Valve has released Dota 2 Patch 7.38b, introducing balance adjustments that directly impact some of the most dominant heroes and items in the game. The update aims to tone down powerful heroes that have been heavily utilized in recent competitive and pub matches while refining the neutral item pool.
Here’s a breakdown of the major changes and their impact on the game.
Major Hero Nerfs in Patch 7.38b
Several overperforming heroes have been significantly nerfed to balance the meta. Among the biggest changes are:
- Huskar: His Burning Spear now deals less damage per tick, making his early-game harass less oppressive. Additionally, his Berserker’s Blood regen scaling has been reduced, affecting his sustainability in fights.
- Alchemist: The Gold bonus from Greevil’s Greed has been slightly decreased, reducing his ability to outpace other cores in net worth accumulation.
- Medusa: Her Mana Shield absorption has been weakened, making her less tanky against magic burst damage.
- Windranger: The cooldown of Windrun has been increased at lower levels, reducing her mobility and survivability in early engagements.
- Legion Commander: Her Duel cast range has been shortened, making it harder to initiate from a safe distance.
These nerfs are expected to reduce the pick and win rates of these heroes, forcing players to reconsider their strategies in both ranked and professional play.
Key Item Adjustments
Patch 7.38b also tweaks several items that have had a significant impact on gameplay. Notable changes include:
- Arcane Blink: Intelligence heroes now receive a lower mana cost reduction, reducing its synergy with heroes reliant on frequent spellcasting.
- Overwhelming Blink: The movement speed slow effect has been slightly reduced, making it less oppressive in team fights.
- Solar Crest: The bonus armor and attack speed it provides have been adjusted to balance its impact in trades.
- Necronomicon (Neutral Item): Summoned units now have reduced attack speed, limiting their effectiveness in prolonged fights.
These item changes aim to diversify viable builds and prevent certain strategies from dominating every game.
How Patch 7.38b Impacts the Current Meta
With these changes, heroes that relied heavily on buffs from neutral items or overpowered abilities will now have to adapt. The nerfs to Huskar and Alchemist, in particular, are likely to shake up the mid-lane and carry roles. Meanwhile, item adjustments encourage a wider variety of strategic choices, making the meta more diverse and less predictable.
Conclusion
Dota 2 Patch 7.38b introduces essential nerfs and item adjustments to balance the game’s competitive landscape. The changes to heroes like Huskar, Alchemist, and Medusa, along with key item tweaks, will force players to refine their strategies.
As the meta shifts, expect to see new heroes rise in popularity while previously dominant ones fall out of favor. Keep an eye on how the professional scene adapts to these updates in the coming weeks.
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