Power rankings can be problematic since they are a subjective ranking based on criteria that every fan, expert, and player weighs differently. Doubly so in a game like Dota 2, where rosters tend to shuffle and the game undergoes dramatic patch changes. Many of these teams have barely played any official games after the major, making it even harder to quantify.
For this ranking I weighed LAN results most heavily. This ranking is not a predictor of the future, but a rating of what we have seen from these teams so far.
1. Secret
Secret is a difficult team to rate.
It won the Shanghai Majors but bombed out of Dota Pit 4 after losing to Na`Vi. Na`Vi has proved its strength as a team since, but the loss was surprising, especially since it was a week after the major.
The biggest reason Secret stands at first place is because of its victory at the Shanghai Majors and the subsequent roster changes that followed. While Aliwi "w33" Omar and Rasmus "Misery" Filipsen were great players, their replacements are upgrades, at least on paper.
Artour "Arteezy" Babaev fully trusts in Clement "Puppey" Ivanov's leadership and works well with both Saahil "Universe" Arora and Jacky "EternalEnvy" Mao. Misery was a good offlaner, but Universe is widely considered one of the best in the scene and has worked well with both Arteezy and EternalEnvy in the past.
Most importantly, the team is bringing in Theeban "1437" Silvas as a full-time coach. The impact he brings to that team cannot be understated and Secret is looking to be the favorites going into Manila.
2. Liquid
In a trend that shocked many fans, Liquid decided to forego swapping players after achieving a high result at the Major.
While it hurts Kanishka 'Sam' "BuLba" Sosale isn't there coaching this time, Liquid still retains the same roster that earned a second place finish at Shanghai--and there is no reason to place the team any lower.
3. Complexity
Complexity have really made itself a team to contend with and have proven so in the last two LANs, getting Top 5-6 at the Major and Top 4 at Dotapit. Since then, it's accumulated victories in multiple qualifiers--Epicenter, Frankfurt, and Manila.
The team has had a very linear trajectory towards the top and are known for having a strong team atmosphere. Also I'm pretty certain that Kyle "Swindlemelonzz" Freedman is a prophet for predicting the rise of NA/SEA Dota.
4. Fnatic
After having a dramatic downward spiral of results at the latter end of 2015, SEA has come back in full force in Shanghai.
While the big story at the time was the rise of MVP, Fnatic has also claimed a strong top six finish. Since then, the team has become the dominant force in SEA and look to become one of the strongest SEA lineups in the region's history.
5. EHOME
EHOME was the hardest team to rank.
It bombed out of the Shanghai Majors, but if you just take a look at the roster on paper, the team has a very high ceiling in skill. In terms of pure potential, it could be the second best team at this tournament.
But so far, there have been few online results--like getting second in H-Cup Season 4. The team's last LAN wins were back in January with victories in Mars and the Shanghai Dota 2 Open. It's difficult to justify a higher place for the team on the list, even though I firmly believe it can become a title contender.
6. Empire
Empire is a fairly new roster that formed on March 25.
Because of that, there is no real guide as to what to expect from the team in a LAN setting. Its online result was 7-7 in Dream League, with the team dropping out early to Vega and the Danish Bears in the Frankfurt Qualifiers. That being said, the team still seems to be in better form than the last two seeds.
7. Wings
Wings is the most stable roster going into this LAN since the team has stuck together since August 25 2015. It's had some spurts of good performances, with a decent showing at the World Cyber Arena and winning the qualifiers to get here.
It's hard to say what its exact form looks like. Beyond the run through the qualifiers, the team's online performances have been relatively lackluster.
8. Mineski
It is impossible to say how well this lineup will do. Online, it's having troubles with both TnC EpicGaming and Acion Arena. Usually the qualifiers would be a good indicator of form, but this team changed lineups after it qualified. A complete unknown quantity and thus it ended up last.
ESL One Manila begins on April 22, kicking off with Team Liquid vs. Mineski.