The best midlane heroes in Patch 7.38c

The Dota 2 meta is in constant flux. Each new patch introduces balance changes that can dramatically shift hero viability, leading to the rise of new power picks. Some heroes suddenly stand out from the rest due to well-timed buffs or shifts in itemisation.

Patch 7.38c has already shaken up the meta. Several heroes from previous metas are making strong comebacks, and in the midlane, a few previously overlooked heroes are regaining traction.

In this article, we’ll highlight some of the best midlane heroes in patch 7.38c. Whether you're grinding MMR or just looking to dominate your pub games, these heroes offer strong, reliable performance in the current meta.

Templar Assassin

It’s been a while since we’ve consistently seen Templar Assassin in pub games. For a time, she struggled to stay relevant — too fragile despite her skillset. However, in Dota 2, all it takes is a few well-placed buffs to push a hero back into the spotlight.

In patch 7.38c, TA received some impactful buffs. Her first ability, Refraction, now grants one additional instance at all levels, and its cooldown has been reduced. This significantly strengthens her laning phase — that extra instance of Refraction can be the difference between surviving a support rotation or getting picked off early.

TA is one of the heroes with high skill ceiling in Dota 2.

At level 25, TA can also opt for four more Refraction instances through the talent tree, making her even more threatening in the late game. On top of that, her signature item, Desolator, also received a buff in this patch, further boosting her damage output.

Thanks to these changes, Templar Assassin has re-emerged as one of the best midlane heroes in patch 7.38c. Her high burst damage, fast farming speed, and strong snowball potential make her a fearsome presence in the hands of skilled players.

That said, she’s still a greedy midlaner — players need a solid understanding of timing and map pressure to truly unlock her potential. Without hitting key item timings or capitalising on her power spikes, TA can quickly fall behind and lose impact.

Currently, Templar Assassin has a 50.46% win rate.

Outworld Destroyer

Outworld Destroyer has been a steady presence in pub games, regardless of the meta. For a long time, only a niche group of dedicated OD players truly understood his potential. But as players search for the best midlane heroes in patch 7.38c, OD is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

OD dominates the laning phase with relative ease. He comes online quickly with just basic starting items, and his item build is refreshingly straightforward — players simply need to prioritise items that increase his mana pool. This is especially important now due to the Obsidian Decimator facet, which allows OD’s mana pool to directly scale his damage output.

A mind prepared, a death foretold.

One of OD’s greatest strengths is his consistency. Even with a minimal item set, he scales effectively into the late game. His Astral Imprisonment offers both defensive utility and offensive setup, while Sanity's Eclipse provides massive burst damage in crucial mid-to-late game fights. These tools make him a reliable and dangerous pick, particularly in skirmish-heavy games.

With a low skill floor but high ceiling, Outworld Destroyer is easily one of the best midlane heroes in patch 7.38c for players looking to climb MMR with a lane-dominant, scaling mid. He currently has a 52.32% win rate.

Storm Spirit

Storm Spirit is the only midlane hero on this list who’s been a consistent pick in both pro play and average-level pubs. While he comes with a moderate to high skill ceiling, what he offers is simply unmatched in the current patch.

Storm has been a staple meta midlaner for several patches now. In the current patch, despite some minor nerfs in previous updates, he continues to stand tall as one of the best midlane heroes in patch 7.38c.

Feel the wind in your hair!

What keeps Storm relevant is his ability to thrive when his team has momentum. While he does need to secure a good laning phase, he’s arguably the strongest tempo hero in the current patch. His core itemisation remains unchanged — Witch Blade continues to be the most efficient pickup, offering early aggression and scaling magic damage.

What’s more? With Keeper of the Light making a comeback as a support in this patch, Storm Spirit becomes even more dangerous. The mana sustains and wave-clear synergy between the two heroes opens up endless ganking and map-control possibilities.

Moreover, Storm Spirit excels in late-game skirmishes thanks to his ultimate, Ball Lightning, which allows him to dive into the backlines and effortlessly pick off key enemy supports. With an Aghanim's Scepter, he also gains AoE crowd control through his second ability, Electric Vortex, pulling multiple enemies into the fight and setting up devastating follow-up damage.

If left unchecked, Storm Spirit can single-handedly take over games. His mobility, burst damage, and team fight control make him an absolute menace — and one of the best midlane heroes in patch 7.38c if opponents don’t deal with him properly.

It's been nearly a month since Patch 7.38c came out. The meta has been developing during this time and it will be interesting to see which heroes will return to the meta in the coming days.