The brand new patch is ridiculously massive. In reality, it’s so large it took us two days of continuous Dota to type an preliminary impression. Seems, there are method too many issues to debate and analyse to suit right into a single weblog put up, so as a substitute we’re going to spotlight a few of our most attention-grabbing and stunning findings.
That is probably essentially the most stunning bit, given the sheer dimension of the patch, however the Dota fundamentals are largely intact. In reality, we might argue that resulting from no map or financial system adjustments, the sport works surprisingly just like the earlier patch on the macro degree.
The highground push is unquestionably simpler these days. Taking the primary lane of barracks early on is feasible, particularly in case you are snowballing. Which means that gaining the map management benefit is each simpler and might probably occur earlier, when it’s extra significant. The brand new Roshan Banner additionally feels much more intuitive and impactful to make use of, although it does really feel extra excessive danger, excessive reward.
There are a number of high quality of life adjustments as properly, most notable being the mana bar being at all times seen. Contemplating that it was the data available regardless, it shouldn’t be a giant deal for greater degree video games, however in a mean pub it could probably enhance the extent of aggression: punishing an enemy who’s out of sources is an effective behavior and this alteration ought to assist newer gamers in its growth. It’s a little bit of an oblique nerf to heroes who generally faux their skills, like, for instance Kunkka, however it’s nonetheless a really welcome QoL enchancment.
The 2 new sport mechanics launched within the new patch are quite a lot of enjoyable. From a purely pub perspective, they permit for a complete new dimension in theorycrafting and jank buildmaking, one thing we’re personally keen on. The place it could actually shine, although, is aggressive play. Being able to regulate on the fly and probably adapt to a counterpick generally is a large distinction maker on the highest degree of play.
Proper now the system is already nice, although there are undeniably some over- and under-tuned Sides. A few of them truly make the hero worse than the earlier default, which can be barely questionable, however we have now little doubt that Valve will form the system into one thing actually nice, like they did with Impartial Gadgets. For now, you’ll be able to test which Aspect works higher on the Dotabuff hero web page.
Lastly, we come to the concepts which you could utilise at this time in your pubs, in case you are prepared to danger it. We aren’t going to go over the same old suspects: everybody might be conscious that Bladeform Juggernaut, One Man Military Axe, Stonehall Plate Legion Commander and Spectral Blade Wraith King are type of busted. As an alternative, we’re going to take a look at probably janky, however very potent concepts to strive.
The hero web page paints a really bleak image for the methodical PA and for an excellent purpose. Regardless of having a better multiplier on her final, the 6-hit requirement is simply too punishing. It isn’t being methodical, it’s being sluggish, except…
Being an impact that you simply stack on makes it work with Manta Fashion, which is a sport changer, so long as you’ll be able to truly management your illusions properly sufficient to proc the crit from the true hero, fairly than one of many clones. It most likely requires quite a lot of micro talent on the aspect of the participant, however the potential payoff is a 550% Crit each second assault from the true hero, with illusions setting it up. Is it constantly robust? Most likely not. Can or not it’s a enjoyable problem? Virtually undoubtedly.
Place one Darkish Seer is, unironically, viable. Not less than in our opinion. Common heroes are very robust DPS-wise by default, however Fast Wit Darkish Seer takes it to a different degree, with overlapping DPS-increasing Innate and Side.
His innate makes it in order that his Intelligence at all times catches as much as his Power or Agility, relying on which is greater. The Fast Wit Aspect provides Darkish Seer 0.5 AS per level in Intelligence. The tip result’s a hero who will get +1.4 harm and +0.5 AS per level of Power, when constructing Power solely. Informal Ogre Axe giving +14 harm and +7 AS, on prime of all the opposite advantages is, frankly, busted.
The hero farms extremely quick, courtesy of Ion Shell. Can lane into most offlaners, can take stack with ease and might be a part of fights comparatively early. By constructing tankiness gadgets solely, the hero turns into a quick and hard-hitting monk that has tons of HP, tons of Magic Resistance and excessive right-click and talent DPS. He additionally has all of the mana to maintain it, whereas additionally scaling with the enemy by Wall of Reproduction.
You may attempt to make the case for pumping Agi, however resulting from a giant discrepancy between DS Agi (1.8) and Int (2.7) progress the impact isn’t as pronounced. Although you do technically get +1.5 AS per level of Agility, which is a vital DPS attribute, as mentioned lately.
We all know that the Spectral Blade Aspect is technically stronger, however we really feel like gamers are underestimating the Bone Guard. It’s a flash-farming Aspect with robust pushing potential and quite a lot of chaotic teamfight presence. And it additionally makes Lich have near infinite mana in lane by degree 5.
Each skelly from Bone Guard provides Lich 2.5% of max mana when dying. Every of them dies twice, so a degree one means already provides lich 10% of his max mana, on prime of the 20% max mana he will get from the creep wave.
Bone Guard does have a reasonably lengthy cooldown, but when always stacking, pulling and killing enemy heroes, Lich ought to have mana for days. Mana that he can convert into much more kills and lane presence.
It’s going to take us some time to determine the intricacies of the patch. Furthermore, some nerfs are greater than possible and greater than essential, from the seems of it. So for now we are going to keep away from speaking about stats and meta, as a substitute concentrating on enjoyable, academic concepts to check out or develop on.
For that purpose, we additionally ask you to share your ideas within the remark part beneath. The patch is MASSIVE and there’s a lot to debate and experiment with, it’s actually inconceivable for a single particular person to do. Don’t hesitate to suggest loopy and janky concepts both — Dota is a wonderful sport with limitless potentialities, so every little thing can work!