The latest Dota 2 patch notably dropped during the FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 Playoffs.
Dota 2 developer Valve Corporation released a surprise update, Patch 7.38c, on Friday (March 28) that brought a host of changes to the game. The new patch saw the Dire safe lane jungle and bottom lane get reworked with new pathing and landscapes while also tweaking various items, neutral items, and heroes alongside a handful of bug fixes.
This update may be just a letter patch, but it packs a punch. The timing is particularly interesting, as it dropped during the FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 Playoffs, forcing the competing teams there to make last-minute adjustments and adaptations. As a result, the go-to heroes and items may see shifts in response to the new changes.
Biggest hero changes in Dota 2 Patch 7.38c
In this update, Valve brought out the nerf hammer to control several overpowered heroes in the current meta. Here are the biggest nerfs of the patch:
- Dazzle, one of the most banned heroes in competitive play, has been hit with nerfs to two of his abilities, with Nothl Projection taking the most significant hit. The spell, which allows Dazzle to project himself and cast spells, now has reduced cast range and a shorter maximum duration. Additionally, the Aghanim's Scepter upgrade to Shadow Wave has been nerfed, no longer providing increased healing and damage.
- Dragon Knight received a movement speed reduction, but given his status as one of the most picked core right now, this change may not be overly punishing.
- The most popular support in the current meta, Jakiro, has seen nerfs to his Ice Path's secondary damage. Additionally, the mana cost of Dual Breath has been increased.
- Lifestealer's Flesh Feast facet now provides less max HP per hero kill.
- Magnus, a hero frequently banned in competitive play, received multiple nerfs, including reductions to his base strength, level 1 damage, Shockwave damage, and Empower self-damage.
- Abaddon, one of the most dominant laners in recent times, received a nerf to his Mephitic Shroud facet, which now features a longer cooldown for Aphotic Shield. Additionally, Curse of Avernus has been significantly adjusted, as it no longer deals damage to buildings, and talents related to this ability have also been nerfed.
Other heroes who received minor nerfs include Ancient Apparition, Dark Seer, Nature's Prophet, Night Stalker, Phantom Assassin, Tidehunter, Tinker, and Tiny, all of whom have been common picks in the meta.
When it comes to buffs, heroes that have rarely surfaced and are not contested in tournaments are targeted. Here are the biggest buffs in the patch:
- Hoodwink received a series of buffs across her entire ability kit. Acorn Shot now deals increased bonus damage, Sharpshooter has a higher maximum damage, and Hunter's Boomerang now offers both a stronger movement slow and increased damage amplification.
- Templar Assassin earned more instances to her Refraction ability on top of a cooldown reduction.
- Wraith King’s Bone Guard Facet is buffed with lower cooldown and longer Skeleton duration. His Wraithfire Blast also earned quicker cooldown in the early stages.
Other heroes that received minor buffs include Windranger, Timbersaw, Snapfire, Skywrath Mage, Omniknight, Nyx Assassin, Lycan, Lina, and Kunkka.
Nerfs and buffs also extended to other elements in the game. Buffs hit the item Spirit Vessel, which now has increased regeneration and lifesteal reduction, and Desolator, which earned additional bonus damage. Neutral items - artifacts and enchantments - also received a handful of tweaks.
You can read the full patch notes for Dota 2 Patch 7.38c here.
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