The Dota 2 Patch 7.38c delivered the much-needed balance changes that we were looking forward to. Some heroes that were way stronger than others got nerfed, but we also saw a few buffs. The first hero trends following the arrival of the new patch revealed some interesting results, but now that the patch has been out for several days, we have more data to work with.
If you wish to gain MMR in Dota 2, you need to focus on some of the best heroes and builds in the meta. That’s why this article is about to show you some of the most broken hero builds in 7.38c. We at Blix.gg have tested all of the builds, so it’s time to dive in and learn more about the best options.
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Wraith King as a Carry

Following the most recent patch in Dota 2, Wraith King became one of the strongest carries in the game. Although it seemed like he got nerfs, the reality is that he became much better overall. His skeletons allow him to be way more successful than before because he can farm much faster and play more safely overall.
We have tried using Wraith King with several different items, but there are two viable options:
- The Blade Mail active item build
- Radiance rush
Both options will work fine, but it will depend on the situation. Some people will prefer the first option because it allows them to be more active and take fights, but the Radiance build is also great.
Should you choose the farming option, you can also go for items like Blink Dagger, Sange and Yasha, Bloodthorn, and so on. It all depends on your opponents.
Outworld Destroyer as a Mid Hero
OD also has one of the most broken hero builds in Dota 2. He has always been one of the mid-laners that works in specific metas. Fortunately, this is definitely one of those metas because his stats have been impressive. Alongside being a pub stomper, OD is also good in the professional meta.
If you decide to use Outworld Destroyer in your pub Dota 2 games, you can focus on the classic Null Talisman options. We have tried it in several games and saw it in pro matches and it always works. Getting the Null Talismans will give you the much-needed early-game stats and help you with the last hits.
After the Null Talisman, you should go for Power Treads, followed by a Force Staff. Some people may decide to focus more on farming and get things like Hands of Midas, but it’s not that good. We also tried getting Witch Blade immediately after the Null Talismans, and it can also work, but getting the Hurricane Pike is better because it just works better.
Axe as an Offlaner
Even though there are many top-tier offlaners right now, Axe is on the rise yet again. He is one of the most successful offlaners in pub matches and has the win rate to prove it.
When it comes to the most broken hero builds in 7.38c, most Axe players usually go for the following:
- Phase Boots
- Blink Dagger
- Blade Mail
- Aghanim’s Scepter
- Heart of Tarrasque
You can also go for the classic Vanguard build, but it is usually not worth it because it slows down your Blade Mail timing. The latter, plus Blink Dagger, makes you extremely dangerous because you can potentially bring down every hero on the enemy team.
Axe is one of the best snowballing offlaners in Dota 2, so once you get a good start, you can easily dominate in the mid-game. Just be careful not to die too many times as an offlaner because this will put your team at a disadvantage. If you manage that and pick the optimal Dota 2 hero build, you can easily carry your team to victory.
Phoenix as a Position 4

There are a lot of Dota 2 heroes that can be played as a position 4 in the current meta and do really well. From our experience, Phoenix is an excellent option, especially if you need a hero who excels at team fights.
Phoenix can farm really fast, and his Sun Ray allows him to rip through enemies, especially in the mid-game. We tried using Phoenix in a variety of situations, and one of the best builds involves the following items:
- Spirit Vessel
- Aghanim’s Shard
- Veil of Discord
- Aghanim’s Scepter
Depending on the situation, you can add all sorts of other items to the list, which will make Phoenix even stronger. The most important thing to remember if you decide to focus on this hero is to maximize your Sun Ray. This ability is incredibly underrated, but it can be devastating when you combine it with Vessel and Veil of Discord.
Ancient Apparition as a Position 5
Even though Witch Doctor and Shadow Shaman also deserve to be on the list, our experience and the stats reveal that Ancient Apparition is better than both. The hero is very consistent and works well at all stages of the game. AA is also one of the best counters to specific heroes, such as Huskar.
In terms of one of the most broken hero builds in Dota 2 Patch 7.38c, you can go for the following items:
- Aghanim’s Shard
- Glimmer Cape
- Aghanim’s Scepter
- Force Staff
- Eul’s Scepter of Divinity
- Rod of Atos
Some people may decide to use Ancient Apparition as a core and to be honest, it can work really well. Assuming you choose to go mid with AA, your item build will be very different. Most people like getting Hands of Midas first to increase their farming speed, followed by the typical items you usually get for an INT midder.
Closing Thoughts
The current Dota 2 meta is incredibly interesting because you can find a lot of heroes that work well. With that said, once ESL One Raleigh 2025 is over, we expect to see changes in the meta. This will be the second big event on the new patch after FISSURE Universe Episode 4 came to an end.
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