It’s finally here, the first Dota 2 update since TI13 and The International 2024! Patch 7.37d is intended to fix several major balance problems that were used during the tournament, as well as some features that dominated the competitive scene. Now let’s take a closer look at the biggest changes and how they affect the game.
Changes in Dota 2 7.37d
Mirana’s Aghanim’s Shard Fix
Among the changes made in Patch 7.37d, the most notable is the change to Mirana’s Aghanim’s Shard. This fix is especially important, given that Mirana was picked as a fourth flexible carry at TI13 quite often. Some players were vocal about this as requiring attention before the tournament, but better late than never!
The Leap ability of Mirana enhanced by Shard no longer enables multiple secondary Starstorm hits on the same target. This may not seem too game-breaking, but it was especially oppressive against Broodmother and her horde of Spiderlings. Before the change, Mirana could charge into a group of Spiderlings, eliminate them with the first Starstorm wave and deal a lot of damage to Broodmother with the second one as it would target her because of the lack of Spiderlings.
With the nerf, Broodmother players can now relax, as this interaction no longer leads to an almost immediate death due to damage pressure.
Stat-Boosting Items Become Less Effective
Another big shift is the removal of double stat bonuses from key early-game items: Bracer, Null Talisman, and Wraith Band. Before, these cheap stat boosters were even more useful after 25 minutes, as they doubled the primary stats and provided supports with much-needed survivability and mana regeneration.
The removal of this feature affects support players, who will have less means of being useful in the mid-game. Still, most of the community members are in unison in their opinion that the double-stat mechanic was just too overpowered, and its removal brings more balance to the items.
The Return of Iron Talon
Iron Talon is back in Dota 2 after a long hiatus but this time as a tier-2 neutral item. When the item is brought back at the 17-minute mark, most of the players are out of the jungle and are more involved in team fights, thus the effectiveness of the item is somewhat reduced.
The Talon does provide some nice bonuses (+20 attack speed and +4 armor) but its usage will be rather limited, at least for the majority of the carry heroes who can handle jungle camps by the mid game just fine. However, some offlaners or supports may still consider the item as useful for farming purposes.
Aura Items and Gleipnir See More Nerfs
Patch 7.37d is Icefrog’s fifth attempt to eliminate the aura-based meta, which targets Pipe of Insight, Crimson Guard, Guardian Greaves, and Gleipnir.
Aura items have been on top for their ability to benefit the entire team, especially in extended fights. Due to the low cost of the parts and simple BOM, these items have become standard in both professional and pub games. The nerfs, although minor, are a part of a larger process of weakening team-oriented itemization.
On the other hand, Gleipnir which was a favorite at TI13 receives yet another hit. Its ability to secure multiple targets, combined with the farming advantage provided by its previous version, Maelstrom, makes it a favorite among both carries and wealthy supports. However, with each patch, Icefrog continues to erode some of its strength, in an attempt to equalize the game’s attractiveness.
Break Changes and Facets/Innate Abilities
One of the more subtle changes in this patch is related to the relationship between Facets and Innate Abilities with the Break mechanic. For those who don’t know, Break temporarily disables all the passive abilities, which can cause huge shifts in battle if applied to heroes like Bristleback.
Patch 7.37d defines which innate abilities are fully, partially or not affected by the Break. This distinction should help to define how to deal with some heroes and abilities more effectively. Viper and Silver Edge should still be considered high-priority picks for their potential to use Break to great effect against heroes with strong passives.
The Verdict: A Balanced Meta on the Horizon
In conclusion, Dota 2 Patch 7.37d is not just a balance patch, but a preparation for the new meta that will be introduced in the upcoming major tournaments such as DreamLeague S24 and BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024. As main items and heroes have been weakened, expect teams to try out new strategies and tactics.
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