Dota 2 Patch 7.38: Which Heroes Got Nerfed & Who’s Stronger Than Ever?

Hello friends! It’s the Blix team, and today, we’re excited to dive into our analysis of the recent patch 7.38, released for Dota 2 on February 24, 2025. This patch has significantly impacted the meta, rebalancing heroes and prompting us professional players to rethink our strategies, builds, and overall approaches to the game.

We’ve thoroughly studied and tested the changes in public matches and practice games. Now, we’re ready to share a detailed breakdown of which heroes emerged as the stars of the patch and which ones have been sidelined. Let’s get started!

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The Losers of Patch 7.38: Who Was Unlucky?

Each patch requires sacrifices, and 7.38 was no different. Some heroes that were powerful in the last meta have diminished in strength and can now barely make an impact. Let’s analyze who has been affected.

Lina: From Queen of The Mid to Outsider

Dota 2 hero: Lina

In patch 7.37, Lina was a nightmare for her enemies. She had a dominant laning phase, an ultimate that could instantly eliminate 3,000 to 4,000 HP, and a passive ability that made her nearly unstoppable. However, with patch 7.38, Valve decided to make changes. Fiery Soul’s passive was weakened, and her powerful talent for orbs was replaced with a barrier for Laguna Blade. As a result, her win rate dropped from 51% to 44%, a decrease of 7%. This change transformed Lina from a top-tier midrange hero into one of the weakest heroes in the patch.

Currently, her best chance of success is building a physical damage approach through items like Maelstrom and Daedalus. Even with this build, she still significantly lags behind other heroes. Therefore, we do not recommend picking Lina in the current meta, as many stronger alternatives are available, which we’ll discuss later.

Lycan: A Wolf Without a Pack

Dota 2 hero: Lycan

Lycan was a universal hero in the last patch, capable of filling any role. However, with the 7.38 update, he was reclassified as a strength hero, and the Alpha Wolf facet received a slight nerf. As a result, his win rate dropped by 6%, falling from 48% to 42%, making him the lowest-scoring hero in the game. While it might seem like Lycan is dead, Blix believes that’s not entirely the case.

The Pack Leader facet keeps him viable, especially if you have mastered playing him. We tested Lycan using Dominator, Nullifier, and Aghanim’s Scepter, and it was effective! Although the hero has lost some of his power since the patch, he can still be competitively played with the right strategy and experience. If you have at least 5–10 games with Lycan from the previous patch, give him a try in 7.38 — it’s not as grim as it appears.

Bloodseeker: Bloodlust Left Without Prey

Dota 2 hero: Bloodseeker

Bloodseeker has recently been nerfed, dropping his win rate from 56% to 50%. While this doesn’t seem drastic, the underlying issues are more significant. Changes to Aghanim’s Scepter, the conversion of abilities from magic damage to pure damage, and a meta shift towards the decisive late game have rendered the hero more vulnerable. Bloodseeker struggles in the laning phase, which is crucial in the current meta, as it’s important to quickly secure map control, destroy the Tormentor, and establish an advantage.

Additionally, Bloodseeker lacks both farming speed and stability. Although he can succeed with a strong draft, we have yet to see reliable builds ensuring victories in 5–10 consecutive games. As it stands, the hero is underperforming and may need either a buff or innovative strategies from the community to be effective.

Lich: The Support King Has Fallen

Dota 2 hero: Lich

In the last patch, Lich dominated the fourth and fifth positions with powerful abilities, significant damage, and his Sinister Gaze, which could disrupt enemies effectively. However, in patch 7.38, he was significantly weakened: he can no longer use his abilities while using Gaze, and both the shield and Frost Nova have become less effective. As a result, his win rate dropped by 5%, leaving Lich in the middle tier in popularity and effectiveness among heroes.

It’s not advisable to pick him right now, as there are stronger support heroes that fit better into the current meta. Lich has suffered too many nerfs, and it seems his time in the spotlight has passed.

Spectre: A Ghost Without a Chance

Dota 2 hero: Spectre

Spectre was quite problematic in the last patch, showcasing strong gameplay and excellent mobility. However, at 7:38 a.m., she was moved to a different tier, which unfortunately resulted in her being weakened across the board. Her win rate has dropped from 52% to 48%, and the reasons behind this decline are clear: she has become very hard to play.

In a meta where early fights and tanky heroes are crucial, Spectre struggles to farm effectively or gather resources from Ancient camps. Her only chance to secure a victory lies in making a comeback through her ultimates, but this strategy is ineffective against tanky opponents.

Overall, Spectre remains a problematic hero. We are hoping the community will find a viable build for her. In the meantime, we recommend avoiding her in your drafts.

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The Winners of Patch 7.38: Who Rules the Meta?

Next, let’s discuss the characters that have benefited from the patch. These characters are either directly enhanced or fit seamlessly into the new meta. Get your picks ready — you can use them to improve your rating!

Dragon Knight: King of Carry

Dota 2 hero: Dragon Knight

Dragon Knight saw a significant surge in popularity during the early days of the patch, achieving a win rate of 65–70% due to some bugs in his passive ability. After these issues were fixed, his win rate stabilized at around 58%, making him one of the top three carries in the current patch. While the splash damage from his passive has been removed, additional bonus magic damage has been introduced, allowing him to excel in lane, farm quickly, and deal substantial damage in team fights.

Dragon Knight fits well into the current meta, especially in early engagements. We tested various builds: Armlet for aggression or Manta Style combined with Maelstrom for versatility. The optimal choice depends on the enemy lineup, but it is clear that Dragon Knight is a strong pick right now—dive in and secure victory!

Abaddon: The Broken Champion

Dota 2 hero: Abaddon

Abaddon has seen little change in the patch, yet his win rate continues to rise, currently sitting at 57.5% and potentially reaching 58% soon. Valve has acknowledged this, but the measures taken have not addressed the core issues. The hero is considered overpowered and can be effectively played in all positions, particularly in the offlane and as a support.

His durability, ability to dispel debuffs and ability to provide shields make him a formidable force in the current patch. We believe Abaddon is too strong right now and will expect nerfs. However, for the time being, take advantage of his strengths while you can!

Lifestealer: The Unstoppable Tank

Dota 2 hero: Lifestealer

Lifestealer is currently a top-tier carry in this patch. His abilities have been redesigned, allowing him to gain more health when he kills enemy heroes. With a win rate of 56%, this advantage is well-deserved. Lifestealer excels at holding his ground in the lane, engages in fights early, and faces little competition, except perhaps from Nature’s Prophet in certain scenarios. He is an excellent snowball hero, and we are actively testing him in our strategies. Give him a try and enjoy the experience!

Mirana: The Invisible Menace

Dota 2 hero: Mirana

Mirana transitioned from being a generalist to a dodger. Her ultimate ability now provides a 15% bonus damage during the invisibility, enhancing her lethality. Consequently, her win rate has risen by 4.5%, reaching 50%. This change is powerful but somewhat unstable, as it relies heavily on execution. We see potential in this approach but recommend opting for a more reliable character if you seek a stable rating.

Dark Seer: An Intelligent Tank

Dota 2 hero: Dark Seer

Dark Seer has become an intelligence hero, gaining an improved attack speed and a new innate ability that heals him upon leveling up. His win rate has increased by 3%. The redesigned Halberd, which is now assembled from Vanguard, makes him extremely durable. When combined with Greaves, Dark Seer can dominate every team fight. He typically farms for Halberd and Greaves by the 15th minute, after which he can close out the game with the Tormentor and Shard. This update has greatly enhanced him as an offlaner!

Tidehunter: The Impenetrable Giant

Dota 2 hero: Tidehunter

Tidehunter is currently one of the top picks in the offlane, boasting a 54.5% win rate. His passive ability allows him to block even more damage, making him invulnerable to physical attacks. Items like Maelstrom or Glimmer can be effective in dealing with his magic resistance, but taking him down can still be quite challenging.

We even saw Tidehunter played as a carry, utilizing items like Nature’s Call, Vladimir’s Offering, and Harpoon — and it worked! Consider picking him up to improve your MMR.

Nature’s Prophet: The King of Farm

Dota 2 hero: Nature’s Prophet

Nature’s Prophet saw a significant boost in performance with patch 7.38. The win rate increased by 5%, reaching 49%, and we believe this is just the beginning. The hero excels at farming, engages quickly in fights, captures runes, and deals enormous damage when built correctly. Furion has become incredibly powerful, and we are actively incorporating him into our strategies.

Dazzle: Imba in all Roles

Dota 2 hero: Dazzle

Dazzle is now played in almost every position except for Carry (although some players, like Yatoro, have experimented in that role). His abilities have been enhanced, cooldowns have been reduced, and he now has a new ultimate that creates an invulnerable clone, greatly influencing team fights. His win rate has increased significantly, and he has already made appearances in professional matches. In summary, Dazzle hides in the bushes while his clone takes down enemies, which feels overpowered in patch 7.38.

Winter Wyvern: Dream Support

Dota 2 hero: Winter Wyvern

Winter Wyvern has received significant buffs across various aspects and now boasts a 52% win rate. Her innate ability allows her to share 20% of the Wisdom Rune experience with three allies, creating a powerful snowball effect. When paired with two Wisdom Runes, a Tormentor, and Roshan at the 20-minute mark, it can lead to an easy victory. Consider picking her up as a support or offlane hero to help secure wins.

Jakiro: The Ice King

Dota 2 hero: Jakiro

Jakiro has made a significant impact in the current meta, thanks to a redesigned version of Ice Path. Its short cooldown and excellent crowd-control capabilities make it perfect for managing Roshan and Tormentor engagements. With a win rate of 52%, this is just the beginning for Jakiro, who is one of the most underrated heroes in the patch.

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Conclusion

Patch 7.38 has significantly altered the Dota 2 landscape, leading to a new meta characterized by strong laning stages, early fights, and robust heroes. Heroes like Lina, Lycan, and Spectre have taken a backseat for now, while the more favorable picks—such as Dragon Knight, Abaddon, and Lifestealer—are currently dominating the scene.

This update comes from the Blix team, and we are always excited to share our insights with you. We hope to see you in public matches and on the professional scene! Good luck in Dota 2! We also recommend visiting the Reddit thread for more Dota 2 content.