The release of Dota 2's Patch 7.36 has brought excitement and community collaboration. Dota 2's players have always been active, but this update, which includes significant changes like Innate Abilities and Hero Facets, clearly shows their impact. 7.36 has dramatically altered the gameplay landscape. Here's an in-depth look at how the Dota 2 community has come together to unravel the complexities of this new patch, with specific examples of community proposals and their impacts.
Main Changes in Patch 7.36
Patch 7.36 introduces two significant new features: Innate Abilities and Hero Facets. Innate Abilities are passive skills that heroes possess from the start of the game, which can level up with skill points or alongside other abilities. For example, Sand King's Caustic Finale now levels up with Epicenter, streamlining his gameplay. Another significant change is to Marci, whose innate ability now grants allied couriers bonus levels and health, altering how teams manage courier resources.
Hero Facets offer pre-match choices that impact gameplay significantly. For instance, Luna can choose between Lunar Orbit, which reduces damage, or Moonstorm, which modifies Lucent Beam to add attack damage based on enemies hit. This choice must be made during the strategy phase and cannot be changed, adding a layer of strategic depth to hero selection and team composition.
Community Collaboration and Proposals
The Dota 2 community has been instrumental in deciphering these new mechanics. Online forums, mainly Reddit, have become hubs for sharing discoveries and theories. Players experiment with various facet combinations and innate abilities, posting their findings to help others understand the best ways to leverage these changes. Below are a few of the most prominent examples:
Juggernaut's New Playstyle
Juggernaut's new facets, Bladeform and Bladestorm, have sparked extensive community discussion. Players have proposed strategies such as pairing Bladeform with supports that have crowd-control abilities to maximize Juggernaut's critical damage output. One popular suggestion involves using Crystal Maiden's Frostbite to hold enemies in place, allowing Juggernaut to unleash devastating attacks.
Reddit Discussion on Juggernaut's Facets
Legion Commander's Duo Potential
Legion Commander's Spoils of War facet grants bonus damage to allies during duels, encouraging new team strategies. Community proposals highlight the effectiveness of pairing her with high-damage heroes like Phantom Assassin or Sven. Players have shared success stories of dueling alongside these heroes, leveraging the facet to turn the tide of battles. This collaborative approach has significantly increased the Legion Commander's win rate.
Reddit Discussion on Legion Commander's Spoils of War
Adaptation to Glyph Changes
Players have suggested new tactics for utilizing the Glyph of Fortification's change. One strategy involves baiting the enemy team into overcommitting to a tower push, then using the glyph strategically to buy time for reinforcements. This community-proposed tactic has been discussed extensively on forums, leading to notable in-game successes.
Reddit Discussion on Glyph Changes
Hero Deny Mechanics
The change grants experience to heroes, creating deniable debuffs, which has led to new laning strategies. Community members have proposed focusing on heroes with strong deny capabilities, like Lich, to dominate the early game experience advantage. Numerous players have tested and validated this, contributing to a shift in early game dynamics.
Reddit Discussion on Hero Deny Mechanics
Templar Assassin's Refraction Rework
Templar Assassin's new refraction ability, which now functions as a health barrier, has led to various community strategies for maximizing her effectiveness. Players have suggested item builds that complement her new ability, such as early-game Desolator for added burst damage or Dragon Lance for increased attack range. These strategies have been shared and refined through community feedback on forums and streaming platforms.
Reddit Discussion on Templar Assassin's Refraction
Crystal Maiden's Facet Choices
Crystal Maiden's new facets, Frozen Expanse and Cold Comfort, have been the subject of extensive community testing. Players have found that pairing Frozen Expanse with heroes with high mana needs, like Bristleback, can significantly improve lane dominance. Meanwhile, Cold Comfort has been recommended for heroes who benefit from frequent spellcasting, enhancing team synergy.
Reddit Discussion on Crystal Maiden's Facets
Dynamic Health Bar Focus
The community has leveraged the addition of Dynamic Health Bar Focus, which makes the health bar of any hovered unit draw on top of others to improve target prioritization in team fights. Players have proposed using this feature to enhance focus on high-priority targets, sharing tips and tricks for utilizing this new tool during chaotic battles.
Reddit Discussion on Dynamic Health Bar Focus
Ogre Seal Totem Rework
The rework of the Ogre Seal Totem, which now includes a flail animation during the hero's jump, has inspired creative uses among players. Community members have suggested using the item in combination with blink initiators like Axe or Earthshaker to surprise enemies and control fights. These innovative strategies have been highlighted in numerous gameplay videos and guides, showcasing the item's potential.
Reddit Discussion on Ogre Seal Totem Rework
Community Resources and Tools
Various community-created resources have emerged to assist with understanding and adapting to Patch 7.36. Detailed guides and videos on platforms like YouTube and Twitch offer insights into new hero builds and item changes—websites like Esports. Gg provides comprehensive breakdowns of patch notes, highlighting fundamental changes and their potential impact on gameplay. Although that is more of a reaction than the initial spark, we include a few especially useful examples.
Comprehensive Guides
Popular YouTubers and streamers have created in-depth guides exploring optimal facet choices and innate ability uses. These guides often feature community-sourced tips and examples of successful strategies, making them invaluable for players looking to adapt quickly. One such guide on Juggernaut's new facets has received widespread acclaim for its detailed analysis and practical advice.
Reddit Compilation of Patch 7.36 Guides
Collaborative Patch Note Compilation
One notable community effort is the compilation of patch notes illuminated by the Candle Token in the Crownfall event. Players have been piecing together fragments of the update revealed through this in-game item, fostering a sense of collective problem-solving and anticipation for future updates. This collaborative approach has helped demystify many aspects of the patch, making it more accessible to the broader community.