Valve has officially rolled out Patch 7.37d for Dota 2, marking the first update since the conclusion of The International 2024 (TI13). This small yet significant update aims to balance the game after the dominance of certain strategies and items during TI13. Here’s an overview of the most important item and hero changes.
Key Item Changes
Patch 7.37d brings substantial nerfs to items that were frequently used during TI13:
- Arcane Boots: Recipe cost has been increased to 475, and its mana regeneration has been reduced. The mana restored by the item has dropped from 175 to 150.
- Gleipnir: This item faced even more significant nerfs. Its recipe cost is now 550, and both its damage, attack speed, bonus health, and the damage of its lightning chain have been reduced.
Additionally, Valve tackled the ongoing issue of tankiness by tweaking items that boosted health. Solar Crest received nerfs, while Spirit Vessel was buffed, indicating that heroes with massive health pools might become less overwhelming in future matches.
One of the most impactful item changes was to Bracer, Null Talisman, and Wraith Band. These items no longer double their stats at the 25-minute mark. This change is expected to significantly reduce the power of universal heroes, who were benefitting greatly from these items.
Hero Adjustments
Some of the most frequently picked heroes during TI13 received necessary nerfs:
- Dragon Knight, Lone Druid, Luna, Monkey King, and Windranger have all seen reductions in their key abilities.
- Windranger, in particular, has been heavily nerfed in her whirlwind capabilities, which made her one of the top heroes at TI13.
- Lone Druid, infamous for causing a large number of in-game issues, saw his Bear Necessities weakened, which means players will face fewer indestructible Spirit Bears in their matches.
There have also been attempts to make Tusk’s Tag Team more viable, but many players still consider Drinking Buddies the preferred choice.
Competitive Impact
These changes are expected to greatly impact the competitive scene, especially with the upcoming second season of PGL Wallachia starting on October 4th. Teams will need to adapt quickly to the new balance changes to remain competitive.
On another note, although Act IV of Crownfall is still missing, Patch 7.37d introduces the new Crownfall Cache II chests, packed with exclusive rewards.
Conclusion
The 7.37d patch is a crucial step in rebalancing Dota 2 after The International 2024. With nerfs to key items and top heroes, Valve aims to level the playing field, setting the stage for a more balanced and exciting competitive season ahead.
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