Dota 2 Patch 7.37c has significantly changed the game's meta, affecting hero picks, itemization, and overall strategies as players prepare for The International 2024. Though not introducing new mechanics, this patch rebalances many heroes and items, pushing specific playstyles to the forefront while weakening others.
By the way, speaking about tactics, check our article about iconic tactics of some pro Dota 2 players.
Hero Meta Shifts
Several heroes have seen adjustments that are already influencing the meta. Anti-Mage received buffs to his Counterspell, increasing his spell reflection damage. The reduced cooldown on Blink at earlier levels allows him to farm more efficiently and engage or escape more frequently, making him a more decisive mid-to-late game carry.
On the other hand, Omniknight, previously dominant with a 57% win rate, was nerfed heavily. His Aghanim's Shard, which allowed secondary Purifications, is now less effective (75% to 65%). These nerfs weaken his lane presence and reduce his support role effectiveness, pushing teams to explore other durable heroes for off-lane or support.
A surprise reemergence in the meta is Phantom Lancer, who received buffs to his Juxtapose and Phantom Rush. These changes increase his illusion damage and agility gain, positioning him as a top-tier carry after a long period of underperformance. His ability to overwhelm enemies with illusions will likely make him a staple in pro drafts.
Nature's Prophet also faced significant nerfs. His Treants are now weaker, and Wrath of Nature's damage is reduced, making his early-game pressure less effective. This forces a shift from his aggressive global playstyle towards more calculated movements.
Item Adjustments
Several support-oriented items were toned down, affecting support and off-laners who rely on these to sustain their team. Holy Locket and Guardian Greaves, essential healing tools, saw reductions in their healing amplification and health restoration, respectively. These nerfs weaken healing-based team compositions, especially those relying on prolonged engagements. The changes are subtle, but enough to prompt a shift toward alternative sustain items or more aggressive team fight strategies.
Solar Crest and Pipe of Insight, essential utility items, were also nerfed, which reduced their effectiveness in buffing core heroes and mitigating magical damage. This impacts off-laners and supports who often build these items, encouraging teams to invest in more specialized builds depending on the matchups.
Tactical Adaptations
With these changes, players need to make several tactical shifts. Teams that previously relied on Omniknight for his strong lane dominance and defensive capabilities must explore alternatives like Abaddon or Treant Protector, who offer similar defensive utility without being as heavily impacted by the patch.
Additionally, the resurgence of Phantom Lancer as a carry means teams must prioritize illusion-clearing heroes such as Leshrac, Axe, or Earthshaker to counter his illusion-based pressure. In contrast, Anti-Mage's rise may push teams to focus on locking him down early, drafting heroes with strong disables like Lion or Shadow Shaman.
The nerfs to popular items like Guardian Greaves and Pipe of Insight suggest that sustainability-based teamfight strategies will become weaker. As a result, aggressive drafts that prioritize quick kills and mobility, such as those featuring Tusk or Storm Spirit, will likely rise in popularity.
Pro Players and Team Reactions
Several pro players have already commented on the impact of this patch leading into The International 2024. Yatoro from Team Spirit, known for his Phantom Lancer play, has highlighted how the buffs make the hero viable again, especially in games where the enemy lacks strong illusion clear. On the flip side, Cr1t- from Shopify Rebellion pointed out the nerfs to Omniknight as particularly harsh, stating that his utility as a lane support has dropped significantly.
With these changes in mind, teams must quickly adapt to the shifting meta to succeed in the upcoming major tournaments. The reduced effectiveness of healing-based supports and utility items will force more aggressive, burst-oriented strategies, likely to define the pro scene in the coming months.