Dota 2 Patch 7.38 Carry Tier List: The Best Heroes to Climb MMR

Welcome, Dota 2 enthusiasts! The Blix team is excited to provide you with an in-depth analysis of the carry role in Patch 7.38. As the meta shifts and certain heroes gain or lose relevance, we have carefully examined the current state of carry to help you excel in your matches and climb the ranks.

If you’re a casual player with an MMR between 0-7K or an aspiring high-tier competitor, this tier list is designed to give you the advantage and knowledge you need. We have thoroughly explored each hero’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall viability in this patch.

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E-Tier: The Bottom of the Barrel

These heroes are struggling to find their footing as carries in 7.38. For the average player, they’re simply not worth the effort.

Dota 2: E-Tier Carry

Lina

Lina’s fall from grace has been nothing short of catastrophic. Once a powerhouse carry known for her devastating spell damage and high attack speed from Fiery Soul, she has been significantly weakened in this patch. The removal of Gleipnir, a key part of her previous builds, has left her itemization in disarray. What should players even build now? While Revenant’s Brooch might enhance her magic damage, it is a poor substitute for a cohesive carry build. 

Dota 2 hero: Lina

Her laning phase is weak, her scaling is abysmal, and her nerfs have pushed her behind even some of the most heavily nerfed heroes, like Kez. Unless you are trolling or truly enjoy a challenge, it’s best to avoid playing Lina as a carry.

Templar Assassin

Templar Assassin is a paradox. In the hands of a 10K MMR expert, she can unleash significant destruction using her Refraction and Psionic Traps. However, for the average player, she can be a nightmare to play. This hero requires precise skill—understanding vision control, pushing your limits, and effectively zoning enemies. Without that mastery, TA struggles significantly. Her scaling as a carry is underwhelming in almost every game, and even at the professional level, she doesn’t stand out. The recent Patch 7.38 has not improved her situation, so unless you’re an expert with TA, it’s best to leave her on the sidelines.

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D-Tier: Struggling to Stay Relevant

These heroes have potential but are crippled by nerfs or complexity that doesn’t pay off for most players.

Dota 2: D-Tier Carry

Windranger

Once a staple safe laner, Windranger has been relegated to a support role in 7.38. Her days of dominating as a core are long gone, with her kit no longer supporting a carry playstyle effectively. Windrun nerfs, and a lack of scaling damage mean she’s irrelevant as a safe lane pick. In pubs, she’s a liability—avoid her unless you’re supporting.

Kez

Dota 2 hero: Kez

Kez was a top-tier carry not long ago, boasting some of the most broken spells in the game. However, 7.38 hit him hard, slashing his numbers and dropping his win rate to a pitiful 42%. If you’re not a Kez specialist who can exploit his Wex-heavy playstyle or micro his summons perfectly, he’s unplayable. The nerfs were too severe, and his current state doesn’t justify the effort.

Terrorblade

Terrorblade shines in pro hands, where precise illusion micro and timing mastery can turn games. For the average pub player, though? He’s a disaster. His low HP pool early on makes him a gank magnet, and nerfs to his Level 10 talent (Conjure Image cooldown) have given him severe mana issues. Without impeccable shard timing and flash-farming knowledge, he’s too technical and scales too poorly to recommend.

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C Tier: Mediocre at Best

These heroes have niche uses but lack the punch or ease of execution to excel as carries in 7.38.

Dota 2: C-Tier Carry

Bristleback

Bristleback is an offlaner at heart, and playing him as a carry feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole. Items like Sange and Yasha, Glimmer Cape, Linken’s Sphere, or Pipe of Insight with a shard at 15 mimic an offlane build, not a hard carry one. The removal of Bloodstone synergy with his Seen Red facet has gutted his sustainability. Stick to the offlane with this prickly pig.

Shadow Fiend

Dota 2 hero: Shadow Fiend

Shadow Fiend’s glory days as a carry are fading. His reliance on snowballing from the mid lane doesn’t translate well to the safe lane, and 7.38 hasn’t bolstered his scaling. He’s simply not viable as a carry for most players—too fragile and too situational.

Morphling

Morphling is a pro-scene darling in specific matchups where he can’t be ganked out of lane, but in pubs, he’s a C-tier slog. His complexity—managing Attribute Shift and hitting key timings—is overwhelming for the average player. Without a clear purpose in your draft, he’s a liability.

Phantom Lancer

Phantom Lancer as a carry with Revenant’s Brooch sounded promising on paper, but 7.38’s reality says otherwise. His win rate is dismal, and he hasn’t gained traction. Too squishy, too situational—skip him.

Monkey King

Monkey King’s nerfs have hit hard, and his high-skill ceiling doesn’t justify the payoff. He’s too difficult for the average player to wield effectively as a carry in this patch.

Faceless Void

Theoretically, Faceless Void should dominate with his Chronosphere and scaling potential, but his numbers are abysmal. Patch 7.38’s buffs didn’t move the needle enough—he’s stuck in C tier, underperforming despite his kit.

Phantom Assassin

Dota 2 hero: Phantom Assassin

PA’s reputation as a top-tier carry has taken a beating. Her laning phase nerfs, and a brutal 75% crit damage reduction on Coup de Grace have gutted her scaling. She’s still viable in pro play with specific combos (like Warlock’s Fatal Bonds), bumping her to the A-tier potential there, but in pubs, she’s overrated and underwhelming.

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B Tier: Solid but Situational

These heroes are decent picks with the right conditions, offering a mix of reliability and scaling for the average player.

Dota 2: B-Tier Carry

Naga Siren

Naga is decent with combos like Dark Seer or Jakiro, leveraging Ion Shell and illusions effectively. Without synergy, though, she drops to C-tier territory. A situational B-tier pick.

Sven

Dota 2 hero: Sven

Sven garnered hype early in 7.38 for ancient camp farming, but his nerfed Warcry and stun duration have dulled his shine. He’s average—nothing exceptional here.

Lone Druid

Lone Druid’s nerfs hurt his numbers, and the Necessities bear’s rush build isn’t cutting it. Stick to Bear With Me and tank up—he’s a low B-tier option.

Ursa

The Battle Fury cost reduction helps Ursa’s mid-game timing, but his scaling remains awkward. Needing Battle Fury, Blink, and Basher without a BKB leaves him vulnerable. Decent, but not great.

Pudge

Dota 2 hero: Pudge

Pudge with the Rot and Rotten Cor facet sounded broken, but no one’s cracked the code. Builds like Mask of Madness or Aghanim’s Scepter with Crystal Maiden show promise, but he’s too hard to execute consistently.

Meepo

Meepo’s numbers are reportedly better, and he might climb higher in B tier—or beyond—with more data. His rarity in pubs makes him tough to judge, but he’s solid if you can micro.

Arc Warden

New changes haven’t favored Arc Warden, but his scaling remains strong. Low B-tier hero.

Sniper

Better as a mid hero needing levels, Sniper’s squishiness and gank vulnerability hold him back as a carry. Decent in pubs, not pros.

Drow Ranger

Drow scales well in pubs but struggles at pro levels due to early fragility and the loss of her Frost Arrows damage talent. Solid, not spectacular.

Riki

Dota 2 hero: Riki

Riki’s Exterminator facet with Aghanim’s Scepter is gaining traction, reducing Tricks of the Trade cooldown on kills. He’s trending upward but needs refinement—B tier for now.

Luna

Luna’s buffs and ancient camp access with Mask of Madness help, but her scaling falls short. Not quite A-tier material.

Vengeful Spirit

Venge with Aghanim’s Scepter is an underrated carry gem. The Blix team loves her potential—more pros should experiment here.

Anti-Mage

A 50% win rate is higher than expected, but Anti-Mage is too situational for A tier. Good, not great.

Chaos Knight

The Tier Two Rush Fundamental Forging facet for early neutral items (e.g., Brigand’s Blade, Iron Talon) is legit, and Irrationality looks promising. Still situational, though.

Razor

Razor’s flexibility shines in pro play, but pubs struggle to scale him. He’s teetering on A tier but stays B for now.

Spectre

Nerfs to Aghanim’s Scepter and Desolate hurt Spectre’s numbers. She’s not scaling well enough.

Gyrocopter

Gyro struggles to scale effectively—too hard for the payoff.

Nature’s Prophet

Mjollnir and Dragon Lance builds make Prophet a strong specialist pick in 7.38. A B-tier standout for dedicated players.

Marci

Marci’s Battle Fury build has potential, excelling in lane with Quick Courier. Her low win rate keeps her out of A tier, but we believe in her scaling and teamfight prowess.

Juggernaut

Buffs to Omnislash and Healing Ward make Juggernaut solid in pubs, where sloppy play lets him shine. Pros counter him too easily—low B tier.

Alchemist

Strong laning and timings with Radiance and Sange and Yasha keep Alchemist relevant, despite a 5% status resist nerf.

Clinkz

Clinkz thrives in pubs with reliable laning, scaling, and invisibility. Forcing supports to buy Dust is a bonus—great B-tier pick.

Slark

The map and meta favor Slark, with Barracuda boosting his laning. Mage Slayer, Corrosion, and Diffusal builds shine, and his shard remains broken. High B-tier with A-tier potential.

Troll Warlord

Battle Fury buffs and infinite attack speed on Berserker’s Rage elevate Troll. Strong meta matchups (e.g., Dark Seer) make him a B-tier contender.

Weaver

Swarm buffs (4 hits at Level 2, 5 at max) are massive, boosting Weaver’s carry potential. A sleeper hit in B tier.

Bloodseeker

Despite a 5% win rate dip, Bloodseeker’s scaling with Radiance and Rupture keeps him atop B-tier—just shy of A.

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A Tier: Pub Powerhouses

These heroes dominate pubs with ease of execution and strong scaling.

Dota 2: A-Tier Carry

Wraith King

Dota 2 hero: Wraith King

Wraith King’s Bone Guard facet and restored Level 10 talent (+25% duration, -25 cooldown) make him a farming and fighting beast. Radiance, Blade Mail, and Sange and Yasha amplify his simplicity and power. A-tier king for pubs.

Medusa

Dota 2 hero: Medusa

Medusa’s Mjollnir + Aghanim’s Scepter build with Undulation(flat movement speed) is nuts, hitting six targets with a split shot. Manta + Venomous Volley is the reliable fallback. A-tier scaling machine.

Tiny

Tiny’s Insurmountable facet and talent tree (slow resistance, attack speed buffs) make him a pro S-tier contender and a pub A-tier star. Hard to master, but rewarding.

Dragon Knight

DK’s reliable laning and scaling with Mage Slayer or Mask of Madness builds are unbeatable. A-tier numbers hold strong.

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S Tier: The Cream of the Crop

The undisputed kings of 7.38—pick these and win.

Dota 2: S-Tier Carry

Abaddon

Dota 2 hero: Abaddon

Abaddon’s brain-dead ease, high win rate, and versatility (laning, Radiance scaling) make him S-tier. First-pick material in any role.

Lifestealer

Dota 2 hero: Lifestealer

The patch’s best carry. Max HP per kill facet, reset on Feast, and meta matchups (e.g., Abaddon, Dark Seer) make Lifestealer unstoppable. Radiance + Sange and Yasha scaling is absurd—S tier, no contest.

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Final Tier List

Dota 2: Final Tier List

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Final Thoughts from the Blix Team

Patch 7.38 has shaken up the carry meta, rewarding simplicity and scaling while punishing complexity without payoff. For pub players, Abaddon and Lifestealer are your go-to picks. For those craving a challenge, Tiny and Medusa offer high rewards with practice. Avoid the E-tier traps and refine your B-tier specialists—your MMR will thank you. Stay tuned for more insights! We also recommend visiting the Reddit thread for more Dota 2 content.