Dota 2 patch 7.36 Completely Changes the Game

Dota 2 patch 7.36 is here and it is a doozy. The new update introduces sweeping changes to heroes, along with smaller balance fixes to the map.

The new update is dense and we expect it to take weeks before people figure out the best heroes for the meta. With such a big update, the Dota 2 scene is turned on its head yet again.

In this article we will look at the biggest changes introduced in Dota 2 patch 7.36, to help you figure out what the hell is going on.

The biggest changes in Dota 2 patch 7.36

I gotta learn more than 100 new Innates?! (Credit: Valve).

Every hero gains a passive ability

Dota 2 patch 7.36 introduces Innnate Abilities, which are passives unique to each hero and they are extremely varied.

Undying gains the ability to instantly respawn once every 480 seconds, Spirit Breaker buffs an ally with 50% bonus experience, and Zeus regains his old Static Field ability.

While most innate abilities are new, some heroes are unchanged such as Alchemist who keeps his Greevil Greed, while others such as Venomancer gain an extra level on Poison Sting.

Facets are introduced

The latest patch introduces an entirely new mechanic to the world of Dota 2: Hero Facets.

Hero Facets give players a choice between two or more unique hero upgrades, decided at the start of the game.

Let's take Crystal Maiden as an example. Arcane Aura can either increase her cast range and AoE of spells, or restore ally mana each time she uses an ability.

While some Facets seem much stronger than others, we expect this new change to split the community on certain heroes and we can't wait for that.

Games are going to get shorter

Team Falcons were triumphant in their ESL One Birmingham 2024 run. (Credits: ESL One)

One repeated complaint about the previous Dota 2 patch was how long games dragged on.

Whether it was a pub match or a grand final of a million-dollar tournament, going high ground was precarious and punishable.

The latest update aims to alleviate some of that difficulty. Instead of refreshing Glyph of Fortification when a tier three tower drops, it gets refreshed after the first melee barracks is destroyed.

Going high ground early is a little more rewarding, as teams are more likely to walk away with serious structural damage done. It still doesn't reduce the risk though.

Time will tell if this change is enough to reduce game length but it's certainly a step in the right direction.

There is a lot to digest in Dota 2 patch 7.36 and we expect several letter patches soon. With so many Facets and Innate Abilities to learn, Dota 2 has never been more exciting.

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Featured Image Source:  Valve