Valve has released a new update for Dota 2, introducing the winter season for Dota Plus subscribers, fixing numerous bugs, and making adjustments to Crownfall and Nest of Thorns. Meanwhile, streamer and former professional player Artyom “Fng” Barshak shared his thoughts on the unique position of the hero Lich in professional play versus matchmaking.
What’s New in the Winter Update?
The update, launched on 6 December, brings interface, graphical, and gameplay fixes. Key changes include:
- Settings and Icons: Fixed a Quickcast issue for wards, corrected Razor’s Voidstorm Asylum Arcana ability icon, and resolved a bug with Shadow Fiend’s Presence of the Dark Lord effect.
- Crownfall and Nest of Thorns: Improvements to interface and visuals, permanent voice line rewards for specific difficulty levels, and refined mechanics for spirit spawns.
- Global Fixes: Addressed problems with spray visuals, tooltip text, client and server crashes, and added new options for drafting Kez Sai abilities.
Fng on Lich: Matchmaking vs. Professional Scene
Artyom “Fng” Barshak, a streamer and former Virtus.pro player, discussed the differences in Lich’s performance between matchmaking and professional games.
"Why does Lich dominate high MMR pubs but not get picked in tournaments? Because pubs and the pro scene are very different. Lich just can’t use resources effectively when it comes to playing around portals."
Fng explained that Lich struggles with mana management in professional matches, where swift transitions between lanes and portals are critical. In pubs, where lanes often remain static for up to 15 minutes, the hero shines thanks to his strong laning presence and control.
Dota 2 updates and balance discussions continue to captivate the community. The winter Dota Plus season and mechanical fixes enhance the game’s quality, while insights from players like Fng shed light on gameplay nuances. Fans eagerly await Valve’s next moves to bridge the gap between matchmaking and the professional scene.