Dota 2 Patch 7.38b: Hero Tweaks and Fixes

Dota 2 Patch 7.38b has arrived. The update focuses on targeted tweaks and fixes, balancing heroes and items, addressing lingering imbalances, and improving overall gameplay. Let’s examine the changes to understand them better.

Important Hero Changes in Gameplay Patch 7.38b

Patch 7.38 introduced significant gameplay changes, including new mechanics, map changes, hero/item changes, etc. However, gameplay patch 7.38b refines these changes with targeted hero tweaks to maintain balance.

Here are the most important hero changes in 7.38b:

• Abaddon: One of the top meta heroes in the current patch, Abaddon has received a slight nerf. The duration of Aphotic Shield under his Mephitic Shroud facet is decreased from 17s to 14s along with an increase in mana cost. Mist Coil’s damage/heal and cast range is reduced with his ultimate, Borrowed Time’s Aghanim Scepter upgrade, radius being changed from 900 to 625 (Mist Coil’s cast range).
• Dazzle: Dazzle's Nothl Boon facet may have received a minor buff in 7.38b. Weave now grants 5% increased healing per stack, and Shadow Wave's cooldown reduction has been further reduced. The early levels of Poison Touch see a slight decrease in duration.
• Dragon Knight: Dragon Knight faces further significant nerfs in this update. Notably, his Fire Dragon facet has been further adjusted, with Dragon Tail's AoE in Dragon form reduced and Wyrm's Wrath magic damage decreased. Will he still be a top meta pick hero?
• Invoker: Three of his facets, Scholar of Koryx, Mind of Tornarus and Agent of Gallaron see changes. Alacrity’s attack range bonus is increased. Cold Snap, when triggered, restores 5 mana in addition to existing healing based on Quas. Ghost Walk’s Scepter ally duration has also been increased from 20s to 30s.
• Jakiro: Jakiro’s Ice Path duration has decreased by 1s while its cooldown has increased.
• Kez: Kez’s base intelligence and strength gain sees an increase. His facet, ShadowHawk, now scales with ultimate abilities instead of Shodo Sai.
• Lifestealer: Lifestealer receives a slight nerf. His facet Fleshfeast, feast and infest abilities, and base agility see a decrease in stats.
• Magnus: Magnus’ Eternal Empowerment gets a tweak. Empower’s max self bonus is decreased. Skewer’s distance, both normal and Aghanim Shard upgrade, has been reduced.
• Tidehunter: Anchor Smash’s damage reduction is decreased. Dead in the Water now deals less damage and costs more mana.
• Tiny: Grow’s bonus armour has been significantly reduced.
• Winter Wyvern: Winter’s Curse no longer amplifies physical, magical, and pure damage taken from Winter Wyvern under the Recursive facet. The ability’s cooldown has also been increased.
• Zeus: Base damage and damage at level 1 has been decreased. Lightning Bolt’s Sight Radius dramatically reduced from 750 to 500.

Item Updates

Here are the most important changes to item updates in patch 7.38b:

• Glimmer Cape: Bonus movement speed decreased while mana cost increased.
• Khanda: Empower spell debuff duration increased while cooldown decreased.
• Orb of Corrosion: Agility bonus decreased. Melee movement slow increased.
• Mana regen bonus and Attack speed bonus for Orchid Malevolence and Bloodthorn decreased.

Besides the item updates, changes have been made to neutral items along with general updates affecting the overall gameplay. The complete set of changes can be found here.