Dota 2 patch 7.37d Hits the Aura meta hard

The International is over and the new Dota 2 season is starting. While Valve isn't ready to release Kaz and the final act of Crownfall, they have been cooking up a new update. Dota 2 patch 7.37d is here and aims to address the biggest problems in the game right now.

IceFrog has focused on reeling in the aura meta in the game, the most prevalent playstyle in the last two years. He also (lightly) rebalanced heroes.

The biggest changes in Dota 2 patch 7.37d

The king is dead! Long live the king! (Credit: Valve)

Bracers, Null Talisman, and Wraith Bands no longer double stats

Dota 2 patch 7.31 introduced passive item upgrades to the game. At the 25-minute mark, three items would double their stats.

This led to Bracers, Null Talismans, and Wraith Bands being highly coveted, as they became incredibly efficient mana items. Perhaps a bit too efficient.

The low cost and incredible value encouraged players to stack Bracers and gain an extraordinary amount of health, something that had to be adjusted.

The three stat items no longer double at the 25 minute mark, so players will likely skip them. It's a forced change but a needed one for item variety in the game.

Dota 2 patch 7.37d nerfs aura items

No more blinking out of Pit of Malice (Credit: Valve).

Bracers weren't the only items being mass purchased in the previous patch. Aura items were extremely prevalent and most games featured both teams buying them, with the winning team getting the key items first.

The latest update nerfs Guardian Greaves, Pipe of Insight, and Crimson Guard. The latter two only have their duration reduced, which isn't too bad. Guardian Greaves now costs an extra 100 gold.

While these nerfs are needed, I don't believe they matter much. Auras remain too strong and these light nerfs are unlikely to change anything.

I expect bigger changes in the next big update, as the latest round of nerfs just don't go far enough to change the meta.

Mass hero rebalancing

Fear not my friends, our guardian is here. (Credit: Valve)

Dota 2 patch 7.37d is overall a light update and while 52 heroes got changes, most of them are extremely minor.

Of the heroes who have been rebalanced, two in particular stand out to us, Omniknight and Windranger.

Omniknight is slower, less durable, has a weaker facet, and more expensive spells. The two other S-tier supports (Shadow Demon and Tusk) also got nerfed, but Omniknight's are bigger by far.

WindRager's Whirlwind facet was also hit hard. It now deals significantly less damage, doesn't last as long, and has an additional 20 seconds added to it's cooldown at max level.

While plenty of other heroes received changes, we believe that Omniknight and Windranger's nerfs will kick them out of the meta at the highest levels of professional play.

Overall this was a minor update, meant only to tide players over until the final act of Crownfall. It's not much but it does apply a new coat of paint on a well-worn patch.

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Featured Image Source: Valve