Dota 2 Patch 7.38C: Pro Breakdown of Map, Hero, and Item Changes

Welcome, Dota 2 warriors! Patch 7.38C was released on March 27, 2025, and the Blix team is here to break down all the game-changing updates. This patch refines the meta for carries, midlaners, offlaners, and supports, addressing changes from the relocated Dire safe lane towers to hero buffs and item reworks.

If you prefer playing as Position 1 or ganking as Position 4, we’ve got the pro-level insights you need to dominate the game. Dive into our role-by-role breakdown and find out who’s rising, adapting, and how the battlefield has become a lot more exciting. Let’s get started!

Patch 7.38C General Changes

The foundation of the map and the changes in version 7.38C have significantly impacted every role. Here’s a summary of the key changes.

Dire Safe Lane Tower Shift

Dota 2: Dire Safe Lane Tower Shift

The Dire T1 safe lane tower shifted to the left, drawing the creep equilibrium closer to it—this mirrored the Radiant’s setup. For carries (position 1), this change provides a crucial advantage, as it allows them more room to farm without taking damage from tower shots. However, offlaners (position 3) may lose some of their advantage; body-blocking to push waves under the tower becomes more difficult. Supports (position 4/5) also need to adjust: position 5 supports will pull closer to secure farm, while position 4 supports can take advantage of the tighter space to set up ganks. While we lamented the decreased asymmetry, we agreed that it makes the lane dynamics more balanced.

Camp and Vision Adjustments

Dota 2: Dire Small Camp

The Dire small camp’s cliff has shifted, and the tree line has moved to the left. Quelling Blade users, whether they are carries or roaming supports, can cut down a tree to create a sneaky sentry spot—if you hide it well, you’ll find it rewarding. There’s also a hidden spot behind an uncuttable tree (using Tango’s is out, Quelling’s is in) that remains invisible without high-ground vision. We predict, “Valve will patch this once it becomes widely known,” so position 4 and 5 should take advantage of it now. 

The medium camp’s redirection enhances safe lane pulls—execute the pull at 51:00 to 51:30, step up, and make the connection. Position 1 can farm more safely, while positions 3 and 4 will be able to contest harder for resources.

The Dire Triangle watcher has been relocated, creating a new path for sneaky river approaches. Mid-lane heroes (position 2) and roaming position 4 will benefit from this change, allowing for mid ganks or stacking without being detected. The Radiant’s ledge has lost trees, exposing one of its observer wards (which can be taken out by a sentry) while another ward (in a lower spot) remains safer. If carries and mids are contesting Roshan, that lower ward becomes your most valuable asset.

Item Changes: Subtle Shifts, Big Plays

Dota 2 Art

Items got a light touch, but it’s enough to nudge strategies.

Helm of the Dominator/Overlord

Creeps have now become creep–heroes, immune to abilities from Chen, Enchantress, Midas, Mirana’s Arrow, and Doom’s Devour. Offlaners (position 3), such as Beastmaster, are celebrating as their boars provide stronger counters. Mid-laners (position 2) using Helm builds (like Lycan and Beastmaster) now have stickier summons. However, supports are losing some of their potential for stealing—position 4 Mirana is out of luck. We believe that the “Zoo meta” is starting to make a comeback, especially in professional drafts.

Orb of Corrosion, Spirit Vessel, and More

Dota 2: Hero Ember Spirit

The -2 armor nerf to Orb affects early aggression significantly—mid heroes like Ember Spirit and carries like Phantom Assassin feel the impact, but Orb remains a core item. The buff to Spirit Vessel enhances position four roamers, such as Nightstalker and Tiny, making its heal-block effect even more potent. The slight buff to Desolator benefits carries like Wraith King and Juggernaut, helping them scale better. However, the nerfs to Mage Slayer and Revenant’s Brooch hardly affect mid and offlane builds. We believe “Orb might need a gold increase to fade from the meta” since it remains too essential.

Neutral Items

Mana Draft’s cooldown spike nerf reduces sustain, causing mid–laners and supports to use it more sparingly now. The removal of health from Searing Signet (which no longer cancels blink) decreases its effectiveness for ganking, as position 4 heroes used to enjoy tagging those who blinked. Additionally, Wyze’s increase in experience from 600 to 1000 XP provides significant late-game benefits for carries and mid–laners reaching level 25 in prolonged battles.

Hero Changes: Winners, Losers, and Meta Movers

Most adjustments are small, but they create a significant impact. We’re focusing on the key aspects of every role.

Carry (Position 1)

Dota 2 hero: Phantom Assassin

• Phantom Assassin: The cast range on Stifling Dagger has been reduced by 350 at level 1. We note that “lane deaths delay Battle Fury,” which makes her riskier early on, especially combined with the nerf to her Orb. However, she remains a top carry if players scale wisely.
• Lifestealer: Glaives will now skip attack-immune targets. This is a buff if you’re focusing on heroes, but a nerf if you’ve relied on bounce effects from the Ghost Scepter. We still consider him “solid”—he remains a popular choice in pubs.
• Medusa: While she’s been nerfed in public games, she’s still strong in professional play. We comment that “Mystic Snake is weaker,” which leads pro carries to shift towards faster fighters.
• Wraith King: He received a minor buff, but we believe it’s “not enough to impact the meta.” He remains viable in pubs but has limited use in professional settings.

Mid (Position 2)

Dota 2 hero: Dragon Knight

• Ember Spirit: Received a slight buff; however, the nerfs to Orb and Mage Slayer help maintain balance. “Still a top mid hero,” we assert—mobility remains key.
• Dragon Knight: The ultimate now has -15 move speed at max level. “This is super minor,” we chuckle—Fire Dragon is still a formidable presence.
• Magnus: The damage from Empower has decreased from 50% to 30%. “Carry Magnus has a greater impact than Spellcaster,” we analyze—mid is fine, but position one may struggle.
• Templar Assassin: Minor buff was given. “Not enough,” we sigh—she needs more to truly shine.

Offlane (Position 3)

Dota 2 hero: Dark Seer

• Abaddon: -1 armor, increased shield cooldown, and Curse no longer affects buildings. “The core is still viable,” we argue. The lane is tougher, but late-game holds are strong. Pros are now picking him in situational scenarios.
• Dark Seer: “He’s still strong,” we insist, as his wave push ability remains dominant.
• Nightstalker: -20% night regeneration. “The tanky third position can shrug this off,” we note, meaning early ganks remain effective.
• Timbersaw: Minor buff. “He’s the niche king,” we agree, emphasizing his matchup-dependent nature.

Soft Support (Position 4)

Dota 2 hero: Hoodwink

• Faceless Void: The time zone loses its leash. “Support Void is dead,” we lament—as does offlane. It’s back to carry life.
• Hoodwink: Acorn damage has been increased. “Sharpshooter at 6 kills,” we celebrate—position 4 is on the rise.
• Muerta: The Ofrenda buff is strong. “Atos-Aghs 4 is incredibly effective,” we smile—spellcasters are thriving.
• Nightstalker: Still a solid choice—regeneration nerf doesn’t hinder roaming.
• Weaver: Bugs now die to invulnerability. “Hive Mind-Swarm remains lethal,” we argue—position 4 still holds strong.

Hard Support (Position 5)

Dota 2 hero: Jakiro

• Ancient Apparition: Ice Vortex mana cost increased by 15, with a slight range nerf. “Use less frequently, still viable,” we advise—use Clarity, or you’ll struggle. 
• Jakiro: Dual Breath mana cost reduced. “Now prioritize QEE or EQE,” we suggest—remains a stable choice for the fifth role. 
• Warlock: No changes made. “The best choice for five, keep spamming,” we affirm—the Golem is powerful. 
• Tinker: Scaling nerfed. “Still good, but not the best,” we note—requires space but remains viable. 
• Keeper of the Light: Minor buffs applied. “Best in party setups,” we emphasize—coordinate, or you’ll struggle.

FAQ

Q: What’s the most significant change in this patch?

A: The Dire safe lane towers have shifted, and there have been tweaks to the camps. Position 1 heroes can farm more easily, Position 3 heroes can apply more pressure, and supports are fighting harder for pull control—lane dynamics have become more exciting.

Q: Which roles benefit the most?

A: Position 4 heroes like Hoodwink and Muerta gain from buffs and can dominate with ganks. Position 5 heroes, such as Warlock and Jakiro, remain strong, as they were either untouched or only slightly nerfed. Mids like Ember and Dragon Knight, as well as offlaners like Dark Seer, are holding steady.

Q: Who got hit the hardest?

A: Support Faceless Void has been significantly impacted—Time Zone’s leash nerf has made it unplayable. Carry heroes like PA and Magnus have also taken early hits, making their scaling more difficult.

Q: Does this shift the meta?

A: The changes aren’t seismic—pub games remain stable, while professional players refine their drafts. The introduction of zoo strategies (due to Helm buffs) and early fights caused by map tweaks push slight changes. The mantra becomes “fight early, take objectives,” emphasizing the importance of towers and Roshan.

Q: Any sleeper picks?

A: Hoodwink’s Acorn buff makes Sharpshooter effective at level 6. Muerta’s Atos-Aghanim’s build at level 4 can be a spellcasting threat. It’s worth testing these heroes; there’s potential for gain.

Q: What’s the playstyle now?

A: Players should exploit map gaps (like the Dire triangle and Radiant ledge), secure vision with sneaky sentries, and apply early pressure. Carry heroes should scale, mids need to roam, offlaners must adapt, and supports will dictate the pace of the game.

You can find a list of all the changes on the official Dota 2 website. Additionally, we recommend visiting the Reddit thread for more Dota 2 content.