In the world of Dota 2, patch updates are expected, but the timing of them is everything. On April 20, 2023, just hours before the start of the much-anticipated Berlin Major, Valve released Patch 7.33b, and it has been causing quite a stir in the Dota 2 community. The update contains significant changes to heroes, items, and gameplay mechanics. With millions of dollars in prize money on the line, and top teams competing, this update will impact the game’s meta and strategies. Many are surprised by the timing of this update, and we will take a closer look at what changes it brings.
The most significant changes in the patch are the nerfs to some popular heroes, including Nature’s Prophet, Skywrath Mage, and Beastmaster. They have been a staple pick in the last few meta games and have had high win rates in professional and pub games. Their abilities have been scaled down, making them less effective in team fights, ganking, and pushing. The patch also buffs some heroes, including Outworld Destroyer, Templar Assassin, and Slark, making them much more viable against the nerfed heroes, changing the hero pool throughout the tournament.
Not only were heroes impacted, but Valve also decided to rework some items, including the Armlet of Mordiggian and the Spirit Vessel. Armlet was reworked to provide less sustain and survivability, while the Spirit Vessel was buffed to provide more damage and healing amplification. These changes will drastically change the itemization of heroes in the game and will take some getting used to for players who have been utilizing those items before the patch.
Gameplay changes also affect how the game progresses. The patch brought in changes in the gold and experience mechanics, with neutral camps providing lesser gold and experience, making farming more efficient rather than just stacking camps. These changes will affect players in the early game and may change how they approach their laning stage. Also, denies will now award more gold and experience to the team, causing positional aggression changes in the game.
Conclusion:
Valve’s patch 7.33b arrived at an unexpected time, once again showing the Dota 2 community that they are constantly evolving the game. The changes to heroes, items, and mechanics are sure to bring shake ups throughout the tournament, as players adapt their playstyles to new scenarios. By pushing this patch just hours before the Berlin Major, Valve has shown its unwavering commitment to the game and its fanbase. With these new changes in place we can look forward to some exciting games from the highest-level professional players adapting to these changes. This is a testament to the love and passion that Valve has for the game, and they strive to make it a better experience for all players.
