Dota 2's Patch 7.36 introduced some of the most impactful changes to the game in recent years. While some heroes and items received minor tweaks, others underwent significant overhauls, resulting in noticeable shifts in the meta. Here are the biggest winners and losers of Dota 2 Patch 7.36.
Winners of Dota 2 Patch 7.36
1. Juggernaut
- Overview: Juggernaut received a substantial buff to his damage output, notably with the Duelist Innate ability granting him a 10% bonus damage and Blade Dance starting with a 35% Crit Chance;
- Impact: His win rate soared from 49.92% to 58.73% overnight;
- Key Changes:
- Duelist Innate Ability: 10% bonus damage when facing the target;
- Blade Dance: Fixed 35% Crit Chance;
- Bladeform Facet: Provides stacking agility and movement speed bonuses;
- Blade Fury: Ends with a strong dispel;
- Omnislash: Adjusted bonus damage scaling;
2. Legion Commander
- Overview: Already a strong laner, Legion Commander became even more formidable with buffs that enhanced her dueling and team fight capabilities;
- Impact: Win rate increased from 49.87% to 57.97%;
- Key Changes:
- Moment of Courage Innate Ability: Adjusted scaling and cooldown;
- Stonehall Plate Facet: Grants a damage barrier after using Overwhelming Odds;
- Spoils of War Facet: Provides bonus damage to units that deal damage to the duel loser;
- Overwhelming Odds: Increased base and hero damage, with longer buff duration;
3. Templar Assassin
- Overview: Templar Assassin became a more versatile laner with Psi Blades available from the start, improving her overall gameplay;
- Impact: Win rate jumped from 45.17% to 52.13%;
- Key Changes:
- Base Health Regen and Attack Time: Improved;
- Psi Blades Innate Ability: Increased attack range and blade range scaling;
- Refraction: Now grants health barrier charges instead of damage block charges;
- Talents: Various buffs to Psi Blades and Refraction;
4. Tiny
- Overview: Tiny saw the return of his Craggy Exterior passive ability, along with significant buffs to his damage and crowd control;
- Impact: Win rate improved from 46.54% to 51.66%;
- Key Changes:
- Craggy Exterior Innate Ability: Applies a stacking debuff to attackers;
- Crash Landing Facet: Enhances Toss’s landing damage and area;
- Insurmountable Facet: Grants slow resistance and status resistance based on strength;
- Grow and Tree Grab: Increased movement speed and bonus damage scaling;
5. Weaver
- Overview: Weaver, with Geminate Attack available from level one, became one of the strongest early-game heroes;
- Impact: Win rate rose from 47.50% to 52.13%;
- Key Changes:
- Geminate Attack Innate Ability: Scales bonus damage and cooldown;
- Skitterstep Facet: Enhances Shukuchi with additional movement speed and enemy slow;
- Talents: Improvements to Shukuchi damage and cooldown reduction;
Losers of Dota 2 Patch 7.36
1. Tinker
- Overview: Tinker faced severe nerfs, including the removal of Rearm's ability to reset item cooldowns and the removal of Heat-Seeking Missile;
- Impact: Win rate plummeted from 46% to 33%;
- Key Changes:
- Eureka Innate Ability: Reduced item cooldown based on intelligence;
- March of the Machines: Replaced Heat-Seeking Missile;
- Laser: Adjusted range and blind mechanics;
- Rearm: No longer resets item cooldowns;
2. Anti-Mage
- Overview: Anti-Mage's early game became significantly weaker, affecting his ability to scale into the late game;
- Impact: Win rate dropped from 52.10% to 49.42%;
- Key Changes:
- Mana Break Innate Ability: Reduced mana burn and scaling;
- Blink and Counterspell: Increased mana costs and reduced effectiveness;
- Talents: Adjustments to blink cooldown and cast range;
3. Bristleback
- Overview: Bristleback's damage output was heavily nerfed, impacting his overall effectiveness in the meta;
- Impact: Win rate fell from 50.84% to 44.55%;
- Key Changes:
- Base Damage: Reduced;
- Warpath: Became an innate ability with nerfed damage;
- Viscous Nasal Goo and Quill Spray: Reduced effectiveness and Aghanim’s Shard impact;
4. Sand King
- Overview: Sand King saw major changes to his abilities, making him less effective in the current meta;
- Impact: Win rate decreased from 52.75% to 47.47%;
- Key Changes:
- Caustic Finale Innate Ability: No longer slows enemies;
- Sand Shroud and Dust Devil Facets: Adjustments to Sand Storm mechanics;
- Epicenter: Reduced damage and range;
5. Phantom Assassin
- Overview: Phantom Assassin's kit underwent significant changes, particularly to Blur, affecting her ability to evade and deal critical hits;
- Impact: Win rate dropped from 48% to 44%;
- Key Changes:
- Immaterial Innate Ability: Grants evasion and increases with level;
- Veiled One and Methodical Facets: Adjustments to Blur and Coup de Grace mechanics;
- Blur: No longer grants evasion or invisibility but still hides on the map;