The Rise of Bloodseeker and Slark

Medusa dominated the early stages of patch 7.33. However, after more than a month of gameplay, some heroes are gaining popularity and are challenging the snake lady. Among those challengers, two heroes stood out above all else, Slark and Bloodseeker.

Bloodseeker has been getting contested a lot in high-level pubs and official matches. The hero has been steadily climbing up the popularity chart in Dota 2.  Slark is also a popular pub pick as the hero is agile and can cause havoc in the late game. Moreover, unintentionally, the hero also became one of the viable counters of Medusa, making it a popular pick.

Versatile Hero

Bloodseeker is one of the long-forgotten heroes because of his inability to scale into the late game. However, the hero had been steadily receiving buffs, and in patch 7.33, the hero received buffs to its abilities, making him considered a viable pick again. His Aghnanim Scepter also got reworked for the better.

After the reworks, Bloodseeker becomes a versatile hero. In patch 7.33c, Bloodseeker can be either a safelane carry or an offlane. As the safelane carry, the hero opens options for a greedy mid-hero or a fast-paced game. It is also good against meta offlane heroes like Timbersaw, Pangolier and  Doom.

As an offlaner, the hero offers solid sustain with its reworked Aghs. It can silence and give vision in team fights. However, the item build for safelane and offlane on Bloodseeker is similar. The hero will always get Maelstrom and Basher.

As a safelaner, Bloodseeker will go the damage route building Black King Bar, Sange and Yasha into a Basher. As an offlaner, Bloodseeker will go the Vanguard into Lotus Orb route. After getting Lotus Orb, Bloodseeker will upgrade its Vanguard to Crimson Guard or get a Basher. The hero has a 50.26 win rate in high-level pubs.

Something Fishy

Slark, on the other hand, is picked solely to play a fast-paced game. The hero also is a good laner against most meta offlane heroes. However, unlike Bloodseeker, Slark needs a good start to make an impact in the game.

The hero is a natural Diffusal Blade and Echo Sabre builder, making it a viable counter against Medusa. These items can now be upgraded in the new patch, making Slark more efficient. Slark can also save his teammate in a team fight with his Aghanim’s Shard ability.  Apart from being a safelaner, Tundra Esports have pioneered Slark as a soft support hero. Slark currently has a 50.64% win rate in high-level pubs.