Dota 2 Patch 7.38 ‘Wandering Waters’—Biggest Changes & Meta Shifts

After waiting for so long, the Dota 2 Update 7.38 is finally here, and oh boy, it comes with tons of changes. Valve calls the new update “Wandering Waters”, and it brings access to a new map. Blix.gg’s Dota 2 team has gone through everything new, so let’s dive in and analyze some of the new content in Patch 7.38.

The New Waterways

Among the first new aspects of the Dota 2 Update 7.38 is the new waterways found in the jungle. Besides changing the way the map looks, heroes who walk through there will receive a movement speed bonus. Fortunately, there won’t be any movement speed penalties in cases where you have to run against the water’s flow.

Changes in the Creep Camps

Another new thing you need to know about the Dota 2 Wandering Waters update is related to the creep maps. There will be a new creep camp that will actually evolve during the game. Pollywogs will be the first enemies you’ll come across, but as time goes on, players will fight Boglets and then Croakers. We expect Valve to give us access to more information about them soon.

The Wisdom Runes are now Shrines

The Dota 2 Update brings interesting changes to Wisdom Runes. A lot of players expected to see upgrades here, but Valve decided to remove them completely and make them Shrines of Wisdom. 

Players who go to the Shrines of Wisdom will be able to experience the same way they did with the runes. However, heroes who want to do that will need to stand in the shrine. Speaking of standing there, this effect will not work if an opponent is nearby. 

Alongside the Shrines of Wisdom, the Lotus Pools will also get the same effect. This means that they will only work if there are no enemy heroes nearby.

Roshan has a new Location

Roshan is one of the biggest objectives in Dota 2, and he has changed his location many times throughout the years. Well, it seems like the Dota 2 Patch 7.38 will do that again because Roshan’s new lair is now near the Power Rune spawn points. He will first spawn in the southern region, and then he will roam across the map to the northern point.

Changes to the Tormentor

Valve decided to change the Tormentors in the game by reducing the number from 2 to 1. The single Tormentor will spawn during the game and appear in a different place, depending on Roshan’s current position. Alongside that, the Tormentor will now have an AoE healing ability that becomes available after it dies.

The new Resource – Madstone

Among the biggest new things in the Dota 2 Update 7.38 is the addition of Madstone. This is a new resource that will allow you to craft neutral items that will fit well for the current game you are in.

To get your hands on Madstone, you need to clear a Neutral Camp. Once ready, you will receive 2 Madstones, whereas a random ally will get one. Your goal is to collect more Madstones so that you can get the item you want.

Speaking of crafting a neutral item, the latter consists of two parts:

• Artifact
• Enchantment

The Artifact will give your items new abilities, whereas the Enchantment will provide the stats. Once you start playing, you will see that there are 5 tiers of Artifacts and Enchantments that will be available, and you will see the items that your allies are trying to craft. Valve also decided to update the Neutrals Tab in the game, allowing you to check all possible combinations. 

Quality of Life Changes

As expected, the new Dota 2 update also brings many small Quality of Life changes. Those things are often underestimated, but they can make a huge difference for those who play regularly. Here’s what’s news:

• Roshan Timer – If you hover your mouse over the new Roshan timer, you can see whether he is alive and his current location.
• Item Targeting Effects – Dota 2 now has different kinds of visual effects for different items. The idea is to “help better communicate which hero is the source of the item’s effects”. 
• Mark for Sell – This amazing feature becomes available when you are dead and allows you to sell an item as soon as you are alive again. When you use it, the courier will actually get that item and bring it back to the fountain, where you can sell it. 
• HUD Timers – Dota Plus users will now have access to a HUD Timer that allows them to keep track of certain game aspects.
• All Attributes Display – This is just a visual change to the talent tree that allows you to check which attributes you’ve chosen.
• Backpack Grace Period – This is a huge change that allows players to drag newly acquired items via the courier out of their backpacks without having to wait for the annoying 6-second cooldown. 

Conclusion

The Dota 2 Wandering Waters update brings tons of important changes to our favorite game. Aside from all of the changes mentioned here, Patch 7.38 will also give us access to loads of new things that we at Blix.gg will show you. Make sure to follow us for the latest Dota 2 content.