of MOBA games like Dota 2, Mobile Legends, and League of Legends, you already know that winning isn’t just about watching the match. You need to understand every hero—their skills, advantages, counters, weaknesses, and even the right item builds that make them effective in different situations.
Because of this, esports betting is still a form of gambling—but not purely based on luck. Think of it as having a few hidden cards in your hand: the more you know about the game, the better your chances of predicting who can actually take over a match. In this field, especially when using esports betting sites Singapore, not everything depends on luck.
It becomes a real test of your esports knowledge. You’re betting on real players, real decisions, and real strategies—so your best edge is doing your homework. Study all available resources about teams, players, and drafts to maximize the value of the odds.
That’s why in this blog, we’ll focus on how the drafting phase directly affects betting odds in MOBA games—and why understanding drafts can give you a serious advantage before the match even begins.
What the Draft Phase Really Means in MOBA Matches
The draft phase—often referred to as the pick/ban stage—is the most decisive moment in the competitive gaming stage that occurs ahead of the actual match. In the case of leading games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends, the participants alternate, banning some heroes and choosing the ones that they would like to play with. This process is highly strategic; the purpose is to form a well-balanced team that is cohesive and, at the same time, can counter the rival's picks.
This phase practically sets the strategic course for the rest of the game. The winning teams emphasize teamwork and the balance of roles—ensuring that they have an assortment of damage, utility, and crowd control—while attempting to prevent the opponent from acquiring their best characters.
Professionals frequently draw parallels between this and the initial moves in a chess game; a poor draft can render a team an underdog position even before a single minion has come into view on the screen.
Having such a strong impact at this stage, a lot of experienced fans watch it closely to discover the live esports odds Singapore is providing, as the draft results can heavily influence win probabilities by more than 5% to 10% even before the first move is made.
Why Draft Decisions Shift Betting Odds Before the Game Starts
Betting sites go far beyond simply analyzing the result of the previous match of the team. Draft is something very important for them as it signifies which team has an upper hand tactically, even before the match begins. If a team can opt for the best heroes of the moment in the meta— or if they manage to ban the other side's preferred characters—their probability of victory increases and the odds are adjusted accordingly.
To illustrate, in Dota 2, if a strong hero such as Primal Beast or Muerta is not picked and a leading team takes them, the betting sites might instantly lower the payout for that team. Conversely, if the signature hero of a star player from a team, like a Meepo or Lone Druid is banned, they might have to resort to a "lower-tier" strategy. In such cases, Singapore esports betting platforms usually boost the odds for that team, indicating that they are now less likely to win as they are playing out of their comfort zone.
According to statistics, the draft may change a team’s chance of winning by 20% to 30% before the players actually enter the map. Since these platforms are based on real-time data and can tell which heroes are "broken" in the current patch, they can refresh their lines within minutes. If a team is "out-drafted," which results in them having a weak lineup vs. a counter-pick, say Anti-Mage, the odds will shift immediately in favor of the team with the smarter picks.
How Draft Patterns Can Influence Pre‑Match and Live Betting
Draft patterns are closely monitored by pro bettors, as they indicate the team's strategy even before the match has started. The characters chosen by a team in pre-match betting reflect their intended gameplay.
For example, if a lineup is designed for early-game aggression, it is an indicator that the team is going to secure objectives faster. Thus, the betting pros take these hints to put smart bets on the outcomes, such as the first tower destroyed or total kills.
After the draft is over and the game begins, the odds in live betting often change rapidly. If a draft is considered much stronger or weaker than anticipated, the betting lines could move within seconds. Following the draft, live betting allows players to discover the value and to make a bet before the bookmaker has adjusted the numbers.
To understand the influence of particular hero picks on betting markets, it would be useful to examine the following real-life examples:
- Nature’s Prophet (Dota 2) for "First Tower": Since this hero can teleport anywhere and at the same time push the lane by creating treants, the presence of this character usually indicates a high chance that the team will get the first tower early.
- Lee Sin (League of Legends) for "First Blood": As he is a champion with outstanding early-game mobility and damage. A talented Lee Sin player usually means that the team is looking for an aggressive kill at the very first minutes of the game.
- Earthshaker (Dota 2) for "Total Kills/Over": He can stun several opponents and deal enormous damage in a certain area during the clash, which in turn results in games with a lot of kills; thus, the "over" on total kills becomes a sought-after market.
What Draft Choices Reveal About Team Strength and Strategy
The draft phase in a match does more than just display heroes' names; it unveils a team's whole strategy. By banning certain assassins, a team is tacitly agreeing to the styles of play that they find the most concerning.
Conversely, if they hurry to secure the important roamers or power picks, it means that they are already confident and well-prepared. Most analysts keep an eye on these picks to find out how a team plans to dominate the early and the rest of the game.
Knowing the drafting pattern of a particular team will lead you to the value point in the niche betting markets. The following are two examples from the real world:
- T1 (League of Legends) - "First Blood" or "First Tower": T1 is recognized for their accurate drafting and early-game cooperation. By the way, they usually select heroes that dominate their lanes to take control of the map and, thus, are the main contenders in the "First Blood" or "First Tower" markets, as they usually achieve these objectives in the first 10 minutes of a match.
- Team Liquid (Dota 2) - Handicap Wager (-1.5): Team Liquid frequently chooses what they call ''heavy picks,'' which means they pick heroes that give them a lot of control on the map and finish fast. When they get the team synergy they want, they tend to win by a lot. This makes them a good pick for the -1.5 map handicap, where you bet they will win the series 2-0 instead of just winning the match.
Why Understanding Drafts Separates Skillful Bettors from Guesswork
In traditional sports, rules and strategies are fairly fixed; however, MOBA esports are always in flux as updates to the game regularly alter the state of play.
It is not advised for bettors to wager based only on the popularity of a roster; instead, they should do their homework and know which team is better equipped with the strongest picks in the current meta. Usually, the team with the best picks, especially if they drafted well, will be the one that comes out on top.
If you want to get serious, looking at draft trends—like how teams react to the latest patch or which heroes are overpowered right now—gives you a big leg up on your opponents. Knowing what the hero pick order is probably going to be before the first fight starts means you can make better decisions, not just hope.
Reading the Game Before It Starts
In multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) pro play, the game really doesn't start at the end of the draft; it begins during the picks and bans. Knowing how each pick or ban will influence team strategies, hero counters, and win conditions makes wagering on a match more straightforward for those who want a better shot at winning.
If you want to get better at your esports betting tips Singapore, then getting used to watching the drafts is one of the best habits you can form. Once you have an understanding of the meta, heroes, and what each team is trying to do, you can start to look at the odds with a sharper eye and see where the value lies before the game even starts.
@solarcs