The best carries (safelane heroes) in Patch 7.38c

The meta in Dota 2 is constantly evolving. Each new patch brings balance changes that shake up hero performance, giving rise to new dominant picks. These heroes typically outmatch others through superior laning presence, scaling, or synergy with the current item and map dynamics.

Patch 7.38c has been active for some time now, and with it, several familiar Dota 2 heroes from past metas have made a strong return. Some heroes that were once forgotten have resurfaced as top-tier picks, especially in the safelane.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at a few safelane heroes that are the best carries (safelane heroes) in patch 7.38c. Whether you’re grinding MMR or just looking to improve your pub games, these picks are reliable choices in the current meta.

Wraith King

The king is back! Wraith King may have been absent from most pub games in recent patches, but rest assured—you’re going to be seeing him much more frequently in Patch 7.38c. Right now, Wraith King is arguably one of the best carries (safelane heroes) in patch 7.38c, thanks to a series of impactful buffs.

One of the key changes is to his Wraithfire Blast, which now has a reduced cooldown at early levels, allowing Wraith King to harass opponents or secure ranged creeps with ease—without draining his small mana pool. At under 100 mana, it’s an efficient tool for lane control.

Wraith King has the highest winrate among in this patch.

However, the real game-changer is his Bone Guard facet, which received significant buffs in this patch. The cooldown on skeleton spawning was reduced to just 42 seconds, and their duration increased to 46 seconds. This means that as long as Wraith King is hitting creeps, he will almost always have skeletons ready to summon.

Not only do these skeletons help him farm, but they also provide unprecedented pushing power from the laning stage onward. No other carry in the current meta can push lanes so effectively at just eight minutes while also safely farming elsewhere on the map.

Only Wraith King can make insane dives before having third of fourth item work.

Let’s not forget his signature ultimate—Reincarnation—which acts as a free Aegis, making him incredibly hard to bring down in early skirmishes or tower dives.

With powerful lane presence, strong pushing tools, and exceptional durability, it’s safe to say that Wraith King is one of the best carries (safelane heroes) in patch 7.38c, and a top-tier pick for players looking to dominate the safelane. Wraith King currently has a 57.29% win rate across all ranks.

Riki

Another hero we might be seeing more of in Patch 7.38c is Riki. Yes—that annoying little invisible menace may be making his return to pub games. That said, it’s important to remember that Riki is very much a pub hero.

He rarely sees play in the professional scene, where coordinated vision and teamwork can easily shut him down. Nevertheless, in chaotic ranked pubs, he can be devastating when left unchecked.

Riki received several buffs in Patch 7.38, but they only truly come into play in Patch 7.38c, positioning him as one of the best carries (safelane heroes) in Patch 7.38c.

Both of Riki’s facets are viable in the current meta, but what really makes him a nuisance is his talent tree and itemization options. Nearly all of his talents directly amplify his damage output, making him scale harder than many expect.

Riki is an easy hero to climb ranks in average-level pubs.

One of the most underrated items in this patch is Disperser. Riki, being a natural Diffusal Blade buyer, can easily transition into Disperser. This item not only grants him a dispel, which is handy against Dust or silences, but also provides bonus agility—a stat Riki greatly benefits from.

Moreover, the current meta heavily favours heroes with strong team fight potential—and Riki fits surprisingly well into this category, especially as a carry hero in 7.38c. As one of the most notorious invisible heroes in the game, Riki can use his stealth to scout enemy positions before a fight, giving his team a massive strategic advantage.

Thanks to Diffusal Blade, Riki also has excellent pickoff potential, allowing him to quickly burst down vulnerable targets before or after a skirmish.

Even if he chooses not to engage in full team fights, Riki can easily isolate and eliminate lone heroes on the sidelines while the enemy team is distracted. This gives him impact regardless of his positioning, allowing him to thrive in chaotic fights or avoid them entirely while still contributing.

Phantom Assasin

In Patch 7.38c, Phantom Assassin received a slight nerf to her Phantom Strike, but despite this adjustment, she remains one of the best carry heroes in the meta.

If you can count how many daggers she's holding then it's already too late.

Her viability hasn’t declined—in fact, she’s been a top-tier safelane pick ever since Patch 7.38 dropped. One of the main reasons is the price reduction to Battlefury, one of her core farming items. This small change allows PA to pick it up earlier, accelerating her item timings and letting her hit her mid-game power spikes faster than ever.

Additionally, her Methodical facet continues to be one of the strongest in the game. It enables her to guarantee a Coup de Grace strike every six attacks, removing the need to rely on pure RNG—a massive consistency boost for a hero traditionally seen as luck-dependent.

PA is an easy hero to climb ranks in this patch.

PA also excels in the current meta thanks to her high mobility and skirmish potential. Her blur, blink, and dagger combo allow her to kite in and out of fights, choosing her targets carefully and punishing over extensions. In a meta where team fights and small-scale skirmishes are favoured, this ability to dip in and out is invaluable.

With reliable crits and strong mobility tools, Phantom Assassin holds her place as one of the best carry heroes in Dota 2 patch 7.38c.

It seems that Patch 7.38c will continue to evolve over the upcoming tournaments, and it will be interesting to see which new or returning heroes find their place in the meta.